‘Great. Nosy neighbours. And it doesn’t look like he’s up.’
‘Like I said—’
‘Doorbell. Yes, I know. But it hardly seems fair to wake him on a Saturday when I could just as well talk to him later.’
Our voices were low in deference to the early hour and the open windows in several of the neighbouring houses.
‘He won’t mind. Stop stalling.’
‘It’s just that—’
‘Libby?’ We both turned. Charlie stood on his front step. He wore pyjama bottoms and a slightly misshapen white T-shirt. His hair was uncombed and his feet were bare and tanned against the white stone of the porch. He took a step towards us.
‘Is everything all right?’ Concern creased his face as he looked first at Alex, and then back at me.
Alex moved first. ‘Yep. All good. We bumped into Libby on the beach and gave her a lift as we were coming this way.’
Charlie took a step towards me.
‘Is that true?’
I drew myself up. ‘Not exactly. Apparently sitting on the beach in the morning is suspicious. Alex got a call to check it out and found me minding my own business, watching the waves. He then said if I didn’t come here and talk to you, he’d arrest me for loitering.’
Charlie looked at Alex. ‘That sounds like it might be more accurate.’
‘She can be stubborn. And you two need to talk.’ He watched us for a moment and then dangled the cuffs. ‘Don’t make me use these.’
I tilted my head at Charlie. ‘He has other plans for those.’
A flicker of a smile crossed Charlie’s face.
‘I’d hate to deprive you, mate,’ Charlie said. ‘Libby. Please, would you come in?’
Alex gave me a kiss on the cheek and headed back to his car. I hesitated, wondering about scooting off the moment they were out of sight.
‘Don’t even think about it,’ Alex said, without turning his head.
I turned quickly to Charlie, a question on my face.
‘He’s been doing this a long time.’
‘What? Delivering women to your door in the early hours?’
Charlie smiled. ‘Being a policeman.’
‘Oh.’
He looked down at me. ‘Are you coming in?’
‘Is there any chance I’d get back to my flat without being picked up for something else?’
‘I doubt it.’
I let out a sigh and walked past him into the chequerboard-floor foyer. Charlie followed and closed the door. The air was cool here and light filtered in through the stained-glass panels above the door, making pools of bright colours on the tiles.
We stood there.
‘I’ll go and get dressed.’
