7. Lime Juice

You return to your seat. Your partner does not. You dot-point Pete's best man speech on the back of the coaster:

·            Flaming Pizza Box Golf

·            Royal Flying Dinner Service

·            The Adventures of Mattress Face

·            'Noori sesh' - ???

·            And don't they make a wonderful couple?

The speeches finish and nobody stops you when you rise. You say something about checking on your partner. You head straight for the bride and groom's table. Emily greets you with tired eyes and slow smile.

'Hello again.' Just like you rehearsed. 'Gotta' ask about the flowers. Provided by Phillips street and surrounds.'

'Operation Blue Rose.' Cheek on right palm. 'They steal flowers from suburban front yards. Targets, maps, quotas, optimised pathways. Most organised I've ever seen them. Frank and Eric's idea.'

A lead?: 'I don't believe I've met Eric.'

'He dead.' James smiles. 'So we a need a replacement.'

Emily: 'Grim.'

'Hey, I was Pete's replacement during his absence.'

Soz: 'I don't remember that.'

Pete: 'That was, uh, before us.'

James admits: 'We scared her off. You're welcome.'

Soz understands: 'The swastika.'

Al rubs Emily's back and kisses her from above: 'About time to close up?'

'Yeah. You?'

Al's eyes pass query onto James and Pete.

Pete shuffles once: 'I had an idea but it's a bit, um, unorthodox.'

(Soz: 'Wow I'm tired all of a sudden.')

James is forthcoming: 'Plan is to go to Chris'. For that we need Chris. Also Frank would be good. I was going to kidnap him with beers.'

Well shit, they expect you to decide and you blurt:

'Kidnap? With beers?'

'Weird?'