Overdue Chapter 5

Rat took me in her car. It was the old courtesty car for Rats dads tyre franchise. It worked, just.

Java Hutt at night was a busy place. It catered to all lifestyles, poor, rich, straight, queer, clean and stoned out of your gourd. The guy we were trying to find did work there, but he wasn't working that night. In fact he hadn't been there for a week. This we were told was normal for Cameron. They gave us his address and I wanted to go straight away but Rat wanted an espresso and a slice of orange cake. She even got us a table and sat me down. She ordered me a long black and a couple of doughnuts. We sat in silence waiting for the coffee and cakes. When her espresso came she started talking.

"Your weird Craig. And you want to know why?" Well she didn't wait for a response and gave me her answer straight away.
"Because you love your job but are frustrated with every other aspect of your life." She looked at me like she was revealing the secret of eternal life. I didn't know if I was supposed to be astounded or shocked.

"Why is that weird Rat?" I asked but I really didn't want to know why. I just wanted to go find this Cameron guy.

"Most people hate their job it frustrates them, pisses them off. And what that does is give them the need to make life

outside the job better. You don't have that, so your life sucks and it frustrates you. You want better but your job is great and you pour yourself into that. And what does that get you. No life outside work."

This was third rate psychobabble. Why was she saying this now, here. I wasn't sure why she said all that but it sounded as if she'd practised it. I just didn't know what to say so I said nothing. I silence we finished the coffee's and I bagged the rest of my doughnuts for later.

Cameron lived a few blocks down from Java Hutt. It was short and awkward walk. All I could think was why Rat said all of

that. She'd told me so many times my life sucked it shouldn't have meant much. But I couldn't get over the fact that it sounded prepared. Was this a punishment for snapping at her in the library earlier. Before I could get my head around all

that we were at the block of flats. Cameron was in number 6 which was on the third floor. The flats were a small rectangluar block divided in the middle by a centre staircase. The first signs were good, the staircase didn't smell of urine, it was well lit. And then we came to the third floor.

"This is bad isn't it?" I didn't want the answer to be yes.

"Yeah Craig its bad." replied Rat. The doorway, I say doorway because the door wasn't there at all. Well the hinges were there and in the place of a door was police tape. We stood there for a while. Then the door to flat number 5 opened. I jumped in front of Rat.

"Who are you?" I tried to be tough and mean but my voice was high and sqweeky.

"I'm Ms Lola. Answers Ms. Lola. "You after Cam?" Ms. Lola asked. She was possibly mid-fifties and wore a pink flanelette night gown with matching pink slippers. Rat pushed in front of me gave me a look that said ' If I needed protection I'd bring a gun, idiot'

"Yes we are, do you know where he is?" asked Rat politely.

"He's dead. Some guys came for him two days ago. They let themselves in and waited for him to get home. I thought they were friends, he always had friends coming over. I heard the screams and before I could phone the cops they were gone. He was dead."

"Why's the door broken down then?" I asked.

"Oh that was Lucas from number 4. He heard the comotion when those thugs ran out and locked the door behind them. Lucas is a plumber he got his crowbar and broke the door open. But it was too late Cameron was dead." Ms. Lola looked at me and Rat. "Your a strange couple." Ms. Lola pointed to Rat. "Now I'd believe you'd be here for Cameron's shit. But him, no your too straight for that. What are you here for?" It was an accusation not a question. I decided to lie my arse off.

"Camerons parents have been looking for him. He never told them where he lived. I'm part of their church group and they asked me to find him. Storm's an old friend from school I asked her to help me." I smiled all the way through it. Ms. Lola bought it completley. We walked out of the block of flats and back to Rats car.

"That was some quick thinking back there." She said to me when we hoped in the car. "Church group. I would never have thought of thet one."

"Thanks" I was breif but that was because all I could think of was thugs comming round to my place. Was I next.

We got home and it wasn't that late for Rat so she came in as well. I was still thinking about Cameron being dead. I didn't even know him, yet here I was shocked that he was dead. I sat on the lounge. Rat flopped down besdie me.

"Oh well the trail goes cold now doesn't it. He couldn't have told them anything. They haven't come here have they.... Craig." She smiled, waved her hand in front of my face. "Thats it. Its all over." She exhaled. "Craig you need to relax."

She got up and straddled my lap, facing me her knees on the lounge. She took my face in her hands gently and kissed me. Softly at first then with a bit more urgency. I stood up and she wrapped her legs around my waist. Then she stopped kissing me.

"Whats wrong." Rat asked."We've done this before." This was true after high school we got together. It was nice but it wasn't a realtionship. She smiled wickedly. "You can call me Faith." she whispered then started kissing my neck. This time it didn't work. She stopped kissing me and I let her down.

"I'll.... I'll go now ok." Rat tried to deal with the awkwardness but she couldn't. She left quickly. I just stood there. I heard her start the car. It stalled, she started it again and drove away. All I did was stand there.