Page 65 of Mercury Rising

“Mercury has bonded well with all the kids, Mrs Morrison. He and Eddie have something special.”

“Madeline, please. Mrs Morrison makes me sound like an old fart. I’m pleased you’re getting on there. I can’t pretend I wasn’t worried.”

Mercury got up. “No need. It’s having the desired effect. I might even call up that magistrate and thank them.”

Nick also stood. “Perhaps leave the law out of it.”

“Hear, hear,” Madeline added. “Mercury, darling, can you find me the number of The Bluebird? I wonder if they’ll deliver.”

Mercury breathed a sigh of relief that Madeline wasn’t going to attempt cooking. Last time, Gwen had spent the whole day trying to get the cooker clean.

Mercury parked two streets away from the House. Cath and Gavin were running things today. Mercury had no intention of letting the latter’s beady eyes clock them. Madeline’s car remained fairly prominent in the area.

“Do you want to come in?” Nick asked.

“Is that wise?”

“It is if you want to finish what we started this morning.”

Mercury had no intention of refusing that offer.

“What if one of the kids sees us?”

“Then you called in with that thing you were going to lend me.”

“Fine, although I think we may need to be a little more specific.”

“Okay, you brought an emergency flask of badly brewed tea. I don’t know. We haven’t even been spotted yet.”

They got out of the car and walked toward Nick’s place.

“Some of the kids are on to us anyway,” Mercury said. “Eddie was the reason I sorted my head out.”

Nick raised his eyebrows. “Really? He hasn’t said anything to me. Speaking of Eddie, I have a theory about him and Brooke.”

Mercury tried to adopt his most innocent expression. “Oh really? In what way?”

“I think they’re an item.”

It was going to come out soon enough. “Very perceptive.”

“You know something, don’t you?”

“I’m not prepared to reveal my secrets, Nick Campbell.”

Nick stopped. “Are you serious? You weren’t going to tell me?”

“I told Eddie I wouldn’t. I keep my word, thank you.”

Mercury followed Nick down the garden path to the adjoining house. Over the fence, some of the kids were lazing around in the house.

They should be out enjoying the weather. Fuck, how old am I getting?

As he stepped over the threshold, Mercury was intrigued to see what Nick’s home would be like. He found himself pleasantly surprised.

It was slightly smaller than Bodhi House, with the same hallway leading through into a lounge and dining room.

“If you’re wondering, the previous owner extended next door in the eighties. I’m glad the owners of this place didn’t. I don’t think I’d know what to do with that much space.”