“Your face says a thousand words. It’s really expressive, did you know that?”
“That’s what Scott says.”
“Really?” Dee leaped on that little titbit like a hound on a bone. “Is that what Scott says?”
“When?” Del demanded. “When does he say that? Is it when he’s got you shoved up against the wall?” At Ash’s blush, her mouth dropped open and she hooted. “Oh my God! Has Scott done you up against the wall?”
“How far to this place?” Ash asked. “We seem to have been travelling forever.”
“Holy cow. Where else has Scott done you?” Dee demanded. “Over the kitchen table - he has!”
“I knew he was a sexpert,” Del declared. “His reputation is all over town.”
Taking pity on poor Ash who was bright red, Molly interjected quickly, “Look, those blokes all have reputations, don’t they? When I was last here Ryder and Scott were already being chased by women. Their sexual escapades weren’t for the faint of heart even then. Obviously Simon and Kirk are the same.”
“They have hot reputations in the sack,” Del agreed. “Guess it’s all in the delivery.”
“And the progress,” Dee added.
“It’s the chase that’s sweet, too,” Ash added with a smile.
“Sweet?” Dee snorted. “Ryder isn’t sweet. He’s like a shark when he spots a female who makes his donger sit up and take notice. Goes right in for the kill, no mercy.”
“One day some woman will make him sit up and beg for mercy,” Del predicted.
Silence fell upon the car as they all thought about it.
“You really think so?” Molly finally ventured.
“Nah.” Dee shook her head. “Ryder will keep shagging his way through the female population until his donger falls off.”
“Is there a reason why we’re contemplating our friends’ sexual attributes?” Molly asked.
“Because we’re sick,” Del replied immediately. “And frustrated. Or some of us, at least.” She looked pointedly at Ash, who smiled. “So change of subject.” She switched her attention to Molly. “Tell us about your boyfriend.”
“Don’t have one.”
“Your ex.”
“He was an arsehole.”
“Oohh. What did he do? Cheat on you?”
“I wish it was that simple.” When everyone looked at her - Ash over her shoulder, Dee in the rear-view mirror and Del from her seat beside her - Molly sighed. “He wasn’t who he seemed and by the time I found out, I got hurt. I broke up with him.”
“Men can be such bastards sometimes.” Del shook her head. “Break your heart and walk away.”
It wasn’t Molly’s heart that had been broken. If only it had been that simple. The shame that had come with what he’d done to her, what she’d allowed, that could never be explained.
The familiar anger simmered but she pushed it down, changing the subject quickly. “So, do you even know what kind of car I’m looking for?”
Dee smiled at her in the mirror, a slight softening of her eyes that was totally unexpected. “Rolls Royce?”
Taking their cue from Dee, Del and Ash started talking about the style of cars they liked and had, the conversation turning from men to one that Molly found more welcome and a whole lot less disturbing.
Ellor’s Loop was a bigger town than Gully’s Fall, much bigger, boasting at least 30,000 people, or so the sign they passed on their way in proclaimed. Basically a small city, though Molly could never figure that out when places like that seemed more like big towns to her. A city was more like Perth, Melbourne or Adelaide, but there you had it, someone high up the ladder decided a town of thirty thousand people was a city.
Go figure.
Some of the shops were still open, mostly the big shopping centres she saw as they passed several. Dee knew exactly where she was going, diverting down a side street into an open caryard.
The salesman coming from the sales office spotted them, smiled widely and started walking over. As they got out of the car, his gaze settled on Dee and his step faltered.
“Poor bastard,” Del remarked. “He’s already dead in the water, but give him credit, he’ll keep trying to float.”
“Is that your way of telling me he knows Dee?” Molly watched the salesman regain his smile, though it was a trifle strained.
“It is. He’s come up against Dee before. Just watch her in action.”
It truly was a sight to behold. Dee wandered off, the salesman zeroed in on Molly as soon as she announced that she was the one wanting a good second-hand car, introduced himself as Jake and proceeded to listen while she outlined what she wanted.
“And no shit,” Dee remarked from behind her.
Molly hadn’t even seen her arrive. Probably because she’d been circling like a shark.
Jake continued smiling. “We sell good quality cars here-”
“I saw what you sold old Miss Withers last month. That was as far from good quality as an elephant is from a duck.”
“I assure you-”
“You’d want to.”
His mouth tightened but he continued smiling, turning back to Molly. “Follow me. I have just the car you’re looking for.”
Molly was suitably impressed when Dee made him pop the bonnet so she could check the engine, pulling up the dipstick to check the oil level, studying the water level, and running her gaze in what seemed a knowing way around the engine.
Leaving her to it, Jake opened the driver’s door of the small hatchback and ushered Molly into the driver’s seat.
“Look at that.” He practically purred as he ran his hand over the dashboard. “This car has been well-looked after, one owner-”
“Who drove it into a hole,” Dee announced from the passenger side door.
“This isn’t-”
“Don’t pull that crap on me. Molly, the caryard has done a fairly good job of hiding the scratches on the side of the car but the polish is starting to wear away. Not to mention the rust in the boot.” She glared at Jake. “Next.”
Muttering, he pushed to his feet, barely managing to keep the professional smile in place. “Okay, Molly. I have this cute little red Honda over there.”
She took one look and shook her head. “Too small.”
“But-”
“Really, I want a four door. Do you have any more four doors?”
“It’s more than two,” Dee put in.
“It’s five with the boot,” Jake said coldly.
“But less than six.”
Molly didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe, but she had to admit that Dee’s no-nonsense attitude, though abrasive, got the job done. They found the perfect car, Dee insisted on accompanying Jake and her for a test drive, announced it met with her approval, ensured Molly was happy with it, and in no time Molly was the proud owner of a six year old, dark blue Ford Laser hatchback, with a big yellow daisy sticker on both the driver’s and front passenger doors. Somehow, Dee wangled a full fuel tank, a dashboard cover and four brand new floor mats thrown into the deal.
Driving out of the caryard with Del beside her, Molly followed Dee’s car out into the traffic. They ended up in one of the shopping centres, Ash, Dee and Del announcing they had shopping to do which they couldn’t get back in Gully’s Fall. Molly was happy to tag along, holding purses and bags as they tried on clothes, most of which they didn’t buy. She did buy some new CDs to play in the car, and after a generally happy time window shopping, they ended up in a small restaurant.
Two hours after arriving in Ellor’s Loop, they started the journey back home.
Before they left, Ash phoned Scott to let him know they were on their return journey. Going by the conversation from her side, Molly guessed that Scott knew where they’d gone.
Seeing the amusement on Molly’s face when she hung up, Ash explained, “It’s always been a thing of mine when I’m on long journeys, let someone know where you’re going. Besides, Scott expects it.”
“How manly of him,
” Dee remarked. “How very caveman.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Del said. “We all do it. It’s the safest way to travel long distances, anything can happen. It’s just a precaution.”
“Hey, you’re preaching to the converted.” Molly held up a hand. “Just because I smile doesn’t mean I don’t agree.”
“So what do you do when you don’t agree?”
“I sneer. Big difference.”
“Gotcha. I’ll watch for a sneer.”
~*~
Three days had passed. Three days in which Kirk had stewed, pondered, debated and come to a decision. He wasn’t going to ask Molly what had happened to her. If she didn’t want to say, he wasn’t going to ask. She was right, it wasn’t his business.
It stuck in his craw, but it wasn’t his business.
Okay, he had checked up and no, she hadn’t ever reported being assaulted, but it wasn’t his business.
Thinking about it as he sat in the driver’s seat of the patrol car with the speed camera situated on the dashboard, he couldn’t really say why he’d gone all gung-ho on her, demanding to know what had happened, actually pulling her blouse up and ignoring her protests, trying to pressure her to tell him.
Shifting a little uncomfortably in the seat, he glanced at the speed display on the camera as a car approached. Finding it within the speed limit, he returned to watching the long black ribbon of highway dotted each side with farmland and scrub.
Okay, he owed her an apology. Big time. Humble pie never looked so bad, mainly because he did want to know who had hurt her, he really did, but Kirk had never been one to nose around in other people's business.
Cripes, when had he slid off the calm path? Oh yeah, when Molly had sashayed into his life bum first - literally.
Grinning a little at that thought, he squinted at a dot in the distance, tracking the car as it neared. Oh yeah, hoon, no doubting it at that speed - at least fifty kms over the limit.
As the car zoomed past him, he saw the sudden startled expression of the driver, the aghast look of disbelief, and he grinned wider.
Oh yeah.
A flick had his sirens blaring and within seconds he’d spun around on the road and was after the speeding car, which was now decidedly slower and pulled over to the side of the road as soon as Kirk pulled in close behind him.
The day continued. Lunchtime he returned to the station to fill in reports and do some paperwork before going back out on patrol. Spotting the fire engine pulled in at the fuel bowsers, he parked behind it to see Scott with the fuel gun in the tank.
“Hey,” he greeted his friend.
“Hey,” Scott replied. “Heard you’re on the speed trail and caught some hoons.”
“Couple.” He looked around. “Where’s Simon?”
“Café buying food.”
“It’s two o’clock.”
“He’s had lunch, he’s about to have a top up, and then he’ll go into arvo tea.”
“That man is a walking pit.”
“Hey.” Simon rounded the front of the truck. “I resent that accusation.”
Kirk looked at the box he held. Inside it were a salad roll, an egg sandwich, an iced coffee, a bag containing four Dim Sims and a Chiko Roll. “That’s not to share, right?”
“Scott didn’t want anything. Did you want something? I can go back and get it for you.”
“So that’s all for you.”
“Well, yeah.”
“All of it.”
“Look, I’m hungry enough to eat the arse-end off a low flying duck. I need nourishment.”
“I rest my case.”
“I think you’re just jealous of my manly physique.”
“No, I’m just surprised you manage to fit into your uniform.”
“We have a gym room we’re required to use regularly. Besides.” Simon paused, took a huge bite of a Dim Sim, chewed with relish and swallowed. “You can’t fatten a thoroughbred, you know.”
“I didn’t know it now extends to mongrels.”
“You cruel bastard. I may need to go back for chocolate.”
“That’s a girl’s comfort food. Are you also turning into a sissy?”
Simon turned to Scott. “Anytime you’re ready to stick up for me. Just start anytime.”
“I’m sorry.” Scott cupped one hand behind his ear. “Did you say something, Simone?”
“Jesus.” Popping the last of the Dim Sim in his mouth, Simon asked through a spray of crumbs, “What’s your Mum’s phone number again?”
“Oohh, Simone is pulling in the big guns now.” Scott nudged Kirk.
Kirk smirked.
“Don’t smirk, Goldie,” Simon said.
“I think it’s time I checked the tyres on your car,” Kirk drawled.
“Sucker. Got them aligned and changed around last week.” Simon winked. “Because I keep my body fuelled, my mind stays sharp.”
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
Scott hung up the fuel gun. “Hey, did you hear that Molly got a new car?”
“Blue Ford Laser hatchback with yellow daises on the front doors.” Kirk nodded. “Only saw her driving around in it a couple of times.”
“She likes to walk to the shops, says she needs the exercise.”
“Really?” Kirk’s eyebrows shot up. “I think she looks pretty good.”
Simon smirked and took a loud slurp of iced coffee.
“But still, if she enjoys it.” Kirk shrugged. “I thought you were going to help her pick out a car?”
“That was the plan, but then Dee and Del took over and before you know it all four of the lovely ladies are in Ellor’s Loop terrorising the car salesman.”
“Bet Dee enjoyed that.”
“Oh yeah. It’s not like Del wouldn’t encourage it.” Scott grinned widely. “Ash told me all about it when she got home. Man, I’d have loved to watch. Dee in action is a sight to behold.”
They chatted for a few more minutes before Kirk left to continue patrolling and Scott and Simon left to do a controlled burn.
Driving past the boarding house that afternoon, he saw Molly bringing something out onto the front veranda before disappearing back inside.
He really ought to apologise to her for being such a pushy bastard.
On a spur-of-the-moment decision, he turned into the driveway and pulled up outside the boarding house. Getting out, he walked up the steps and across the veranda, pressing the bell beside the security screen.
“Coming,” Molly called back.
Glancing around the veranda, Kirk saw the big floor mats piled over the wrought iron table and the hall runner rolled up next to the swing chair. Man, that had to be heavy. Had she dragged it out here on her own? Had to, she was the only one here and Scott was working. Or maybe Scott’d come over and helped her last night, it had been three days since he’d seen Molly after all.
“I’m afraid the boarding house is closed at the moment,” Molly said as she walked down the passage, her heels clicking on the wood. “But the motel is open and - oh, it’s you.”
She didn’t open the security door and no amount of squinting enabled him to see through the screen. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Since when do you ask?” she retorted tartly.
Hmmm, okay, maybe he’d asked for that. “Since now?”
The security door clicked and he stepped back to allow it to swing open, holding it with one hand. Molly leaned against the door frame, arms folded.
Man, she did look pretty, almost as though she’d stepped back in time a little, too. Pretty dress with a small flowered pattern, frilly apron, low-heeled black pumps, and an honest-to-goodness small-seeded pearl necklace that just rimmed the base of her throat matched by small pearl studs in her earlobes. Her hair was pulled up into a bun that had probably started neat but now had tendrils floating around her cheeks, a particularly long silky strand over one shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed, a fine sheen of perspiration on her brow. Yep, she’d been hard at work.
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He kind of liked the look - all sweet and dishevelled, like a housewife of the early sixties. Cute. Feminine.
Then he took in her expression as she looked at him - partially annoyed, partially wary. He didn’t like the wariness, not in regards to himself. Looked like he had a lot of grovelling to do. Damn it.
“Molly, I owe you an apology.”
One fine eyebrow arched upwards. “You don’t say?”
Oh, she wasn’t going to make this easy, but he’d never backed away from doing what was right. “I do.”
“Great. Done. Goodbye.” Straightening, she swung around and walked back inside the house.
Kirk sighed and followed her. “Molly, wait.”
“You said what you had to, now go away.” She turned into one of the guestrooms.
Standing in the doorway, he watched as she dragged a step ladder over to the wardrobe. “I’m not leaving until I’ve done this properly.”
Turning to face him, she leaned one elbow on a step of the ladder and blew a stray strand of hair out of her face. The action was so cute he couldn’t stop his grin.
“Something amusing?” she asked.
“You’re a little short-tempered today,” he observed. “Is it a bad day or is it just me?”
“Why would it be you?”
“Because you don’t like me? Because I’ve upset you?” He paused. “Because I’m an arsehole who upset you?”
There went that fine eyebrow again, arching up as she studied him, her gaze slowly sliding from the top of his head to his heavy boots and back up to meet his gaze. But she didn’t say a word.
Kirk waited her out easily, his gaze never shifting from her’s.
Finally, she sighed, one hand coming up to rest on an ample hip. “I don’t dislike you.” When he just continued looking at her, she repeated, “I don’t.”
Pleased as he was to hear it, he couldn’t help but wonder at how truthful she was being or why, in fact, he was pursuing it at all when he should have just accepted her reply and walked away. But like a dog with a bone he really wanted, he couldn’t let it go.
His silent scrutiny must have gotten to her, because she suddenly blushed a little. “Okay,” she admitted, “I like you some of the time.”
Well, hello. That was a little unexpected, not to mention interesting. “Oh?” Kirk leaned his shoulder against the door frame and crossed his ankles, hands pushed easily into his pants pockets. “Only some of the time?”
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