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An Innocent Disaster - Chapter 21

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Sally picked up the ringing phone.
"Hello Megabucks Financial Software Solutions, Sally speaking, how can I help you?"

"Sally? It's Matt. Matt Deacon? Yeah?" came the voice at the other end.

Sally held the phone away from her ear, a combination of poor volume control and slight disgust that this person had somehow tracked her down at work and, more to the point, called her up.

"Yes," she replied, in the tone of someone totally unamused by the turn of events. "How on earth did you find my work number? And why the hell are you calling me, anyway?"

"You forget, dear lady, that I am a professional investigative journalist!" He stated this with some degree of pride in his voice. It was true. His writing was poor in comparison with many of his peers, but his initiative to find information was something he was quite proud of. Simple case of joining the dots in most instances, or knowing who to ask for details and what questions were likely to get answers. Laying on the charm where necessary, resorting to the impeccable manners that came with his origins. Shame he had to pretend he was a rough and mindless hack to fit in with his tabloid colleagues.

"Matt!" He was suddenly aware of Sally's angry tone coming from his mobile. "Why are you calling me?"

Matt smiled. She had a right temper on her, this one. He had just the anecdote.
"I've got a warehouse where you can dump those rabbits," he said in his most suave voice.

There was a moment's silence on the airwaves.
"Really?" finally came the reply. "How? I mean, where? When did this come about? Are you taking the piss or is this true? Are you sure? And how_"

Matt cut her short.
"It's sorted, don't worry. Meet me at the volunteer centre at nine tonight and we can cart them all out and away. I've borrowed a van from a mate. Okay? See you then."
And he hung up.

Sally looked at the phone in her hand. She felt as if she had just taken part in a conversation taking place in a parallel universe. She quickly dialed 1471 to return the call, but the robotic voice informed her it was an ex-directory number.

Did he say nine o'clock tonight? Yes, she was sure of it. He didn't even ask if the time or date suited her, although given the grief the damn rabbits had caused already, that was hardly relevant. Get them out of the way, out of sight, out of mind, out of_

The phone rang again.

"Yes?" she barked down the receiver.

"Sally? Wow, you okay? Have I called at a bad time? Shall I call back? It's Colin, by the way," came the voice.

"Sorry, yes, no, it's fine, really, yes." I am being ridiculous, she thought to herself. She forced herself to smile and lighten up her tone. "What's up?"

"Fancy a film tonight? I can pick you up? Maybe a bite to eat as well?" Colin, bless him, sounded so enthusiastic that Sally wondered whether he had been a puppy in a previous life.

Sally shook her head. "Sorry, I can't. Another engagement. We can do tomorrow, maybe?" She could already sense his disappointment down the phone line. They had the beginnings of a great friendship but she somehow worried that he expected more, despite knowing her past disastrous relationship history and her reluctant stance towards romantic entanglement.

"Sure, no problem. I'll see you at the volunteer centre later anyway? Only two more weeks of Sir Percy's 'great idea' to go now!" he said, fake joviality evident in his voice.

They exchanged goodbyes and hung up. Sally looked at her watch. It was already six in the evening and she had not even got through half of her workload for the day.

"All going to shit in a handbasket!" she remarked. Her boss looked up from his desk and raised his eyebrows. Sally grinned, tossed her hair back and huddled over her computer once more.




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