Free Monkey Business by Kathryn Ledson Page A

conversation, I knew that, but someone needed to know where I was going. Just in case. Lucy had threatened to tie me up and lock me in her bedroom when I’d suggested I might actually go to Saint Sebastian.
    â€˜It’s not that bad, really,’ I’d said when I called her the day before to tell her about my meeting with JD. ‘It’s got nice beaches.’
    â€˜It’s an urban war zone, Erica. The place is run by gangs and corrupt politicians who’d love to sell you to a brothel. That’s if you don’t get taken by a crocodile or die from malaria first.’
    â€˜People go there for work. Australians live there! And I can take malaria tablets.’ I wasn’t sure what I could do about the crocs, but I’d worry about that when the time came.
    In the end I’d promised to call the Australian government or military office or something instead. But this was a top-secret mission. What the hell was I going to say to some government department? And if it
was
something to do with the government and they happened to know what I was talking about, how would they react? Send some ASIO agent to shut me up?
    I dialled Lucy’s number. ‘I’ve done it,’ I said, when she answered. ‘I’ve booked a flight to Saint Sebastian.’
    â€˜You are fucking joking.’
    â€˜I’m just going to suss it out. See if I can find out anything.’
    â€˜Erica —’
    â€˜I’m going, Luce, and the only reason I’m telling you is so someone else knows where I am. Just in case.’
    There was a long silence. Then Lucy was crying. ‘You . . . you might get killed.’
    â€˜I won’t get killed,’ I said, gently. ‘And if I do, you have permission to kill me.’
    She gave a brief laugh through her tears. ‘I should come with you,’ she said.
    â€˜Ha! You and me together; we’d find him in a flash.’ In fact, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather go to some scary place with, apart from Jack.
    Next I called Rosalind again and told her I was having emotional issues and needed a few days off. I said John Degraves had authorised it. Which was a lie, of course, but I knew she wouldn’t call Degraves about it in case it was something to do with her. She wanted to know why I was speaking directly to JD about anything and I said it was extremely personal. I knew how much she’d hate that, and that made me feel slightly better about everything else.So now I had less than twenty-four hours to pack a bag, organise a babysitter for Axle, and get myself to the airport. I called my mother. I really would have liked to take a Valium before doing that, but I didn’t have time.
    â€˜Hello, dear,’ she said. ‘Did you go to confession? I can make arrangements with Father.’
    â€˜Actually, Mum, I was hoping you could look after Axle for me.’ I realised then that I needed to brighten my tone. ‘I’m going on a holiday!’
    â€˜Where are you going?’
    â€˜Bali. I’m meeting Jack there.’
    I cringed. In my worry about Jack and having to lie to my mother again – actually, that didn’t bother me so much – I forgot how Mum was likely to react to my having an unchaperoned holiday with my supposed boyfriend.
    There was the expected silence, and after a few moments, she said, ‘Only hussies go on holiday with men who aren’t their husbands.’
    â€˜Maybe in the fifties, Mum. Not these days.’
    More silence.
    I said, by way of distraction, ‘I was thinking I could get you a nice present for Mother’s Day while I’m there.’
    â€˜What did you have in mind?’ She sounded mildly friendlier.
    â€˜Oh, I thought something locally made. Something special that Mary or Janice wouldn’t have.’
    Bingo.
    â€˜Really? Now that would be nice. Something special from Bali,’ she mused, and added