SHELTER

by Boston, Claire

  Damn. She hadn’t thought this through. She couldn’t possibly follow the bus into the winery to see who disembarked. It was far too early to pretend to be a tourist going for a wine tasting and the driver might recognise Jeremy’s ute.

  Though if Annisa was working as a cleaner, she might not be working there.

  When the bus turned into the winery, she continued driving past. The road was narrow and winding without an easy place to turn around. She accelerated, hoping to find another driveway she could pull into.

  The bus would have reached the sheds by now. It wouldn’t take long for the workers to get off.

  Jaw tight, she scanned for somewhere to do a U-turn.

  There! A slight widening in the road. She slammed on the brakes, glad no one was behind her and did an awkward three-point turn.

  Accelerating again, it wasn’t far until the vines appeared on the left-hand side of the road. In the distance, the sheds and restaurant were silhouetted against the glow of the clouds.

  Where was the bus?

  Headlights moved down the driveway.

  She was going too fast. She slowed, but it was too late. She was going to pass the driveway before the bus exited.

  Damn.

  Checking her speed, she slowed to just under the speed limit and glanced in her rear-view mirror. The bus had turned towards her.

  Thankfully.

  When she reached the main highway, she turned towards Blackbridge and kept glancing in her rear-view mirror until she confirmed the bus was following her.

  Now what?

  She decreased her speed until the bus caught up, but there weren’t many places for it to pass. She kept at the speed limit until she drove into town and then she turned down the street that ran past the river. The bus continued straight on so she quickly looped around the block and back to the main highway.

  The bus was gone.

  No! She turned left, scanning the nearby streets. She slowed as she passed each road and spotted the white bus parked in the carpark of what looked to be a mechanic and wreckers’ yard.

  That had to be where her hire car had been towed. A good excuse for her to drop by later and check what had happened to it, and also see who was working there.

  She pulled into the tourist bureau and parked, the engine still running, and grabbed her camera from the seat next to her. She zoomed in and took a couple of photos of the bus and the people getting off, but the light wasn’t great. If she was lucky, she’d be able to see more detail when she enlarged the shots on her laptop.

  The bus made two more stops in town and while the day was now bright enough for her to see who got off, it was never Annisa.

  The bus drove past her and it had only two occupants in it – both male.

  Annisa had to have disembarked at the winery or the mechanics’.

  Zamira headed for the supermarket and bought a cheap phone. When she got back into the ute she unpackaged it and inserted the sim card. Her shoulders slumped. The battery showed a low charge. Of course.

  Putting the car into gear, she headed for the bakery.

  ***

  “Jeremy Mendelson, you’re a genius!” Gladys’s shrill delight made him smile as relief swept through him.

  “You like the design?” She had strong opinions and wasn’t afraid to air them, but it wasn’t just her decision. The granny flat was going on her daughter’s property.

  Barbara nodded. “It’s perfect. How long will it take?”

  “I can start work next month, if the council approves it,” he said. “Assuming we run into no issues when we dig the upright supports, it’ll take about two months.” He looked out their window. “You’ll need to remove a couple of trees in the meantime.”

  “Can’t you build around them?” Gladys asked.

  “It would add a significant cost and they’ll be a fire hazard.” The garden was already covered in piles of leaf litter, which wasn’t a big deal at this time of year but would be come summer. He directed his next comment to Barbara. “I can do a fire safety assessment for you if you’d like. It’s lovely to be amongst the trees, but your block will be hard to defend if a fire comes this way.” He shouldn’t say anything, knew people didn’t like to be preached to, but he wouldn’t be doing right by them if he didn’t at least mention it.

  “Yeah, that would be great. I’ve been meaning to do it for a while now.”

  He packed up his things. “If you’re happy to go ahead with the construction I’ll put together a detailed job plan and get it to you by the end of the week.”

  “Perfect.”

  Jeremy checked his watch. “Do you want me to do the fire assessment for you now?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Gladys hugged him. “I can’t wait to move in.”

  He smiled at her enthusiasm. “I’m glad. Now let me get my checklist.”

  A few minutes later he wandered around Barbara’s yard making notes. She walked next to him, occasionally pulling out a weed.

  “Hey, Barbara, do you know where Henk’s migrants are working?” He wrote down that one of the eucalypts needed trimming.

  “Some work at the Vale and Morgan hired a couple,” she said. “I think another few work for the local fishermen. Why do you ask?”

  “You heard about the fire at his place the other day?”

  She nodded.

  “I rescued a woman from the building and I realised I’d never seen her before.” He shrugged. “I wondered where she was working.”

  Barbara pursed her lips. “I think the ag school might have hired one,” she said. “Though I heard Bec Simons complain they don’t last long. Apparently they always get homesick and go home and she has to train a new one.”

  Jeremy’s heart jumped. “Thanks.” He pointed to the branch above them. “Those are going to need trimming.”

  Maybe Jamie could get them in to see Annisa.

  An hour later he whistled as he drove his truck towards Albany. He’d sent Jamie a text asking him to call, but it would probably be a couple of hours before he’d have a break between classes. Jeremy slowed at the turn off to his place. Stopping to check on Zamira wouldn’t be productive and she might not be there. She’d messaged him to say she hadn’t found Annisa but needed to check on her hire car.

  After he heard back from Jamie, he’d call her and if he got his work done he could go home early. The idea of someone to go home to made him all warm inside.

  He drove directly to the large hardware store and parked near the trade entrance. Aside from varnish, he needed to buy the ply for his desk drawers and then he’d pick up his order.

  The massive warehouse had the ceiling arching high above and the shelving in long rows. He found a trolley, headed for the varnish aisle.

  As he examined the different options a voice said, “Jeremy?”

  He turned and then stumbled back like he’d been punched in the gut. “Moira.” He only recognised his baby sister because a mutual friend had pointed her out at an Australia Day celebration a couple of years ago. His fingers tightened on the can he held. She looked well. Her long blonde hair was styled in layers around her face and her cheeks were flushed from the cold. She was waiting for him to say something. “How’s it going?”

  “Really good.” Her smile was cautious. “I just got engaged.” She gestured to the man next to her. “This is Ollie.”

  His chest squeezed. Christ. His little sister was old enough to be engaged. Of course she was. It had been thirteen years since he’d been part of her life. Jeremy shook Ollie’s hand summing him up. His handshake was firm and he smiled, his eyes kind. That was good. Not that he had any say in his sister’s life. Hadn’t been a part of it since he was fifteen. “Congratulations.”

  “Nice to finally meet you. You should come to dinner one night.”

  Jeremy glanced at his sister. Didn’t this bloke know what had happened?

  “Great idea,” Moira said. “I’d really like to catch up.” She touched his arm, her eyes uncertain.


  His throat closed over. She’d been only ten when their father had died, when their mother had kicked him out. He remembered her as a sweet girl, playing with her dolls and obsessed with dancing and singing. She’d always begged him to play with her and he could never refuse. He’d even let her put makeup on him and they’d put on a show for their parents and Heather. He closed his eyes, trying to block the pain. How much of that girl was still there? He doubted she played with dolls anymore. Who was he kidding? This young woman was a stranger. “Where do you live?”

  “We’ve got our own place in Lockyer,” she said.

  So no longer living with their mother.

  No, he couldn’t get his hopes up, couldn’t stand here making small talk with her. It was too painful. “I’ve gotta go.”

  She grabbed his arm. “Wait. Can I get your number?” she asked. “We can arrange a time for dinner, or coffee?” Her expression was so hopeful, the same as it had been all those years ago when she’d asked him to play Barbies with her.

  His throat ached. “Um, sure.” He rattled it off and she put it in her phone.

  “It’s really great to see you, Jeremy.” She hesitated and then hugged him.

  He hugged her back automatically, tears glistening in his eyes. He blinked them back and cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, see you.” He walked blindly away, not caring what varnish he held in his hand or where he went.

  When he reached the back of the store, he stopped, took a deep breath to stop his hands from shaking. His baby sister was all grown up, getting married and wanted to see him.

  He gritted his teeth and pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth to stop the tears from forming.

  Why now?

  It had been thirteen years since he’d had contact with any of his family. Thirteen years since his mother had ordered him out of the house. Thirteen years since he’d forgotten to flick the power off.

  Thirteen years since he had killed his father.

  Chapter 12

  Mai had let Zamira charge the phone at the bakery while she filled up on coffee, pastries and planned her next step. When she was done, she went to the mechanics’ first.

  A middle-aged man with dark hair looked up as she walked into the workshop. He wiped his hands on a rag. “Hi, how can I help?” The name tag on his overalls said Morgan.

  She smiled at him. “My name’s Zamira. My hire car was towed here yesterday.”

  “Oh sure. Do you want to take a look?”

  She nodded and followed him out of the workshop and around the side to the wrecker’s yard. Two Malaysian men worked across the yard, stripping parts out of cars and her white hire car sat close to the entrance, a mass of scratches and dents.

  “The insurance assessors are due later today,” Morgan said. “I think Nicholas cleared out all the possessions, but you can check.”

  “Thanks.” She hadn’t left anything in there, but she went through the motions of checking, opening the passenger side door. “What will happen to it after the assessors have been?”

  “Depends. I’d guess they’ll consider it a write-off, so I might buy it and strip it for parts.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Is that what they’re doing?” She pointed to the migrants.

  “Yeah. Lots of things can be recycled.”

  Zamira couldn’t think of any reasonable excuse for her to go over and talk to them, but it was clear Annisa wasn’t here.

  “Thanks for your help.”

  She drove out to the Vale winery. The restaurant had just opened. She didn’t dare get her camera out as she spotted Kay and the migrant workers over by the shed, loading wine barrels on to the back of a truck. But at least she now had an excuse to go over there.

  She walked quickly past the playground to the fence that divided the restaurant from the sheds. Kay spotted her and strode over, a scowl on her face.

  “There aren’t any tours of the sheds.”

  Zamira smiled. “You’re Kay, aren’t you?”

  The woman nodded once.

  “I’m Zamira. Your father crashed into me yesterday, and I wanted to check he was all right.” Behind Kay one of the migrants stopped to look at her, a frown on his face. Then another man called to him and he moved back into the shed.

  Kay’s scowl deepened and she placed her hand on the wooden post. “He’s fine.” She sighed. “I’m really sorry about that. How are you?”

  “A little bruised, but not too bad.” She rested a hand on Kay’s. “I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to deal with his dementia.”

  Kay snatched her hand back, ran it through her hair. “It’s no picnic. At least now he can’t hurt others… if he remembers he doesn’t have a licence.”

  Of course. Zamira nodded. “I can see you’re busy, so I’ll let you get back to it. Take care.”

  Kay’s nod was curt and she spun on her heel and returned to supervise the men. Zamira stood there a moment longer, scanning the people, hoping to see a glimpse of Annisa, but aside from Kay, they were all men.

  Maybe she was still at Henk’s place.

  Zamira returned to the ute and drove back to Jeremy’s. Henk’s gate was shut again.

  She must have been lucky on Saturday to find it open. Or maybe it was only open when Henk was home. Annisa might be inside at the moment, waiting for her next job. She needed to check.

  Fetch trotted out to greet her and she patted his head as she inhaled deeply, some of her worries fading at the peace of the place.

  Jeremy was lucky to live here.

  She smiled at the thought of him. The sex had been amazing, and afterwards she’d fallen asleep in his arms. But both times she’d woken, he hadn’t been there. Maybe he wasn’t as comfortable having her in his bed as he’d said.

  She stretched to ease her aches and pains, her bag bumping against her side, the camera safe inside. She would do more yoga later, but first she needed to see if Annisa was next door. Fetch would give her the perfect excuse.

  She opened the back door, checking the laundry cupboard for a lead, but couldn’t find one. Jeremy left him outside to roam when he wasn’t home which had to mean Fetch didn’t wander far. “You want to go for a walk?”

  His ears pricked and he thumped his tail.

  She grinned. “Come on then.”

  The cold hovered around her. She tucked her hands under her armpits and walked down the back steps, taking a deep breath in. Wet grass, wet eucalypts, fresh air. Nothing like Melbourne. Her boots were damp in seconds but the leather would be fine. Fetch trotted next to her, occasionally dashing off when a scent caught his attention and then coming back to her.

  She retrieved her camera and took a few photos. If only this was really a holiday, if only Annisa was safe, if only she could truly enjoy her time here.

  A kookaburra laughed, its cackle loud and lingering in the air before fading. A couple of galahs sat in nearby trees, nibbling on leaves and nuts. A silver-eye hopped over the grass searching for insects.

  She’d never noticed much bird life in the city. Her journey to work consisted of walking to the bus stop outside her apartment and then changing to a tram to take her into the city. It was concrete and traffic all the way. Stress and aggravation from her fellow passengers as they all tried to squeeze into a carriage so they weren’t late for work.

  She didn’t miss it.

  She hadn’t been happy in her job for a long time, but had stuck with it, toeing the line in the hope eventually she could move into the area where she really wanted to work.

  But now who knew what was going to happen? She’d made demands when she had no right to do so. What would she do if she didn’t work for Border Force?

  She didn’t have a backup plan.

  She sighed and walked through the bush at the back of Jeremy’s property. There might not be as much vegetation along the fire break and she’d get a better look at Henk’s place.

  Her footsteps slowed as a thought occurred to her. Perhaps the bus did a second work run. An
nisa might have been on that. The dormitory building would have housed more people than the bus carried. She should have thought of that.

  She sighed.

  Perhaps she should be patient. Border Force might be raiding Henk’s property at any minute – and by tomorrow it should all be over. Annisa would be safe, even though she would be in trouble for being here without a visa.

  Zamira would help her however she could, and then return to Melbourne.

  Aside from the coffee, she didn’t miss the place. Her best friend lived in the Northern Territory and Zamira had no other close friends. She associated her apartment, her work and even her family at times with stress and aggravation. Too many parental expectations she hadn’t lived up to.

  She’d never considered going to the country on the weekend, or taking long walks through the bush. Curling up on the couch with a comic or a movie was her ideal way to spend the day. So why did Blackbridge give her such a sense of peace?

  She reached the fire break and headed towards Henk’s property. It was a lot less scary walking in daylight when she could see all the trees and bushes, and birds flitting from branch to branch. She scanned the area, keeping one eye on Fetch who trotted along next to her and one towards Henk’s place. She spotted the fence through the bush as soon as it came within view. Those poor people were trapped, unable to run away.

  Border Force couldn’t act fast enough for her.

  Her footsteps slowed. The bush had been squashed in two places, running parallel towards Henk’s place. Tyre tracks.

  On a whim she walked along them and came to another big metal gate at the corner of the property. Signs declared ‘Danger, electric fence’, and the bush both sides of the gate was flat enough to suggest it was used semi-regularly. Through the gap in the trees she could see a couple of people walking near the tents. Her skin tingled. Was that Annisa? It was definitely a woman, slim, with long dark hair. The person ducked into Annisa’s tent. Yes. It had to be.

  Now to get to her. Should she yell to get her attention?

  She scanned the gate for signs it was electrified as well and her gaze caught the security camera pointing directly at her.