Free Call On Me by Angela Verdenius Page A

the
pen.”
    Lori
grinned.
    “And you can
stop that,” Ghost told her.
    He walked
beside Matt as they exited the office to find Ali had returned to
the van and was sitting waiting for him.
    “The footy game
still on for tonight?” Matt asked as they separated at the
bowsers.
    “Hell yeah.
Can’t wait to see your team get thrashed.”
    “You’ll be
weeping into your beer.”
    They separated
at the bowsers, Matt returning to the ambulance while Ghost hopped
into the panel van.
    Ali was still
smiling as she handed the iced coffee to Ghost.
    He took a
mouthful before placing it in the drink holder and starting the
van. Putting it into gear, he pulled out of the service station.
“So,” he began conversationally. “New bloke in town, huh?”
    “Yep.”
    “You seemed to
be getting on all right with him.”
    “Name’s Chris
Smith, new mechanic working at the servo, new to town, just bought
a place nearby. The Mason’s old house, in fact. Two sisters living
in the city, Mum and Dad retired and caravanning around Australia.
No pets.” She glanced sideways at him. “Catholic.”
    “Oooh, could be
a problem there,” he replied.
    “How so?”
    “You’re
Anglican.”
    “I think we can
work around it.”
    He mulled that
over for several seconds. “Going on a date?”
    “He did ask me,
yes,” she answered.
    “Don’t tell me
you agreed.”
    She turned her
head to look at him. “I did. Why not?”
    “He’s new to
town, you don’t know him.”
    “I will know
him after a date.”
    A spike of
concern went through him. “Please tell me you’re taking your own
car.”
    “I’m not a
complete drongo, Ghost. I’m meeting him at the restaurant for a
meal.”
    “Wise move,” he
approved. Lots of people, her own car, and no chance of getting
dumped anywhere or being at the mercy of a man she didn’t know.
“Take your mobile.”
    “Yes, Dad.”
    He shot her a
glance. “Home by ten.”
    “Sure.
Not.”
    “No messing
around in the back seat.”
    “Can we borrow
your van, then?”
    “Yeah, about
that. Not happening.”
    She
laughed.
    Dropping her
off at home, Ghost carried the empty esky inside for her, waiting
until she locked the security screen before he went home.
    Once inside he
was met with five furry felines all demanding an early morning
snack because it had been hours since they’d last been fed
and they were starving to death.
    “Lying little
hounds,” he told them as they followed him into the kitchen. “It’s
only three in the morning.” But he nevertheless refilled their
biscuit bowls, refusing to cave under Mauve’s reproachful gaze to
get them tinned food.
    Pulling a bag
of frozen ‘roo meat from the freezer, he placed it in a bowl and
shut it in the pantry to thaw out for their dinner that night. If
he dared leave it on the sink, Max would have it dragged across the
floor and up the stairs within the hour and likely stash it under
Ghost’s bed, which would be downright nasty when it thawed out
completely and went undiscovered for a time. It wouldn’t be the
first time it had happened.
    Going upstairs,
Ghost showered and pulled on a pair of boxers. Padding across the
carpet to his desk, he turned on the computer and sat down. Pulling
a notebook from the drawer, he started jotting down notes from his
impressions of the night, as well as some ideas he’d come up with
while talking to Matt.
    Millie wandered
in to jump up onto the desk and eye the notepad. As soon as Ghost
stopped writing and pushed it aside, she flopped onto it and closed
her eyes, purring happily. Giving her an indulgent under-the-chin
rub, Ghost leaned back in the chair and glanced out the window at
his neighbour’s house.
    The light was
on in the backyard and he could see Ali standing outside, the
smaller shadow of Minx in the garden. Obviously the old cat wanted
a last walk in the garden before going to bed.
    Then Ghost did
a double-take at a sudden realisation. It was three in the morning
and Ali was standing