Love Lies Dying Read online

  Such a beauty, he thought. She deserves none of this crap from Fox.

  He turned back to watch the entrance too.

  John looked at his watch: 5:30.

  “What will you do?” he asked her.

  She shook her head, “I don’t know.”

  “Do you have family somewhere? Or friends?”

  Zoe pried her eyes from the entrance and faced him.

  “My parents split up when I was little. I lived with my mother. My father just left us. I haven’t seen him for years. I don’t have a clue where he is, and I don’t think I want to know, anyway. My mother got sick and died when I was young.” Her eyes fell into her lap. “We had a funeral and everything,” she continued. “It was horrible.”

  John reached over and touched her hand, “I’m sorry.”

  Zoe shook her head. “Don’t worry, it was a long time ago. People forget.”

  “But the pain never goes,” he said.

  “No, it doesn’t. It was one of the worst days of my life.”

  “But what about friends?”

  “Most of my friends were Ricky’s friends. I’ve got no one else. If I go to them they’ll tell Ricky where I am.”

  “If he’s still alive.”

  “Yeah, if he’s still alive.”

  John took a deep breath.

  Here we go, he thought. For better or for worse.

  “Well, you’ll just have to stay with us until this whole thing blows over,” he smiled at her.

  She lifted her head and looked deep into his eyes. Her face changed from a look of sadness to amazement and then happiness.

  “Are you serious?” she asked.

  “I certainly am!”

  “But…really? What will Helen say?”

  She’ll kill me, he thought.

  “I’m sure Helen will agree with me. You’re safest with us at the moment and you can stay for as long as you like.”

  Zoe’s jaw dropped and she jumped in her seat, “Unbelievable!” She reached over and hugged John hard. “You’re the greatest, Johnny,” she said. “I love you.”

  “We can’t have you facing all these problems by yourself,” he continued. “You can stay with us until you work out a plan or set yourself up somewhere. I might even be able to pull some strings at work and get you a job part time or something.”

  You’re going over the top, he thought. Don’t promise her what you can’t deliver.

  But it’s Zoe! I can’t not help her!

  She hugged him harder. “You’re the best, Johnny.”

  “It’s the least we can do.”

  She sat back in her seat and checked her braids. Her face clouded for a second.

  “But why are you doing this for me?” she asked.

  “You’re in trouble,” he replied. “Friends help other friends in times of trouble.”

  “It could get dangerous,” she whispered.

  “You’ve got a better chance with us than on your own.”

  “Are you willing to risk all?” she asked, her eyes drilling into him. “Everything you own and everyone you know?”

  “Let’s hope it won’t come to that,” he replied.

  “It might.”

  It’s worth the risk, he thought.

  He didn’t know why he would risk it all for Zoe.

  Yes, you do, just look at her!

  She deserves better…

  You can’t give it to her, you’re already in a relationship.

  But I can try and help her.

  John looked over to the entrance again and stared back at the staff staring at them. He glanced at his watch. 5:40.

  “Where is she?” he said.

  “Maybe she’s just late.”

  “She shouldn’t be,” John continued. “The hospital isn’t that far from here.”

  “Could she have been delayed by something?”

  “I doubt it, not from something this important.”

  They sat in the car and waited.

  At 6pm the police car entered the car park.

  John didn’t notice it at first, but as it drew closer it caught his eye. When it pulled in next to them, it really got his attention.

  A bulky uniformed officer with dark glasses and a moustache climbed from the car, gave them a sideways glance, and strolled into the building.

  “She definitely said the Kmart on Elizabeth Street?” John asked as he turned back to face Zoe.

  She nodded, “No doubt about it.”

  He sat staring at her and then glanced at his watch again, just to make sure it was 6pm.

  “And she said five-thirty?”

  Zoe sighed, “Yes, Johnny, she did. I’m not likely to get those two pieces of information wrong. I’m not stupid.”

  “Okay, okay,” John eased back. “I’m not saying you are. I’m just double checking.”

  “Is there another entrance somewhere? Maybe around the back?”

  “Nope, this is it. I’m sure of it.”

  “And this is the only Kmart in this area?”

  He nodded, “Yep, and the only one on Elizabeth Street, that’s for sure.”

  John swivelled in his seat to look out the back window of the car.

  The sun was just beginning its descent.

  “This doesn’t look good,” Zoe said.

  “Maybe she is caught up at the hospital,” John mumbled. “Or went straight home or something.”

  “But she said five-thirty,” Zoe stared unblinkingly at the entrance. “Five-thirty at the Kmart on Elizabeth Street.”

  “Let’s give her a bit more time,” John said.

  “Five-thirty…”

  “She might turn up any minute and we can breathe a sigh of relief.”

  “Kmart…”

  “And then we’ll blast her for being so damn late.”

  “Elizabeth Street…”

  The loud rap on the window made them both jump.

  Zoe let out a yelp and John’s hand automatically went for the key in the ignition.

  He turned and looked out the driver’s window.

  Standing above the car was a man in a dark blue uniform. He was wearing dark sunglasses and his moustache twitched into a half smile. One hand was making a circular motion, indicating for John to wind his window down, and the other was resting on his gun that was still sitting in its hip holster.

  “Shit,” John muttered as he smiled through the glass and began to slowly wind down the window.

  “Evening, sir,” the police officer said as he squatted by the car.

  “Hello,” John replied. “You gave us quite a shock.”

  The officer tilted his head and smiled at Zoe.

  “Hello,” he said.

  “Hi,” Zoe replied in a small quiet voice.

  “Didn’t mean to give you both a scare,” he continued. “But the staff inside are somewhat concerned that you’ve been sitting here in this spot for almost an hour, just watching them. I’m sure you can appreciate that this has made them a bit nervous.”

  “Are you serious?” John asked, amazed.

  “As I said, sir,” the officer continued. “I’m sure you can understand their concern.”

  John sighed and then nodded. “I understand. But we are waiting for someone. They were supposed to be here at five-thirty.”

  The officer nodded, checked his watch and scratched at his moustache. “Well, doesn’t look like they’re gonna make it, does it?”

  “What do you mean?” Zoe asked.

  The officer nodded towards the entrance to the Kmart. “Lady, the staff inside have voiced concerns about you loitering here in their car park.”

  “We are not loitering,” Zoe replied.

  “I understand,” John said, putting up a hand to silence her.

  “So I’m going to have to ask you to move on,” the officer said. “Just doing my job, you understand.”

  “But this is a public car park,” Zoe continued. “You can’t ask us to leave!”

  “Look,” the officer sighe
d. “It’s Saturday night and there’s a game on TV that I ain’t gonna miss. I’m not asking you to leave, I’m ordering. And unless you want me to radio in for backup, I suggest you get moving. Now!”

  The officer started to undo his holster.

  John nodded, “Okay, okay. We understand.”

  “Good. Wise move, sir. You two have a good evening now,” the officer smiled as he stood and walked away from the car.

  “I don’t believe that. What’ll we do now?” Zoe asked.

  John shrugged. “Nothing much we can do. We might as well go home. If Helen turns up here late and sees we’re not here, she’ll just have to drive on home and meet us there.”

  Zoe sat back into her seat and stared ahead once more at the Kmart entrance. She poked her tongue out at the staff still watching them from inside.

  John reached over and touched her leg.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “Everything will work out.”

  She smiled and placed a hand on his, “I sure hope so.”

  John started the engine and backed out of the space. In the rear-view mirror he saw the police officer leaning up against his patrol car and watching them leave. John waved his hand out the window to the officer, but the officer didn’t wave back, he just stood there stroking his moustache.

  As they merged with traffic on the main highway, Zoe jumped in her seat.

  “Got it,” she said.

  “Got what?”

  “Helen must’ve found out something really important and it’s holding her up. She can’t call us because you don’t have a cell phone.”

  “They cause brain cancer,” he reminded her.

  “She’s still at the hospital finding out more details!” her smile beamed at him.

  “Probably,” he said. “Sounds good to me.”

  “So, what are we waiting for?” she asked, her arms spread wide.

  John glanced over at her.

  “You’re right,” he said. “Let’s do it!”

  He pulled over to the side of the road and waited for a break in traffic. When the road was clear, he did a u-turn and headed in the opposite direction.

  “Parkhurst Hospital, here we come!”

  Within five minutes they were sitting in another car park.

  The Parkhurst Hospital public car park was dotted with cars, as well as with people and families coming and going as visiting hours were in full swing.

  “If Mohamed won’t come to the mountain…,” John quoted as he turned off the engine.

  Zoe giggled, “Do you think Mohamed was ever threatened by a cop?”

  John laughed.

  “Probably,” he said. “You know how pesky those police officers can be.”

  They climbed from the car and headed towards the hospital entrance.

  Zoe shivered as she walked.

  “Cold or scared?” he asked.

  “A little bit of both, I think.”

  As they walked towards the entrance, a young couple with two children left the building and started walking towards them. The father held his young son by the hand and the mother held a new-born baby across her chest.

  John smiled at the father as they passed by.

  “You don’t have kids,” Zoe said as they continued walking to the entrance.

  “No,” John mumbled.

  “It looks like you want some,” she continued, using her thumb to point over her shoulder in the direction of the couple who had walked by.

  “I do,” he said. “But…well, we tried and…there were some problems.”

  “Oh,” Zoe replied. “Sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. But it hasn’t been easy. Helen’s been a bit distant since.”

  She nodded, “I’m sorry, Johnny. I really am.”

  He turned to look at her and smiled.

  “Come on. Don’t worry about it,” he said. “Let’s find Helen.”

  They entered the hospital and walked over to the reception area. The clean, sterile smell of the place wafted over John as they walked up to speak with the receptionist.

  I hate hospitals, he thought.

  And then he wondered if he really did hate them, or whether he hated the memories of bringing his wife home after the operation.

  “Your sex life will be back to normal in around six weeks,” the doctor had told them. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Six weeks, he thought. It had been three years!

  The receptionist smiled at him.

  “Good evening,” he smiled back. “Could you tell Helen Murdock her husband is down in reception for her?”

  “Sure,” the receptionist smiled and picked up the phone.

  John turned to find Zoe standing at the hospital gift shop, staring through the window at the toys on display. Her face was full of wonder and excitement.

  Who needs kids? John asked himself. When I have Zoe.

  Her finger pointed through the glass at a large brown bear, then it moved down to a blue elephant, and then over to an overstuffed penguin.

  “Mr Murdock?”

  John turned around to face the receptionist.

  “Mrs Murdock isn’t in her office. Should I page her for you?”

  “That’d be great,” he smiled and walked over to the waiting area where he took a seat on a large leather couch.

  He smiled at the man sitting in a hard-backed chair near the couch. The man smiled back and then continued to read his magazine.

  As John sat down Zoe swung around and smiled at him.

  “I like this one,” she mouthed silently to him while pointing at a lounging leopard on the top shelf.

  He smiled and nodded to her.

  She giggled and quickly made her way across to him. She climbed onto the couch and kneeled next to him.

  “Will you buy it for me?” she asked.

  “What? The leopard?”

  “Yeah,” she nodded as she ran a hand playfully through his hair. “It reminds me of you.”

  John grabbed her hand and placed it on her lap. “I don’t think so.”

  “Please?” she whined loudly.

  The man in the chair glanced up from his magazine and looked at both John and Zoe.

  “Hi there,” Zoe waved.

  The man went back to reading his magazine.

  “Asshole,” she muttered.

  “Sshh,” John whispered. “Don’t be an idiot.”

  “I want the leopard.”

  “Why?”

  “I want to call it Johnny the leopard.”

  “Ah-uh. I’m no leopard.”

  Zoe giggled, “Yes, you are.”

  “Am I?”

  “Sure you are?”

  “Why?”

  “Because you never change your spots,” she whispered as she ran a finger down the side of his cheek.

  “Very funny.”

  “It’s true.”

  “Well, the store is closed now, so I couldn’t buy it even if I wanted to.”

  “Get Helen to pick it up for me.”

  John laughed. “Yeah, I can see her doing that. ‘Honey, could you possibly pick up the leopard in the hospital gift shop for Zoe, she says it reminds her of me.’” John shook his head. “That would go down really well.”

  “Tell her I want it and I’m paying for it.”

  “Here’s an idea,” he said. “Why don’t you tell her you want it and give her the money for it?”

  Zoe swatted John’s wrist and sat back on the couch, “There’s no fun in that.”

  They sat there in silence for a minute or two.

  There was very little to do in the reception area. John glanced over at the man reading the magazine. He was sitting straight in the chair and his eyes were concentrating hard on the article. While he sat there, his right leg shook up and down non-stop, like he was trying to keep time with some extremely fast music that only he could hear.

  The receptionist waved at John and caught his eye. “I’ll page her again for you,” she said.

  John smile
d back at her, “Thanks.”

  Zoe sighed deeply and reached across him to pick up a magazine from a nearby magazine table. As she did so, her smell enveloped him and her right braid brushed against his cheek.

  Just what I don’t need, he thought. Helen walking in and seeing Zoe all over me.

  He pushed her back in the seat.

  “I was just going to get a magazine,” she pouted.

  “Ask and I’ll pass you one.”

  “You won’t know which one I want.”

  He reached into the magazine pile, picked one out and handed it to her.

  “I don’t want ‘Home Beautiful’,” she mumbled.

  “Yes, you do.”

  “It’s boring.”

  “You can look for ideas for your new home,” he said.

  “Very funny,” she said as she threw it across him.

  The magazine hit the side of the pile and slipped to the floor, taking a couple of others with it.

  Zoe shrugged, “Almost.”

  The man looked up at Zoe from his magazine and frowned.

  “Don’t know what he thinks he’s looking at,” she mumbled. “Old pervert.”

  “That’s enough,” John said sternly.

  “I bet he’s got no family or friends,” Zoe crossed her arms in front of her, hiding her belly button. “Thinks he can have a free look at something he’ll never have.”

  John sat forward in the couch and turned to face her, blocking her view of the man.

  “Please, Zoe. Enough, okay? We’re here to help you so please try to behave.”

  Her frown turned into a smile as she looked deeply into his eyes.

  “Okay, Johnny, I’m sorry. Whatever you say.”

  “Good.”

  She grabbed his hand and squeezed it softly.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Between you and Helen.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “You said there were some problems, that’s why you didn’t have kids.”

  “Yeah, we tried. She even got pregnant at one stage…” he couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “Oh, Johnny,” Zoe sat closer to him and rubbed his back. “I’m sorry.”

  “It went wrong,” he whispered.

  “I understand,” she nodded. “It happens.”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s too bad.”