Every Second Counts

Chapter Thirty Seven

I GET BACK TO RED'S APARTMENT and catch a few hours-sleep. When I awake I'm relieved to see Kelley-Anne is still in my apartment. I had taken her cell phone with me when I met up with Justin, just in case she couldn't resist checking on her kids.

The kitchen smells of percolated coffee and pancakes, both courtesy of the bakery around the corner. 'Thought you could do with a bit of TLC,' she says. God, she doesn't know the half of it. There's another scent I'm not used to and then I hear my washing machine spin. 'Sorry, I hope I'm not offending or interfering, but Red, I wasn't sure whether your clothes could actually survive washing, or should we just save the electricity and washing powder and dump them in the rubbish bin.' She has a twinkle in her eye and I give an exaggerated guffaw.

'Thanks,' I say and mean it. I drop myself into the chair opposite Kelley-Anne and we have breakfast amid my update with Justin Walker.

She checks her watch, 'It's only 10 a.m.' she says, 'God, this is gonna be hard waiting until 2 o'clock.'

We do a lot of pacing around, more coffee and clock watching. An hour later I get out my laptop and do a search on fires in the city. Kelley-Anne reacts before I can remind her not to scream. The article we lock eyes on says:

Fire at Local Member of Parliament's Home. A fire has destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Lucca late last night. Although initially it was assumed the house was unoccupied, a body has been found. It is thought to be that of Mrs. Lucca.

It takes me ages to stop Kelley-Anne from screaming and only when I literally leap on her, tackle her to the ground with my hand over her mouth. By then Floppy is a golden streak of attack, panting and howling as she screeches around the apartment looking for the threat.

Kelley-Anne's body racks as she sobs and mutters, 'My kids. They'll think it's me. They'll be beside themselves. I have to tell them.'

'No. This is good for us. They've found the body and haven't been able to identify it's a man. Your husband thinks you're history. He'll be meeting Walker at midday. We have to hold off till Walker rings.'

* * *

Kelley-Anne is right...the wait until 2 p.m. is agonising. I stare out the window looking down at the busy street cluttered with pedestrians and vehicles, everyone getting on with their lives no doubt with their own stresses and problems but I guarantee, nothing like me and my temporary room-mate, who paces backwards and forwards, checks her watch, lets out a pathetic sob then continues pacing.

By 1.30 p.m. we are both strung out like Xmas lights and the thundering banging on my door have the three of us in a panic. Kelley-Anne rushes to my side hanging onto one of my arms and literally stands behind me whimpering while Floppy rushes to the door and barks furiously. I turn to Kelley-Anne and order, 'Get into my bedroom.' She doesn't need to be told twice.

Justin Walker bursts into the apartment full of anger and fury. He isn't the only one furious. Only Rutherford could have told Walker this address.

Before I can put my mouth into gear Justin puts his hand up, gesturing to stop the barrage he knows will match the anger bristling through every part of me.

'There is a body. But of course you knew that. You were there, weren't you? I knew that stench on your clothes this morning wasn't just coming from the lies you fed me,' he yells, his face now within five inches of my own. He's holding a pair of cuffs.

'Stop, before you make a dick out of yourself. It's not Kelley-Anne. She's safe.'

'Really?'

'Yes.' I turn and call out in a singing voice, 'Kelley-Anne, it's OK, it's only,' I'm about to call Walker something derogative but in all fairness, I've been counting on him to save the day, so I continue with, 'the investigator who's helping us. It's Justin Walker.'