“I was thinking along the lines of a date.”

“You do realise I’m married?”

“Of course. But I have some information you may find interesting.” A pause. “Maybe some clues would help, like the burning down of one barn. Caught on video.”

Well, that helped with the decision about whether to visit the site of the fire and see if the possible recording device was destroyed. This man had seen something.

“I got the impression when I saw you that you’re a drug taker. So, taking that one step further, I’d say you’re now hallucinating. I admire your detective work in tracking me down, but I think it best we finish this conversation now.”

She held up a finger. Bluff one.

“Ava, no, listen. I have the recording storage device and was hoping that we could come to some kind of agreement.”

“Like what? Spend the night with you?” She imagined the man spluttering.

Another finger. Bluff two.

“Uh . . . not exactly. Hoping just to spend time with . . . you. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Sure . . . what was your name again?

“James.”

“To be honest with you, James, I was disappointed I had to leave so suddenly. I sensed that we did have a bit of a rapport going and I’m happy to explore that. If we were to meet, would you have the device with you?”

Another finger. Bluff three.

“That could be arranged.”

“Okay. Happy to meet. We can discuss things over coffee. Where are you?”

“Camberwell”.

“I know Camberwell well. A play on words, hey? Take me an hour to get there.”

“Okay. There’s a café called Bean There.

”Okay. I’ve been there. Another play on words for you? Let’s hope we remember each other.” She clicked off.

Ava raised her hand to her husband. She smiled, “It’s okay. A minor threat. He is out of his league but I might have to stay in our Melbourne apartment tonight”.

<°)))><

James was shaking when he got off the phone. He looked down at the peace sign of his trousers and realised he had an hour to pretty himself up. No time to get the device—they’d make other arrangements for that.

It was important to impress the lady, although he doubted he had any chance with her. He knew he had to hold on to reason and logic, but for some reason he sensed hope. Was it the way she listened to him, or the way she looked around his little shack? Did she sense a longing for the hermit life? That made him angry; he didn’t like that word. No, she’d expect better. And he was happy to change. Was she happily married? Maybe reason and logic was sliding out the door.

The man was a good shop assistant and offered suggestions which suited James’s personality. Casual trousers, brown bordering on red, with a white shirt and a black casual jacket. He looked a million dollars. He carried his old clothes in the retailer’s yellow bag, as he wasn’t quite ready to let it all go.

He positioned himself so he could see the main entrance of the café. Tapping his fingers on the table. Jumping when chairs screeched as occupants left or positioned their chairs for better seating. He needed to get his act together. Was he doing the right thing? He was about to chicken out when he saw her appear at the entrance. His stomach rumbled. The inferiority complex was speeding towards him like a freight train. She saw him straight away. Change of clothes seemed to make little difference. Was that a positive?

“James?”

She held her hand out.

He noticed she looked at the poster on the drug store window and smiled.

48 – Love (and gas) is in the air 

LUCAS WAS ON THE BALCONY breathing in the not-so-clean air. He saw a smartly dressed man walking along the footpath carrying a yellow bag. James. At long last, but why the change of clothes? There were others out walking, and instinct told Lucas things weren’t right. They were following James, and he was oblivious to it. They looked like ‘people followers’, doing little things so as not to be noticed. Who could they be?

He’d taken awhile. Why was he so dressed up? It was above casual.

The lady.

He was smitten by the lady. He’d contacted her. How, Lucas wasn’t sure, but it all made sense and now they were coming for the recordings.

Lucas didn’t have much time but he needed to do something.

He found an envelope, sealed it and then ran downstairs and placed it in the letter box to their unit.

He returned to the unit and waited for James to return. He needed to think of an exit strategy and quickly.

<°)))><

There was no time for exit strategies. Not long after James walked in, an envelope slid under the door. Its sides opened automatically and a steady stream of gas poured out. Lucas glanced around the room. He saw a rug draped over a leg rest, grabbed it and rushed towards the pale green steam cloud. He fell to his knees before reaching his target and slowly crumbled to the floor.

He lay there, staring at the door. There was a click and the handle turned. He moved his head to see two forms entering with something on their heads. Breathing apparatus? His last thought . . . eyelids were too heavy. He relented, and darkness closed in on him.

Lucas opened his eyes. Was he in a forest of some kind? Tall shaded trees? He gradually worked out that he was staring at the shaded strands of carpet fibres. He stared along the fibre forest and saw the figure of James lying still. He tried to speak, but the mechanics of the body hadn’t quite kicked in yet. He had better luck crawling towards James. Pins and needles tingled in his arms but he reached James and gave a gentle shove.

There was a grunt.

He tried to speak again. “James . . . you . . . okay?”

Another grunt. James turned over and looked at Lucas, his eyes watery.

“What . . . happened?”

Lucas crawled and lifted himself up onto the couch. He looked around. The place had been ransacked. “You shouldn’t have called the lady, James.”

James, now on his knees. “What . . . lady?”

“You know who I’m talking about. They have the recording now”.

“I’m an idiot.”

“You are.”