Working in the bakery is actually not so bad. It's just like Aunty Fiona said, the busiest periods are in the mornings, things cool down in the afternoons and the place is next to empty in the evenings. I won't complain though because at least I have a job up until I graduate and figure out where my life is headed.

Theo breezes in by 6:00pm when the bakery is next to empty and I'm taking a much needed break. He slides in the chair next to me and drops his leather bag on the table.

''You smell like pound cake.''

''Hello to you too,'' I say with a frown. ''I feel like pound cake too.'' I've been unemployed for two months and I've forgotten how it feels like to stand for hours and run from one table to the next dropping off ceramic plate filled with food, well in this case pastries. My feet are killing me and I just want to go to bed and sleep.

''You look tired too,'' he points out. I peer up at him across from me and my mind drifts to the conversation that Aunty Fiona and I had hours ago.

I can tell when a man likes a woman

I take in the green of his eyes, the thickness of his lashes, the arch of his brows, his narrow nose and the shape of his lips all in a bid to see what Aunty Fiona sees but I just can't see it. Or maybe I refuse to see it because I can't fathom it.

''Um, Melody,'' Theo says warily. ''You're creeping me out here. Are you alright?''

I put my head down and try to hide the heat gracing my cheeks. ''Sorry, I was just thinking about something.''

''Ohh-kay?''

''I brought what you requested from me.'' I slip my hand into the front pocket of my apron and hand him the folded handwritten note. ''Here.''

I slide it over to him and he opens it. Bob gave that to me during our 5-month anniversary. Again, it feels like forever ago but I can vividly remember everything that happened that day, from us barely watching Mulan down to him handing me the card to him promising me that we'd go someplace special to celebrate.

I still remember the contents of the note. I've read it so many times that I branded it like a tramp stamp in my brain. It's one of the few notes he has handed to me and now the now the nostalgia is hitting me hard.

'Forever a beauty

You shine brighter than the diamonds of the world

I'm so lucky

To have you in my life

No one knows what the future holds

But one thing is true

Melody Lianna Jones

There's no one but you.'

Things where so simple back then. Back then, I thought I had it all figured out and now things are like this. If I had a time machine, I'd go back and ask him if all the lying and keeping secrets was really worth it. I'd go back and ask him if everything he wrote in this note was true or it was all a lie, like the rest of him.

''No one knows what the future holds,'' Theo muses and safely puts the letter in his bag. ''He was right about that.''

''How soon would you get it examined?''

''I'm not so sure. I can only hope it's as soon as you expect.''

I narrow my eyes. ''These things take time, bureaucracy and all. But rest assured we'd get to the bottom of it. I talked to Detective Anderson and Officer Louis, they said Hi by the way, and we agreed that we'd have the note.'' He pats his back. ''now notes tested. Maybe even have a handwriting expert look it over.''

''Oh.''

''When do you get off?''

''Seven.''

''I'll drop you off.''

''I drove here.''

Hips lips tug into a half smile. ''Then we go the other route.'' By that he means following me closely from behind.

''Speaking of following, now that you have a new job, how about we discuss how our arrangement is going to work since school is starting soon.''

''Wait, you're still willing to come to Adelaide?'' I chuckle. ''Even with all the girls after you like bees?''

''The investigation is far from over, you know.'' He leans into the backrest. ''As for the girls, it's one of the many hazards of the job.''

Secretly, I think he likes the attention.

I look around the bakery, to see if I've missed a customer during my chit-chat but there's none except for this old man reading the newspaper and he has already been served. Aunty Fiona stepped out to get ingredients for her special chocolate cake since she ran out of those and I'm glad she's not here yet. I do not want her teasing me with her eyes or talking about he's 'sex on wheels.'

Not to mention her revelation yesterday! Talk about cringe-worthy.

''Since we're keeping all this a secret from my family and everyone around me, save for the fact that my sister has seen your face.'' He opens his mouth to say something but I know the direction he is heading. ''Don't worry, she still thinks you're a friend from school. In fact, I think she's forgotten all about that incident.'' At least, since she hasn't run her mouth to mum, I believe she has forgotten all about it.

''Good.''

''I don't think much would change,'' I say, tapping the table with my forefinger. ''Except the fact that once school starts, I'd have to be here till nine.'' I groan. But I need the job.

He nods. ''I figured as much. Looks like I'm staying till nine. Our arrangement is still the same: you drop Sophie off, I follow closely from behind and we go to school together.''

''I can't let you stay till nine,'' I object immediately. He's already sacrificing a lot for me already and I don't want to be a bother, even if it's his job. ''I won't let you stay till nine.''

''Too bad you don't get to decide,'' he points out. ''Hate to break it to you, but remember that you're in real danger thanks to your 'boyfriend'.''

I want to correct him by saying 'ex-boyfriend' but something tells me it won't make a difference.

''You're caught in the crossfire of some sort of mafia rivalry and your safety is paramount, especially now that you're a direct witness and a victim.'' I lower my gaze to the table. ''These people are dangerous and they get rid of witnesses and victims. I can't imagine you going home by yourself in the dead of night. You're making yourself an easy target.''

Another reality check.

''Oh. I didn't think that far ahead.''

Another reality check.

''Oh. I didn't think that far ahead.''

He lifts my chin up with his thumb and I'm forced to look at him and I'm visibly upset. ''I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so brash, but it's the truth.''

''I know. But the truth hurts sometimes.''

''We'd get to the bottom of this,'' he says reassuringly. ''And then you'd be off to college and living your best life.''

''You'd follow me to college too?'' I joke lightly. He laughs heartily. ''Maybe. Maybe not.''

''Where's Aunty Fiona?'' He scans the bakery. ''I haven't seen her anywhere.''

''She went to get supplies for tomorrow.''

''No wonder.'' I contemplate telling him what she said about him being 'sex on wheels' but decide against it. Knowing Aunty Fiona, she'd probably tell him herself.

''I also wanted to tell you something.'' I turn to him inquisitively and encourage him to continue. ''You said I should look into Patricia Blunt, right?''

''I did. Did you find out anything?''

''Her record came out clean.'' That can't be right. If Bob was in the mafia, I can bet my bottom dollar that she knew all about it during the duration of their relationship. When we met at the restaurant that day, she said 'the devil has space enough for both of us.' If I'm reading into things correctly, that was a clear indication that she knows all about his secrets. I didn't realize that back then, but now that I do, it all makes perfect sense.

Also, Patricia doesn't look like a dumb redhead or the type to be easily fooled.

''Clean?''

''Yes,'' he confirms again. ''No criminal record,'' Not even a DUI? ''No arrests. No suspicious activity on her end. It just says she has been living in Paris and is a model for IMG models.''

I did say she looks like a model.

''Did you double check?'' Does she even know that her brother is a gangleader?

''I did. She's as clean as a white board.'' I nod sceptically. ''Although, I'll keep looking. In fact, I'll start peering very closely into the whole Blunt family.''

My heart skips a beat. ''What do you mean, ''I ask coyly, careful not to give anything away. ''by the whole Blunt family?''

He doesn't answer my question.