Page 99 of A Murder is Going Down

‘Do you know who this is?’ I ask, tapping the picture.

And he tells me exactly what I expect to hear.

Now

‘Comeon,’ Marianne says. ‘You’re going to start being the detective who conceals things from the readers now? Isn’t that against the rules?’

‘Youcome on,’ I say. ‘You’d already know how it ends if you’d read it.’

Then

The next morning Patrick sticks his head into my bedroom, where I’m reading in bed, wearing only an old t-shirt as PJs. I cross my arms over my chest so fast they’re probably a blur. ‘You still want to come out to Elena’s?’ he asks.

I could make the point that I never committed to that plan, but, as it happens, that’s exactly what I want to do.

‘I can be ready in ten,’ I say. ‘Five, if I skip the shower.’

‘Treat yourself and take the shower. Better yet, treat me.’ He’s gone before a comeback occurs to me.

An hour later, we pull up to Elena and Felix’s house on our bikes.

‘What time does the truck come?’ I ask.

‘They said between ten and twelve,’ he says.

‘That’s helpful. What do you want to do until then?’

Patrick shrugs. ‘I kinda thought we could do a super quick clean, help Elena out.’

‘Patrick, look at you with the selfless acts.’ I hate that I’m legit charmed.

‘Shut up and I’ll let you choose the music,’ he says, pulling a stick vacuum out of a concealed cupboard.

I land on Lucy Dacus for the soundtrack, because she’s just bleak enough for Patrick and upbeat enough for me.

‘She’s in Melbourne in a few months,’ Patrick says.

‘Why does nobody ever come to Perth?’

‘We’ve been through this. You don’t deserve nice things.’

‘Shut up. She’s the only musician I’d willingly pay to see and she can’t get on a plane?’

‘You should come over.’

‘To Melbourne?’ I ask.

Patrick doesn’t look at me, but I spot the pink dots in his cheeks.

‘It’s not like it would interrupt your vibrant social calendar,’ he says.

‘Rude.’ My phone beeps and I peek at the message. Aunty Sam, who was out of the house when we left.

Where are you?

I type back:

At Elena’s with Patrick.