Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
LIANE
My heart is racing as I wait for a response from the mystery number.
Will I get one? Will they reply quickly, believing that I really am Haven and agree to meet? Or will they sense something is wrong and ignore my request, figuring it’s safer to do that than to take a chance on this being the kind of trap that it actually is?
I have no idea, but every second that passes is making me realise how desperate I am to find out what my son’s girlfriend might be hiding.
I can still hear Haven’s voice from the other bedroom, although thankfully, she is no longer talking about the potential value of any of my mother’s belongings.
Instead, she has moved on to discussing a TV show that she is obviously watching with Joel, the pair of them chatting about the latest plot twists that are clearly keeping them intrigued.
I guess they’re watching a lot of TV whilst holed up in Joel’s bedroom back home, and I feel a brief glimmer of sadness for having all this doubt and paranoia about someone my son likes.
But it’s a glimmer that quickly disappears when I see I have got a text message back.
Is everything okay? Do you need help?
Yes! They replied! Whoever they are, they fell for my ruse and now I have a direct line of communication with this mystery person who is very close to Haven.
So close that they are apparently willing to offer whatever help she might need, whenever she might need it.
But while it’s good news that they have replied, it now means I have the problem of figuring out what to say next.
As I’m pondering it, I get a fright when I hear a voice behind me.
‘This book looks really interesting. I was wondering, would it be okay if I borrowed it to read?’
I spin around to see Haven standing in the doorway holding a paperback copy of what looks like some kind of detective novel.
‘Yeah, sure. No problem,’ I reply, just relieved that she hadn’t got any closer to me because if she had, she might have seen what I was doing on my phone.
She might have also seen the note I am still holding too, although I’m quick to hide it in the nearest cardboard box before she realises it is anything other than some rubbish I just found.
‘Thanks,’ Haven says before disappearing back to the other bedroom to rejoin Joel, armed with the book that she sought my permission to read.
I guess it was nice of her to ask if she could take the book, rather than just take it without checking with me.
I have another sudden wave of remorse, as if I really should not be so mistrusting of her.
But there’s no denying that a note with the offer of help on it from an unknown number is unusual, so I want to investigate this as fully as I can, just to be sure.
My worries about her motivation for money are one thing, but my worries for my son are another.
Looking back to my phone, I have a mini crisis of confidence as I worry that this is never going to work and I’m just going to make a fool of myself, or worse, cause a problem for my son that could force him to choose Haven over me.
I don’t want to do anything that could see me risk losing him, but I also don’t want to do nothing and potentially risk something worse happening to him.
Eventually, after much deliberation, I make a decision on what to say next, which allows me to respond.
Can we meet at Harrison Park tomorrow? At midday?
I have no idea if I will get a positive response to that suggestion, but it’s got to be worth a try.
I’ve given an address to meet although I don’t know if this person is in the local area and, therefore, if they have any idea where that particular park is.
But I guess I’ll find out. They’ll either agree, say no or suggest an alternative location.
But given how eager I am to get some answers, I’m willing to pretty much go anywhere.
I’ve just googled it. I can be there. What is this about?
The first part of that reply is good news. The second part puts me back under pressure. What shall I say to that?
I seriously consider my response before realising there is a way to keep this deceit going until the meet-up tomorrow.
I’ll tell you when I see you.
I hope that will be enough. When I get back a simple okay, I know it is.
Putting my phone away, I can’t believe I am actually doing this. I have a feeling I will be thinking exactly the same thing when I’m at the park tomorrow…