Page 82 of A Murder is Going Down

‘What?’ I ask.

‘Walk away,’ she hisses, and I’m about to ask why when I see Patrick and Elena come around the corner behind her.Shit.I make eye contact with Elena and it’s officially too late to flee, so I smile instead. Lilia smiles too. And so does Patrick. This is too much smiling.

‘What are you doing here, Heidi?’ Elena asks pleasantly when she’s close enough to do so. She’s not in her wheelchair but is using a stick today.

‘Heidi was supposed to meet me,’ Lilia says easily. ‘But you’re late, Heidi – I’ve already been inside for a coffee. I thought you must have forgotten.’

‘Right,’ I say, scrabbling to catch up. ‘I thought we said two o’clock?’

‘One-thirty.’

Patrick is looking at me and I have a bad feeling he can see through my veneer to the bullshit within. Normally, it’s one of the reasons I like him, but right now I hate it.

‘You two reallyarefriends again,’ he says. ‘I guess Lilia’s been punished enough now she has to go out with Ben.’

‘Patrick,’ Elena says, horrified, then to us, ‘Sorry, we’re all really hoping he might develop a filter at some point, but it’s not looking good.’

‘Perth’s a small town,’ I say. ‘We thought we should catch up and clear the air.’

‘It’s so stupid to ruin a friendship over a boy,’ Elena agrees.

Ben was not A Boy. He was my boyfriend. Lilia was not just A Friend. She was my best friend.

But all I say is: ‘Exactly.’

‘This is wonderful news,’ Elena says, beaming. ‘We’ll have to have you over for dinner, Lilia.’

‘I’d love that,’ Lilia says, sounding like she means it. Bloody hell, she probablydoesmean it.

‘Are you free tonight?’

‘Uhhhh.’ Lilia hesitates and looks at me.

I’m smiling, but inside I’m waving a red flag at Lilia.She can’t. She won’t.

‘Sure,’ Lilia says.

My smile is pulled so tight my teeth could fall out and I wouldn’t notice.

‘I’d better get off my feet,’ Elena says. ‘We’ll see you tonight at the house. Six-ish?’

‘Great,’ Lilia says.

Elena starts walking, but Patrick lingers.

‘Do you want a lift home, Heidi?’ he asks. ‘Elena’s got the car. Or are you staying for that catch-up with Lilia?’

‘I’ll stay,’ I say.

‘Great.’ Then he reaches out and rubs his thumb against my cheek. The blush starts at my collarbone. He’s looking straight into my eyes.

‘You’ve got … whipped cream … on your face,’ he says. Then he walks away.

‘What was that about?’ I ask.

‘You did have cream on your face,’ Lilia says. ‘Do you think he guessed?’

‘Not that. Why did you say yes to dinner?’ I clarify.