Page 94 of The Devil's Tattoo
We were dropped outside the front door of the building where Absolute had its offices and studios, and when we exited the elevator, we were greeted by a representative who guided us through the security entrance into the officespace.
When we walked past the reception area, Frank was waiting along with Simone and Chris, who’d become inseparable since they’d hooked up on tour. They looked perfect together and were beyond happy. Everything had worked out in the end, and I hoped it would stay that way. I couldn’t think of two more deserving people thanthoseguys.
Dee guided me through the office, trailing behind the lady who’d greeted us at the door. I hadn’t been on this side of the radio station before, and it was all very laid back with bright graffiti art spray-painted on the walls, posters everywhere, and all the staff were in casual clothes. Toward the back of the floor were the studios, floor-to-ceiling soundproof glass pimped out with all kinds of sound equipment and street art plastered all over thewalls.
When we approached the studio right at the back, the red light was on over the door, signaling they were currently on air, but when I saw who was sitting behind the mic, headphones on his head and guitar in hand, I almost had a heartattack.
“What the hell, Dee!” I slapped him on the arm, and he jumped back with alaugh.
“You know me, Zo. Alwaysmeddling.”
“Always devising little stratagems.” I rolledmyeyes.
Turning back to the studio, I shook my head in disbelief as the one and only Will Strickland winked and made a kissy face at me. Pete sat next to him, and with a sly smile, gave me a small wave. They weren’t meant to be back untiltomorrow.
“They got back last night,” Dee said inmyear.
“And what’s going on?” I asked, gesturing to the studio. “Ithought—”
“Shoosh, hot legs. They’rebackon.”
We couldn’t hear them through the glass, but a speaker was positioned outside, amplifying to the entire office what was currently being broadcast. The announcer was Hugo, the guy who’d interviewed Frank and me all that time ago on the day we found out that we were touring with TheStabs.
“You’re listening to Absolute, and that track you heard right there was ‘Luck Now’ from a band out of Melbourne called Big Scary. Hey. I’m Hugo taking you right through to five. We’ve got a special surprise for you right now. I know you were all expecting the guys from The Devil’s Tattoo in for a chat, but we’ve been hijacked by a couple of guys you might know from a band called The Stabs. Will and Pete, how are you guysgoing?”
“Great, thanks, Hugo,” Will replied, eyeing me through theglass.
“So you guys have come in this arvo and just wormed your way into the studio. Totally unannounced, I might add. I understand you’ve got something special lined up for our listeners? Care toexplain?”
“Well, we just got back from our tour in Europe. Last night, in fact, and we have this song we’d like to play,” Pete said, amusement in hisvoice.
“Anewsong?”
“This one is actually a collaboration,” Will replied. “I helped a beautiful, tattooed, rock goddess write this one night on our lastAustraliantour.”
“You’re not talking about Zoe from The Devil’s Tattoo are you?” Hugo asked with a laugh. “Because she’s standing right outside this studio looking at you likeyou’remad.”
“The oneandonly.”
“Well, I’m dying to hear it now. What’s the storybehindit?”
“Well, Zoe and I didn’t get off to the greatest start. So one night, I managed to corner her and convince her to let me help with a song she was writing. It was the first time I knew I wanted her forever. I mean, I knew I wanted her the first moment I laid eyes on her, but that was the first time I wanted it to be forever. I hope she doesn’t mind, but I made up a couple of words to gowithit.”
“Ohhh, a love story in the making.” Hugo laughed, looking out at me withawink.
Grimacing, Ishrugged.
“We’d like to play it for you today, and I’d especially like to play itforZoe.”
I recognized the song immediately. After all, it had been rolling around my head for days before we wrote it that night. With the two acoustic guitars, it was more haunting than I remembered. At some point, he must have worked further on it because I heard little nuances that weren’t therebefore.
When Will started singing instead of Pete, my breath caught in my throat, and I swore my heart stoppedbeating.
See the color inyoureyes,
I’m strung out no place togonow
Light bared on agraysoul
