Chapter Seven

It was a peculiar thing, to leave your house to find a bleeding body on the doorstep. Brendan recognised him immediately. “Martin,” he called back. “Did any of them leave the house?”

“Cali and Matt aren’t back yet… Why?”

“Charlie’s been shot.”

That got the Londoner’s attention. He ran over, and took in the sight. He swore loudly, “Get him to the hospital ward!”

“What happened?!” Matt and Cali were back. Matt ran up the stairs to take a look. Cali was slower, but Brendan noticed she had someone slung over her shoulder.

“I got me a hostage,” she remarked as she passed. Brendan bent down to pick up Charlie.

*          *          *          *          *

“He’s been shot in the stomach,” Olivia Williams said to the rest of Rediunyn Jr. later that night. “I don’t understand how that could happen.” Olivia was from Edinburgh, and was tall and slim, with highlighted, shoulder length dark brown hair and light blue eyes. Those eyes were currently clouded with both confusion and concern.

“None of us saw him leave the house,” Kyle added. He looked at Deryck Wheer for conformation, who nodded, his floppy blond hair swishing in front of his icy-blue eyes. There was a backwards facing cap covering most of his hair.

“Did anyone hear a shot?” Marie Simpson asked. She was short, but more than made up for it in volume. Her hair was long and dark brown, her eyes were light blue and her face was freckled. Everyone shook their heads.

“Something doesn’t add up,” Stacey muttered. “He’s shot, but no-one hears anything. And he hasn’t left the house, but we found him outside.”

“Phogolini?” Phillip asked.

She shook her head, “They wouldn’t give him back to us until they were certain there was nothing we could do. And, sure, he’s unconscious, but we’ve stabilised him.”

“Is there anyone else who might have the desire to put a bullet in him?” Lisa asked in her heavy German accent. She was a blonde, with long, straight hair, and a jagged side fringe that covered one of her two light blue eyes.

“Every single band that couldn’t reach success,” Raymond Dowe voiced helpfully. He was American, Mississippi, and had the classic American good looks, blond hair, and serious brown eyes.

“Well, that narrows it down,” Cali agreed.

“Some guns don’t make noise,” Koral Zordoe pointed out, a thoughtful look in her bright blue eyes. She tightened her long dark brown ponytail, and gave them all a cheeky grin, “And there’s all the possibility that we all temporarily went deaf and blind.”

*          *          *          *          *

Matt was stressing out. “He’s been shot, Jay. What if we’re next?! And what if they don’t miss next time?!”

“Would you calm down?” James said reasonably. “I’m sure it’s not about to happen again. Look, you said that someone shot at you today. You’re not dead, are you? Cali protected you, didn’t she? You’ll be fine. God, Matt.” He turned and stormed out the computer room. A minute later, Stacey came in and turned on the computer.

“He looked chirpy.”

Matt groaned, “He’s been in a bad mood since Charlie got shot. It’s the stress. I know it is. You-” He paused. Her face looked deep in thought; he doubted she was even listening. “What is it?”

She snapped out of it, smiled at him, “Nothing.” She turned to the computer, “So what are your fun-filled plans for tonight?”

“Anything I can do.”

“We have a music room,” she said slowly. “You could write an angst-filled song. That way it’s less likely that you’ll want to kill yourself ‘cause you’re living in the same house as Cali Roberts.” Matt snorted in laughter.

Koral ran in, “Where did I leave my shoes?” They both stared at her. Koral was pretty enough, but she always dressed very plainly before. Now, her hair was down and curled into loose ringlets, her make-up was perfect but not overdone, and she was wearing a dark red, off the shoulder top and dark jeans to match. Matt sensed Stacey stiffen up.

“I think I saw them next to the door. You got a date?”

“Uh-huh. I figured I couldn’t keep moping over Kea. She dumped me, and I have to get over it. So I asked out the girl who’s been flirting with me in the WH Smith’s up town, and I was in luck.” She spun around, “Do I look okay?”

“Perfect,” Stacey said after a moment’s hesitation. “Have fun.” Koral grinned at her and ran out. That was when Matt saw the pain on Stacey’s face.

“You like her, don’t you?”

“What gave me away? The look of pain, or the fact I had to physically stop myself from telling her she looked gorgeous?”