I wrack my brain for Carlo’s personal number. I make a point of memorising all the important numbers, but I’ve never used his personal line before. I’m at the taxi rank by the time I remember it.
I take the first available cab, climbing in the back and asking, “Will twenty get me to Olive Tower in the Vale?”
The driver rolls his lips and his nose wrinkles in clear disgust. “It’ll get you as far as the highroad.”
“At least to the bridge end then? Please?”
He must see something in my expression that sparks compassion because he sinks and nods. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” I tear my focus from the driver and tap in Carlo’s number. It rings four times before he picks up, voice groggy and thick with sleep.
“The fuck time is it?”
“Cue-ball. I need your help.”
“Jules? The hell?…Mara, it’s Jules…”
“Cue, wake the fuck up! You seem to have lost something.”
“Mara? Jules what the hell is…”
“Listen. Casey is still at your house. So, think about that before you go rushing off.”
“Rushing off?”
“I’m going to need your help. Mum took the boys and went back to dad. TJ just called me and said Dad was laying into her…hard. They’re scared. I’m on my way, but I could do with the back-up. Bring Casey, she’s too young to be left…”
“I’m not a fucking idiot Jules.”
“Fine. Are you coming?”
“I’ll meet you there. Don’t go upstairs without me.”
“No can do. He’ll be on a rampage. I’m going to have to distract him until you get there. I’ve got to get the boys out.”
“Don’t be stupid.”
Jesus, how do I make this man understand the urgency? Between Mum staying out all night, taking his boys with her, my attitude earlier, my escape, and Aiden beating seven shades of shit out of his face; Dad is a fucking time bomb right now.
“Carlo…I’m quite sure he won’t stop until she’s dead this time. He’s warned her a million times that he’ll see her dead rather than let her leave him, and she just spent most of the night at yours, right?”
“Fuck. Why the fuck did she even leave?”
“I wish I fucking knew.” It’s a good question. One that really bugs me. She was home free. Why return? Something is off about this. Still, knowing something is wrong and being able to change it, are two different things. Whatever is going on here, I’m about to wade right into it. I take a look out the window. We’re still flying through Harrison Central. I give Carlo the heads up and kick him into gear. “I’ll be there in ten. Get a move on.”
The chances of him making it in time to help are slim, but if he can get the kids safe and Mum clear of Dad’s fists, then that’s better than nothing.
The taxi stops at the lights just before the turn off to the bridge. The red light lingers like a warning not to do this. Yet the longer ittakes the more determined I grow. I throw my twenty at the driver and call out my thanks as I stumble onto the street.
One last time, I tell myself. No matter if I make it out of that apartment tonight or not, this will be the last time Dad lays his hands on me or my family.
I check my phone. It’s been fourteen minutes since TJ called. I’m four minutes over Aiden’s curfew. Will he notice or did he fall back asleep?
I dart across the crossing and take the sub-system, a series of interconnecting pathways that run under the high street and road systems above. They were installed to connect the four towers that make up the borderlands of Harrison Vale.
The tunnels crawl with monsters and destitutes. They are dangerous but they’re my quickest way home.
This morning, I’m lucky. The tunnels are more or less empty. A few lumps of bundled cloth and vagrants stretch out along the paths, but they are wrapped so tight I can tell the majority of them are asleep. The creepy thought that some of them might be dead crosses my mind too, but it isn’t worth worrying about. Besides, the dead can’t hurt you.
