Free Heaven is a Place on Earth by Graham Storrs

frustration. Damn it to Hell! She had to get out. She'd have to smash the window. She looked about her for something to hit the glass with. There was a chair, over by the door. That would do. But she couldn't go near the door. Not with him outside.
    The door burst open with a crash and a man stood there in the hallway, half-concealed behind the wall, holding a black, evil-looking gun, and pointing it straight at her. Her heart seemed to burst inside her chest. Blackness poured in from all sides and she felt herself floating away.
    -oOo-
    She woke up on her own sofa. The gunman leaned over her. She tried to scrabble back away from him but he grabbed her shoulders and held her down.
    “It's all right,” he said. “You're safe. I'm with the police. Everything's all right.”
    He looked so earnest. He seemed worried. He had nice eyes, but they were worried eyes. She tried to look past him, looking for Dover Richards.
    “It's Virginia, isn't it?” the man with the worried eyes said. “Virginia Galton?”
    She nodded, tight-lipped. Would he kill her now he'd confirmed her identity?
    “I don't know who you were expecting, Virginia, but I promise you, I'm a policeman. My name is Mike. I'm sorry about the door but I heard you cry out and then... well, you were whimpering. I thought something was going on in here. I thought someone was hurting you. Look, I'm going to let you go now.” He pulled his hands free of her shoulders and stepped back from her. “See? There's nothing to be afraid of.”
    Ginny looked again around the room. The door was closed but the catch for the deadlock was hanging loose. There was nobody else with them. “Who are you?” she asked, struggling to sit up. He didn't try to stop her.
    With patience, the stranger said again, “My name is Mike. Detective Constable Mike Chu. I'm with the Queensland Police Service. Can't you see my ID?”
    Of course she could see it. She just didn't believe it.
    “What are you doing here? Why did you break in like that?”
    His worried eyes studied her face for a moment, a sure sign he was using minimal aug too. “Would you like me to call up a medic? You don't seem to be quite yourself.”
    Ginny didn't know what to do. The man seemed so genuine. She looked him over again. Tall, slender, with an Asian cast to his features, and cheekbones she would have died for. His skin was smooth and his eyes large and deep. A hint of a frown ruffled his otherwise flawless forehead. He looked intelligent and concerned.
    “ I'm fine,” she said. “Did Dover Richards send you?”
    His head turned slightly in query and for a second or two his eyes unfocused, no doubt as he checked the QNet, or pretended to.
    “How do you know Dover Richards?” he asked.
    Ginny cursed herself. If this man really was from the police, the last thing she should be doing is giving him the names of criminals and murderers that might connect her to Gavin's death.
    “Look, I have no idea who you are or why you're here. You gave me the fright of my life just now and, if you really are a policeman, I have a good mind to call your superiors and lodge a complaint.” She shut her mouth and looked away. Why was she behaving like such a complete arsehole? She needed to get a grip on herself.
    Chu looked more puzzled than ever. Then he nodded to himself. “OK. Why don't we just start all over again from the beginning? I seem to have caught you at a bad moment.” Ginny didn't say anything, just watched him carefully as he began to act out the scene that might have been. “Ms Galton, I'm Detective Constable Mike Chu from the Missing Persons Division.” He flashed up his full credentials. “I wonder if I might ask you a few questions about Mr. Cal Copplin? I believe he is a friend of yours.”
    Ginny decided to play dumb. “Detective Sergeant Dover Richards already came here and asked me about Cal. There isn't much I can add.”
    “ There's that name again.” He gestured towards a chair. “May I?” Ginny