soon,” Katy replied before she hung up.
CHAPTER SEVEN
T ony was waiting in the courtyard for her when she arrived home. His hair was damp from being in the shower. “Well?”
“The jury is still out. You look good enough to eat.” Lorne got out of the car and hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.
“Down, tiger. Your father is spying on us through the kitchen window. What happened? Wasn’t the garden up to scratch?”
“No, that side of things was fine. I’m hungry. Let’s eat, and I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.”
Tony raised a suspicious eyebrow and patted her on the bottom. “Hmm…Sounds ominous. Your dad is making beef and onion pie.”
“Yum. Love Dad’s pies.”
After having a quick shower, Lorne joined her father and Tony at the kitchen table. Her father served the meal, and Tony poured them each a glass of red wine. She could get used to this, being waited on by two handsome men.
Two mouthfuls into the meal, Tony asked, “So? I’m dying to hear what went on.”
Lorne gulped down the mouthful of delicious pie and, in-between mouthfuls, told Tony and her father how the visit had gone. They both remained silent until after she had finished telling her story.
“So they want the dog as a deterrent?” Tony asked.
“That’s what it amounts to, yes,” Lorne replied, wiping her mouth on the serviette and pushing her empty plate away. “That was scrummy, Dad. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Well, I can understand it from the women’s point of view, but I also know that you will have the dog’s interest to bear in mind, as well. Don’t shout at me and let me finish before you react. Could you not give the girls a trial period with Blackie? A month, say?”
Lorne smiled at her ageing father, so wise and understanding in too many ways to mention. “On the journey back home, I was contemplating the same thing, Dad. I know it’s against my better judgment, but if you could’ve seen the fear in all the girls’ eyes. Actually, I’d like to offer them more help if I can.”
“Uh-oh! I sense trouble brewing.” Tony eyed her warily.
Lorne punched him gently on the top of the arm. “I’m worried about the condom aspect. Without evidence, it’s going to be Linda’s word against his. I need to spend some time on the computer tonight. I rang Katy on the way home—you know, to test the water. She’s going to have a word with Roberts and get back to me with the outcome.”
“This Linda, did she manage to scratch the bastard at all?” Tony asked.
Lorne started stacking the plates and took them over to the sink. “Nope. He tied her hands behind her back. Another reason why I think the police will also have their hands tied—excuse the pun. Anyone want some ice cream?”
“Not for me, love,” her father said. “I’m thinking this guy has raped before.”
Lorne nodded at her father. “I came to the same conclusion, Dad. To me, it sounded all planned out. From the innocent nod and joke sharing with the bouncer to being enticed to his home and being dumped back at the alley. I’ll see what I can dig up on this Graham Gibson later. The police paid him a visit yesterday. When I last spoke to them, the girls had no idea of the outcome. I’ll ring Fiona tomorrow to see what they had to say, if anything.”
She took two dessert bowls from the cupboard and scooped two dollops of chocolate chip ice cream into each of them.
Tony took his bowl from Lorne. “I’ll help later with the checking. Maybe—just maybe—if the coppers come up blank, we could make this our first case.”
“You read my mind, although I haven’t discussed it with the girls yet. Not sure they would be able to afford our fees.”
Tony contemplated Lorne’s words for a few minutes as he ate the ice cream on his spoon. “You could always do it pro bono. You know, to get you—or us, I should say—into the swing of things.”
She looked over at her father for his opinion. He was
CHAPTER SEVEN
T ony was waiting in the courtyard for her when she arrived home. His hair was damp from being in the shower. “Well?”
“The jury is still out. You look good enough to eat.” Lorne got out of the car and hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.
“Down, tiger. Your father is spying on us through the kitchen window. What happened? Wasn’t the garden up to scratch?”
“No, that side of things was fine. I’m hungry. Let’s eat, and I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.”
Tony raised a suspicious eyebrow and patted her on the bottom. “Hmm…Sounds ominous. Your dad is making beef and onion pie.”
“Yum. Love Dad’s pies.”
After having a quick shower, Lorne joined her father and Tony at the kitchen table. Her father served the meal, and Tony poured them each a glass of red wine. She could get used to this, being waited on by two handsome men.
Two mouthfuls into the meal, Tony asked, “So? I’m dying to hear what went on.”
Lorne gulped down the mouthful of delicious pie and, in-between mouthfuls, told Tony and her father how the visit had gone. They both remained silent until after she had finished telling her story.
“So they want the dog as a deterrent?” Tony asked.
“That’s what it amounts to, yes,” Lorne replied, wiping her mouth on the serviette and pushing her empty plate away. “That was scrummy, Dad. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Well, I can understand it from the women’s point of view, but I also know that you will have the dog’s interest to bear in mind, as well. Don’t shout at me and let me finish before you react. Could you not give the girls a trial period with Blackie? A month, say?”
Lorne smiled at her ageing father, so wise and understanding in too many ways to mention. “On the journey back home, I was contemplating the same thing, Dad. I know it’s against my better judgment, but if you could’ve seen the fear in all the girls’ eyes. Actually, I’d like to offer them more help if I can.”
“Uh-oh! I sense trouble brewing.” Tony eyed her warily.
Lorne punched him gently on the top of the arm. “I’m worried about the condom aspect. Without evidence, it’s going to be Linda’s word against his. I need to spend some time on the computer tonight. I rang Katy on the way home—you know, to test the water. She’s going to have a word with Roberts and get back to me with the outcome.”
“This Linda, did she manage to scratch the bastard at all?” Tony asked.
Lorne started stacking the plates and took them over to the sink. “Nope. He tied her hands behind her back. Another reason why I think the police will also have their hands tied—excuse the pun. Anyone want some ice cream?”
“Not for me, love,” her father said. “I’m thinking this guy has raped before.”
Lorne nodded at her father. “I came to the same conclusion, Dad. To me, it sounded all planned out. From the innocent nod and joke sharing with the bouncer to being enticed to his home and being dumped back at the alley. I’ll see what I can dig up on this Graham Gibson later. The police paid him a visit yesterday. When I last spoke to them, the girls had no idea of the outcome. I’ll ring Fiona tomorrow to see what they had to say, if anything.”
She took two dessert bowls from the cupboard and scooped two dollops of chocolate chip ice cream into each of them.
Tony took his bowl from Lorne. “I’ll help later with the checking. Maybe—just maybe—if the coppers come up blank, we could make this our first case.”
“You read my mind, although I haven’t discussed it with the girls yet. Not sure they would be able to afford our fees.”
Tony contemplated Lorne’s words for a few minutes as he ate the ice cream on his spoon. “You could always do it pro bono. You know, to get you—or us, I should say—into the swing of things.”
She looked over at her father for his opinion. He was
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