Last Known Contact

by Phillipa Nefri Clark

  This was it. Paul had caught her and there was nobody here to help her. She slid her fingers into a pocket of the backpack.

  Another crunch. She slowly withdrew her hand, fingers encircling a canister.

  Why hadn’t Paul spoken? Mocked her some more.

  He was behind her.

  Right behind her.

  A hand clamped on her shoulder.

  “Ellie? My God, what happened to you?”

  “Daddy!”

  She spun around and there he was. Jack. Alive and right here where Ben said he’d be. He opened his arms and she threw herself into them.

  “Gab, its Ellie! It’s just Ellie.” He called over Ellie’s shoulder.

  “Darling?” Gabi emerged from the dark near the shed and flung her arms around them both.

  I found you. I knew I could.

  “We heard gunshots! We’ve been trying to get a phone signal higher up the hill.” Gabi released them both. “Are you alright?”

  “We need to get inside and lock ourselves in.” Ellie stepped back. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you. Dad, I thought you were dead. Everyone thinks you are.”

  “What? But, honey, Paul knows exactly where I am, and I left you a voicemail telling you where to find my note.”

  “Paul is on his way to kills us. We have to go inside.”

  Jack laughed.

  He actually laughed.

  Ellie’s arms and legs were bleeding, she was covered in mud and drenched from the rain. Did he think she was making it up?

  “Jack! Take a look at our daughter!” Gabi put a hand on his arm. “Something’s terribly wrong.”

  “I can see that. But kill us? Paul’s been at my side for years.”

  “He let everyone believe you’d disappeared without a trace, even tried to frame Dennis.”

  “Nonsense. Paul picked me up from the house after the board meeting and drove me down to a quiet spot on the Mornington Peninsula where your mother collected me with Wind Drifter. Realised my pen was missing after he left. Did anyone find it?”

  “I found it. Dad, I found it under a seat on Sea Angel and we all thought you’d drowned. Paul’s been stealing from you.”

  The strangest look passed between Dad and Gabi. Then, Dad sobered. “I know about the money.”

  Ellie took a step back as her stomach clenched.

  “He helped me out once. Can’t tell you about it.” Dad shook his head. “So, a few thousand dollars here and there meant nothing to me in return.”

  “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Dad, he probably killed a man. Frank Barlow.”

  Dad’s jaw dropped. “Frank? But why? Paul paid him to keep half an eye on the pier.”

  “Trouble is, he kept too good an eye on it.” Paul limped around the corner of the cabin, waving his handgun. A blood-soaked strip of material was knotted around his leg. He stopped, panting heavily. “And it is more like a million dollars you’ve turned a blind eye to, and I thank you for every cent.”

  “Is that a gun wound?”

  “No, Jack. I always have a hole in my leg.”

  “What the hell is going on?” Confusion filled Jack’s face and tone of voice.

  “Payback, Jack.” Paul swayed a bit. “Should have given me an office on the executive floor and a salary to match. And her.” He leered at Ellie. “You made her marry a fool when she’d have been happy with me.”

  “I would never have married you!”

  Paul shrugged “And there I was feeling bad for threatening you and your brother. And getting Dale to stalk you in the alley. Did you ever feel like you were being watched, baby?”

  “Did you hurt Campbell?” Ellie forced the words out.

  “He was becoming a liability, Ellie. Digging around in the past. But your beloved detective is an idiot because I left clues. Did the stapler make you think Mark did it? Or Joni?” He laughed.

  Jack lurched forward and Ellie grabbed his arm. “No, Dad.”

  She pushed herself between her parents and Paul, one hand behind her back.

  “You’re bleeding. Let me help you.”

  “You care? Only nicked me, not about to bleed out.” His face was pale, and his gun hand dropped to his side. “Why couldn’t you have loved me back? We’re going to go inside. Home invasion sounds plausible.”

  “Did you send Dale to attack me?”

  “Nope. He did that all on his own, bloody idiot. I simply paid him and his brother to help out a bit. Well, I promised I’d pay them, but that ain’t gonna happen. Now, into the cabin.”

  “We’re not going anywhere.” Ellie tightened her grip on the cylinder behind her back. “Dad, Gabi, please try to phone for help.”

  “Get in the cabin!” Paul’s hand began to rise.

  Ellie rushed at him, her arm outstretched as she forced down the mechanism on the cylinder. A stream of spray burst into his face and he screamed. The gun came up and from nowhere, a shot echoed through the air.

  Paul hit the ground. She gripped the cylinder as a primal cry escaped her lips.

  In her peripheral vision, figures appeared through the darkness.

  “Ellie!”

  Her legs were locked in place, every muscle taut as she released the mechanism. If he moved, she would blast him again.

  “Ellie, sweetheart. Drop the canister.”

  She opened her fingers and it fell. The figures closed in. One was Andy, who trained a rifle on Paul, standing back from the still-visible cloud of spray.

  Ben was in front of her. His face was so worried. Why was he so worried?

  “You’re alive.” It sounded silly as soon as she spoke.

  He half-smiled. “More importantly, so are you. Where did you get pepper spray?”

  “Oh. I guess he forgot, but Paul gave it to me ages ago.”

  “Good for him. You know it is illegal to carry.”

  “Whoops.”

  “Hello Jack.” He looked past Ellie. “You’ve put your daughter through hell. I’m going to have quite an interesting discussion with you soon.”

  Ellie opened her mouth to stand up for her father. Then, she closed it again. Ben grinned. Did he know what she was thinking?

  “I think we should get Ellie cleaned up. And some water, darling?” Gabi took Ellie’s arm. She smiled at Ben. “Thank you. I think.”

  Ellie glanced at Paul. He moaned and rubbed his eyes. Andy was talking on a radio, rifle loosely pointed at Paul. Ben followed her gaze. “Wish Andy hadn’t shot him in the other leg. Now, we’ll have to carry him.”

  He reached out a hand and Ellie grabbed it like a lifeline.

  68

  A Way Back

  A bus pulled away from the kerb on a quiet street in west Melbourne. Only one person had alighted, a young man wearing a jacket and jeans, hood pulled up to protect him from the last of the rain from an earlier thunderstorm. He carried a huge bunch of cheap, but pretty flowers, and wore a backpack.

  He looked around, unsure of himself. Checked the time and turned back to wait for another bus. His eyes kept flicking to a house up the road. Small, humble, and with its porch light on. The rain stopped and he pushed the hoodie off, running a hand through a mop of brown hair. Someone appeared at the front window of the house, checking through the curtain before disappearing. As though unable to stop, he walked quickly to the front gate.

  The letterbox had a name on it. Blackwell. He pushed the gate open.

  At the door he stood for a moment, then raised his hand to knock. And lowered it with a sigh. He smelled the flowers, then laid them on the doorstep. His shoulders slumped as he traipsed to the gate.

  The front door opened. “Hello? Who is it?” An elderly man peered down the path.

  The young man froze.

  “Who are these flowers for, young man?”

  Adam Blackwell turned around, uncertainty in his eyes. “They’re for Grandma.”

  Door now wide open, the older man picked up the flowers and came down the steps to Adam. He stood in front of
him, his expression unreadable. They gazed at each other as the rain began again.

  “Better come in and give them to her, son.”

  Adam’s mouth opened and his eyes glistened. “I…I’m so sorry about how I left, Grandad.”

  His grandfather’s eyes glistened back. “Me too, son. Me too.”

  “What are you doing outside, old man?” Mrs Blackwell appeared on the porch. Her eyes widened and a hand flew to her mouth.

  “Better take these to her. Go on.” Mr Blackwell handed Adam the flowers and patted his shoulders. “Time to go in.”

  With a wide grin, Adam took the flowers and sprinted to his grandmother.

  69

  Resolutions

  19 December

  It was late afternoon when Ellie locked her car and went to find Michael. She carried his early Christmas present, but intended to buy lots more to bring him on Christmas Day. There would be plenty of shopping time since she’d taken the rest of the year off.

  Dad was back at the helm of Bannerman Wealth Group after a considerable amount of explaining to the board and police. He wasn’t going to be there for long, not with the untreatable tumour which would shorten his life. All he wanted, so he told Ellie, was to sell and make sure his staff and family were properly taken care of. After that, he intended to live out whatever time he had with Gabi. They had plans to sail away. Meredith agreed to a divorce once Dad gave her the house and enough money to live well for a few years.

  Michael wasn’t in the pool or buildings, so Ellie wandered down to the lake, a quiet spot he loved. She’d spoken to one of his specialists and a new series of tests would commence early next year to evaluate his ability to leave for extended stays with Ellie, once she was in a better position to host him. Her apartment was already on the market and she’d warned Dad that in the new year she’d stay long enough to hand over the Foundation to new owners, and not a day longer.

  The lake sparkled and Ellie spied Michael on a bench, his wheelchair to one side. He listened to something his carer said, then threw his head back and laughed. Ellie laughed in response, and Michael’s head awkwardly turned. So did his carer’s.

  Ellie stopped dead and almost dropped the parcel. It was Ben with Michael, a broad grin on his face.

  She lifted her chin and got moving, kissing Michael’s cheek before settling next to Ben without looking at him.

  “So, Michael, does Ben visit often?”

  Michael’s eyes moved to Ben and a lop-sided smile formed.

  “I see. But does he bring you presents?” Ellie tapped the top of the parcel. “Nearly Christmas time, so you’ll be getting a lot of these.”

  “Pe…pee…za.”

  Ellie’s jaw dropped. Michael almost never said anything other than yes and no. “Did you say, pizza?”

  He nodded.

  “Michael, that is great talking, dude!”

  “Be…er.”

  “Mikey, no, let’s keep some things between us, okay?” Ben chuckled.

  “Ben Rossi, are you bringing alcohol here?”

  “No.” Michael’s eyes were filled with mischief.

  Ellie giggled. She couldn’t help herself, and it turned into a heartfelt laugh with Ben and Michael joining in.

  For an hour, they sat, and talked, laughed some more, and watched the lake as the evening approached. Ellie helped Michael open his gift. It was a lava lamp and made Michael laugh again. As kids, they’d both had them and each preferred the other, so they’d swapped. Every day, Gabi would put them back in their respective rooms, and every night, Michael and Ellie would do a secret exchange.

  The carer came to find Michael, Ellie and Ben accompanied him as far as the building. He grabbed her hand when she kissed him goodbye. “B…en. El…ly. Yes.”

  She didn’t know how to answer, so kissed him again and watched until he was out of sight.

  “Walk you to your car.” Ben offered her his arm and she took it.

  “How long have you been visiting?”

  “Since the first day I was allowed in. And I visit when I can. It makes him happy.”

  It did. Seeing Michael interact with Ben shook all her beliefs and perceptions about what happened before Michael’s overdose.

  “Sometimes I hate Dad.” The words were out before she filtered them. “Michael adored him and it shouldn’t matter that he stuffed up, Dad should never have cut him out of his life. Our lives.”

  “Don’t. You’ll eat yourself up if you do and then how will you go forward? Your father was raised on hate and abuse and he made his own mistakes, but you see them now.”

  “Is he going to be charged with anything?”

  “He did nothing illegal by going to visit his ex-wife. And they seem happy again.”

  “They are. But they’ve gone about it the wrong way. People need to treat relationships with respect. Even the end of them.”

  She couldn’t read Ben’s expression. Approval? Or disappointment in her?

  “What about Mark and Dale?” Ellie changed the subject.

  “Mark is still at large but Dale was kind enough to provide some possible places to search for him. Sounds like both were hired guns, as a manner of speaking. Eyes and ears where Dekeles needed. Hence the unlocked office doors.”

  They reached her car.

  “New tyres? Seems we both annoyed Paul Dekeles.” Ben changed the subject. “Andy and I are making sure he is in prison for a long time. Forever if I have my way.”

  “Yeah.” Ellie unlocked her car. “Tyre slashers should be put away forever. Dennis told me he will fight the drink driving charges.”

  “Bring it on.”

  “I told him it is yet another reason to divorce. I prefer to stay on the side of the law, not against it. And I know I have to answer for carrying pepper spray.” She opened the door and tossed her bag inside. “Are you okay? You could have died.”

  Ben tucked a tendril of hair behind Ellie’s ear. His touch sent a shiver down her spine. “I am. Couldn’t believe my eyes when you ran at Paul. Andy had his rifle on him, so Dekeles wasn’t going to get a shot off, but then you showed such courage. Even if you almost gave me heart failure. Ellie, I am proud of you.”

  A glimmer of happiness touched her heart. One day everything would change. She’d follow her dream by the sea and hopefully have Michael with her. There were other ways to do good in the world, even though she’d miss the Foundation. And she’d be free for the first time. Free to live life on her terms. And free to love again.

  70

  One Year On

  “Service bells! Service bells. Service all the way!” Ellie sang the words in time to a Christmas song playing in the background as she put two bowls of pasta on the pass. They were her last meals of the evening as she was taking an early mark to have a picnic on the beach before the sun was gone. Her small crew were more than capable of running the little eatery.

  Half an hour later she’d boxed up some pizzas, garlic bread and grabbed some beers and was crossing the road to meet Michael. He’d arrived yesterday to stay over for Christmas.

  This was his fourth visit and longest one. Each time he stayed, things were a little easier and Ellie longed for the day he would move here full time. She’d bought a sprawling old house near the sea and had it renovated to cater for his visits. There was even a room set up for his ongoing physical therapy. Ambling Fields let one of his carers be with him each visit, Kerry finally softening after seeing how committed Ellie was to making this work.

  “El…ly.” Michael’s smile was worth every cent and every moment of work to make it happen. His carer was Stanley, an older man with a soft voice and kind hands whenever he assisted Michael. Ellie hoped she might steal Stanley away should Michael come here permanently. Stanley stood beside the wheelchair.

  “Evening!” Ellie kissed Michael’s cheek and grinned at Stanley. “Shall we find a spot?”

  As they ate, Michael’s eyes strayed to the sea. Ellie knew he was happy here, his whole body relaxed and his sp
eech improved with every visit. Nature at work. If only he could be out there again, on a surfboard.

  Be happy with what we’ve got.

  Ellie squeezed Michael’s hand.

  Sunday was the only day the restaurant was closed. Ellie went down there early to collect eggs for breakfast. A leisurely start to the day with Michael sounded perfect.

  She came home to an empty house. There was no note, but everything was locked up the way she insisted on. Stanley must have taken Michael out. His van was there, so logic told her it wasn’t far, but unease settled in her stomach. She still couldn’t help looking over her shoulder sometimes.

  She phoned Stanley. “Are you out for a walk? I’m about to cook breakfast.”

  “We’re at the beach. I was about to call because something wonderful is happening.”

  “I don’t understand?” Ellie peered through her front windows. Up where the surfers went in high tide, she could make out Stanley with Michael in his wheelchair. Except…

  “Where is my brother?”

  “Mr Rossi is with him—”

  Ellie hung up and slammed the door as she ran out. Why was he here? She hadn’t seen him since Dad’s funeral a few months ago. They’d not talked at all about anything other than events of last year, so why now? She’d accepted that their relationship was over for good. More or less.

  Feet on the sand, she threw off her sandals and sprinted to join Stanley. Her eyes darted up and down the beach but she couldn’t see Michael or Ben. Yet Stanley simply smiled as she reached him, panting. He pointed to the sea.

  The tide was low and there were only a couple of kids playing on boogie boards and two men in shallow water, one sitting on a surfboard.

  All the hairs on Ellie’s arms stood up and tears prickled at the back of her eyes.

  “Michael?” she whispered.

  A long, slow wave rolled in and Ben, one hand on the back of the surfboard and the other on Michael’s shoulder, guided them over it. Michael’s laugh carried over the sand and Ellie was suddenly running to him.