Henry checked the time.“I’ll sort out breakfast.”
A vehicle sounded outside.
“That might be my furniture.”
“I’ll take care of your visitor.You get dressed.”He disappeared with silent stealth.Not a single floorboard creaked beneath his weight.
Maia stared after him before she gave her head a brisk shake.A mistake because the pounding in her skull increased.She gingerly touched the spot and found a lump.Henry was right.She should stay in bed, yet if she missed this meeting, she’d be at a disadvantage.
It took a few minutes before the worst of the aching subsided.She decided another quick shower might wake her and was thankful to find the chair still sitting in the stall.When she had the time and the money, she’d rip out this shower and put in something more modern.This step into the shower was dangerous, especially if she was carrying an injury.
Half an hour later, Maia felt one hundred percent better, although she moved slower than usual.Voices came from the kitchen, and she discovered it was the cops she’d met the previous night.And to her delight, her furniture had arrived.
“We’re here to take your statement and see if we missed anything during our previous visits,” Laura said.“How are you feeling?”
“My head is pounding.I’m hoping there are painkillers left because it’s hard to think.”
“You should’ve stayed in bed,” Henry said with open disapproval.
“I’m not a child,” she snapped before taking a deep breath.“Sorry.You’re not meeting my best version.”
“Understandable.You haven’t had the greatest start in Middlemarch,” Charlie said, speaking for the first time.
“I don’t understand why.I’ve only met a few locals and made no friends when I lived with my aunt.Not that I tried.”
“Losing your parents traumatized you,” Henry said.“That was understandable.”
Maia didn’t reply, but she had been grieving.Her home life with her aunt had proved difficult.It wasn’t until she arrived at boarding school that she’d rebuilt her life and engaged with the outside world.
“Coffee?”Henry asked.
“Yes, please.My coffee machine and pods are in one of those boxes over there.Laura, Charlie, would you like coffee?”
“Yes, please.We’ll walk around your house and take more photos first.See if we’ve missed anything,” Laura said.
“The milk is in the fridge.”Maia took a seat at the small wooden table.She moved her laptop aside and stacked her notebooks to make room.“I’d like one of the purple pods with steamed milk, please.”
Henry sent her another enigmatic look before sauntering to the boxes to search for the coffee maker.It didn’t take him long to plug in her machine and load the capsules.He even proved a dab hand at steaming milk, which surprised Maia.
He set the perfect cup of coffee in front of her before starting on two more.When the coffee was ready, Laura and Charlie tromped inside, the bottom portion of their trousers damp from the morning dew.
Both removed their boots before entering.
Henry handed over their coffee.“How is the puppy?”
“Gavin said she’s a fighter, and he’s certain she’ll pull through.She’s a cute pup,” Charlie said.
“Yeah,” Henry said.“Did you find anything?”
“Two more mint wrappers.We missed the graffiti on the side of your car last night,” Laura said.
“Really?”Maia straightened, the coffee sloshing over the brim of her cup.She wiped up the puddle with her sleeve before it reached her laptop.“Will it wash off?”
“You’ll need a new paint job.Are you insured?”Charlie asked.
“Yes, but that’s not the point,” she said, anger coating her words.“What have I done to cause this harassment?”
“We won’t know until we catch the culprit.It could be any number of reasons.”Laura sent her a sympathetic smile.“This is more than a nuisance crime.The viciousness of the attack worries me.Maia, is there anyone in Auckland who might’ve followed you here?”
