Free Monkey Business by Kathryn Ledson Page B

briskly, ‘Well, I suppose you’ll have separate rooms.’
    â€˜Of course, Mum.’ Oh my God. If I were really meeting Jack in Bali, he’d be lucky to get to a room before I tore his clothes off.
    â€˜And you can go to confession when you come back.’
    â€˜When I come back.’ When hell freezes over.
    â€˜And, Erica, it might be wise to get some kind of commitment from Jack while you’re there.’
    â€˜Good idea.’
    â€˜He’ll be more likely to propose in a romantic environment like Bali.’
    â€˜Without a doubt.’
    We hung up, still friends, and I stuffed my backpack with walking shoes and hiking clothes. I didn’t want to end up like Kathleen Turner, trudging through a jungle with nothing but high heels and a wheelie suitcase. From my minimal research I knew there was civilisation in Saint Sebastian. Shops even. But there was jungle too – lots of it. And I couldn’t help but imagine Jack in camouflage, peering through giant palms fronds with black paint on his face.
    I tipped my dirty-clothes basket upside-down on my bed in case there was something I needed to wash and pack. But something else fell out that I’d forgotten about. My gun. The gun Jack had given me in case I needed to protect myself from knife-wielding bandits in my bedroom. I’d never used it except once at the shooting range, where Jack had told me I was a natural. Should I pack my illegal handgun and hope no one noticed? I was on a roll, after all. Taking unlimited, unauthorised leave from work, heading for a dangerous country, lying to everyone – why not add another award-winning stupid decision to the list?
    â€˜Idiot,’ I muttered and threw it back in the basket.
    I packed my toiletries, sunscreen, some basic first-aid stuff and a compass that came for free with a pair of hiking pants. I picked up the framed photo of Jack and me. It was taken at a dinner party I hosted last year to introduce my so-called new boyfriend to my mates. For the photo we’d leaned towards each other until we were cheek to cheek. Jack was so relaxed, so comfortable that evening. It was the first time he kissed me – but only because I made him do it. He’s a good actor. Looking at that photo, anyone would think we were a regular couple. I chucked the pic in my bag. Thought about what else I could possibly need. Knives? Hand grenades? Nail scissors and an emery board, definitely. I made a mental note to buy mozzie repellent at the airport – tropical strength. Then I emptied everything from my regular handbag into a black leather one that doubled as a small backpack. And the whole time I was packing, I felt like throwing up.

    First thing on Wednesday I called Kate and asked if I could pop by to see her. It was a tough decision because Kate is Joe’s girlfriend – well, Jack and I reckon she is but they don’t say and Jack seems to think it’s none of my business, so I have to figure out what they’re up to by being a stickybeak. Anyway, I didn’t know what she knew about the boys’ mission, but Kate is also the Team’s doctor, and now my doctor, and it made sense that I got my malaria tablets from her. When I told her I was going to meet up with Jack she’d asked quietly, ‘Do you know where they are?’ I’d hesitated before saying I did and she said yes, she did too, that she’d had a call from Joe but hadn’t been able to reach him since. Then she’d started crying. I told her I was going to try to help Joe find Jack and she said she was terrified for them both. And now me. She could understand why I wanted to go (because Jack is my boyfriend even though Jack doesn’t seem to be aware of that fact), but she didn’t want me to because Saint Sebastian was such a dangerous place, she said.
    After I left Kate’s, I sent Jack and Joe a text saying that I was coming, and what