Nilsen's Hollow by Allen Caraway

Author:Allen Caraway [Caraway, Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

‘Followed?’ I said, surprised.

‘Yeah. Says he’s heard footsteps behind him when he’s been out jogging, but whenever he stops and turns around, there’s nobody there. Also, he lost his brakes when driving to work and only just about managed to stop at a red light by slamming the shifter into reverse. Had it checked out by a mechanic and the guy told him his brake line had been cut.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Yup. He’s taking a few hours off work tomorrow morning so he can talk to the police while the mechanic checks everything else. I suggested modifying my plans and going over early so we could help him out and run him around until his wheels are back on the road.’

Damn.

Ashley.

I did some high-speed thinking.

‘What time?’

‘Pick you up at 07:30.’

Not good. An hour to Coxon. Few hours spent running Gunther’s nephew around, then ‘talking’ to him (or whatever Gunther had in mind), then another hour to get back to Lennon. I’d be lucky if we arrived before mid-afternoon.

Shit.

More high-speed thinking.

I had begun to forget the reason why I was there: to find Jane’s killer, and, with any luck, where he'd buried her. Increasingly distracted by the living: young, pretty and beguiling Ashley. As charming as she was, as much as I wanted to spend another day with her, she would have to wait.

‘Okay. See you then.’

I said goodbye, hung up and dialed Ashley’s number. She answered immediately, the sound of her VW’s engine humming in the background.

‘Hey you!’

‘You hands free?’

‘Uh-huh. You caught me just as I was thinking about taking a long bubble bath when I get home.’

Ashley, naked. This wasn’t helping me. I pushed away the image I had of her, all wet and soapy, and got down to business. It wasn’t going to be easy.

‘Um, look, I’m really sorry, but I’ve got to postpone our date. Something’s come up.’

‘Oh? What’s the matter?’

The disappointment in her voice made me feel like a cad.

‘A friend of mine has got into a bit of trouble,’ I said, biting my lower lip.

Lying. Not a good way to start a relationship.

‘What, Doug?’

‘No, Gunther.’

There was a pause, then, ‘You know Gunther Parkinson?’

‘Yeah. Kind of a long story. Anyway, he needs my help and I can’t turn him down.’

Silence.

‘You have no idea how annoyed I am,’ I continued, feeling like a drowning man, waiting for Ashley to throw me a rope. ‘How much I was looking forward to spending another day with you. But ...’

She sighed. ‘O-kay, you’re forgiven.’

I grinned.

‘You owe me,’ Ashley said.

‘Sure.’

‘When will you be back?’

‘Can’t say exactly, but I’m hoping to be free by mid-afternoon.’

‘S’pose it could be worse. We could get a half day in.’

‘Yeah. I’ll call you as soon as I know.’

The smile returned to her voice. ‘Kewl.’

Breathing an inward sigh of relief, I wished her goodnight and hoped that thoughts of her naked, wet and soapy wouldn’t keep me awake when I finally decided to go to bed.

I returned the phone to my belt as Doug placed a mug in front of me.

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