As she took the phone from Robbie, Sergeant Weixel appeared in the door. "I've just gotten a – " His eyes traveled to the mobile in Caroline's hand. "Melanie's called us – guessing that's her?"

Caroline and Robbie nodded. The officer gave a thumbs up and stepped back out.

"Melanie. Where are you – are you okay? What's happened – why aren't you here?" One of the white-blue LED lights above the couch began to flicker.

It was Caroline's turn to let her tone escalate in concern as the questions flew from her mouth.

Melanie's reply was quiet and disjointed. "I'm so sorry. I don't know at a market near the pier. I saw Mitch out of the corner of my eye when we all came out of the flat. He was slipping off as the police were gathering up Dave, and I just thought, 'they can't lose track of him.' So I followed him."

"That was stupid Melanie, really, really stupid."

Caroline stood and began pacing again. Robbie slipped out of the room and she ignored his glance back at her.

"I know it was. But I just – I wanted to take some responsibility for once."

"Oh Melanie." Caroline shook her head. 'I don't even know what to say to her.'

"I'm sorry. For everything, Caroline."

Caroline still didn't know what to say. Melanie's tone was resigned, and they didn't need to be in the same room to understand what had changed between them - and wonder if it could ever be put right.

"Where are you now? Are you safe?"

"I am. I'm in a market just opposite where Mitch's posted up getting breakfast. I suppose he might slip out the back of his, but this is the first time he's stopped moving, and I think he thinks he's in the clear for now."

Caroline closed her eyes and sank back down onto the grimy couch. "I'm glad you're safe Mel. I can't tell you. I think. I just - "

Silence hovered between them on the line.

"As soon as Mitch stopped moving I called the police, and then you. They're on their way now. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner. Again – I'm sorry - for everything Caroline. I think I'm losing you." Melanie paused and Caroline wondered if she were going to continue just as she spoke again. "And I don't want to. I love you, Caroline."

Caroline stared some more at the poster about cleaning up after yourself and it made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. "I know. But I – I don't know, Melanie. We can talk about it when you get here. And you'll be glad to know – at least as of right now Leann is sticking by her commitment to tell all about Nigel. Dave as well. Between them it's not looking good for that asshole." The obscenity flew out of her mouth with hateful ire, and Caroline realized for the first time how very angry she was at the man who'd had a hand in dismantling her life, and so many others.

"Oh shit."

On the other end of the line Caroline heard shuffling. "Melanie – "

"He's come out. He's back moving again."

"Leave it be, Melanie."

"It's just that it – this is the last thing – if they get Mitch, this nightmare is over for me, you see. Almost twenty years of my life I've wondered – if I'd done things right the first time - " More shuffling coming through the line, and now Mel had clearly moved outside. Cars and street sounds filled Caroline's ears.

"Melanie you don't have to do this. Leann's testifying. You've done your part now, you have. Let the police take care of Mitch and Nigel and the rest of it."

"I'm sorry Caroline. I'll call you." The line went dead.

"Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck." Caroline pounded her hands on the table and then just stood in the middle of the room, head bent, staring at the ground. It was all she had left in her.

Robbie poked his head in, and when Caroline didn't respond he made his way up and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"They're almost on them, Caroline. It won't be a minute. They've got her phone, they've got her."

Caroline twirled and pointed her mobile at Robbie, eyes blazing. "It's your lot that's fucked this all up in the first place. How could they not get both of those bloody grubby rogues when they should have?"

"I don't know Caroline. Weixel said the big one, Mitch, was – well it looked like he was sleeping at the back of the transit van when they hauled Dave out. They took care of the one, and next thing they knew he'd slipped out of the back. Same time that Melanie and Leann and the lot came out of the flat. It was dark – there – well, I can't tell you what I don't know."

"Sleeping. The idiot was sleeping?"

"Actually, Dave tells it that he took him out of the equation. Apparently they'd brought along some ether, you know, for – " Robbie coughed, and let Caroline fill in the details. "Anyway, Dave said he'd used it on Mitch. Had a sense the man was about to do something stupid and he didn't want to take the chance. Next thing he knows, there's Brighton police."

"Well I hope they handled it properly."

Robbie frowned.

"The ether. I hope they handled it properly. It can be dangerous, you know. Depending on how it's handled, and the type. It's explosive."

"Alright – well, I'm sure – " Robbie trailed off. "Anyway, this Dave guy says he actually wanted Leann to get away at the end of it. Says he was tired of watching Nigel abuse her, was worried for the kid. Sounds like he stepped in more than once to save her skin. Never can tell. Sometimes the good ones hide under rocks."

Caroline had nothing left to say. She didn't care about any of it anymore, really. She wanted to be home. But she wanted to see Mel. She wanted more than that to see the perpetual smile in her eyes that always cheered her. Caroline couldn't help but smile when Mel did, it was a reflex.

She wasn't sure what the magical number was. The number of times she'd made love to Mel, or said 'I love you,' or hugged her after coming home from work, that had done it. But at some point along the line in the last couple months Caroline had woken up with the sense that Mel was right. That it is was time. That what she wanted for the rest of her life was Melanie. And from that point on she'd stopped thinking about Mel's life and her troubles separately. Mel's hurt became her hurt, and Mel's anger, rare as it was, hers, and her joy just the same.

These troubles now – as much as she thought of them as Melanie's, that familiar habit hung on. The feeling that Caroline wouldn't be right until Melanie was right. So she couldn't leave without seeing her. You can't leave without holding her just once more, Caroline. She couldn't walk out. At least not now.

Melanie slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped out of the market. She waved at the dark teenager minding the counter, hoping he didn't think she was stealing. She hadn't bought anything. Just lingered. She looked back toward the street again. She was steps behind Mitch on the other side of the road. She felt ridiculous as she pulled her collar up, but she did it just the same. It was daylight now and much harder to avoid Mitch's furtive glances. She kept behind other pedestrians as often as she could and followed him back down toward the boardwalk and the docks.

Following Mitch until now she'd been outside more than inside, and she was shaking from cold almost constantly. The market had been a welcome warm-up that hadn't lasted nearly long enough. And her chill had returned in talking to Caroline, hearing the resignation and fatigue, and most of all the distance in her voice.

They traveled a few more blocks. The water and the Channel were in sight now. The pier, and the carousel and the golden gallopers. Mitch stopped and looked up and down both sides of the street. The shadows on her side weren't long or friendly as she tried to melt into a shallow store front. A dry cleaner that was still closed. If their signs were still accurate, they were quite affordable.

He lingered in the open and lit a cigarette. She couldn't continue forward and if she walked away she might lose her peace of mind for good. She shrank back into the doorway. Why did it have to be so bloody cold and bloody early? She stood still but wanted to stamp her feet and rub her hands to chase out the chill. It wasn't even seven yet. The foot traffic came and went with the lights at the distant corner.

She realized now though that Mitch had already seen her. Probably as soon as they'd set out. As she stood pressed to the wall, he ambled across the street. His eyes were locked on hers with a smile.

The police were on their way – had been on their way – when she'd been at the market. Surely they had to be close?

She stared Mitch down as he approached. He took his time and savored his cigarette as he came toward her. She stood, hands jammed in her pockets and feet planted. Running wouldn't do much good, and she was done turning her back on her problems and fears. The police had to be close. They had to be. It was only minutes to the nearest station.

He stopped in front of her and flung his cigarette to the sidewalk and turned his giant tan work boot to snuff it out. He towered over her, almost half a meter taller than she and probably fifty kilos heavier. His black hair hadn't changed in a decade. Shorter at the top and almost touching the collar of his coat at the back. It was curly and frizzy from the damp of the early morning. He stank like a dumpster at a fish market, which Melanie knew to be accurate because she'd seen him holed up next to one earlier in the evening. Mixed with the fresh and stale cigarette smoke, Melanie couldn't help but cough as her eyes watered.

"Yeah I'm not exactly pleasant right now." He took a half-step closer. "Sorry about that."

"The police are on their way." Melanie did not inch backward. Though she very much wanted to.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious. I woulda had no clue from the way you're standing here." He sneered and gestured to the evaporating space between them.

"Don't you want to get on then?"

"Actually, I don't. Think I got some things to say to them that might make for a better life than crawling into dumpsters and shit-heap run-down tenements every time I see blue lights from now to infinity."

Melanie looked around, hoping to see those blue lights that didn't appear.

Mitch chuckled and eyed her up and down. Clearly unimpressed. "Seems some of us think better of running."

"Do you see me running Mitch? Not anymore. And I'm glad you're turning yourself in."

"Melanie I'm not turning in shit. I'm just trading a little this for that."

The occasional passers-by gave them a wide berth. Two women dressed for the office crossed the street as they neared.

Melanie tilted her head back to look up into his small black eyes. "Well I'm glad for it. You can make a fresh start Mitch. I want that for you."

"You fucking want that for me? Fuck you, Melanie." Mitch fiddled in the pockets of his deep brown coat but didn't pull out his pack of cigarettes. One of the pockets had a hole burned right through it, and the dingy sheepskin collar lifted with the occasional breeze. As he did he fidgeted he smiled at something Melanie couldn't guess.

"You and Nigel – I remember how you were. Like brothers. Before I knew – well – who Nigel was. I wanted better for you then Mitch, and I still do."

"Well ain't it just too bad that I didn't get better."

Finally she saw the reflection of blue lights. She stepped back. Mitch squinted at them and darted out a giant bear claw of a hand and grabbed her arm.

"Nope. We're not done. Not just making the time of day with you waiting for the cops, pleasant as this is."

"The police are here Mitch. It's over."

"Yeah it's over, but we're not done. I was under the radar until you came along again. Had a nice thing going with Richie back in the day, and I was headed for a nice pay day finishing it off with Leann here. So I'm gonna make even on that. And then we're done."

In the blink of an eye he whipped a switchblade out of the pocket of his massive overcoat. In less time than that he flicked it down the side of Melanie's face, eyebrow to chin.

The red blade of the knife clattered on the ground before Melanie even knew he'd moved. It was seconds after that she felt a searing, penetrating ache all along the left side of her face, and then a hot rush of blood.

Mitch took her chin and tilted it up to admire his work. Melanie couldn't see anything but a crimson wash out of her left eye, and she felt like she wanted to sit down. Like she needed to sit down.

"Yep. Now we're done."

Two police cars skidded to a stop in front of them. Mitch held up his hands. He turned and faced the white stone wall next to him, tattered bills for a concert flapping in the wind. He placed his palms on it above his head, and laughed quietly. "Now we're done."