‘Time to get your act together. You’ve been wallowing in self-pity for two days now and, well, it doesn’t suit you,’

It doesn’t suit me? Has he any idea what I’ve been through?

‘Get up, get dressed and get focused,’ he says. He gets up from the sofa, walks to the fridge and pulls out a big bag of greens. Bill and Hillary, Jeff’s sister’s rabbits, bounce to the front of the cage when they see him coming. ‘Do you still want to find out why Katie Collins was looking for you?’

‘What? Yes, of course,’

‘Right. Well, let’s do that then. Let’s see what Thomas Collins has to say.’

Back in my apartment, Jeff waits while I shower, change my clothes and put on some makeup. I feel better now, not so much a victim. But I’m still nervous.

It won’t take me long to empty out this place when I leave, which I will have to do as soon as the landlord realizes I haven’t paid my rent last month, and won’t be paying it this month either. Everything is spiraling out of control. I need to find out why Katie Collins was looking for me. Maybe if I get some answers then I can start to rebuild my life.

Jeff is suggesting I leave my apartment now, and take his sister’s room until she gets back, whenever that is. He doesn’t know. I’m not going to make any decisions at the moment because everything is so fucked up. ‘Let’s wait and see what happens,’ I tell him.

‘You’re very quiet,’ Jeff says when we get back to his apartment.

‘I’m worried, Jeff. Like, everything is wrong. What Mom said, Katie Collins, Stephen Black…’ My phone buzzes, it’s Bert.

Edith’s funeral is to take place at St. Brendan’s Church, tomorrow at ten a.m. Bert sounds shy as he asks if I’ll be there.

‘Of course I’ll be there, Bert. Do you need me to do anything for you?’

Turns out Edith’s sister Agnes arrived and took over. A whirlwind of organization. Bert said he didn’t care too much so long as it’s what Edith would have wanted. Flowers, lots of flowers, and a few psalms, her favorites, the ones she loved to sing along to.

He sounds defeated. I hope he’s okay.

When I finally hang up, I see Jeff is flicking through websites on his laptop.

‘What about Friday?’ he says. ‘We could go for the weekend.’

‘Go where?’

‘New Orleans.’

‘New Orleans?’

‘Algiers?’ he says.

‘Algiers?’

‘Where Katie Collins’ husband lives. Remember?’