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‘Thank you, that’s very kind.’ She took the cup gratefully and took a long swallow.
The waitress slid an iPad across the bench top. ‘Here, it’s unlocked. Check your thing.’
Hot tears pricked her eyes. ‘Thank you, thank you so much.’
The waitress waved her away, ‘You look so sad, and it’s hardly an inconvenience. The table over there is more private if you like.’
Sarah nodded and took the tablet and her coffee to the table indicated. Taking a seat, she opened a search engine. Then stopped. What should she search for, exactly?
She took a breath and typed her own name. The page filled with links to Sarah Darcy, all dated within the last forty-eight hours. She found the latest video and clicked on it.
The face of a well-groomed BBC reporter filled the screen. Sarah adjusted the volume to as low as she could and still hear it. The reporter was talking about the body of an Australian outlaw motorcycle club member being found with his throat slashed in her flat. It then detailed how she was missing and possibly in the company of Alex Riley, who was suspected of having an involvement in several murders in Australia. Police didn’t think she’d gone willingly and held grave concerns for her safety. Her flatmates were reportedly too distraught to speak on camera.
Suddenly the faces of her mother and brother, Adam, appeared before her. They were still in Australia but were appealing for anyone who knew anything to come forward. Adam was telling the camera that she was a good, intelligent girl who would never willingly get involved in any illegal dealings. They’d never heard of Alex Riley, except for what the police were telling them—a suspected murderer in a biker gang.
Pictures of Sarah flashed on the screen; from her university graduation. The academic overachiever. Definitely not the sort to get mixed up with a biker.
Her mother was crying silently beside her brother. Occasionally dabbing her eyes with a hanky, her arms wrapped around herself. She looked so small and old. No one was comforting her. Why was no one comforting her mother? Even just a hand on her shoulder.
Jesus, Adam, couldn’t you do that?
Her family disappeared from the screen, replaced by the BBC reporter who reiterated the grave concerns being held for Sarah’s welfare.
Quickly, Sarah scanned some of the other articles but they told her nothing more. A history of The Devils and their dealings; it seemed a little tame compared to what Sarah knew of them now. Alex’s bio was equally thin. An outlaw wanted for questioning over several murders. There was no one to speak on his behalf.
Sarah closed the window and was about to shut down the tablet when she thought better of it. She reopened the search engine and deleted the history. She sat for a moment, thinking.
If only she could let her mother know that she was okay. But she had no phone and no money. She couldn’t risk sending an email from someone else’s device, not that her mum checked her email all that often. And then another idea came to her.
Quickly, she typed in another search. She studied the results for a moment and deleted the page again. Rising from the table, she found the waitress.
‘Thank you.’ She placed the iPad into the waitress' hands.
‘Not a problem, hope you found what you were looking for.’
‘I did. You wouldn’t happen to know where I could find a payphone?’
Sarah followed the waitress’ directions to a payphone on a corner three blocks away. She lifted the receiver and brought to mind the instructions she had Googled for making an international call, collect. She punched in the numbers for her childhood home. The line made some unfamiliar noises and Sarah held her breath until it started to ring.
Come on, pick up. Why is it taking so long?
Wait, what time was it in Australia? Sarah had lost all track of things like time zones.Come on!
‘Hello.’
‘Will you accept a collect call from–’
The phone clicked dead.
‘What are you doing?’ Alex stood there, his finger on the lever. He was out of breath.
Sarah dropped the receiver and backed away. ‘I just wanted to let them know I was okay.’
‘Are you kidding? Sarah, you’ll only get them, and you, killed. I told you that.’ Alex stepped back and inhaled deeply. ‘Jesus, don’t you ever listen? Come on, we’ve gotta get out of here.’ He grabbed her arm and started to move in the direction of the RandStad.
Sarah snatched her arm back. ‘No.’ Tears sprang to her eyes. ‘I can’t let my mother think I’m dead.’ Desperation crept into her voice. ‘Please, I won’t tell her where we are, or even that I’m with you. I’ll say I don’t know where you are.’ Her words tumbled out. ‘I'll tell her I can’t come home yet and it’s not safe for her to tell anyone she knows that I’m alive. Please Alex, I can’t let her think I’m dead.’
Alex stood in front of her. ‘Sarah.’ He softened his tone. ‘You have to let her think you’re dead. If you want your mother and brother to be safe.’
