J & P Book 1 - Say You Need Me

Chapter 13

"Look, who is this?"

There was still no answer on the line. After a second or two, the caller began to talk in the whispered voice that Jenny now knew so well.

"It's not...."

Jenny hung up. She heard the TV room's closed door open, and Deny came rushing through it, hands in pockets. Jenny groaned. He had already barged into her bedroom once today, and seen that she'd taken the sheets off the bed. It was uncharacteristic of her, she had to admit. The last thing she needed this morning was another interrogation. This time, he might uncover something.

"Another freak call? At nine in the morning?"

She nodded, coyly.

"How come you're up so early, Jenny?"

He seemed friendly enough this morning, for a change.

"Well," she said, "I had an early night last night." She hoped her ecstatic glow was not evident to Deny. "I could ask you the same question. I thought you were off today!"

"I am," he said. "But Yolana isn't. She's covering for someone at the dress shop today."

Jenny nodded, and giggled. "I didn't think I heard either of you two come in last night!"

"Were you listening out for us then? Or were you otherwise occupied?"

Jenny chose to ignore him. Paul had crept away long before the time when Deny and Becky were due home. It had been beautiful. Just like in Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo left Juliet's room after they had made love.

"...Hello? Jenny?"

"Sorry Deny, what did you say? I missed it."

"Is Becky at that Matt's?"

"I assume so," said Jenny. "And I was home, all alone! Well, until Mum and Mike came home."

Perhaps that last remark had been unnecessary. She watched Deny's amicable expression turn into a glare.

"So why are you up so early?" he scowled.

"I have to see someone this morning."

"Yeah? Who might that be then?"

Jenny gave her brother the dirtiest look she thought possible. She really wanted to shout accusation at him for his attack on Paul, and explode with anger. But she respected the promise she had made, and understood perfectly the reasons for it.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked, casually. "So you can beat him up, like the poor unfortunate guy you boasted about using as a punchbag on Saturday?"

"You mean you believed me? I was winding you up, woman."

"You just grow up, Dennis."

"Fine, Jennifer."

Jenny waited until he had left the room before she let the tear of anguish trickle down her cheek. The caller. The money. The stalker yesterday in the park. They were all loose ends. She had to sort them out today, to be fully focused for the interview tomorrow. But right now, all she could think about was Paul.

As she made her way back upstairs, she wondered if Deny suspected anything, as when he had charged into her room earlier, he had looked around, as if searching for something. Or someone.

Jenny could only blame herself. It hadn't been a clever idea to borrow his property. But in her loved up state, last night, there had been no ifs and buts about it.