“Yeah that app is useless; we really should design a decent one.” Joshua looks around disinterested, glances at his chunky Rolex watch and puts one hand into the pocket of his navy three–piece suit. He’s wearing black Oxfords, a crisp white shirt and black tie, and his chocolate hair is buzz cut. His piercing blue eyes scan the lobby of the airport. His skin is darkened from his recent surfing trip to the Maldives. “I forgot how hot Aussie girls are,” he makes an idle observation while rubbing his chin.
“Yes, I can’t wait to check out the Aussie men, apparently they are off the charts.”
Joshua smiles. “That goes without saying.” He widens his eyes at Adrian.
“Hmm they’re conceited too, I found out,” Adrian scowls.
“Totally,” Josh raises one eyebrow and nods his head, still scanning the room.
Ben returns, pushing a trolley of luggage. “This way,” he gestures.
“This being on the wrong side of the road thing is weird,” Ben smirks while driving.
Joshua smiles as he sits in the front passenger seat, Adrian in the back seat. Joshua starts programming the Nav Man.
“What are you doing?” Ben asks.
“We are taking a quick detour,” Josh answers.
“Really?” Adrian whines. “I need to take a leak.”
“Shut up, enough of the back–seat driving, who’s fucking this duck?” Adrian rolls his eyes in the rearview mirror at Ben who smiles at the usual banter. Adrian scowls as he leans his head back into the headrest. “And for the record, I don’t fuck ducks.”
Josh smiles and nods. “Good to know.” Twenty–five minutes later they are driving up a one–way street in Rose Bay.
“Where the hell are we going?” Adrian asks. Josh doesn’t answer as he cranes his neck and looks up the road.
“It should be just up here on the right. Pull in here.” He points to the left. He sits with his elbow on the car door, his thumb under his chin, rubbing the side of his pointer finger back and forward over his lips, deep in thought. They sit in silence for ten minutes.
“Mind telling me why we are here?” Ben asks quietly.
“Someone I used to know lives in that dark brick building over there.” He points to the large older style apartment block across the road, still deep in thought.
“And we are here, because?”
“I want to find out what apartment 5B is. It looks like there are two apartments on each level. Is the left side A or B?”
“I‘ll go look,” Ben hops out of the car and heads across the road. Josh stays silent, deep in thought. Adrian sits quietly in the back, assessing the situation, trying to work out what the hell is going on. Whatever it is, Josh is acting weird, really weird.
Ben returns. “It’s on the right, five levels up.”
“Did you get in? Isn’t there a security door?”
“No, I went in when som
eone left.”
Joshua nods and looks up. “She’s home.”
“Looks that way,” replies Ben. They all stay silent for another ten minutes, then Josh gets out of the car and walks around to the road–side of the car, resting his rear on the door. His hands in his suit pant pockets, his feet crossed in front of him, he continues looking up at the window. Adrian and Ben follow, each standing on either side of him, also leaning on the car.
“What’s going on?” Adrian asks quietly. Josh stays silent. Ben blows out a breath—the dark mood Joshua has slipped into is concerning.
“Why don’t you just go in and knock, man?” Joshua doesn’t move—he’s unresponsiveand a depressive demeanour hangs over him.
“Do you want me to go in and knock?” Adrian asks, but Joshua shakes his head.
“How long since you’ve seen this girl?” Ben asks.