Page 75 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne
“I can make you a cup of tea or something to eat?” Danny continues.
“Tea would be good.” I nod. “I’ll just brush my teeth and I’ll be out.”
Still feeling a bit shaky, I stand and wobble my way to the bathroom like I have the flu.
“You really should let Danny make you something to eat,” Dusty says. As I glance in the bathroom mirror, I see her standing behind me, leaning against the doorway.
“Maybe later.” I reach for my toothbrush and the toothpaste. “I’m not hungry right now.”
“I know you’re not, boo,” she says softly, “but you still need to take care of yourself. Your dad wouldn’t want this for you.”
I’m spared having to answer since I have the brush jammed in my mouth. I scrub vigorously—twice—and there’s still a gross taste on my tongue. I’m just contemplating squeezing the toothpaste directly into my mouth when Dusty appears next to me and I jolt.
“Fuck.” I grasp my chest. “Are you trying to send me directly to the afterlife, do not stop, do not pass go, and do not collect two hundred pounds?”
Her eyes drop to the toothpaste foam around my lips. “You look like you have rabies.”
“Is this supposed to make me feel better?” I roll my eyes and lean over the sink, then turn the tap on and rinse my mouth. “I’m so glad I keep you around.” I reach for the towel and dry my face. “You’re so good for my self-esteem.”
She smiles. “I have to go and check in with Bruce, but we will be talking about this later.”
“Yeah,” I say blandly. “I plan on being unconscious later.”
“And you know that won’t stop me.” She grins. “I can break out the show tunes whenever they’re needed.” I roll my eyes. She leans in and pecks an affectionate kiss to my lips. “Better. Now go and have something to eat. You’re going to need all your strength to argue with me later.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” I mutter as she disappears.
I lean heavily on the sink and stare at my reflection. My hair is lank and greasy, my skin pale with dark smudges beneath my eyes. There’s a scraggly patch of hair on my top lip and chin—I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a beard. I’m really not very hairy. This is about as bad as it gets when I don’t shave—kind of like a wiry patch of grass that hasn’t been watered during a heatwave, as opposed to Danny, who looks like a sexy lumberjack if he doesn’t shave for twenty-four hours. My facial hair is more fourteen-year-old just starting puberty.
I sniff my body and wince. Yeah, that’s not good.
I push myself upright and strip off Danny’s t-shirt that I’ve probably ruined with my weeklong slumber party for one. I don’t have the energy to shower right now, and I know Chan’s waiting, so I quickly wash my armpits and spray some deodorant on.
Heading back into the bedroom, I grab a cleanish-looking hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best they’re gonna get right now. I’ll shower properly once Chan’s gone home and I’ve summed up the energy to change the bedding. Danny has been an absolute blessing, but I can’t expect him to do everything. He’s got enough on his plate with being suspended from work.
I stop dead in the middle of the room.Shit. I completely forgot about all the problems with his job. I’m a terrible person. Fuck.
Dragging myself across the room, I open the wardrobe and reach up to rummage around on the top shelf until my hand touches what I’m looking for—a blue ring binder which has beenpushed to the back. Clutching it to my chest, I head out of the bedroom and walk towards the familiar voices in the kitchen.
“Tris,” Chan greets me with a big smile as I enter the room. Even though his tone is warm, the shock in his eyes suggests I look even worse than I feel.
“Hey, Chan.” I slide onto one of the kitchen chairs.
“Here, baby.” Danny sets a mug of tea and a plate of toast in front of me.
“Thank you.” I manage a smile for him. I really don’t deserve this beautiful man. “Danny, have you heard anything from work about your suspension yet?”
“Nothing good.” He shakes his head. “I spoke with Maddie a few times. It seems DCI Butler is determined to get me out. Along with his new pet, Byrnes, they’ve been stirring up a hornet’s nest at The Yard. I’ve been asked to attend a formal interview next week so they candiscussmy behaviour.”
“Danny,” I breathe out heavily. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s the least of our worries right now. I’ll deal with it when the time comes.” He gives a dismissive shrug, but I can tell how much it’s weighing on him. He takes a seat at the table between me and Chan and, after taking a sip of his coffee, pushes my plate towards me. “Eat, love.”
I pick up a triangle of thickly buttered toast slathered with my favourite raspberry jam and take a bite. I thought I wasn’t hungry, but my stomach lets out a loud, hollow rumble and my mouth waters. Danny watches in satisfaction and before I know it, I’ve cleared the plate and drained nearly all of my tea.
“What’s that you’ve got there?” Chan nods at the ring binder still in my lap.
“This is…” I pause and take a deep breath, feeling the deep ache in my stomach, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the food or the contents of the folder.