Part 6 (1/2)
It was suddenly apparent to me that she was lying. Her words sounded sour, somehow, filled with deception. Why would she lie to me about something like that? I shook myself. It didn't matter. I just needed her to look after Alex.
”I know, I know, but for me, could you take her away with you? Take her to the coast, maybe somewhere in Europe?”
”Europe? I haven't got that kind of money and you
d.a.m.n well know it, Niall Petersen.”
”I'll pay for it,” I volunteered.
”Well, I'm very pleased that you can afford to spend weekends swanning off to Europe, but we have other priorities in this house.” Her voice had taken on its familiar sarcastic tinge. I couldn't afford to get tangled in this well-rehea.r.s.ed debate right now.
”I can afford it if it means Alex doesn't get kidnapped,” I stated coldly.
”What do you mean, kidnapped?”
”I mean taken away from you, and me. Hurt. Harmed.”
”You're not serious?” She sounded frightened now. ”What kind of trouble have you dragged us into, Niall? ”
”I don't know. I'm just trying to be very careful with the people I care about and I care about the two of you.” I think some of the emotion in my voice travelled down the phone line because it went very quiet. ”Are you still there?”
”Yes. I'm here.” There was a further pause. ”Where can we go?” All of a sudden she was taking me seriously.
”I don't know, and don't tell me. It's better I don't know.” Echoes of my conversation with Blackbird came back to me. ”Use the internet, book one of those lastminute city breaks somewhere, go today. ”
”I can't just drop everything, Niall.”
I knew she could. ”Yes you can,” I insisted.
”You really are serious, aren't you? My G.o.d.”
”Yes I am.”
”What do I tell Alex?”
”Tell her it's a surprise trip.”
”Not about that, about you?”
”Tell her I love her.” My voice broke at the end of the sentence and I had to stop and breathe for a moment. ”Niall? Niall, for G.o.d's sake, what have you fallen into?”
”I don't know and I don't want either of you involved. Take your mobile with you and I'll call you in a few days.” A thought occurred to me. ”When I call, I'll ask about the dog, understand? ”
”We don't have a dog.”
”I know. If I don't ask about the dog, don't say anything. Especially, don't say where you are or what you're doing. In fact, just hang up. And if you see me, make sure it's me, understand?”
”What do you mean, make sure it's you?”