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Larry’s tyres ground against the driveway as he screeched his old car to a halt next to Wiri’s truck. He leapt from the vehicle, becoming tangled in his seat belt during his haphazard exit. It took a wasted moment for him to extract himself, and the front door opened as he pounded up the porch steps.
He screeched to a halt at the sight of the slight teenager facing him. Phoenix observed him from beneath a cloud of dark curls which hung lopsided from a ponytail. Grey eyes just like Wiri’s stared at him from her elfin face. Her mouth opened but nothing came out, and she closed her lips again.
“Where is he?” Larry demanded. His clerical cassock swished as he walked and he didn’t stop to remove his shoes. The white dog collar at his neck seemed to give him additional power, and Phoenix stepped aside to allow him to pass. She pointed towards the lounge sofa.
Larry dropped to his knees and placed a hand over Wiri’s chest. “Still breathing,” he remarked.
“I know.” A sullenness entered Phoenix’s tone. “I’ve checked him every few minutes.” She pursed her lips. “He’s snoring.”
Larry placed his ear over Wiri’s mouth and gave a definitive nod. “Did you find the pill packets?”
“Yes.” Phoenix indicated the packets laid on the coffee table. Larry snatched them up and inspected the labels. His shoulders lost their rigidity, and he bowed his head.
“Thank God,” he breathed. He exhaled and spun on the soles of his shoes, his knees bent beneath his cassock as he squatted next to the sofa. “A derivative of diazepam and diclophenac. I don’t think there are contraindications between them, but he might be out for a while.” He rose and his cassock rustled. “The kid’s been riding around all week on the diazepam. He might feel better after a decent sleep but he mustn’t take any more.” He yawned and stretched his arms above his head. The cassock rode up to reveal sensible black shoes.
Phoenix pursed her lips. “The packet is empty. I don’t think he has another.”
Larry jerked his head towards the kitchen. “How about we share a cuppa and introduce ourselves?” His face creased into a smile and he stretched out his right hand. “Larry Hendricks. Nice to meet you.”
