CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Jacob was not happy to hear Morag had weaseled her way into his mother's life.

" So, I'll be delaying the trip to the city for a few days."

" Why?" he winged.

" So Morag can finish things here." His mother sounded happy.

" Oh…well as long as you are happy." He said lamely.

Laura always put her son's needs first, but this time she felt as though she should put herself first for a change. Jacob didn't really need her anymore-he was at boarding school and living in the dorms on campus. She wondered why she was even moving to the city-he could always come home during weekends and holidays.

Why am I leaving? Morag has family here. She's giving up a lot by coming with you-you owe her to stay.

Morag answered her phone and was surprised to find it was Bob Radcliff calling her.

" Why did you call?" she demanded him. She'd been doing some paperwork in the living room waiting for Laura to call.

" I called, because I want your help."

" With what?" she didn't like the sound of this.

" You want to find out who killed Josh West…well, I have the evidence. I was at the council chamber that night he was murdered."

" Doing what?"

" Taking photos like you asked me too. But not just of Josh…someone else left the offices that night. He's the killer."

" Are you sure?"

" Positive."

" And you want my help because…?"

" You want your named cleared don't you? I can give you these photos for three thousand bucks."

" Three grand!" Morag exploded, " I won't give that much to you Bob."

" Oh yes you will-if you wanna clear your name." Bob sounded pretty darn smug. He was right-the police still thought she had something to do with killing Josh-getting these photos will be just the thing to prove them wrong.

" How soon can you get the money together?" Radcliff asked her.

" I have three grand in the apartment safe…I can get it to you this afternoon."

" Good-meet me at the picnic spot on Gordon Street. And don't be silly enough to bring the cops-or I won't be a very happy chappy."

Alfred stood in the living room, puzzled. Morag had acted very bizarre when she left just now. He hope she was ok.

There was a knock on the door and he looked up, " Laura, come on in." he greeted her.

" Hi Alf. Is Morag home?"

" Actually, she just left."

" She did? Do you know where she went?"

" No-she left in a bit of a hurry." Alf explained, " do you want to wait for her?"

" Thanks-we were meant to meet here-why would she take off like this?" she asked as Alf made them both a cuppa.

" I have no idea." He was about to add Morag was up to something but thought better of it. He didn't want to get his sister in trouble with Laura-they just got back together.

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Her meeting with Bob had backfired when the cops caught them out. She had sat in the interrogation room being blasted at by Peter During the interview, Bob called, demanding to know what happened. They arranged another meeting, but this time, Peter and his partner Lara Fitzgerald would be nearby, listening in. She wasn't happy to be wearing a wire, but really had no choice. In exchange for her help, Peter had agreed to drop all charges against her.

The second meeting didn't go well either-Bob discovered she had a wire and could have hurt her but ran when he heard the cops coming.

" Damn it!" Peter swore, kicking at the rubbish bin in his office, " We were so close!" he whirled on Morag, " What happened in there?"

" You heard what happened-he realized I was wearing a wire. I did the best I could!"

" Well, your best wasn't good enough was it?" Peter answered back, furious.

" Detective it wasn't Mrs. Bellingham's fault." His partner intervened.

" Thanks to you, there's a killer out there walking free!" Peter yelled at her before he was told there'd been a sighting of Radcliff.

Morag sat in the waiting area, furious with herself. She had stuffed up completely-they were nowhere near close to solving the murder case. Then she was told there was no sign of Bob and there was blood at the scene.

Oh my God. She thought, I killed him.

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Morag slowly entered the house and checked her phone-Laura had called twice and she felt guilty for ignoring the calls-more guilt on top of everything else.

" Morag!" Laura jumped up when she saw her, " You look awful. Are you all right?"

" Yes…you ran out of here like the house was on fire." Alfred added, " What's going on?"

" I'll tell you what's going on-because of me, a man could be dead." She sat down, kicking her shoes off.

" What do you mean?" Laura asked and she told them the whole sordid story.

" You were only trying to help." Alfred assured her but she could not be consoled. Laura glanced at him before whisking Morag upstairs for some alone time.

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Morag was still shaken up the following day as she walked downstairs, carrying some luggage. She was even more determined to leave-she needed to get out of the Bay to clear her head.

" But you have family here." Alfred protested.

" I'll only be going to the city Alfred. I'll call." Morag reminded him as she gathered her work files together. Last night Laura had said she'd stay for her-but Morag was adamant about moving.

" So there's no chance of changing your mind?"

" Nope. I need to get out of this place Alfred." She paused, " I'll be staying with Laura-she's what I need right now."

" The kids will miss you." Alfred said gruffly.

" Hmm." Morag will miss them too, but she'll keep in touch. She'd even miss her brother but wouldn't tell him that.

" Who the flamin' hell I'm going to argue with now?" he complained after a moment of silence.

" Oh, I'm sure you will find someone."