Read Counterpoint for Free Online

suddenly felt desperately alone, and
vulnerable. In despair, he let out a deep sigh, kicked out at the
bed sending it screeching, wood on tiles, sliding across the room.
He walked past it and slumped down in the chair. Slowly he raised
his eyes from the floor, his face sad and dismal, his eyes started
to fill with tears. Never to see her again was more than he could
stand, would he ever see her cute face again. Max looked unseeing,
through the open doorway, into the shadow beyond; then he saw her.
Carla was standing there, perfectly still, looking back at him.
Startled, he blinked, not believing his eyes. A tear escaped and
ran down his cheek. Leaping up and wiping away the tear, his face
lit up again, as he strode towards her.
    “Where the hell have you been?” He
exclaimed, emotions arising from despair to happiness, and then to
anger.
    Carla just smiled back at him and
walked into the room. “You weren’t bad, but you need a lot of
practice if you want to follow me,” she teased. “By the way, thanks
for calling the Police, I was in deep trouble with those men; they
were forcing me to transfer my money to their boss’s offshore
account.”
    “I want to know what is going on,” Max
demanded, “You promised you would tell me.”
    “Yes, I did, but we must leave at
once,” she said, grabbing her backpack and the briefcase. She was
out the door before Max could question her further. A silver Honda
Prelude pulled up outside the house, just as they stepped out onto
the pavement. Max stepped back into the entrance again, thinking
more trouble was on its way.
    “Don’t worry soothed Carla, this is my
car, the man is only delivering it. The car is a bit old, but it
will do the job.”
    The man got out; she thanked him and
put the luggage on the back seat. They both got in, and she drove
off.
    Max pestered her for answers to his
questions, but she refused to explain. Her only comment was that he
would be dead by now or wish he was, but for her help and that
knowing more would not be good for him. She would take him to a
safe place until his van was repaired and returned to him, and then
he should leave Italy. Resigned to the following silence, Max went
to sleep.

Chapter - Carla’s Hideaway.
    Apart from four stops for fuel, food
and the toilet, Carla drove for twelve hours until they reached a
small mountainside town called Rubiana. With towering mountains to
the north, a full moon lit the valley with a pale light,
emphasizing the size of them. It was 11.00pm, and only a few people
were visible on the narrow town streets.
    Carla drove up to a wide security gate
serving a large block of shops. Reaching out she tapped in a code
and the gate slid open. It closed as soon as she passed through and
a large roller shutter door opened ahead, it also closed after the
car entered. Lights came on when the door shut and they both got
out of the car, taking their bags with them. Neither of them
spoke.
    “This is my little hideaway,” Carla
chuckled, as she unlocked the final, solid inner door.
    “Close your eyes Max.”
    Reaching for his hand, she pulled him
gently through the opening. “You can open them now,” she said in a
low voice.
    Max was astonished at the scene before
him. He was in a large atrium with a fountain in the centre and a
garden set out around it. Plants climbed on three walls, creating a
deep feeling of peace and security. Ahead of them was a two-storey
brick building, topped by a stone parapet. French doors and
balconies on the front looked out onto the garden. Max was
fascinated at the originality of the building and its
surroundings.
    “This is truly fantastic,” he murmured.
“Who owns it?”
    "I do," said Carla, “this is my
home.”
    “No, I don’t believe you, how could
you, you're what, mid-twenties, living like a fugitive, no roots or
family, what are you up to now?”
    The smile vanished from her face, hurt
by the mistrust and contempt in his voice.
    “Come in,” she said sullenly. “I