Invasive Species by Steven Streeter

Author:Steven Streeter [Streeter, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Ink
Published: 2022-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

We spent the afternoon watching Grease at Emma’s insistence, sitting on the couch with the youngster between Anthea and I, her hand now bound and cleaned properly. It was as though she wanted the comfort of both of us present. She was engrossed in the film and I was only half-watching it, but Anthea was busy tapping away at her iPad. I guessed she was trying to distract herself in the best way she could. I think I had virtually drifted off, Emma’s head leaning against me as her slightly off-key voice was singing along to the song ‘Born To Hand Jive’ very quietly when Anthea tapped me on the arm. I jerked a little, but it didn’t seem to disturb Emma and her warbling. Anthea handed me her iPad.

It was open to Outlook and an email. “Ms Bowman, I am in Adelaide. I will be in Ardrossan at 7:30 tonight. Can I assume I will see you there? Dr J. Boyle.”

“Serious?” I asked as I handed it back to her.

“Apparently.”

“He’s come here all the way from Scotland without a word of warning?” She shrugged. “Want me to go meet him?” I suggested.

She sighed. “Thanks for the offer, but I really should,” she muttered. “However, if you could look after little miss here, I’d really appreciate it.” Emma looked up at me and nodded eagerly.

I shrugged. “Sure,” I said. “Why not?” Emma beamed at me and snuggled in even closer, like a cat trying to find warmth. Anthea smiled, then turned her attention back to the email. Her face took on a look of concentration.

“What’s up?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t get it,” she said. “I mean, if I work this out right, he would have got my email, and then, straight away, he got a ticket and he’s flown halfway around the world without even a word he’s going to do it, and he’s catching a bus out here. I used my official email account, so the emails would have had contact details, but that’s only a phone number and a post office box number. He didn’t even ring me? He just saw that the post office is in Ardrossan and he’s come out here? Just like that?” She looked up from the screen, facing me. “There’s something about this that just doesn’t feel right.”

“You sure you want to go meet him?” I asked.

She actually contemplated this, then shrugged. “I think I can handle myself,” she finally said. “But I won’t introduce myself until I’ve watched him for a bit. If he looks shady, I’ll come straight back here and wait for him to make contact again. Then we can go together.”

“So long as you’re sure,” I said.

She smiled and reached across to touch my cheek. “I’m sure,” she said. I had no doubt that she could handle herself, and if all else failed, her skill with that machete was certainly not that of a novice.

“So, what does that mean?” Emma asked without moving from my lap.

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