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death
threat looming over her?  I almost felt diseased.
    I
got to my feet.  The computer was off.  Perhaps Lee’s way of stating
that I hadn’t received a new message, yet.  I checked the desk for a
note.  Nothing. 
    While
gnawing the inside of my lip, I spun around in the room unsure of what to do
next.
    Being
alone in my quiet house, feeling angry and helpless, well, I hated it.  I
grabbed my car keys and drove to Laura’s.  After turning onto her
driveway, I cut the engine but remained in my seat.  While looking in the
mirror to tidy my hair, I wondered what I would say.  Do I really want
to drag Laura into this mess when I don’t even know what it’s about?  
It would certainly slap a huge dampener on her wedding week.  Helping her
to start afresh had been the only thing I cared about all year.  Her
wedding day was supposed to put us both on a new road to happiness, a golden
one.
    A
dim light filtered through Laura’s lounge curtains.  I dragged myself out
of my car and knocked on the front door, intent on keeping my mouth shut about
the mess I was in.  I planned to drive back home at first light, check my
emails, then contact the police. 
    A
few seconds later, the door opened.
    “Glad
you came back.”  Laura grinned then hugged me in the doorway. 
“You’re shaking.  Come in and warm up.”
    A
familiar female voice drifted from the lounge.  “Who is it, Laura?”
    I
walked through, stepped onto the plush cream carpet and forced myself to find a
smile for Emma. 
    “Are
you okay?”  Emma placed her glass of bubbly on the coffee table and
studied my face.  “You look a bit troubled, and well... rough!”
    “I’m
fine.  I dozed off.  Just woken up.”  I patted and smoothed my
hair, wondering for how long I’d need to smile to convince her I was
okay.  “I don’t look that bad, do I?”
    “I’ll
get you a drink.”  Laura left the room. 
    “And
a hairbrush,” Emma joked.  “I meant to phone you earlier, Chelsea. 
How did your date go yesterday?”
    “Not
the best.”
    “Aw. 
Too bad.  Laura said you’ve been to see someone tonight.  Another
date?”
    I
shook my head.
    “And
have you had another one of those virus-thingy emails?”  Emma plucked a
hunk of lint off her shrug.
    “No,”
I lied.  She was bound to glance up at me, so I concentrated on acting and
looking all innocent in case she did.  
    “Glad
to hear it.  I said it was nothing to worry about.”  She sipped her
drink and I tried not to sigh in relief that she’d believed me. 
    Laura
returned with a glass of bubbly and a brilliant smile, but no hairbrush. 
“Worry about what?”
    “That
email,” Emma said.
    Laura
handed me a glass.  “Oh, that.” 
    I
eased into a chair and swallowed a large mouthful of Champagne.  Between
the voices in my head and my friends’ babbling chatter, my mind soon began
whirling.
    “You’re
quiet tonight,” Laura commented. 
    Emma
laughed.  “Lost your tongue?”
    I
faked a smile.  I didn’t relish dealing with things on my own, but
bringing my friends into the loop could put them at risk, too.  I couldn’t
bear that.  Not my closest friends.  This left me with no choice
other than to take a step back.
    “Put
some music on and let’s dance,” I shouted, ditching my ponderous mood.
    Laura’s
face lit up at my new, spirited attitude.  She nodded before fiddling with
the remote.  Dance music blasted from the corner speakers. 
    While
ideas and excuses buzzed around my brain, I downed my drink, leapt from the
sofa and danced as though it were my last chance for fun. 
    When
the CD finished, the three of us crashed side by side onto the sofa,
laughing. 
    Laura
refilled my glass.  “Thirsty work.” 
    Emma
leaned her head back, giggling.
    Dancing
numbed my brain, or maybe the champagne did.  Either way, I hoped I’d
tired myself enough to drop straight to sleep tonight.  “Listen. I’ve got
personal stuff to sort out.  I’ll probably