Good Money Read Free Page B

couldn’t even think straight, let alone open a bottle. All I could think, over and over, was how could Adut have found out? There must have been a witness. Someone living in the flats. Everything was coming apart — except the damn bottle cap. I wrenched it, and drew red welts across my palm to no avail.
    Tania bit her lip. ‘It’s a cork,’ she said tentatively.
    â€˜Really?’ I looked at the label: Beaujolais Village . No local gut-rot for Tania. She favoured French wine, and it was always excellent. ‘Oh, right.’
    â€˜Do you know when they’re going to fix the security door on this building?’
    I found a corkscrew and started screwing. ‘ When? You mean if . It’s been like that since I moved here.’
    This news displeased her considerably. ‘Well, I wouldn’t have signed the lease if I thought the security was compromised.’
    â€˜ Compromised? Ha! This isn’t the Pentagon.’
    â€˜But don’t the other tenants care?’
    I thought about them — the ones I knew well. ‘Nope.’ Not even the owner-occupiers like me and Brown.
    â€˜Aren’t you afraid?’
    â€˜Afraid?’
    â€˜I mean, concerned.’
    I poured her a glass of wine, trying not to laugh. ‘Not really.’ I tried to reassure her. ‘You’re safe with me around. I killed a sheep with a knife once.’
    â€˜Stella!’
    â€˜I’m not proud of it.’
    â€˜Oh my God, I can’t believe I didn’t notice before.’
    â€˜Wait, what?’
    â€˜Your feet. I bet we’re the same size.’
    I studied her face: she seemed genuine. ‘So?’
    â€˜I’ve got these shoes. I was going to chuck them out, but —’
    This time I laughed, full and free. It had been a while, and it came out as a squawk.
    â€˜They’re too tight across the toes, but I bet they’d fit you.’ She beamed at me.
    There was much wrong with this state of affairs. Her excessive generosity, for one thing. The fact that my toes were hidden inside a pair of Blundstone boots, for another.
    â€˜They’re in my flat,’ she was saying. ‘I’ll go and get them.’
    â€˜No rush,’ I said. She didn’t hide her disappointment. So I added, ‘But I was just thinking how fabulous your taste in shoes is.’
    â€˜Oh my God! I know!’ She looked at them admiringly for a moment. Then she addressed me. ‘Stella, I have loads of clothes you could borrow, and nice shoes. And, well, don’t take this the wrong way, but I was going to suggest a makeover.’
    â€˜But you look fine.’
    â€˜Not me …’
    My mobile trilled. Saved , I thought, by the default ringtone . I swiped the screen. It was Mrs Chol: ‘Stella, the police are here.’
    I held my breath. They were probably conducting a thorough search. ‘Do you want me to come over?’
    â€˜No. It is all right. My brothers are here with me now. Stella, listen, I need to tell you something.’
    All I could think was that Mrs Chol was about to reveal the existence of the book, with the cops standing in her lounge room listening to every word. ‘No!’ I shrieked.
    â€˜Pardon?’
    â€˜I mean, I’m doing something. Can I call you back?’ I put down the phone, and found Tania staring at me.
    â€˜You’ve gone grey.’
    â€˜Hmm?’
    â€˜In the face.’ She gestured at my head. ‘You’re all sweaty. Are you okay?’
    I had trouble focusing. ‘Sorry, Tania. I think I need to have an early night.’
    â€˜Yes, I think you do.’ She stood by my door then turned back to me, an anxious expression blighting her perfect facial structure.
    â€˜Would you like me to walk you home?’ I said, half joking. Three steps, and we were there.
    â€˜Yes, please. That would be brilliant.’
    I chocked open my door and we went out. The stairwell was in darkness.