Page 62 of Being Lost

“Tell me,” she pulls her eyes back from the doorway which Eva and Salem had just disappeared through. “do you normally starve? And does anything ever get cooked? Oh, and, please reassure me, the girls do wash their hands.”

I can’t resist pulling her to me, her head resting against my chest. “Snake, the old prez, well his mom used to run the kitchen while he was around, but she left at the same time he did.” I don’t tell her he ended up six feet under. “Since then, we’re just grateful anyone does anything at all. Tried getting the prospects to cook but seems like their genetic makeup isn’t right. It’s a woman’s job after all.”

I feel her tense, then she glances up and sees me grinning, and must remember the breakfast I made for her in her house. Seeing I’m yanking her chain, she slaps me lightly.

“Lost!”

I can’t resist her. She looks so damn cute as she bites her lip as she tries to maintain her mock annoyance. Lowering my head, I press my mouth to hers, sucking her lip into mine instead. She moans softly, her burger forgotten, and her arms come around my neck. I’m just starting to enjoy myself when another voice interrupts.

“Mom!”

Patsy jumps away from me like a cat who’s been scalded. Guilt is written all over her face as she turns to face her son.

“I, er…” Dan brushes his hair back from his face, then the corners of his mouth rise. “Fuck, Mom. How long has this been going on?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Patsy replies primly.

“Yeah? Well Lost eating your face just now suggests you’re a liar.” Now he’s grinning widely.

“We just… we were just…” Patsy stammers. “We weren’t…”

I put my arm back around her and pull her back in, ignoring her reluctance. “Patsy and I are getting to know each other,” I tell her son, using my serious tone. “Don’t know where it’s going, even if it’s going anywhere, but I like your mom, and I hope she reciprocates.”

Dan kicks out a chair and sits on it. He looks from Patsy to me, then back again. “Mom, I’m happy as fuck if you’ve found someone. Hell,” this time both hands brush back his hair, “it just took me by surprise. I’m happy for you. Just do me one favour, limit the public displays of affection when I’m around.”

Patsy is still feeling uncomfortable. “Dan, I, there’s a lot going on. I—”

“Mom, I mean it,” her son interrupts. “Honestly. I don’t mind. Just be sure Lost is what you want, and Lost?”

I cock my eyebrow.

“You ever hurt her…” he leaves the rest unsaid.

“I’ll try not to.” It’s all I can promise.

Dan gives me a sharp nod. “What’s new?” he asks.

Patsy looks at me for confirmation. “It’s alright,” I tell her. “Dan, listen to what your mom has got to say. If you’ve any thoughts or it triggers any memories, let me know?” I release Patsy, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze one last time. “I need to talk to Dart. I’ll catch up with you as soon as we have any news.”

She gives me a weak smile, then turns to her son. As I push up and away from the table, I hear her quietly starting to update him. I don’t have any real hopes he can shed light on things that happened when he was a babe in arms, but he spent four years close to his father, and something may come to his mind.

Dart’s on the phone as I pass him, so I wave with my hand and indicate my office. He holds up one hand with his fingers splayed which I interpret as he’ll be there in five.

In fact it’s four, I realise, checking my old-fashioned clock on the wall as he enters and pulls out the chair in front of the desk.

“What do you reckon to this tunnel idea?” he asks.

“Token’s spoken to you?” At his nod, I continue, “It’s information that’s over twenty years old.” Picking up a pen out of habit, I use it, not to write, but to tap at my lips. “We know there are tunnels. They tend to be dug, used for a few months, then discovered and shut down.”

“There’s a tunnelling task force, isn’t there? Working on tip-offs. I think they’re kept busy.”

It’s my turn to move my head up and down. “What are the chances that Alder’s got a tunnel that’s been undiscovered all this time?”

Instead of answering me, Dart asks a question of his own. “I’ve been thinking about Alder coming after Patsy. If he thinks she’s been moved under WitSec, it’s possible the reason he wants to catch up with her is to see what they know.”

I press my lips together as I think. “What would she be able to tell them? If she’d found Phil’s insurance, how would she be able to discover what was on those floppy disc drives? Unless she had a very old computer at home.” Patsy might be many things, but I don’t get the impression she’s up on technology. “As for the code, how could she read it?”

Dart’s brow furrows as he thinks. “But he wants her found. Why?”

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