Forty-seven

“John Murdock’s phone.”

“Hi, listen, it’s me.”

“John? Where the hell are you?”

“Look, I can’t talk for long. Just listen, okay?”

“Oh, okay. But we were all wondering where you were, not showing up for work and all.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m in Hepburn Lakes.”

“Where?”

“Hepburn Lakes!”

“What are you doing all the way out there?”

“Look, I can’t talk for long. I’m being held captive by a woman out here.”

“Yeah, yeah, good one!”

“Listen, I’m serious! I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s true! I’m out in the middle of nowhere at some small church about 10 minutes from Hepburn Lakes. Now, I’ve got to get out of here. So I’m heading down to the town, there’s a hotel there, some kind of bar. I saw it when we drove up here. I’ll try to head for there. It’ll take a while to get there because I have to go on foot, but I’ll get there. I want you to drive up here and get me.”

“Hey, John, a joke’s a joke, but this is going too far!”

“I’m serious, okay? When have I ever lied to you? I’ve got to get out of here now. And you have to come and pick me up. Okay?”

“Where’s your car?”

“Huh? Back at home.”

“Can’t Helen come and get you?”

“No, she can’t. I don’t really know where she is.”

“What?”

“Look, just trust me on this, please? I need your help!”

“Hey, you are serious!”

“Yes, fucking deadly serious!”

“I mean, I thought something was wrong when I found your card stuck in my wire door on Saturday night. I tried to contact you, but there was no answer. You should’ve waited, I was only down at the 7 Eleven. And then I couldn’t contact you yesterday and –”

“I’ve got to go. Hepburn Lakes. The hotel, okay? You just sit out the front in your car. I’ll come to you.”

“It’ll take me hours to get there.”

“I know. But you have to come.”

“I mean, it’s miles away.”

“I know that. I don’t care. I can wait. This is important, okay?”

“Are you okay?”

“I really don’t know.”

“Can’t you call the police or something?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“No, I didn’t think it would be. It never is, huh?”

“I’ll be at the hotel.”

“Alright, I’ll see you there as soon as I can.”