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he rolls his eyes to the heavens,
‘she calls me by my name.’
    ‘You are weird,’ I turn away, ‘I was just
about to say, before I was rudely interrupted, that I don’t need a ride back to
Marnie’s.  I am going to have a wander around.  I can walk back.’
    ‘You know how far it is? How about I drop
you to pick up your Jeep?’ He suggests.
    I wave him away, ‘no, I need to walk off
all this food,’ I put a hand to my stomach.
    ‘Look fit enough to me,’ he purrs,
suggestively.
    ‘Thank you for your escort, Detective
Austin,’ I ignore the heat in his eyes and turn in the direction of Ollie’s.
    ********

Chapter Four
    Nate was right; the walk back was long
and all uphill. I would class myself as incredibly fit taking yoga sessions
twice a week as well as usually running four times a week.  I struggled
and had to stop at various points along the way to recharge my batteries and
take in the breath-taking views.  I did remember to grab a bottle of water
on the way, thankfully, but I was exhausted by the time I finally reached the
hotel. 
    I had wandered around the pretty streets,
familiarizing myself with the layout of the many shops.  A couple of
people stopped me and conveyed their condolences on the loss of Oliver, which
had a healing effect, and somehow made me feel a little closer to my brother.
Speaking to the people that he conversed with on a daily basis, made me feel as
if I knew him a little better. 
    A few of those people asked after Simon,
but did it with a shake of their head, as if they knew something rather
unsavoury about his character.  But, no one would elaborate.  I made
a mental note to ask Nate about it the next time I saw him.
    Moving directly to my room, I kick off my
shoes and flop tiredly on the bed. 
    A banging sound wakes me.  I sit
bolt upright, confused by my surroundings, blinking confusedly around me,
totally disorientated.
    ‘I know you are in there, Sophie!’ That
sounded like Ellie.
    ‘Just a minute!’ I sit on the edge of the
bed for a moment to gather my wits, before standing to open the door.
    ‘I knew if I didn’t personally come and
fetch you, you would bail,’ she marches in, dolled up to the nines, balancing
on heels almost the length of her feet.
    Even in my state of grogginess, I could
see how stunning Ellie Austin truly was, her dark hair was puffed out huge, her
make-up immaculate, her figure, tiny!  All wrapped up in a sky-blue shift
dress that barely covered the essentials. 
    ‘Wow!’ I blink over at her, my hand still
on the door. ‘You look hot!’
    ‘Eyes off, honey, I’m taken, not that I
couldn’t be swayed by you if I was that way inclined.’ Her eyes move around my
hotel room, ‘where’s the wardrobe?’
    I point, and she makes a mad dash to open
it and inspect its content.
    ‘Shower!’ she points to the bathroom.
    ‘I didn’t pack to socialise, Ellie,’ I
stand, immobile as she pushes the hangers one way then the other.
    ‘You have some fine clothes, girl,’ she
states, ‘but none of this is going to suffice.’ She lifts her phone and calls
into it.  ‘Need something appropriate for my girl who’s got legs that go
all the way up to heaven, tits that every man desires.’
    ‘No, Ellie,’ I call.  She puts a
finger up to halt me.  Unusually for me, I comply.
    ‘Bring a couple. I’m at Ma’s, Room
seventeen,’ she dips her head to the bottom of the wardrobe where my shoes are
kept, ‘no, she’s good on the shoe front.’  Disconnecting the call, she
glances over at me, ‘Sophie, shower girl!’
    ‘Jesus Fuck!’ I curse, as I enter the
bathroom.
    ‘You sound like Nate,’ I hear her giggle.
    Walking into the bar almost an hour
later, I have to say I feel exhilarated.  I had promised to do as Ellie
suggested, and push all my grief and anxieties to the back of my mind for one
night only. I dress in one of Beth’s, who’s Ellie’s best friend, little black
dresses that fit where it touches.  It is similar