Diane grabbed hold of the sharpest knife she could ,out of the open cutlery drawer and crept slowly out of the kitchen, towards the hallway and the front door she kept looking around any potential hiding place, she looked through the door to the dining room, nothing, she looked into the living room again nothing she was just about to try the cupboard under the stairs when there was a knock at the door.
"Di its me." Emma shouted through the letterbox.
Diane put the knife into the pocket of her jeans and went to open the door. "Sorry Em, the door must've blown shut." she said as she opened the door.
"Yeah, it is quite windy out there, now do you want me to make us some lunch or…."
"Already done the kettle should be just coming to the boil although I am down to my last mug."
"Not to worry." Emma replied "I'll have mine in the mug I had earlier."
"No I couldn't let you do that." Diane replied
"No it's alright, I tell you what, we'll have lunch and a cuppa then I'll wash up and you can wipe up." Emma insisted
"Good plan PC Keane, I might have to make this living arrangements permanent." Diane said then both women laughed and went through to the living room whilst waiting for the teabags to soak.
Lunch turned into a long one, as the two friends chatted and watched TV. It was almost 6 o'clock in the evening before either woman moved from in front of the TV, Diane had fallen asleep on the sofa, so Emma decided to get the washing up out of the way, she had just turned the dishwasher on when her mobile phone rang she rushed to answer it so that it wouldn't wake Diane.
"Hello." Emma said into the phone
"Emma it's Sgt Smith." said the voice from the other end of the phone
"Oh, hi sarge, any news."
"Only to say we found the car that Diane saw this morning on the Weybank Industrial Estate." Sgt Smith informed Emma
"Torched no doubt." Emma had been a copper to long to know different
"Spot on but I have got forensics going over the car in the search of clues now."
"Do you want me to tell Diane or shall I leave it."
"I'll leave that choice up to you just remember to trust your instincts, how is PC Noble?"
"She's fine Sarge she's sound asleep on the sofa at the minute, and I was just getting stuck into the washing up before you rang."
"I see, I'll let you get back to it, remember trust your instincts."
"Sarge you will let us know if there are any developments, won't you?" Emma said unsure if anyone was still on the other end of the line.
"Of course either myself or someone else will ring you as soon as we are up to speed ourselves in the morning, have a good night and make sure Diane is ok."
"Will do Sarge, you have a good night too, bye." Emma said finishing the call and putting the mobile in her pocket , and going to collect the mugs from the living room.
Diane awoke as Emma, accidentally, knocked two mugs together. "What time is it" she asked rubbing her eyes.
"About 6 30." Emma answered her friends question.
"You heard from the station at all?" Diane asked
"Yeah, but I'm afraid.."
"Oh my god no." Diane interpreted this as bad news
"Whoa, hold your horses, I was going to say, I'm afraid there is no news on either MARTIN or Robert but the car you saw this morning has been located, and forensics are searching the area now to see if they can find anything to match our man."
"So I take it you, them, us haven't caught him yet." Diane reverted to asking questions again.
"No, but Smithy believes we are closing in." Emma replied with a hint of untruth
Diane was reassured by Emma's answers and she went through to the kitchen with her to finish the washing up, they should have started some hours ago.
Once, they had finished Diane went and found Emma some clean bedding for her spare room, whilst Emma found a chick flick DVD amongst Diane's rather large collection, although most were probably her son's.
The rest of the evening was uneventful as the two women watched the movie and then several episodes of 'Friends' before Diane decided to go to bed just before midnight.
"If you need anything, don't be afraid to wake me." Emma told her as they were both climbing the stairs.
"I doubt, I will Em I've managed on me own for ages but thanks for the offer." Diane replied
"Ok babe, I am here if you need me though, night." Emma said going into the spare room and closing the door behind her. Diane, meanwhile, went into her own bedroom, after changing into her nightclothes in the bathroom, she knew she was going to struggle to sleep tonight with a potentially armed and dangerous man either looking for her or her family.