Page 52 of Star Witch
I curtsied. ‘You’re welcome.’ He gave me a half smile in response.
I looked him over. I didn’t know him well but he certainly appeared healthier than the last time I’d seen him. Maybe those gym workouts had helped after all. I grinned to myself. Nah. Not a chance. It was more likely that the counselling sessions I’d helped arrange had done the trick. It might have only been a couple of days but spilling out your heart to a stranger could have a remarkable effect. It really did help to offload.
‘You look better,’ I told him.
‘I feel better,’ he admitted. ‘Thank you for your help. It’s made a difference.’
I beamed at him. ‘Good.’
He shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘I should get off,’ he muttered. ‘Your lot must be at the cabin, right?’
‘Right.’
He wrinkled his nose. ‘I’ll cross the river further upstream.’
That was probably a good idea. I was about to wave him off when another thought occurred to me. ‘Actually, Gareth,’ I said, ‘do you happen to have a phone on you?’
‘Yeah. Why?’
I tilted my head and did my best to smile sweetly. ‘Do you think I could borrow it? Just for a moment?’
‘Where’s your one?’
‘I’ve been promoted to contestant. I’m not allowed any communication with the outside world.’
Gareth raised his eyebrows. ‘What are we doing right now then?’
‘You’re not supposed to be here.’
He considered this. ‘True.’ He reached into his pocket and tossed me his mobile. ‘There you go.’
I grinned my thanks and quickly put in Iqbal’s number. My scholarly friend had better bloody answer. It took several rings and when Iqbal finally did pick up, he sounded particularly unfriendly. ‘Who is this?’
‘Ivy of course!’
He breathed out. ‘Oh. I’ve been trying to get hold of you for ages. This isn’t your number.’
‘Nope.’ I remained cheery. ‘I’ve borrowed someone else’s phone. Is everything alright with you? You sound kind of … antsy.’
‘My supervisor’s after me,’ he said morosely. ‘He keeps threatening to pull my funding unless I show him some evidence of what I’ve done so far.’
I winced. ‘Idle threats?’
‘Alas no. I think he’s serious this time.’
‘I’d offer to help,’ I said, ‘but I’m not sure I’d be much use to you. If there’s anything I can do though, let me know.’
‘Oh, I will, don’t worry.’ He sighed. ‘Anyway, I suppose you’re calling because you want to know what I’ve found out about that vial.’
‘Yep. It’s not easy for me to call these days so I’ve got to take every opportunity I can.’
‘Sounds intriguing.’
I snorted. ‘More like hard work. The real world seems to be encroaching on both our lives.’
‘We should form a commune and live in the wilderness where no one can bother us.’
I looked around. The wilderness didn’t offer much in the way of creature comforts. One day in and what I wouldn’t give for some quilted toilet roll… ‘Somehow I think that would be even more like hard work.’
