It was becoming clearer. “But the more interesting question is what is Ava going to do when she finds out her husband poisoned their daughter.”

“That’s a good question.”

“But I have another question for you: could this all be a smokescreen?” Aaron asked.

“Covering what?”

“Ava’s intentions are really the transporting device.”

The detective gave a you-may-be-right nod.

66 – To be hospitable or not 

AARON PARKED HIS CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. He leaned his forehead on the steering wheel and took a deep breath. Raising his head, he looked over towards the front of the house. The light to their family room was on and he saw a figure silhouetted against the window furnishings.

The front door opened. Aaron was puzzled as the silhouetted figure still lurked in the family room. His head returned to the steering wheel. Was he up to putting on his hospitality face? His darling wife now stood next to the car and opened the door.

Aaron smiled and tilted his head towards the front of the house. Mackenzie turned and looked in the same direction.

“Yes, my darling. Sorry, but we have visitors.”

“Can I ask who, as I don’t see any cars?”

“It’s sort of a surprise.”

Aaron had a feeling that it was not one of those surprises that activated the pleasure centres in his brain. “The ‘sort of’ bit worries me, Kenz.”

“Just come see.”

Aaron stood at the door to the family room. Isabella Rose and Lucas Fell sat on a two-seater looking up at him.

There was silence.

“Well, at least I know you’re both safe,” Aaron said.

<°)))><

Aaron took off his coat and hung it over a dining room chair. He looked at Isabella and Lucas, and saw a bond had been formed. They sat close together, their legs brushing against each other’s.

Aaron turned a dining room chair to face them and sat down. He looked over at Mackenzie and shrugged his shoulders. What could he do?

He turned his attention to his guests. “Well, Lucas, it’s been a while.”

“Yes.” It was a nervous response.

“You look in better spirits and shape than when we last met.”

Lucas nodded. “There are things I try not to think about, and I regret my actions and the way you were both treated. But I had to move on. I’ll never touch the drugs again.”

“He’s a changed man,” Isabella said.

“Yes, it looks that way and I think I understand what’s taken place. Your Granddad wanted to protect you, Isabella, and using the technology to get Lucas was the only way he knew.”

Aaron saw Isabella give Lucas’s arm a gentle squeeze.

Mackenzie came over and stood beside her husband. She placed her hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry that I’ve sprung this on you, love. They didn’t have many options.”

Aaron touched his wife’s hand. “It’s okay. I’m genuine about them being safe. But as I’m sure you all understand, I have to let the authorities know.”

“We have no problems with that but we’re concerned about a particular lady who’s been chasing us. Ava Perdu. If you call the authorities, she may well be on your door step before you put the phone down,” Lucas said.

“I’m aware of her, Lucas. We will work something out.”

Aaron looked up at his wife. Had she brought danger upon herself by her actions? She was his priority and he needed to work out the best strategy. Where was Ava Perdu now?

<°)))><

Detective Taylor’s car pulled into Aaron’s driveway. Two supporting unmarked cars pulled over in the street. The detective acknowledged the occupants as he got out of his vehicle.

Two people covered in thick winter clothing walked out of the house and were greeted by the detective. He ushered them to his car and opened the rear door for them. The first moved across the back seat and the second followed. The detective waved towards the front door of the house before getting back into the vehicle.

Aaron had his arm over his wife’s shoulder. He raised his arm to the detective. The car reversed out and was gone.

“They’ll be fine, Kenz.”

67 – A jog and a jolt in the country

OCCASIONALLY, AVA AND ANTHONY DROVE to the company’s premises on the weekend, to catch up on work and each other. There were no tight schedules at the moment, so the place was quiet with no bodies running around. Anthony had also started using these visits to satisfy his newly found love of jogging with different sceneries even though he loathed the countryside.

Ava stood next to her husband’s desk looking at the sweeping view. He was going through a fitness phase and she could see him jogging along the bitumen road. He wore a yellow reflective running top and matching cap, standing out like a beacon.

Anthony’s smartphone starting vibrating and flashing on his desk, it also stood out like a beacon. Ava reached over and picked it up. It was their lawyer.

“Hi, Ava, speaking”

“Hello Ava, it’s Paul here. Is Anthony around?”

“Nope, he’s out trying to kill himself.” There was silence on the other end. “He’s out jogging.”

“Oh . . . I wanted to give him an update regarding Madeleine’s coroner’s report, and Saturday seems to be the best day to get him.”

She returned to the window and saw the yellow figure turning into the road that led up to the business premises. “That’s fine. Tell me and I’ll update him.”

“Okay. It looks like they’re going to pursue the path where they believe an indictable offence may have been committed. We have run out of ways of delaying it.”

Ava stiffened up. “Why would they do that?”

“They believe your daughter was poisoned.”