Web of Deceit by Katherine Howell Page A

him.
    ‘Do you look after Chloe too?’ Ella said.
    ‘I do.’
    ‘Do you think Marko was stressed about the pregnancy?’
    Hardy smiled. ‘He was delighted. They were both a little anxious, seeing as how they’d miscarried before, but otherwise they were thrilled.’
    There was a tap at the door and Hesterlooked in, red-faced and frowning. ‘Doctor –’
    ‘Yes, I know. Just a minute.’
    Hester withdrew and yanked the door shut.
    ‘Is Chloe okay?’ Hardy asked.
    ‘She’s in hospital actually,’ Ella said. ‘Just a precaution, I believe.’
    Hardy shook her head. ‘So sad.’
    ‘Thanks for your time,’ Murray said.
    Out in the waiting room, Hester scowled at them as she thrust acardboard file into Hardy’s hand. ‘Mrs Stubbs couldn’t wait any longer, and Mrs Patel has moved her appointment to this afternoon.’
    ‘Thank you again,’ Ella said to Hardy, and they went outside to run through the rain to the car.
    Once in, Murray slammed his door. ‘Langley’s going to be delighted. He’ll say the crash into the pole was probably an attempt too, but Meixner chickened outat the last second, just like when he swam off the beach. Jump in front of a train and there ain’t no way back.’
    Ella brushed raindrops from her forehead and started the car. ‘Maybe we’ll learn something different at his work.’
    *
    Jane had left another message for Steve while sweeping up the glass and nailing plywood over the window holes before she left for work, then a furtherone while being jostled by wet umbrellas on the bus. Once at the station, she and Alex got a job the moment they signed on, so she didn’t get a chance to make a third call until they pulled back onto station an hour later.
    ‘Well, hello,’ Steve answered.
    ‘Thanks for ringing me back,’ she said, her voice echoing in the plant room. She glanced inside the station. Alex was busy on thecomputer in the muster room.
    ‘I thought you might’ve been sleeping before nightshift.’
    ‘Yeah, that’s why I keep calling,’ she said. ‘You sorted her out yet?’
    ‘The timing wasn’t right this morning.’
    ‘You mean you’re gutless,’ she said.
    ‘You sound like you think I’m not trying.’
    ‘I know you’re not.’ She walked to the open roller doors. Tourists hurried from awningto awning along George Street. Rain dripped from the station’s eaves. Seagulls whined in the grey sky and the damp air smelled of the briny, seaweed-filled harbour. ‘Phone calls last night and smashed windows. You’re doing nothing.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ he said.
    ‘Not good enough.’
    ‘What can I do? I tell her nothing’s happening. She doesn’t believe me.’
    ‘Go home sometimes,’ Janesaid. ‘Like you should’ve done with me.’
    ‘Janey,’ he said. ‘Janey, Janey. If I could have that time over again.’
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
    ‘No, I swear. It’d all be different,’ he said. ‘It’s ironic, actually, that she thinks I’m seeing you, because it makes me think how great it would be if I was.’
    ‘You’re delusional.’
    ‘If we got back together the kids’d be so happy.’
    ‘It’s been seven years,’ she said. ‘I think the kids have dealt with it.’
    ‘No, listen, I’ve realised things. I’ve realised I can’t talk to Deb like I can to you.’
    ‘You didn’t talk to me,’ she said.
    ‘She doesn’t get me like you do.’
    ‘You don’t remember telling me in a fight once that I never got you?’
    ‘I was crazy back then. I can see that now. And I can see theage gap is too much. It’s as if she and I come from different worlds.’
    ‘Whatever,’ she said. ‘Tell her to stop harassing me. Tell her where you go at night so she knows you’re not with me.’
    ‘How can I tell her that I’m –’
    ‘I don’t want to hear it,’ she said. ‘Sort it out with her or else I’ll have to call the cops.’
    ‘You don’t need to do that. She’s just stressed at work.’
    ‘She’s a receptionist, for