I was woken by the doorbell and then people talking.
It took a few minutes to fully awaken and realise where I was. After the meal and the wine last night combined with all the events of the day I must have gone to sleep almost immediately on reaching bed. Dave had obviously not insisted on more services for my lodging -- unless I was too asleep to notice! I wonder why? Is he tiring of me already? Surely I'm not that easy to be bored with so quick? I felt the other side of the bed which was cold. Dave must have been up a while and what time is it anyway? Finding my phone after some searching it registered gone 9 in the morning. Just as well it's Saturday.
I heard Dave speaking.
"Wow, looking as beautiful as ever, lover. Come on in. Is your friend in the car coming in too?"
Lover? I could not make out the reply, the other voice was softer.
Dave again, "I've just made coffee, why don't we go in the kitchen?"
I put the robe on quickly and went to the top of the stairs. As they moved into the kitchen I heard Dave speak.
"I've often thought it'd be good for us to meet again. I still think about you a lot. Yet, much as my ego and I would like to think that you're here because you missing me was so overpowering you were forced to come we know that's not the case. Still like your coffee pure and strong m'love?"
I strained to make out the soft voice replying but the almost certainty as to who it was had come visiting caused hairs to rise on my arms and a tightness in my breathing. I heard her finish a sentence with "... fucking her?"
Missing the beginning of Dave's reply and hearing the end only, speaking in his usual calm way, "about 36 hours, give or take."
Then he continued, "I have heard an interesting story from Eve. It leaves many questions. The first thing we should decide is whether I ask Eve to come down now or us two old lovers talk first?"
There was a reply I did not hear then Dave saying something ending with, "..wished it had ended different. I'll fetch her then."
The problem with trying to run was that I was naked. I ran back to the bedroom and had just got panties on and was fastening my bra when Dave came in the room. He walked over and took my hands lightly in his.
"Don't freak out. Christine is downstairs. If they wanted you harmed or kidnapped the door would have been broken down and you'd be in the boot of a car. No, I did not ask her round if that's what you're thinking. She's alone and I don't know precisely what she wants. Come on down. Don't lie whatever you do. Answer any questions. Christine does not like crying and isn't the sentimental type so just keep it factual."
He took a step back but stayed in the room.
"Scared I'll do a runner?" I asked.
Dave said quietly and seriously,"Yes, a little. You know that if you did it'd be really bad for you but I also know that often people don't think straight when scared. I know they have one guy out the front and he may well have a partner. "
I put the rest of my clothes on looked at myself in the mirror. What a mess! I brushed my hair. Went into the bathroom and washed my face doing my best to get rid of yesterday's makeup. I looked at the enigmatic Dave as he took my hand,
"Tell the truth however good or bad it is. Your life may depend on it."
I nearly peed myself again and my guts wrenched.
He walked down the stairs behind me and led me into the kitchen where Christine was standing with a coffee in her hands.
----------------------------------------
I poured Eve a coffee. I could see her hands shaking as she picked up the coffee.
"Let's go next door."
I led the way through and we all sat down. Christine taking the sofa, Eve in one chair and me in the other.
There was a pause that Christine broke turning to me,
"Imagine my surprise when we were checking out Eve and your name came up as owning the apartment. Then, Eve goes and loses a very valuable items of ours and here she is, in your bed. I mean, what is a girl to think?"
"My love, if you were certain I'd ripped off the Enty I'd have knife in my gut right now and the hand twisting it would be yours. If you even thought it probable the door would be on the carpet and I'd be in the back of a car to be strung up in some warehouse for questioning. The fact you're here alone means you're here to listen - for now at least. I'd also wager that you've had this house watched for a while. You knew Eve was here and you must have been fairly certain no one other than us two were. "
"Don't stop now, lover, I want to hear the rest of your analysis." Christine said quietly her eyes flitting between the two of us.
"Eve told me about your visit yesterday. I know good help is hard to find but you going on a collection call is not normal. So that left me with three alternatives. One, that Eve was lying. Two, that you, my love, were playing a game of your own and Eve was the fall guy, in your plan. Three, that some other group is trying a move, and you want to know more about it - maybe assess whether Eve is truly the innocent or not. Before you berate me for my lack of faith in even considering option 2 let me say that I always thought it a low probability. The fact you're here now places that probability even lower."
Christine's grey eyes flashed her arctic icey stare at me. It was as unsettling as ever.
"Dave, whatever our past, if you suggest option 2 in front of anyone else I'll use that knife."
"Your highness Christine, you and I always spoke it as it is. You may be Crown Princess of the South Side but I'm not much use if we stop saying it as it is."
"Dave, is Eve such a good fuck, that after fucking her for the first time just the other day, you're getting yourself involved in all the stuff you walked away from, including me? Swearing you'd never come back."
Ouch! That was a question that needed careful answering if I wanted to live to an old age. I opted again for truth, or at least part truth.
