Part 28 (1/2)

My shoulders tensed. 'Hi.' I stepped outside.

'How are you?'

'Completely fine,' I said, a little too convincingly.

'Good to hear. Are you in Melbourne?'

'No.'

'Oh. Listen, I feel really bad about this, but...'

This is your time to s.h.i.+ne, I said to my head.

'Oscar, you don't need to explain. Really. It's nothing. I was tired. Let's just move on.'

'That's not what I feel bad about.'

'Excuse me?'

'Roo, I've had a tip-off from a source at Immigration that you've been working in the country illegally and I wanted to put it to you for comment.'

'I'm sorry-are you telling me you're calling as a journalist who's doing a story about me?'

'I tried calling Di Freya first but her phone was busy. I thought the least I could do after, well, you know, would be to let you know that this is what we're running with tonight and see if you wanted to comment.'

'No.'

'Are you the same person who wrote the email, by the way? The banker?'

I threw my BlackBerry onto the paved pathway. It disintegrated. My body shook with rage as I bent down to pick up the pieces. Pansy came over to help me. She sniffed the battery and licked the gravel from my quivering fingers.

Fran approached cautiously. 'Is everything okay, Ruby?'

'No, everything is not okay.' I ran into the house and picked up my bags. 'I have to go. Can I borrow a car?'

'Darling, you've only just arrived,' said Daphne.

'Ruby, I'm sure whatever it is we can work it out from here,' said Fran.

'I'm really sorry; I know I said I'd be here, but I must go.'

'I'll drive you, kiddo.' Debs handed me my rea.s.sembled BlackBerry.

'Thanks.'

Fran hugged the breath out of me. 'I'm not leaving you,' I told her. 'I'll be back later.'

I tried to compose myself as we zoomed down the drive in Debs' Aston Martin.

'Di,' I said when I got through to her, 'I need to talk to you about a media issue.'

'Roo, you're supposed to be having a day off.'

'Oscar Franklin has had a tip-off from Immigration that I've been working in Australia unlawfully. I'm on my way back into the city now. He's going to run with the story tonight.'

There was a pause. 'Are you here unlawfully?'

'No, and I wasn't working unlawfully because I wasn't technically employed.'

'Why not?'

'I forgot to sign my employment contract.'

'Who else knows about this?'

'Luke knows-he got me out of it-and long-socked Bruce from Immigration.'

'Why do they wear long socks?'

'Not sure, but if we win this election let's make long-sock prohibition a policy priority.'

'Agreed. What did you tell Pretty Boy?'

'Nothing-I ended the call. He did mention something about an email I wrote.'

'What about?'

'When I was made redundant in London, I replied to the bank and it went a bit viral.'

'I know. I Googled you. Great email.'

'Thanks.'

'Let me handle it from here, Roo.'

'No, I'm on my way in.'

'Go home and let me handle it.'

'No. Can't we have him whacked or something?'

She sighed. I could see her face. 'You told me not to s.h.i.+t where I eat and I didn't listen.'

'Tastes bad, doesn't it?'

'Tastes rubbish.'