Majorca Flats -- 310

Jason was smiling at her, so clearly divining her thoughts that she coloured.

“Lou is one of us,�? he said. “We'll look after him. He's … things aren't easy for him … but … well … we're not going to abandon him.�? He scratched his leg absently. “I loved—I still love—Brent, but Lou and Key are my friends.�? The slightly different intonation on the last word made it clear that they were friends and more than friends.

“Yeah,�? said Keith. “He naids lookin' afta, does our Lou.�?

“But … but will his wife take him back? Not Lou I mean, the other one?�?

“Caody,�? supplied Keith. “Naow. Prolly not. Not many women will, ya knaow. And I daon't knaow as he told her before. My thinkin' is that Caody waon't have a plice to staoy.�?

“No.�? Jason stared at Keith his face alight with unspoken questions.

“Thing is, Jace,�? said Keith, watching him as intently, “well ya knaow, daon't ya?�?

“Yes.�? Jason smiled. “We'll give it a try, hey? Make it work, too, Key love.�?

Eleanor wasn't entirely certain what had just happened but she felt a sudden warmth in her heart and decided she liked Keith very much and Jason even more than she had before.

“I think,�? she said, “that calls for more tea,�? and she went inside to make a new pot.

“Ya sure?�? asked Keith when she'd left.

“Yes. Quite.�? Jason's vowels were never sharper.

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Majorca Flats -- 309

They were talking about Luigi and Cody. When she came out on to the veranda, they stopped and turned towards her.

“Don't mind me,�? she said. Keith flicked his eyes towards Jason, waiting for his lead.

“We were just talking about a friend of ours, Luigi, and his friend. Who was taken by the Mount Macedon murderer. But he escaped this morning so Lou has gone through to Mount Macedon to fetch him. And we were just wondering what was happening.�?

“Will he go to the police?�?

“We dunno,�? answered Keith. “Thing is … well … it's complicated.�?

“How?�? asked Eleanor Cumberledge, helping herself to another biscuit.

Keith glanced at Jason and was irked to see him grinning.

“He's married,�? he said curtly.

“That would complicate things,�?replied Eleanor placidly.

“Well, that was why Lou dumped him,�? said Jason.

“Because he was married?�? Eleanor was puzzled.

“Yeah. The mongrel was married and he promised undyin' love to Luigi and poor Lou's heart was broke when he found out.�?

“Then Lou met me and we took him under our wing and it started going right again and then this happened.�? He stopped for a minute, thinking. “I hope Lou's all right, Key. It can't be easy. I don't know whether he's the forgiving kind, our Lou.�?

“Not unless you hit him,�? replied Keith drily.

Eleanor was shaken by this dry comment.

“Don't, Key. Everybody has their …. problems.�?

“Yeah.�? Keith sighed. “I knaow. Poor bugger.�?

Eleanor wasn't quite sure what all the relationships were. It was all so different from when she'd been young. Keith and Jason were clearly friends but there was also that indefinable electricity and physical ease which proclaimed them lovers too. And she would bet good money on it that Lou—Luigi—was part of their relationship. Doesn't it get very complicated? she thought.

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Majorca Flats -- 308

 “You know, I think I might just have a little lie down,�? said Lucasta Ellesmere. “So tired you know and not as young as I used to be I hope you don't mind just a little worn.�?

“Of course, my dear. And sleep as long as you want to. Would you like something to eat?�?

“Oh I thank you no not now Eleanor I was overfed on the plane all that food and you wonder how fresh it is up there six miles above the ground and all enclosed so unhealthy really don't you think?�?

Eleanor wondered on which of these thoughts she should fix.

“Oh, quite,�? she answered.

She accompanied Lucasta up to her room, even though she had already shown her where it was, and went back to rejoin Keith and Jason on the veranda.

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Majorca Flats -- 307

“Colin? Luigi had programmed the number Colin had given him into his phone.

“Yeah? Colin de Graves speaking"

“It's Luigi. You know, from this morning ...?

“... yeah ... ?"

“ … I got a phone call from Cody's phone." Luigi waited to see whether Colin understood the significance of that.

He understood at once, and drew a sharp breath. “Indeed? How interesting. I was going to request a trace and now I'll get onto it right away. Thank you for the information. I didn't think he would do something so stupid, to be honest. He seemed cleverer than that."

“More desperate, not stupid. He gets his jollies from killing gays. He would assume that the numbers in Cody's phone were, well some of them anyway, of gay blokes."

There was a silence. Then Luigi said, and it wasn't really a question, “He's going to kill again, isn't he? Until he's stopped?"

“Yes. And without Cody's testimony, there's no hope of catching him until he does."

“What about protection for him?"

“I've spoken to the CID. They'll get in touch with him."

“He hasn't got a mobile any more. They'd better not phone his mobile."

“Yeah. But it won't really make any difference. He must know we'd be after him."

“Maybe not. He might think Cody was so closeted and afraid that he wouldn't report it. We had to work hard to persuade him to talk to you."

“I'll warn them of this phone call right away. Luigi, how is he?"

“Not good, Colin. You know … it's easier if you're gay or straight. You know what to do. It's one or the other. I always knew I was gay. But Cody's bi. And married. And he loves his wife and children. And he's going to lose everything."

“Poor bugger." Colin was genuinely sympathetic. “OK, I'd better get on to the CID. Look after him, Luigi. He needs love. Lots of rape victims kill themselves."

Luigi choked up. “I know. I will. And thank you again for ... "

“It's my job. 'Uphold the right'. That's our motto. And it's how I do my job."

“Man …. if you knew what we go through."

“Things are changing. Even in the police."

“Yeah, right!" But Luigi was smiling a little as he said this. “Seeya later, Colin."

“Yeah, mate."

Luigi hung up. Now to find out whether Cody was OK.

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Majorca Flats -- 306

He started to walk. Lou doesn't want me. He doesn't love me any more. I don't blame him. Phil doesn't want me. Everything is finished. Marriage, job, life. I might as well be dead.

Without regarding where he walked, he stumped off, dragging his feet, his eyes glued to the pavement in front of him. He had no money. He had no phone to call anyone. He had no life.

He walked. He followed the tram lines towards the city. He walked and walked, in a daze of misery and horror, conscious only of the turmoil in his heart. The kilometres passed by unnoticed.

At last, he turned into a side street lined with Edwardian terraces. On the centre pediment of a set of five, he read the words “Majorca Flats�? moulded into the plaster.

He sat down on the kerb, weary beyond speech in his body, his heart and his soul, too worn even to weep.

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Majorca Flats -- 305

With leaden footsteps, Cody trudged up to the front door. Phillippa was waiting. Cody tried to kiss her and she pushed him away.

“What happened?" she asked.

Cody just shook his head, too tired and dispirited to explain.

Phillippa took his arm and shook him. “Tell me!"

“I was at a bar, and this guy picked me up and ... "

“... picked you up? What exactly do you mean?"

Cody sighed. Unable to meet his wife's eyes he looked away. At last he said, “I … I'm bi."

There was a long silence. Cody dared to look at Philippa. She was crying. He started to weep too.

The silence stretched. At last, she said, “You'd better go."

Sick with guilt, heartsore, filled with a black depression, Cody didn't argue. Without another word, he turned around and went outside. He closed the door quietly, and stood for a moment gathering his courage.

Well, that's that, he thought to himself. It's over.

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Majorca Flats

Because of my ma's illness and death, I haven't been writing Majorca Flats.  Sorry!  And I don't feel much like it now.  I'm afraid I'll write episodes which are very sad or depressed.  But, equally, writing makes me feel better and helps lift me when I'm down.

Anyway, I haven't forgotten my guys.   I've written nearly 71,000 words, about 2/3rds of a novel, and we are coming up to the end of the story and the tying up of several plot threads.

Anyway, thank you for being patient.