Every Second Counts

Chapter Thirty Three

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE PRESSURE of saving someone's life to make your brain leap to turbo—and in an instant I know what I can say to change her mind. The kids. 'If you don't want believe me, then at least give me some peace of mind. Get your kids out of there.'

'They aren't here. My Mums got them for a week. School holidays,' and then she cuts the call.

My relief the children are at her Mum's house is fleeting...if the kids aren't there, this could be her husband's chance. It could even be tonight. What should I do? I could get The Hulk to body guard her but as soon as the idea flits into my head I realise it's thwart with more dangers, for both me and Kelley-Anne because I don't truly trust the man.

And then the obvious ploy to get Kelley-Anne to believe me hits me like a thunderbolt leaving me with a mix of sheer excitement and annoyance that I didn't think of it yesterday. I slip out of Red's apartment, unseen, and drive to the Lucca's house.

I know she has peeked through her security window, but she still opens the door to me. I have a nanosecond of hope but then she grounds out, 'You again? Go away or I'll call the police.'

'I need to talk to you.'

'No, I don't think so,' she says.

'I want to show you something. It won't take more than a minute. Then I'll go, if you still want me to.'

I can see she wants shot of me but then she steeps into curiousness biting her lower lip as she considers. When a long moment passes, she flicks her eyes to mine. 'Go away. I've got heaps to do. I've been packing. For your information Ted has been called away. He has to go to Glasgow for a couple of days and I'm going with him. We leave tonight.'

'I don't believe you,' I say. She lowers her eyebrows then points to the dark brown suitcase by the front door. It's bulging to the brim.

'That's good,' I tell her. 'And the kids?'

'We'll pick them up in a weeks-time, when we get back.'

I puzzle. They're going away. I'm wrong. I've upset this woman for no reason. Then I remember the conversation—the reason I'm here. I push past her and walk into her kitchen. 'Sit. Hear me out.'

Even though I'm walking in front of her, I can feel her bristling. She's real pissed off! When she takes a seat opposite me her face contorts to anger. 'Right. You've got two minutes. If you're not out of my house by then, I'm calling the police.'

I recall the conversation on my cell phone and play it to her. I've played it dozens of times in my apartment but I still find it hard to figure out the in-between words making up several sentences.

Kelley-Anne's angst disappears, 'That's Ted's voice.'

'Correct.'

She listens nervously and once again I'm trying to work out the rest of the conversation but all I can decipher again are 'sure,' 'it'll happen,' 'alibi sorted.' 'A quick death,' 'Smoke inhalation', 'won't feel a thing.' Then 'money.' 'They'll be plenty.'

Kelley-Anne starts to shake and she goes to get up out of her chair. 'Wait. There's a bit more. I know this is Reuben's voice,' I tell her. She trains her eyes on my cell phone as Reuben says, 'Make sure you're not seen with anyone who could make the Old Bill wonder about 'the accident.'"

Kelley-Anne slumps further down in her chair and starts to bawl. I get up, walk to her side of the table and put my arm around her. When her sobbing subsides she shrugs my arm from around her shoulders. She emits a guttural grunt, stands up and belts me with the back of her hand fair across my face screaming, 'How do I know you aren't running a scam? Get out. Get out!' She becomes hysterical and literally drags me by the arm and pulls me to the front door all the time screaming, 'Get out!'