Scared Yet? by Jaye Ford Page A

ex-wife’s mugging?’
    Last night he was her husband, this morning she was his ex-wife. The divorce papers couldn’t arrive fast enough, as far as she was concerned. ‘I wasn’t mugged.’
    â€˜It has nothing to do with me.’
    â€˜Then tell that to the police.’
    â€˜I shouldn’t have to tell them anything. I know you’ve been to see them this morning. Teagan told me where you were. It doesn’t take a whole lot to figure out that if they just called me , you must have given them my name. What the hell are you playing at?’
    She wanted to yell in her own defence but knew he wouldn’t listen, tried to sound reasonable instead, maybe a little patronising. ‘They already had your name.’
    â€˜It’s one thing to be angry but spite is so incredibly counterproductive, Livia.’
    She sucked in a breath. ‘I’m going to hang up now, Thomas.’ She forced herself not to throw the phone, to lower it slowly, purposefully as the tinny sound of his voice continued to call her. When the receiver was safely in its cradle, she picked up a biro and hurled it against a wall.
    â€˜Good shot. Have another go.’
    She turned, saw Sheridan in the doorway of her office, suited and perfumed and looking every bit her TV reporter self. Kelly stood beside her, an apologetic look on her face. Sheridan selected a heavy, silver ballpoint from a mug. ‘Here, take an eye out.’
    At any other time, Liv would’ve embraced the sentiment but right now, all she could manage was to clench her teeth. ‘Fuck him.’
    â€˜Not in this life,’ Sheridan said.
    That made a smile start on her lips. Sheridan and Thomas had never hit it off. She’d kept a lid on it until he left and now took every opportunity to stick it to him. It was great. Sheridan was great. She was the sharp edge to the three-way friendship in the room. She’d joined the share house when Kelly moved into Jason’s room and in the current circumstances Liv was more than pleased for a dose of her cutting humour.
    â€˜You look like shit,’ Sheridan said.
    The smile grew a little more. ‘Well, thanks. I thought I was looking pretty hot.’
    â€˜Wouldn’t want you living in denial.’ She put an arm around Liv’s shoulders. ‘How’re you doing?’
    â€˜It’s been interesting so far.’
    â€˜Tee explained about the mix-up with the phone call,’ said Kelly. ‘I told him half an hour ago I’d left a message on your desk.’
    Liv glanced at the pile of message slips held down with the lovely pink shell Cameron had found for her at the beach over summer. She looked back at Sheridan. ‘Was it you who spoke to Detective Quest?’
    She nodded. ‘Our police reporter said it was someone who worked in this building so I gave the cops a call. When she wouldn’t say either way, I called here.’
    â€˜You want to do a story, don’t you?’
    â€˜Yes.’ There was no sweet-talking in it, just a direct admission: It’s my job and I’m being honest with you.
    Liv had heard Sheridan’s stories from the newsroom and understood but pulled a face. ‘I’ve got an eggplant growing out of my cheek.’
    She looked a little apologetic then. ‘Well, yes you do, but your assault is the police story of the day, so we’ve got to cover it. And I thought it’d be easier for you if you knew the person asking the questions.’
    â€˜Do you have to talk to me? The detective says there’s a chance the bastard could come back.’
    â€˜For you?’
    â€˜For anyone. He might try again.’
    â€˜That’s as good a reason as any to talk, don’t you think?’ Sheridan said. ‘Women should be warned if there’s some guy out there prowling car parks. What happened to you might make someone else think twice about walking to their car alone. And what you