CHAPTER TEN

Early the following morning, Morag called Laura.

" Why, hello. Didn't expect to hear you so soon," Laura greeted her, surprised but pleased.

" Um, we have a bit of a problem." Morag answered stiffly.

" What kind of problem?" Laura asked.

" I need you to come over…this is a private matter."

" Sure, I'll come." Laura thought Morag was back to her normal formal self. And just when Morag was starting to relax a little. Something must have happened. She arrived at the Summer Bay House in about fifteen minutes. Everyone was gone for the day, Morag was in the dining room, nursing a cup of coffee. Her fingers were tapping the manila envelope next to her.

" Good morning." Laura greeted her as Morag let her inside. Morag didn't kiss her good morning so Laura gave her a peck on the cheek instead.

" Do you want a coffee?" Morag asked. Laura shook her head.

" Let's just get straight to it." Laura said.

Morag picked up the envelope and gave it to her. She sat down in silence as Laura opened it and took out the photos.

Laura stared at them in disbelief. " Who…I thought we were alone!"

" So did I." Morag said grabbing the photos from her, " Do you know who would have done this?"

" No…well, the one person I'm thinking of happens to be dead. I can't think of anyone…can you?"

" Our secret isn't a secret anymore. If there are other copies, then my career is as good as over."

" Morag…are you ashamed of us?" Laura demanded, " I know our relationship is somewhat…controversial, but I thought-"

" It's not that. I am not ashamed of us. Its other people I'm worried about. The people of this town can be very narrow-minded and judgmental about these things. Well, there are at least two people I can think of who will be." Morag paused, " they tend to close their ears and eyes to anything controversial."

" But you said your career will be over…"

" Have you forgotten that you are also my client? I'm very high-profiled not just in Summer Bay but also in the city as well. People won't take too kindly if they discover a judge is-"

" Sleeping with their client." Laura finished bitterly.

" Well, I wasn't going to say it that way." Morag frowned at her.

" But people will think that way." Laura pointed out.

" I usually do not care what other people think of me, but in this case its different."

" So…now what?"

" Now we have to keep our eyes and ears open for any other copies. And we also have to find out who took these photos." Morag frowned again, " And two names have just to come to mind."

" Who?"

" Our Esteemed mayor, Mr. Joshua West."

" The Mayor? Surely he has better things to do with his time than follow us around all day…"

" Apparently not." Morag also thought of Bob Radcliff. The man she has hired to take photos of the Mayor. He wouldn't betray her like this…would he? She would sort him out later.

Morag glanced at her watch and realized she was running late, " I have to go but I'll call you tonight." She said. They said goodbye and they both left the house. Laura climbed into her car and watched Morag drive off. She hoped this latest disaster hasn't changed things between them…

That night, Morag called Laura as promised, but Laura wasn't answering her phone. She called the apartment, no one there either.

Joshua West looked up from his files as the door to his office opened. " What are you doing here?" he greeted his uninvited visitor.

Laura Tate walked in, " I need to talk to you." She told him.

" Well, you have to make an appointment with me in the morning. Its way past normal office hours."

" I'm afraid it's a matter of urgency." Laura began. Josh reached into his drawer and came into contact with his gun. He bypassed it and grabbed the photos instead.

" I suppose you want to talk about these?" he asked.

Laura paled when she saw discovered Morag had been right-the Mayor did take them.

" Please…let me have them." She said, trying to not sound desperate.

" Why?" Josh asked as he filed through them, " These are quite steamy you know. Whoever thought Morag would have a passionate bone her in body?"

" Its important none of this can get out-"

" Oh I know. A high profiled Judge sleeping with her client? What a scandal."

Laura snapped then, " Give me those photos!" she ordered, " You have no right to be following Morag and I around!"

" You think I took these?" Josh snorted, " Now don't you think I have better things to do with my time?"

" So…you didn't take them?"

" No…someone sent me some copies." Josh leaned against the desk, " you want these photos, what are you prepared to pay for them?"

" You aren't getting a cent from me." Laura said and lunged for him. Her sudden movement catching the Mayor off guard. He recovered though and grabbed her arm,

" You will pay me…if you want these." He said waving them into her face. He let go and shoved her aside.

" You are…an imbecile." Laura hissed at him, " You won't get a penny from me. You don't deserve it. Not after the way you fixed the custody hearing…I almost lost my son!" she whirled around and stalked from the office, " You'll pay for this Joshua West!" she hurled at him before slamming the door closed.

" There you are!" Morag exclaimed when Laura hurried into Noah's Bar, " I've called you about three times…"

" I'm sorry, I had something to do." Laura explained and decided against telling Morag about her confrontation with Josh. It would only worry her more.

They had a couple of drinks and Laura invited her back to her place. Jacob was staying over at Tim's again since it was Saturday.

They got undressed and exchanged a few kisses…then both fell asleep.

Morag didn't know what woke her. She sat up and discovered Laura was gone. The clock read ten pm. She got out and looked for her…she was in te living room when the door to the apartment opened and in walked Laura. She was fully dressed.

" Laura…what on earth?"

" I'm sorry Morag…" Laura said, " but I had to go out and take a walk. I couldn't sleep."

Morag studied her closely, Laura looked calm. " Are you…sure?"

" Yes." Laura grabbed her hand, " Lets get back to bed." She said and lead Morag back into the bedroom.

Laura smiled to herself as she kissed Morag, their problems were over and things could go back to normal.

It was late morning when everyone received the shocking news…their Mayor had been found murdered in his office! Everyone had their reason for wanting Josh murdered so nearly everyone was a suspect. Morag sat in the kitchen and watched her girlfriend make them breakfast.

She had disappeared last night…she had claimed to be taking a walk, but did she? Morag hated to be suspicious of her own girlfriend. Her heart sank as she came to a conclusion…

Did Laura kill Josh West?