Plight(10)

Essendon was roughly an hour's drive. I wouldn't want to travel all that way just for my phone, either.

Glancing at my watch, I decided I'd help her out. "Look, I'm about to finish up here. What's your address? I'll drop it off on my way home."

"You don't have to do that. I don't want you going out of your way."

"It isn't."

"Really? Where do you live?"

"In the city."

"In the city city?"

"Yes, in an apartment."

She was quiet for a moment. "Okay, so long as it's not too much trouble."

"It's not."

It was  …  a little, but I wanted to see where she lived.

"Okay. Do you have a pen?"

Again, like an idiot, I patted my chest for a pen and notepad. "No. I have a wheelbarrow and shovel, though."

She laughed, which made me feel a little better. "It doesn't matter. You don't really need to write it down. It's easy to remember, especially for you. Are you ready?"

"Yes, fire away."

"23 Court Court, Essendon."

"Court Court?"

"Yep."

"Too easy."

"I know."

"Okay."

"Okay."

Silence.

I waited for her to say something but it was clear she wasn't going to after several seconds of nothing. "Right. See you soon."

"Yes. Bye."

Danielle hung up, and I grinned as I pocketed her phone. Right. Let's see if this Chris really does exist.



       
         
       
        





Chris existed, because he was the six foot four, tower of lean muscle who answered her door.

"She's just out back with Pugly," he explained, after I clarified I was at the correct address and we introduced ourselves. And, yeah, I took note that he never mentioned being her boyfriend, instead saying, "I'm Chris. Come in."

"Pugly?" I asked with a chuckle, as I followed him into a fairly new, two-storey townhouse.

"Yeah, Dani's ugly as fuck pug dog."

Another clue to strengthen my case against Chris being her boyfriend was the fact he referred to her as Dani. She'd always hated that abbreviation so I doubted she'd allow it as a term of endearment.

I smiled to myself. "Pug dog? Riiiight. So, do you live here, too?" I casually added, taking in the polished floorboards, freshly painted walls, and stunning framed scenic photographs lining the hallway we were walking along, one in particular catching my eye and halting my steps.

Chris smirked and double-backed. "Yeah, I do."

"This is a great pic."

"Sure is!"

"Is it the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge?"

"Yep. My cousin took it." He gestured up and down the hallway with his hands. "She took all of these shots."

"They're pretty impressive."

So impressive, that I was considering asking for her details so that I could buy a few for my office.

"They are, but that one's my favourite because she's scared as shit of heights."

I pursed my lips. "That's a fair effort then."

"I reckon. I'm shit scared of snakes but would never hug one just because I love to hug."

I narrowed my eyes but didn't look his way. Coming from a tank of a guy, let alone any guy, it was a weird thing to have said, despite making perfect sense.

"Anyway," he added, continuing along the hallway. "It's amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it."

Again, I narrowed my eyes, confused, and smiled wryly as I followed him into the living room area, a jungle of gym equipment, inspirational quote pictures, and buckets of protein powder helping me find instant clarity. Of course! It all makes sense now. He's one of those optimistic, bodybuilder life-is-what-you-get-out-of-it dicks.

Swallowing my laugh, because I'd be willing to bet my left testicle that he was Danielle's gay friend as opposed to her boyfriend, I pointed to the Essendon Bombers football team photo on the wall above the weight bench.

"Bombers supporter, huh?"

He smirked. "You could say that." 

Something in his smirk stirred an uncomfortable niggle in my gut, as if he was secretly laughing at me and not the other way around. I didn't like it. Just like I didn't like it when I was in the courtroom and my counterpart had the upper hand. Plus, there was an uncanny familiarity about Chris that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

I stepped closer to the picture. "I'm a bulldogs supporter, myself."

He punched the boxing bag. Twice. "You'd be happy with their efforts last year then."

"One of the happiest years of my life," I said, ignoring his show ponying. "Seeing them hold up that premiership cup was pretty special."