Part 24 (1/2)

Makedde took a deep breath. ”I think we may want to wait on that until I tell you what I need to say. Thanks for the gift, but...I just need to talk with you about something first.”

He nodded and looked at her with those big brown eyes, his face suddenly serious. ”It's not about me following you home that first night again, is it? I'm sorry about that. I was just looking out for you-”

”Roy...I don't think we should see each other for a while,” she said.

His face dropped.

”There's a lot going on in my life at the moment which I need to sort out, so I shouldn't really be seeing anyone just now. I'm sorry.”

He appeared totally confused. ”Is it something I did?”

”No, no. You have been lovely. I just would rather be alone.”

Roy looked puzzled, and hurt. Yes, he definitely looked hurt.

Am I doing the right thing? Am I ruining a potentially good thing?

”I'm sorry, Roy. It's not your fault. It's mine. I didn't want to just avoid you or anything. I wanted to be upfront about it.”

He squinted and pursed his lips. ”Is there someone else?” he said suspiciously. She didn't like the look in his eye when he said it. Nor did she appreciate his tone.

”No, not really. It's just me.” Don't bring Andy into this.

Roy's eyes narrowed. ”Not really? So there is someone else?”

”No,” Makedde repeated, more firmly this time. She didn't like this sudden aggression.

”Who is he?” Roy demanded.

She saw a flash of anger, and it made her nervous. She stiffened and sat upright.

”Who is he?” she lashed back. ”I just said there is no one else. I don't want to see you, okay? Don't you get that?”

Perhaps that came out a little nastier than necessary.

”No!” he spat. ”No, it's not okay. I want a good reason. I want a good reason for why you would lead me on like this. What are you, some kind of tease?”

Makedde's jaw fell open. ”Roy!”

He shut up and covered his face with his hands.

”Roy, you are being totally unreasonable,” she said.

”I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that,” he said, shaking his head, berating himself. ”I didn't mean to say that. That was wrong. Please forgive me. Won't you give me another chance?”

”I don't think we should see each other any more, Roy,” she said firmly.

”But, Makedde, I really care about you.” He reached for her hand and she pulled it away. ”Will you let me be your friend at least? Please?”

”Just...just accept my apologies and go. There's no hard feelings or anything.”

”You don't want me?” He sounded like a spoilt child.

”Roy.” She was annoyed. He couldn't have missed it. ”Don't do that.” She gave him a firm and steady ”back off” look and felt her body prepare for a possible confrontation. What if he freaks out and gets violent?

Roy looked at her for a while and she looked straight back.

”But, Makedde, I can help you. I know what you've been through, and I can help you.”

A chill went up her spine.

”Professor Gosper told me all about it. It's terrible what you've been through. I can understand why you're pus.h.i.+ng me away, but really, I can help you.”

”Professor Gosper told you about what?”

”About the man who abducted you in Sydney. The serial killer.”

Her blood ran cold.

Her toe began to tingle.

”I'm not going to discuss this with you.”

”Don't do this, Makedde. I can help you,” he pleaded.

”I don't need your help.”

”Don't push me away! I understand you! I can help you!” He opened his mouth again to protest, but stopped, stood up and tossed his gift on the ground so hard that it bounced on the pavement. He stormed off in a huff in the direction he had come.

Makedde sat on the bench and hung her head.

d.a.m.n.

That hadn't been as easy as she had hoped.

And he knew all about Sydney!

When Makedde finally left the bench she wasn't sure what to do about the little gold box. If she gave it back it would mean facing him again, and if she left it at his work station or something similar it would be like rubbing salt in his wounds. She wished he had just taken it with him, whatever it was.

I should at least open it, she thought.

Makedde bent over to pick up the little box. It felt light in her grasp, the gold paper smooth under her fingertips. Carefully, she peeled open one end of the neat wrapper and pulled out the box.