New Title 1 by Shaun Jeffrey

shadows, which would have been easy enough in the dark suit he wore.
    “Mr Moon, just the person I’m looking for. It’s about my friend, Jane.”
    “Ah yes, she seemed quite eager to return home when I called at your house earlier.”
    “You came to the house?”
    “Yes, you were fast asleep. I imagine it’s a result of all the excitement. Yes, your friend ...” his smile faltered slightly as he said the word ‘friend’, “We arranged for her to be flown home. I advised her not to wake you as you looked worn out.”
    “She wouldn’t have left without telling me.” Her voice rose slightly.
    “I’m sure you will see her again soon. Now, how are you settling in?”
    “What time did she go?”
    “Let me see, it would have been about five-thirty, or thereabouts.”
    “And what time is it now?”
    Moon looked at his watch. “Ten-fifteen.”
    “I slept all this time.” It was not a question. “Jane wouldn’t have left without waking me, I know she wouldn’t.”
    “What are you implying, that she left against her will?” Moon laughed without mirth. “She was eager to leave. You yourself know that. I can assure you she was only thinking of you. Now let me buy you a drink, and perhaps George here can rustle you up something to eat, you must be hungry.”
    Although she hadn’t thought about it, as soon as Moon mentioned her being hungry, it acted like a catalyst and her stomach rumbled.
    “I would hazard a guess you’re a white wine drinker?”
    “Forget the wine. I need to speak to Jane.”
    Ignoring her, Moon ordered two white wines and George shuffled down the bar to pour the drinks.
    “And George,” Moon called after him, “Rustle up a nice salad and baked potato for our newest resident, let’s make her feel at home, there’s a good chap.”
    Chase noticed George glance back; the dim lights glinted in his eyes making them look feral and she shivered.
    “Come, let us sit down,” Moon said when George returned with the drinks. He walked to one of the mushroom tables where he seated himself.
    Chase followed, the chilled wine cradled in her hands. She felt slightly light-headed even before taking a sip. She could sense people around her, like cats stalking prey as she seated herself; the scraping of a chair being moved sounded like fingernails drawn down a chalkboard. She winced. Somebody coughed, and quiet chatter bubbled out of the darkness. Looking down at the table, she noticed it had been slashed, gouged. Remembering the man in the hall with the knife, she tried to make words out of the gashes, but Moon put his drink down and leaned forward, casting a dark shadow that obscured the table.
    Chase sat back, feeling threatened. “I’ll need to go home myself, to pick things up.” She needed to see Jane. Even if only to ask her why she left without a word. Moon was lying. He had to be. But why? She couldn’t believe her best friend had just gone. It didn’t feel right. She couldn’t have left. She just couldn’t. It made her think of Mat. He had left her too. Why did everybody leave her?
    “You are home,” Moon said, fingering his wine glass.
    “No, I mean my former home. My real home. This is still all too new to me. It’s too much.”
    “This is your real home. You can’t leave,” Moon said, leaning back in his chair.
    “What do you mean, I can’t leave?”
    “There are no more flights scheduled for a while.”
    “Well goddamn schedule one then. There are things I need to do.” She could feel rage bubbling below the surface.
    “I can assure you when a transport is available, I’ll let you know.”
    “Well that’s not good enough, I need——”
    “Miss Black. Chase, how nice to see you again.”
    Chase looked up to see the doctor, Adam White standing beside her dressed casually in a blue, short-sleeved shirt and grey trousers.
    “Would you mind if I joined you?”
    “Doctor White, be my guest,” Moon said, his hands steepled together on the table.
    “How are you