‘I don’t know what’s going on,’ Travis replied. ‘All I know is that poor Chloe’s life has just been blown to bits. Pete didn’t even have a chance to tell her what he’d been doing before the cops arrived.’
‘Travis, that’s so awful.’
Annie, who was kneeling on one of the dining chairs, looked up at Dee. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, her voice brimming with concern.
‘Nothing, sweetie,’ Dee said. ‘Hey, listen, you press play on the unicorn show and I’ll bring in the popcorn in ten minutes.’
‘All right!’ Annie climbed down from the chair and skipped to the lounge room.
‘Travis, this is terrible.’
Dee thought her next question might make her appear desperate, but she didn’t care. She wanted Travis here with her. With her and Annie. ‘When are you coming home?’
Home. She realised that was exactly what the house was to her. Home.
Travis paused. ‘I’m going to stay with Chloe for a while. Think she needs a friend right now.’
Dee didn’t know Chloe well, but her heart ached for her nonetheless. The situation the poor woman had just found herself in was horrific.
‘Of course, of course, Trav. Stay with her as long as you need.’
Dee was unsure of the time when she heard Travis arrive home. Though she was dozing, she was vaguely aware of his presence when he entered the room. She opened her eyes and rolled to face him as he stripped off his clothing. Dee pulled off her underwear and sighed as he lifted the covers and slipped in beside her. Neither of them said a word as their bodies pressed together. Travis’s mouth was cold, but it warmed quickly as he worked it against hers. Dee’s breath caught in her chest as he entered her. The bedroom, the night, the world around them was still as they slowly and silently made love.
30
The following day, Dee kept her head down. It was exhausting, pretending not to know. Luckily, she’d barely seen Vince as he’d spent much of his time in the factory. She’d tried to work, but every time she saw Vince leave his desk, she wondered where he was going and what he was doing.
Pete had called in sick, and both she and Travis suspected he was still with the police. She hadn’t heard from the cops, but Travis agreed that feigning ignorance and acting as though things were business as usual was the way to go. Dee got the feeling there would be another covert shipment heading out tonight and she hoped like hell that the cops performed their sting and wrapped the whole thing up.
By the afternoon, Dee was desperate for a breath of fresh air and some light-heartedness. She waited until Vince was out of the office and then called Maria from head office.
‘What the hell is going on out there?’ Maria cried. ‘Girlfriend, you’ve been there for a couple of weeks and you’ve turned the place into a bloody cops and robbers movie.’
Dee flinched. If Maria knew, others would too. Her neck grew hot, but she played it cool. ‘You know, just trying to keep things interesting. How did you find out?’
‘Don’t worry. I’m one of only three people here who knows. Christian called me and swore me to secrecy. Trust me, I’m good at playing dumb. It comes naturally.’
Maria belly-laughed at her own joke, and the sound made Dee smile.
Her laugh soon faded, though, and her voice softened. ‘I know it must be awful for you and the whole team out there. And, by the way, when I said Vince was dodgy, I was joking. Who knew he would actually turn out to be a total criminal? What a shithead!’
Dee glanced at Vince’s empty desk and her gut churned.
‘So, Ethan Rogers from legal came to see you, right?’
‘Yes. He was amazing. Really helpful and very good at his job. It was great to have him with me. I was scared witless, so having someone here who knew what they were doing calmed me down.’
‘Yeah, Ethan’s cool. He’s a friend of mine. A good friend, actually.’
Something in Maria’s tone hinted that their relationship might be more than a merely platonic association. The intriguing thought was a welcome distraction from obsessing about the drug running.
‘Really?’ Dee purred. ‘You guys seem like totally different people. He’s so quiet, you’re so out there.’
‘I know,’ Maria said. ‘Opposites attract, I guess.’
‘Is anything likely to happen? Like, anything beyond friendship?’
Maria laughed. ‘I wish! The man is hot. But I’m a curvy, loud Italian chick and my family want me to marry a loud, Italian man. Ethan is the quiet, serious type. He’d never go for someone like me.’
‘Yeah, but like you said, opposites attract.’
‘Not that much, they don’t,’ Maria said, adding an awkward laugh.
Dee felt for her new friend. Admiring someone who was unattainable was hard on the ego. Naturally, Dee’s thoughts moved to Travis. She’d spoken to Jo recently, but it’d mostly been about the drug-trafficking clusterfuck. They hadn’t had a chance to discuss in any detail how things were going with Travis, and Dee felt the sudden urge to confide in someone, to bring the intensity of what she was feeling into the light.
‘Maria,’ she whispered, ‘I think I’m in love.’ Dee leaned back in her office chair, shocked at her own admission. Where had that come from?
‘No way, go you!’ Maria sang. ‘With who?’
‘Travis. He’s the guy I was billeted with. The guy whose house I had no choice but to live in because of Tim in HR.’
‘Bloody Tim! Although, maybe we should be thanking him?’
Dee laughed. ‘Maybe we should.’
‘Travis, eh? I remember him. How could I forget? I saw him when I went for a site visit after Olsen bought the place. He’s a looker, all right. That’s for damn sure.’
‘He is.’
‘You said you think you’re in love with him, but the way I understand it—and believe me, I am not an expert. I’m what you would call terminally single—but the way I see it, you’re either in love or not.’
Dee’s chest ached. Emotion bubbled up from her core and sat there. She took a breath. Her feelings for Travis had been like ivy growing on a wall. Slow to creep-up and take hold, but now that they were there, they were flourishing and taking over everything.
Maria whistled, and thankfully didn’t push the issue of love any further. ‘Well, you certainly have a whole lot of shit going on. I kind of want to be you. And at the same time, I really don't want to be you, if you know what I mean.’
‘Sadly, I do.’
A man walked towards the front entrance then, and Dee recognised him as the police sergeant from the day before.
‘Maria,’ she said, ‘I have to go.’
‘Did Travis just walk past without clothes on?’
‘I wish,’ she said. ‘It’s the police.’
Her stomach sank.
‘Good luck with everything,’ Maria said. ‘Keep me posted. And Dee, if you need me, I’m here. Us girls need to stick together.’
‘Thanks, Maria. I will.’
She hung up and turned to see Vince strolling in from the factory floor. Dee smiled, wishing with all her might that this would be the last time she’d have to offer him a fake smile.
Vince smiled back, but then his gaze caught on the front window.
‘The cops are here,’ he said, frowning.
Dee’s heart rose about a foot in her chest. She looked out the window to see a squad car and two unmarked cars.
Vince froze, his frown deepening as he stared at the scene brewing outside the window.
Dee’s heart pounded furiously in her chest. Hope sparked when she considered that this could be the end. She watched in silence as suited and uniformed police officers followed the sergeant into the front office.
‘Vince D’Augusti?’ one of the suits said, looking right at Vince. Luckily, the sergeant didn’t look at Dee. She might’ve fallen from her seat if he had.
‘Yes?’ Vince said.
‘You are wanted for questioning related to the charge of com
mercial trafficking. We’d like you to come down to the station with us.’
Vince kicked the backpack at the foot of his desk. ‘Bullshit! This is crap. I’m not going anywhere.’ He looked at Dee. ‘Ask her. She’ll tell you I’m above board.’
The sergeant looked at Dee and her core solidified.
‘I’m the one who called them,’ she declared.
At that, Vince turned wild. ‘You bitch!’ he cried, lunging towards her.
The uniformed officers blocked him and grabbed him by his arms.
‘This is utter crap!’ Vince cried. ‘She knows nothing. She’s only just started. She’s just angry because I won’t date her. She just wants me for my Jag!’
‘All right, mate,’ a suited officer soothed. ‘Tell us all about it at the station.’
Vince allowed the uniforms to guide him, but he protested all the way to the car, cries of “bitch” and “liar” floating back to her through the double doors.
Dee felt weak and tried to steady herself by pressing her palms against the surface of the desk. She sucked in some air, but bile rose in her throat.
‘You all right, darling?’
Dee looked up to see Dianne Parker hovering nearby.
‘I’ve come to see the changes you made to the front office.’ Dianne’s gaze floated to the window where they could see the police loading Vince into the squad car.
‘Seems as though you’ve changed quite a few things.’
Dee looked at Dianne and the older woman grabbed hold of her hand.
‘You’re all right now,’ Dianne soothed.
Those kind words were all it took. Dee dissolved into tears.
31
Travis burst in from the factory floor, holding is hard hat and gloves in his hands. He took one look at Dee’s red eyes and began looking frantically around the room, seemingly on the hunt for some unseen threat.
‘What happened?’ he barked. ‘Why are you crying? Was it Vince?’
‘The police just came,’ Dee said, her voice still shaking.
‘Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it? Don’t tell me you feel sorry for Vince!’
Dianne appraised her son’s aggressive stance. ‘Travis, I think she might be in shock after everything that just happened.’
Travis’s stance softened and he knelt next to Dee. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.
‘Yes, I’m fine. It’s all just so … shit. I feel as though everything’s happened so fast. I’m just trying to get my head around it.’ Dee winced. ‘I shouldn’t be complaining to you, though. You’ve lost your best friend in all of this.’
‘What do you mean lost your best friend?’ Diana asked, looking at Travis.
‘Some people were trafficking drugs out of the factory.’ Travis paused. ‘Pete was one of them.’
Dianne gasped and brought her hand to her mouth. ‘No, Trav. That can’t be right. There must be a mistake or a misunderstanding of some kind. Pete wouldn’t do that. It can’t be true.
‘I’m sorry to say, it is. Dee and I saw it with our own eyes,’ Travis said.
Dianne looked at Dee. ‘Oh, you poor girl. No wonder you’re distressed. And you, Travis? What you must be thinking after all you’ve been through. Of all the things Pete could do, he’s involved with drugs? He saw what they did to Kim.’
‘I know,’ Travis said. ‘I’m gutted.’
‘So? What happens next?’ Dianne asked.
Travis shrugged. ‘We don’t really know, Mum.’
‘I think we have to try to get on with things as best we can,’ Dee said
‘That sounds like a good plan,’ Dianne replied. ‘Why don’t the three of you come up to my house for dinner tonight? I’ll cook us a roast.’
‘We don’t want you going to any trouble,’ Dee said. ‘Why don’t we pick up some takeaway on the way?’
Dianne gave her a small smile. ‘Okay, that sounds fine.’
Dee’s office phone rang, and Travis and Dianne, taking their cue, got up to leave. Travis glanced back at her, then kept walking.
‘Good morning, Olsen Paper. Dee speaking.’
‘Dee, it’s Christian.’
‘Christian. It all just happened. The police have been and they’ve taken Vince.’ As she said the words, Dee felt her breath quicken and neck grow warm. She was still heightened by the drama she’d witnessed.
‘I had a feeling that would happen this morning,’ Christian said. ‘Listen, Dee, we need to have a serious discussion.’
Dee focused on his words. Serious. Discussion. Oh, no.
‘Serious discussion? Christian, are you about to fire me?’
‘Why on earth would I fire you?’ Christian’s voice was filled with genuine surprise. ‘You’re the reason this drug situation was uncovered. If it hadn't been for you and your intuition, we never would have known. There is no way in the world I would think about firing you.’
Dee breathed a sigh of relief.
‘The problem I have, Dee, is that you are a wasted resource at Olsen Paper. I put you there in an attempt to turn a failing business around, to help it rise from the fire.’
‘The ashes,’ Dee corrected. English was Christian’s second language and Dee had been correcting him since they’d met. He never took offence; in fact, he welcomed it.
‘Yes. The ashes. You had the skill set and the enthusiasm to make it happen, but in light of recent events … the company is considering closing the operation down.’
‘You can’t be serious! Christian, no. Listen, I have to admit, the factory has been nothing but confusion and challenges from day one, but you sent me here to achieve something. I need to see it through, and the people of this town need this company to be a success. So many families depend on it. We can’t close it down. You need to give me a chance. Now that the distribution riddle is solved, I think we can turn a good profit. Maybe even a great one.’
‘Dee, this is why I love working with you. You are both tenacious and compassionate, two of my favourite attributes. However, you have to understand that in business, sometimes tough decisions need to be made. Olsen Paper is a nonstarter. The paper industry isn’t a passion of mine, and the factory was an acquisition my father made. The numbers don’t add up and now we’re involved in a legal mess that has the potential to be a publicity bad dream.’
‘Nightmare,’ she interjected.
‘Yes. The decision about whether or not the plant stays open is not final, but Dee, I am pulling you out. I am going to put you on something else. I don’t want to waste another minute of your time on a project that is doomed. We need you elsewhere. Doing what you do best.’
Dee’s mind was a mess. Three weeks ago, she would have understood Christian’s reasoning, welcomed it even, but now things were different. She had invested herself in the town and in the factory. And … in Annie and Travis.
‘When would I need to leave?’ A sour taste spread across her tongue.
‘End of next week,’ Christian said. ‘We have a boutique development opening on the Mornington Peninsula. I’ve already secured you an apartment. I did it myself to avoid the mistakes that were made last time.’ She could hear the smile in his voice. ‘I’d like you to be the general manager of that development. Dee, this is a much bigger project than the factory and the lodge put together. I know you. I trust you. I have every confidence that you are up to the challenge.
‘I’ll get HR to send through the paperwork tomorrow. I think you’ll find the wage to be very lucrative. We plan to pay you what you’re worth. And, Dee, based on the last week in particular, you are worth a lot to this company.’
Dee should have been thanking him, she should’ve been singing his praises and dancing around the room, but she couldn’t. The excitement refused to come.
Christian had as good as handed her everything she’d ever wanted on a silver platter, and all she felt was … hollow. It took everything in her to summon up a reasonable reply.
‘Christian, thank you so much for having faith in me and tha
nk you for considering me for this position. I look forward to seeing the email.’
‘Great,’ he said. ‘Speak soon, Dee. And congratulations. You deserve this.’
She hung up and sat staring out the window where the police cars had been only moments before. The conversation should have filled her up. She should be brimming with excitement, hope for the future and pride. She felt nothing.
Her mobile phone rang. It was her father. Like some sort of business-minded wizard, he must have guessed at her imminent success and was sweeping in to claim credit.
‘Hi, Dad.’
‘Dee. How are you? Have you started at the factory yet? How’s it looking?’
Dee was not in the mood for pretence. ‘It’s looking like a disaster, Dad, if you really want to know. I caught employees committing a crime on-site, and as a reward, the Olsen Corporation is offering me a chance to run a development on the Mornington Peninsula.’
‘Wow, that’s impressive!’ He paused and Dee heard a rustling sound. ‘Bonnie! Dee’s just been given a promotion.’
More rustling followed and her mother came on the line. ‘Now Dee,’ she began, ‘give me the details of the new role so I can write it down.’
‘It’s on the Mornington Peninsula,’ Dee heard her father call out in the background.
‘Oh, well. The Mornington Peninsula is very swanky. I must say, darling, I never thought the role in the factory suited you. You’re too good for a place like that. Now, what is the development called?’
Dee bit the inside of her cheek. She didn’t want to do this with them, not now. ‘How are you, Mum?’
Her mother paused before answering. ‘Well, I’ve been very well, darling. Just spending time with your father and our friends. I can’t wait to tell them all about your exciting new position.’
‘Mum,’ Dee cut in, ‘I’m not sure I’m going to take it.’
‘Don’t be silly, darling. Of course you’ll take it.’
Dee heard her father’s angry protests in the background, followed by another round of rustling, and then, predictably, her father’s voice filled her ears.
Winter in Mason Valley Page 19
