He says to her, ‘Are you sure you want to stay here tonight?’
The question throws her. ‘It’s my home. Why wouldn’t I?’
‘Well… it might not be safe. Parker’s not in his right mind.’
She hasn’t looked at it in that way before now. Her reactions to Parker’s messages have ranged from surprise to annoyance to concern. But the concern has always been for Parker, and never for her own safety.
She says, ‘You haven’t always been in your right mind, either, and I let you in the house.’
‘True, but I don’t send pieces of myself to you. Who knows what he might do next.’
She studies his face and sees that he is genuinely worried.
‘He’s not going to hurt me, Cody. I know him too well.’
‘You know the man he used to be. His behaviour is completely unpredictable now.’
She wonders if he’s right about that. Can Parker have changed so much in such a short period of time? Yes, he is acting irrationally, but can he possibly have become so separated from the man she knew and loved?
‘So, what do you suggest? Where am I supposed to spend the night? And every night after that until we find Parker? At your place?’
She tosses it in as a joke. A bit of light-hearted banter to counter all the darkness. She is a little shocked at how serious his face remains.
‘Why not? At least I’d know you’re safe.’
She searches his face. What is he proposing? A night or two on his sofa? Or something more than that? And even if her welfare is the only thing on his mind, would one thing lead inevitably to the other? She is touched by his offer. She could easily run into his arms right now. Does she want that?
‘It’s very gallant of you, Cody, but I don’t think that’s such a great idea. And if you give it a bit more thought, you won’t either. I’ll be fine. I’m a police officer, remember? Just like all you men I work with.’
‘I wasn’t… I mean…’
‘I know. Thank you.’
‘Okay. But if it gets weird, give me a call. Any time of the night. Just call. I’ll be straight over.’
She thanks him again. Gives him a hug – but just a brief, collegial one. Then she watches him leave.
For the next hour, Webley tries to wind down. She makes a cup of tea, puts the television on, slouches on the sofa. But her mind continues to whirr. Her feelings are all over the place, competing for supremacy. She hates Parker for putting her through this, loves him for wanting her back so desperately, pities him for what seems to be a disintegration of his mental faculties.
And as for Cody? Why does he keep making an appearance in that mix? It’s like he’s the understudy who has been waiting in the wings to take over if the lead actor isn’t up to scratch. He’s always there. She could offer him a part at any time.
Enough of this, she thinks. It’s time for bed. There’s work to be done in the morning.
She locks up, turns out the lights, goes upstairs. She washes and changes into pyjamas.
And then Cody pops into her head again.
It might not be safe. Parker’s not in his right mind.
Cody’s got to be wrong about that. About possible risk. Parker is self-harming because he’s crying out for attention, but he wouldn’t do anything to hurt his ex-fiancée. He has never raised a hand to her and never would.
Would he?
She sits on her bed for several minutes, mulling it over.
He wouldn’t hurt her.
But he might come to her house again in the night, to deliver another package. And if he does, she wants to be ready to catch him in the act.
She stands and pulls the duvet and a pillow from the bed, then drags them downstairs. In the front room she puts a light on, then turns the sofa into her new bed for the night.
She reaches up and opens one of the transom windows. Cold air blows through the gap. Nobody could climb in that way, but it will give her a good chance of hearing anyone who approaches along her front path.
She draws the curtains. Before she puts the light out and climbs under her duvet, she places her police-issue baton on the floor next to her mobile phone.
Just in case.
* * *
Franklin B Goodman has watched it all.
From behind the wheel of his car he watched Cody bring Webley home and he watched him leave again.
He saw Webley in her pink pyjamas in the front room, making her bed there and opening the window.
She is in there now, curtains drawn and light off. Probably not sleeping but alert to every sound.
She is making things difficult. Not getting into the spirit of this at all. Making it very clear that love isn’t welcome here. Doesn’t she want to get back together with Parker?
