Alex followed me to a standing position and stood looking down at me.
‘And you think all those feelings are just going to disappear because you shove a few thousand miles between you?’
‘What’s the point?’ I whispered, noticing his partner heading back towards us.
‘The point is, if you don’t, I’m going to arrest you.’
‘What? You are not. What for?’
‘Loitering.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
Alex slid his hand to his back and lifted his cuffs, before reaching out to catch my hand. I jumped back.
‘Stop it! What if someone sees? They don’t know you’re mucking about! You could trash my blog’s reputation! Although that seems to be a popular pastime at the moment.’
Alex gave a derisive snort. ‘These days it’d probably up your numbers. But, if you don’t want to prove that point, then go and talk to Charlie. Please. I’m asking you as a friend.’
‘To whom? Him or me?’
‘Both of you.’
‘Cop-out answer. Excuse the pun.’
‘Excused. Are you going to do it?’
‘Yes. Fine. I’ll talk to him.’
‘When?’
‘Later.’
‘Not good enough. I’ll drop you off now. The car’s up there. And that way, the concerned citizen who’s been keeping an eye on you all morning will know you’re being taken somewhere safe.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘What a crock.’
Alex gave me a ‘whatever works’ kind of look.
‘Fine. Just put those damn cuffs back, will you? You’re making me nervous.’ I said, as we began walking towards the road.
‘Bet ole Miss Spanky Pants wouldn’t be so nervous about them.’
I cut my eyes to him. ‘Charlie really did tell you everything, didn’t he?’
‘Oh, yeah.’
‘I assume you’re taking the first flight you can to New York once he’s settled in, and looking for an introduction?’ I said, standing next to the police car.
Alex grinned. ‘In you hop.’
‘It’s seven o’clock in the morning. He’s probably not even up yet.’
‘That’s what a doorbell is for. Come on. In.’
I huffed and slid in the back seat. Alex and his partner got in the front and pulled out onto the main road. A few minutes later they’d turned off and parked the car in the crescent that Charlie’s house stood in.
Alex got out from the driver’s side and came round to open my door. I saw a curtain twitch at one of the windows. Charlie’s house was still in darkness.
