Page 97 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie walked into the bar and headed straight for the table in the corner where Becky was already half a drink down beside Aidan.

Someone patted her on her back and she turned recognising them vaguely.

“Good job.” He said and she smiled almost bemused.

“Nice one.” Someone else said as she walked past and she nodded wondering what the actual fuck was going on.

“Here she is, woman of the moment.” Aidan said as she reached their table.

“What does that mean?” Maddie asked.

“The AGM, you think people haven’t heard?” He replied and she rolled her eyes before taking the beer bottle he was offering and sitting down opposite the pair of them.

“I did what anyone would’ve done in my position.” Maddie stated.

“Yeah but I doubt I would’ve actually hit any of them.” Becky said.

“That’s what you have Aidan for right?” Maddie replied and Becky laughed.

“Yeah amongst other things.” Becky said. “So how was the weekend at Cole’s?” She asked.

They’d got back hours ago and Cole and Brandon had pretty much shot right off to look into the whole bomb situation at Black Tech which admittedly Maddie was more than happy about because Becky had been tempting her all afternoon with the escape of the bar and in truth she’d wanted nothing more than a serious drink and a catch up.

“It was interesting.” She said.

“Interesting good or interesting bad?” Becky asked.

“Well for starters his house is massive, I mean like stately home massive.” Maddie stated. “And his family are intense.”

“What’s his mother like?” Becky asked.

“She’s alright. It’s the cousins that were the worst.”

“Well if you can get on with the mother-in-law that’s all that counts.” Aidan said.

“Definitely not mother in law yet.” Maddie said laughing.

“Surprised he didn’t pop the question while he was there.” Becky said and Maddie shook her head.

“We’re nowhere near that. Besides with everything going on at BlackWater I think we’ve got a lot more to think about than that.”

“Yeah maybe you’re right.” Becky replied.

Aidan got up to go get more drinks and Maddie took the moment to corner her.

“So, talking of popping the question…?”

“Nothing. Although he’s taking me away.” Becky said.

“Where?”

“I don’t know. It’s a surprise. He’s given me a list of things to pack but he won’t say where we’re actually going.”

“Can’t you figure it out from the list?”

“Yeah we’re going somewhere hot enough to need summer dresses and bikinis yet cold enough to need my ski jacket and snow boots.”

“One of those is a red herring.” Maddie stated.

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