Without Consent by Kathryn Fox Read Free Book Online Page B

“Then I have to find inconsistencies in the eye-witness’s testimony. I’ll work on it.” Brody seemed preoccupied, not his normal cocky, aggressive self.
    “Is that everything?” Anya stood to leave, keen to escape the awkwardness.
    “Actually…” He rose and pushed the leather chair back. “Fancy a walk? I can buy us lunch.”
    “All right.” Anya collected her jacket and Dan held it for her to get into.
     
     
     
    In the foyer, Dan grabbed an umbrella and they headed through a revolving glass door into Castlereagh Street. A gust of papers circled ahead of them. Anya buttoned up her jacket. Dan didn’t seem to notice the cold change through his shirt.
    “I’d like to talk to you about something sensitive.”
    She tried to deflect the conversation with humor. “I think you’d already know if you had Peyronie’s.”
    Dan remained stony-faced.
    They walked for a while and crossed at the lights into the Pitt Street Mall. Descending the escalators to a food hall, they found an empty plastic table and deposited the umbrella.
    “Have a seat. How about a beef kebab?”
    “Chicken—” Although the possibility of food-poisoning from under-heated chicken didn’t appeal. “On second thoughts, beef sounds good, thanks.”
    Brody quickly returned with two doner kebabs and four serviettes. Anya waited until he’d finished wiping both chairs to sit.
    “I meant to say sorry about your mother. She must have been an amazing woman. I mean, with all her accomplishments.”
    He studied the foil wrapping. “In spite of her art and writing, she was very private. She was one of the kindest, most intelligent people I’ve ever known, and had one of the driest wits as well. Now that I think of it, she was actually a lot like you.”
    Anya had a mouthful of beef and stopped chewing. She swallowed, unsure how she felt about being compared to Dan’s mother.
    “How is your father handling it?” Muzak filled the food hall but had competition from crying children and frustrated parents.
    “It’s hard to tell. He seems all right in the nursing home, but finds it difficult to communicate. We never really had heart-to-hearts even when he could speak. How are you and your son going?”
    “Ben is enjoying preschool, I think. I guess he feels a bit confused sometimes.”
    Dan wiped his mouth. “That’s understandable, though.”
    “In some ways, with both parents apart. Not many four-year-olds have two homes. With me he likes books and craft, but with his father he kicks a ball and does all kinds of sports. It’s like he divides himself into two separate people.”
    “Weren’t you thinking about starting him early at school?”
    “Right now, Ben needs to mix with his peers and learn to socialize. Being a boy and having fun is what’s most important at the moment. Academic stuff can always wait, but missing out on social skills now could cripple him for life.” Anya took another bite, suddenly self-conscious. “It’s about the only thing Martin and I agree on.”
    Dan cleared his throat. “Does that mean you two are getting on?”
    “Nothing’s changed. He’s still looking for the right job, whatever that is, and keen on having a great life. As far as he’s concerned, I am antisocial, which is why I lock windows and deadlock doors. He’d rather let anyone and everything in, no matter how mangy.”
    “Sounds like my ex,” Dan laughed. “Yin and yang.”
    There had been a time last year when Anya could have fallen for Dan Brody. He had brought that bottle of champagne to her home and asked her out to dinner, which had never eventuated. Since then, this was their first personal conversation. It felt strange, but good at the same time.
    A loudspeaker announced a lost two-year-old boy wearing a Spiderman shirt and matching pants.
    Anya’s heart raced.
    The announcer then said that the child was located at the information booth and asked the mother to collect him there.
    The pair sat quietly finishing their lunch