Official Town Business (Fox & Oakby Murder Mysteries Book I)

Sesame Opens

The door gave in and fell out - taking a piece of the gate and a policeman with it. Imogen rushed to Andrew.

"Are you alright?"

"I will never again judge your choice of reading material," Andrew muttered, and Imogen helped him onto his feet.

"C'mon!" she cried, and pulled at his arm.

They ran to the house together. The light of the stars and the moon seemed almost too bright. At the entrance door, Andrew stopped her and pressed his finger to his lips. Imogen doubted Mrs. Roberts was still inside - but she let Andrew feel like a macho. She doubted his ego took her saving both of them with her smarts well. Her ego had enjoyed it very much, she had to say.

The house was empty and dark. They went inside; Andrew turned on the light; and Imogen grabbed her phone.

She could hear Andrew calling the station and hurriedly explain what had happened. Meanwhile, she looked down at the screen of her mobile. Apparently, she'd missed 17 calls from the Mayor's private number. A quick ring and entering her pin had informed her that she had also received 7 voicemail messages from the man.

Andrew asked something, but Imogen flailed her hand at him. They were waiting for the 'uniforms' and DI Balinson; and Imogen had time to listen to her messages, while pulling on some cheery fluffy socks that Andrew had pushed into her left hand.

"Imogen... Please, give me a call back. I'm still in the office. I... apologise for my behaviour. You were right, about the bypass, and the papers; and I should have— Nevermind. Just call me. Please. Thank you."

"Imogen, it's John. I just rang the mansion. Mrs. Lewis told me you'd left to meet up with Cooper. Ring me when you're available, please."

"It's John. Imogen, where are you?! I rang up Cooper, he isn't picking up. I tried to reach you... If you're... busy... together... it's alright, just let me know you're safe, and— Alright, have a good night. I mean, call me."

"Damn it, Imogen, it's dark, and you took the abominable bike of yours! I need to know you're at least alive, and not lying in some ditch, even if you're currently shagging Cooper! I mean— Um... Sorry. Just ring me back, alright?"

"Imogen, I'm driving to the mansion at the moment. I've rung up Balinson. They can't reach Cooper either, but he refused to send a patrol car— Bugger! Nevermind, I think I almost hit a deer just now. Anyway, I'm on my way to Di, and I'll ring you up in a moment."

"Imogen, where are you?! I feel like I'm leaving the same bloody message again and again, but you need to ring me!"

"Imogen, Balinson had sent a uniform to knock on Cooper's door, and neither of you is there. Neither is your bike. So I assume you either haven't met up with him, or the two of you went away. With your bike. Which makes no bloody sense. And... You wouldn't have changed your plans without letting someone know, because of the children... Imogen, I'm worried. Please, call me. Please? Why am I talking to the bloody machine?.. Sod it..."

Imogen stared at the screen. Besides the shock of having heard the Mayor mumble, bark, speak in an almost trembling voice, roar, and growl, and eventually - gods forbid - almost beg, Imogen simply could never imagine the man swear. She just never thought he was emotional enough. If the memory served her right, even with his father he used the word 'naff.' Hearing what the Mayor added to his last message just before he hung up was suddenly quite stimulating to Imogen's libido.

She dialled his mobile, and only then her eyes fell on the clock on Andrew's wall.

"Imogen!" the Mayor hollered into her ear.