by John Kelly
Seven days later, a Boeing 737 touched down at Tullarmarine Airport. Waiting in the arrival lounge, were Elsie Steedman with Richard sitting in a wheel chair beside her. Warwick and his wife Susan, stood alongside Robert and Margaret, and nervously held back their emotions, as the doors opened and the passengers began to appear one by one. The flight had originated in Brisbane and flown to Sydney, before continuing on to Melbourne.
As the passengers passed through into the arrival lounge, Warwick watched them, his heart beating furiously. Elsie's mind went numb as she scrutinized each person passing by, searching for a sign, recognition, something, anything! The blank expressions on the faces of those walking through, only accentuated the tension. Brad and Jenny Murphy were part of the last group to emerge. All smiles, they waved to the Steedman's as they came through the covered walkway.
Behind Brad, Rosie Fitzgibbon appeared. Behind Rosie, a gentleman in his forties came into view, alongside a beautiful young woman resting her arm in his. As the young woman came into view, Elsie gasped. "My God," she said, the moment she laid eyes upon her, "she's the spitting image of Andrea."
Brad and Jenny greeted the Steedman's one by one, and then turned to introduce their travelling companions.
"I'd like you all to meet Rosie Fitzgibbon," Brad said. "Rosie, this is Warwick Steedman and his wife Susan. As Rosie shook hands with Warwick, Brad felt a moment of uncertainty. 'Would she recognize him?' he wondered. He searched their eyes for a sign of recognition from either of them. Nothing!
"I'm told that we have met before," Warwick said. Rosie shook her head. "Well I did meet someone who claimed to be you, but no, I've never met you before," she said smiling.
A very relieved Brad then turned his attention to the gentleman standing behind him. "This is James Campbell," he said, "from Sydney," he added.
"How do you do?" James said, as he extended his hand to Warwick and the others. Then, as the apprehension mounted, the focus of attention rested on the young woman
"And this young lady is Mary Therese Campbell," Brad said.
"Hello everyone," Mary Therese said nervously, still clinging to her father James. Immediately, her smile, and her charismatic looks, disarmed everyone. Elsie was the first to come forward, and take Mary's hand in hers. "Welcome to Melbourne," she said warmly, "and welcome to our family."
*
Two weeks later, at Baldargo, Gerard Martin received a call from the local police Sergeant, who regretfully advised that DNA tests had confirmed, that the body found in the Aston Park offices of the Western Family Agency, in Brisbane, was that of his son, Frank. A victim of his own folly.
As a result of his actions in saving the life of Richard Steedman, no dangerous driving charges were laid against Julian Knowles. A highly favourable character reference from Warwick Steedman proved to be a significant factor.
The question of criminal charges against Julie Macleod and Louise Whiltshire was never raised, but that matter notwithstanding, Brad Murphy was still searching and not a man to let a good story die.
*
About 'SATAN'S LITTLE HELPERS'
John Kelly's first novel released in 2004, is a heartfelt, humorous and poignant story about growing up Catholic in the 1960's.
While watching the demolition of his old school Placidus College, Simon Hickey looks back on ten turbulent, life defining years when the first crop of Australia's baby boomers were awakening to their sexuality. Seduced by the power of the pulpit, the Aquinine Brothers and an ever present fear that Satan would snare him in an unguarded moment, Simon's attention is directed toward a religious vocation. At the vocational training college he encounters a serial paedophile with far reaching consequences. A few years later, he becomes one of the 'unlucky ones' balloted into the army for two years National Service in 1965.
These two vastly different experiences are linked by a tender romance that defies Catholic conventions of the day, and reveals how two people, who chose not to be conformist, cope with the social, political and religious nature of their time.
ISBN 0 646 43679 1
