Miss Peeg’s Unlikely Liason
 

The unlikely pair sat on the rocks for some time one talking earnestly the other staring out to sea.

"It’s the only way Hando for you to have any kind of life. I know this has been a horrific experience for you…you can’t go back…ever. The life you had in Melbourne is gone…your friends that you had there are gone…yes I know about you…I helped Mr. Roberts do the research. He knows too and yet he was still ready to put his neck out for you. People do care Hando they do reach out to help. I’m not trying to change who you are or asking you go give up anything you believe in…you are so intelligent…you could do so much and there’s time Hando…you’re still young enough."

"Miss Peeg…I appreciate your coming out here…you’ve been…you’re a mate…but there is nothing you can do for me."

Well, she thought at least he can speak, "I want you to do something for me, I want you to come back with me to Millie’s. I want Mr. Roberts to find you there when he gets back today. He’ll walk you through this Hando, trust him….do this for me."

Hando looked at her finally, "why…why do you bother…why don’t you leave me alone?"

"Because I care," she sat up straight and looked him in the eye. "Now, are you coming back with me or do I have to sit out here on this most uncomfortable rock at my age until you make a decision?"

Hando took a breath, "I’ll go back I don’t know if I’ll stay…I can’t stay."

"You’ll stay until this is sorted…give me your word Hando," she stuck out her hand and he shook it.

"Thank you, now if you’ll help me down off this rock…and my shoes…oh dear."

Hando walked her back to the car park where her phone went off it was Richie.

"Mr. Roberts, yes."

"You called me Miss Peeg something important?"

"Oh yes…well I seem to have taken care of that myself."

"I just got out of court and am heading back,"

"Right…I may be…out."

"Out…Miss Peeg where are you exactly?" Richie could hear car horns in the background.

"Oh…Mr. Roberts…I…I seem to be…at the seaside actually."

Richie pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it, "at the beach Miss Peeg."

"Yes Sir, might I explain when I get back?"

"Yes Miss Peeg I can hardly wait." Richie folded his phone and shook his head. This was so unlike her he couldn’t figure out what was up…but something was.

When he pulled up in front of his office and went inside it was to find Amanda behind Miss Peeg’s desk.

"Amanda, how are you?"

"I’m fine Mr. Roberts only sitting in for Auntie," she smiled

"Uh huh, how long have you been um sitting in?" he asked

Amanda tilted her head in thought, "It’s been since about eleven sir," she said

Richie checked his watch, it was nearly four o’clock, "I see, thank you Amanda. I think I can handle it from here out, you can go along and take care of that man of yours," he said smiling.

It was five fifteen when Miss Peeg came rushing into the office. Hando was safely back in his room.

"Miss Peeg," Riche walked out of his office and was leaning on the door jam, "the beach?"

"Oh sir, I am sorry I did try to call…"

"I was in court, you knew I was in court his morning if you wanted a day off for the beach or whatever why didn’t you just ask?"

"Well…I didn’t know I wanted to go to the beach did I…at least not until it dawned on me that was where he would go."

Richie furrowed his brow, "where who would go?"

"Hando sir…Mr. Moran called and said he wasn’t in his room and I did go and check and he wasn’t was he and so I thought something had to be done because you sir had guaranteed him…and so I…well I went to look for him." She smiled slightly

"Hando did a runner and you went after him…Miss Peeg why didn’t you call the police?"

"Oh…police…well I never thought to call them sir I only thought to go and get him."

"It is not your job Miss Peeg to track down murder suspects, you might have been killed yourself did you ever think of the danger…no you didn’t…what kind of harebrained idea did you have?"

"Oh dear…well he isn’t a murderer is he…and when I saw his car had gone I thought and decided he would head for the seaside Sir.."

"How did you know his car had gone, it was at the cabin," Richie was beginning to suspect the worse.

"I had to go didn’t I and see if he might still be around of course I knew he wouldn’t be you see, but I had to go…um…to the cabin Sir to see about the car."

"You went to the murder scene, a crime scene tell me you didn’t touch anything there."

"Oh no Sir I was very careful you see, not touching a thing, on tiptoes I was walking through the cabin."

"You went inside the cabin…Miss Peeg may I remind you that I may if it comes to it represent Hando in court for murder. You have…I can’t believe you walked through the cabin, the place is taped off, you had no business up there at all, you had no business out trying to find him that is not your job." Richie had raised his voice and he turned around and walked back in his office.

"But Mr. Roberts you didn’t ask did you…about Hando?"

"What…about Hando?" he asked angrily

"I found him sir and he’s back at Millies isn’t he" she said in her defense.