Take a Breath(60)

I take a sip of my coffee, thinking on what Jessie said. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re wise upon your years—but have a serious potty mouth disorder?”

“It’s a gift I think, but you can kiss my ass with the potty mouth, Missy. Anyway, why are you keeping this all a secret anyway? He’s not really your dad you’re banging is he, cos you know that’s against the law right?”

I screw up my face in disgust. “Jessie, that’s just... shut up, that’s sick.”

She laughs, squeezes my arm and tells me she’s only kidding. I then tell her all about the not nice things that were happening at the weekend and she looked in complete shock.

“The Blonde Killer is obsessed with you? Who could it be? Do you suspect anyone?”

I cringe at the thought of Alan, but I can’t tell Jessie this, not if I’m hiding it from Jake. It wouldn’t be fair. I’m not sure whether she would be able to keep that sort of thing secret anyway. I have Agent Marcos onto it, so if that is a lead I’m sure I will know soon enough.

“No, I have no idea, Jessie. I can’t understand why he needs to create such a fuss over me. I’m nothing special after all.”

Jessie shakes her head at me, clearly unhappy with my remark but doesn’t say anything further.

We both take an appreciative sip of our coffee when Tom walks in.

“Wow, I walk into a room and see two beautiful women standing before me. It must be all my Christmases and Birthdays rolled into one.”

I shake my head and Jessie tuts at him.

“Tom, you really are a slime ball, you know that?”

He looked offended. “I just paid you a compliment. Can’t a guy pay you both compliments?”

“Not when the person complimenting just wants to get in everyone who has a skirt and panties, it’s not,” Jessie snorts. “You’re a male version of a whore Mr Pendleton.”

I start laughing and Tom just shrugs his shoulders and smiles in defeat.

“How is Debra by the way? Are you still sleeping with that poor girl? I don’t know what she sees in you to be honest, but I suppose some girls have to get it somewhere. I just thought she’d have better taste.”

Debra is a patrolwoman and I knew nothing about this. “What else am I not being told around here? Tom, you’re holding out on me.”

He smiles and winks at me. “Only because the girl I really want doesn’t seem to want me.”

Jessie puts two fingers down her throat and pretends to gag. “See, I told you the flies would come.”

She looks at me and Tom just looks baffled. “Anyway Tom, it would seem Ana has found herself someone who can keep her warm at night a lot better than you can.”

I blush a scarlet red.

“Yes, so I’ve seen.” He gets his coffee and walks out the door. “By the way, that colour suits you, Ana.”

I realise he’s talking about me blushing, and it makes me flush even further. Is it that obvious? We go back to our desks and there is a flurry of activity, as people are coming and going outside Jake’s office. I think he’s trying so hard to get this psycho caught, and I know he is deliberately keeping me well away from it all. I pick up my phone to text him.

‘Did Matthew get to school ok?xx’

I boot up my computer to get ready for my day and sort my desk putting out all my files in order when I get a text back.

‘Yes, he’s fine. Miss u.xx’

My heart explodes and I can’t escape the stupid grin on my face. I begin my text back.

‘I miss you, too. Do you want me to come into the office and show you just how much?xx’

I wait for a response and it soon comes.

‘Ana, you’re going to get a smacked bottom if you’re not careful. Now get on with your work.xx’

I giggle and realise that Jake is playing hardball with me. I love the fact he tells me off, then leaves two kisses at the end of the text.

I sigh and proceed on with my schedule of things to do. I’m engrossed in reading my emails, when I feel a hand upon my shoulder. I jump and look up to find Tony.

“Hi, Tony. Are you ok?” I ask, noticing he doesn’t look it.

He nods and grabs a chair to sit with me. “I’ve just not been feeling too well the last few days. I must have caught a bug or something.”

I reach up and place my hand on his forehead. As I touch him, he closes his eyes. Maybe that was a little too informal of me under the circumstances, but I can’t help but care.

“You do seem to be running a temperature. Have you taken anything for it? I may have some Advil in my bag if you want some?”

He shakes his head and slumps on the chair. “You’re always looking out for other people and no one is looking out for you.”