TWINS. Chapter two
- Claire arrived at the terminal forty five minutes ahead of time. Scanning the arrivals board, she found Paul's flight listed as on time. Good, it should land in forty minutes, at 4:15pm. He would come through gate seven, a little to the left of the luggage carousal. After a coffee she placed herself conspicuously and nervously toyed with her sign.
- Claire smiled. “The editor owns his reporters Paulie,” smiling encouragingly she added, “Trust me, she tried to get out of it.”
Claire took him by the hand and steered him toward the exit.
- “Lets get out of here and I'll tell you what I know.” As they weaved toward the exit she looked up at Paul, “Chantel said to tell you she is sorry, this was unexpected.” Smiling warmly at his confused and disappointed face she hurried on “ It's a murder case. The body of a teenage girl was found in the sand dunes and she has been sent to report on the case.”
“Did they catch the killer? How long will...”
“she be gone for?” Claire finished his question for him. With an indifferent shrug she went on “Nah, they didn't get the killer yet,” She stopped suddenly,causing Paul to collide with her.
“Sorry,sorry Claire are you...?
“Alright?... I think so.” Putting her face close to his she whispered conspiratorially “This is not a sixty minute Columbo TV who dunnit ya know! Nodding her head wisely she added, "real crimes can take a lot of solving!”
“Ya think!” Paul retorted sarcastically but it went over Claire's head. “Claire?
“Yes Paulie, you got another question for me?”
“ YES a few, for instance, do you know when Chantel is coming back?
Pouting her lips exaggeratedly Claire replied, “Hmm...should be Ta night. Then raising her eyebrows said, “Unless it is tomorrow!”
“Well shoot!” It was her turn to look puzzled, “Can you take me to a good hotel then.?”
“ Sure I could Paulie but I won't 'cause ya coming home with me she smiled.”
There were three hundred and twenty people to disembark and that took time. Paul was one of the last to appear, just as she was starting to worry, there were only a few stragglers and the crew coming through gate seven now. He didn't see her immediately, as his luggage was a big priority. The fat man sitting next to him had told horror stories of misplaced luggage ending up on the other side of the world, so he was anxious. He quickly found his single case, large,with wheels and a very bright green color. He had purchased it specially for this trip, no one would have one like it, a real stand out! Standing it upright he extended the handle and looked around. Chantel had promised to meet him and he could hardly contain his excitement! After a moment he spotted her through the thinning crowds and made his way quickly toward her. She was holding a sign,chest high It read PAUL COLLIE she looks really cute, Paul thought as he strode toward her. Her hair was longer but otherwise she looked just as he remembered her.
Funny, she didn't seem to recognize him and continued to scan the thinning crowd worriedly. Paul stepped right up to her and taking her sign from her kissed her soundly on the lips. Gasping she stepped back..... Frowning he placed her sign on his own chest and tapped the name, “Hey have I changed that much Chantel?”
“Oh my god!” she laughed. “I wouldn't know,” she held her hand out quickly, I am Claire, Chantel's twin sister!
“Wha...where is Chantel has somethi...?”
“Don't worry Paulie, she is fine. Her editor sent her to Geraldton last night.”
“Chantel never told me she had a sister!” He examined her closely but could only see Chantel, "Come on admit it!" he looked straight into her eyes, "Some on Chantel, your freaking me out here!"
" Honest to god Pauli!" She rummaged around in her handbag for a moment, then handed him her drivers license. CLAIRE HAMER. it said.
"Hot damn, where did you say she is?"
"Geraldton, about 400 kilometers north of here."
" Geraldton?" Paul frowned, Couldn't someone else of gone?”
- As they cruised along the freeway Paul couldn't help but glance appreciatively at Claire's tanned,shapely legs. Her skirt had ridden quite high but she seemed unaware of that fact or of his furtive glances.
“I suppose, Paulie, that our freeway is like a quiet backstreet compared to the ones you are used to?”
He smiled in agreement, two lanes in each direction and a train track up the middle was...well,different. “ Well, Um'” he searched desperately for some diplomatic reply.
She laughed at his obvious discomfort, “ Paulie,Paulie.....I am a Air Hostess, I have seen Tokyo,London, Paris New York, Perth is a country town and our freeway is like a back street in the big cities of the world...OK?” she laughed.
“OK”he grinned, relieved. “how much further is it ?” he asked looking around at the countryside, it looks pretty rural out here.” “
About another 20 kilometers to the Safety Bay off ramp, then about, oh,” she paused to blow her fringe out of her eyes, “another fifteen minutes.” A secret little smile flitted across her beautiful face,and Paul's heart skipped a beat. Soon they turned off Safety Bay road onto Sixty eight road and the bush became denser.
“WOW, people live out here?” Paul scanned his surroundings, “Pretty remote isn't it?”
“NO” Claire laughed. “We are only ten minuted from Mandurah.” Seeing Paul's blank look,she explained. It's a town. Started off as a retirement village but it has grown a lot. Popular with young families these days. Must be,oh, fifteen thousand people there now.”
She wriggled in her seat,causing her skirt to ride even higher,
“My bum is getting sore she giggled, be home soon though!” Paul smiled and swallowed hard.
“See the black stump up ahead? We turn left there and about a kilometer down the road there is a Tee junction with a water tank on a stand, we go right there then the first on the left is our street. Second property along on the right! ISO – la- ted Paulie,” she laughed.
Light was fading fast now, there is no dusk here, one could easily imagine God simply switching the light off, night falls that suddenly, well almost. Claire turned the car lights on, and as if on cue a big Kangaroo bounded across the road directly in front of the car.
“Holy crap!” Paul yelled,bracing himself against the dashboard.
“oh yes laughed Claire!” It had been a close call and she was more rattled that she would let on. “ It pays to go slowly at this time of day, lots of Roo's around.” She sighed heavily, “That was one big Boomer Paulie. Hit one like that at any sort of speed would be as bad as hitting another car!”
“Do they bother you a lot,” Paul glanced around nervously. “ I mean do they attack people”? Passing the big white letterbox at the entrance, Claire pulled into the driveway and stopped the car outside the old brick and wood two story house. Don't be silly Paulie,”
Opening the front door she said with a flourish.... “welcome to our humble home kind sir!” Suddenly she made a claw of her hand and GIGGLING swept it in front of his startled face! “ Meooow!” she hissed. “You will find me much more dangerous than a Kangaroo!” He grasped her by the shoulders,their faces inches apart, “ You don't know what you are dealing with here, you little tease.”
“Don't I?” she purred innocently “Mmm” she muttered as his tongue found hers.