Trying Not To Love You

Part Eight

Chapter Eight

A week passed before she saw Sonny again, she spent time in London, more than previously, and that made her feel better. But every time she left there, she felt such a wrench, and then there was always more to do when she came back. As she pulled the car into the drive she almost baulked, at the sight of a police car outside the house and two uniformed officers knocking at her door. She immediately thought the worst.

Jumping out of the car she rushed across to them, her heart in her mouth. Her father, her Aunty, the farmland, the restaurant. It could be anything.

"Can I help?"

The two men turned around, "we're looking for Sonny Carter, we understand he lives here."

Relief...was her immediate feeling, that this was nothing really wrong, everyone was safe, then that was replaced by anger, he had brought the police to her door!

"He does have a room on the farm, but he's not here."

Why did I do that? She immediately questioned herself. She had no idea why they were looking for him; he could have lost his wallet. She was thinking bad, and that wasn't good, that wasn't her.

"What's happened?"

The older of the two uniformed men sighed, "sorry, can't divulge that information, but we need to find him. Ask him a few questions."

She shrugged, "sorry. Can't help you. He may be back later, but I don't keep tabs on him."

"Can we check out his room?"

Martha wasn't comfortable with this, Sonny's space was just that, his. There was no way these could just waltz into it and look for him. She remembered every police drama and movie she'd ever seen.

"If you've got a warrant then I'm sure I can't stop you. But as a landlord, you must be aware that I can't enter his property without forewarning him."

The officers had the good grace to look put out, the older one placed his hand in his pocket and handed her a card. "This is the number for the station; could you call if you get any information?"

"Information on what? You haven't told me anything."

With a scowl and a grunt the two men get back into their car and drove off the farm.

As it disappeared the front door opened and Aunt Lucy stood there scowling, "I told you that man would bring nothing but grief, now is the time to get rid of him. How is a defenceless pensioner like me meant to sleep at night with that animal on the property?"

Martha laughed out loud, "I don't know what's more laughable, you being defenceless or him being some sort of predator. Aunt Lucy you are SO ungracious at times."

"The police haven't darkened these doors in years."

She shrugged, "and now you presume that he's done something wrong? You have no idea why the police were here."

"The post office was burgled last night, in Northbury" she named a neighbouring town, "the owner disturbed them, he's in a coma in the hospital."

"And the man with the criminal record is the immediate culprit?"

Aunt Lucy huffed, "he was flashing cash in town, where else would he get it?"

Martha shrugged, "that's none of anyone's business. What happened to innocent until proven guilty...that's how justice works in the developed world?"

Aunt Lucy looked embarrassed for a moment, then turned on her heel in anger, storming inside with a slam of the door.

Martha leaned against the gatepost. What the hell was going on? She didn't want to think bad of Sonny, she'd seen chinks of bad in him, and he told her he was anything but a good man. But when they'd talked he'd seemed nice, lonely maybe, but date she say honest? Now she didn't know what to think.