Jesse’s eyes narrowed, just a little. He kept the smile on his face, and nodded. “Unfortunately, my wife lost that pendant earlier this year.”
“She was upset, I think.” Georgie closed her eyes and could see Jesse’s wife’s face she was wearing an expression of annoyance and loss. Instinctively, Georgie knew that the pendant meant a great deal to her.
“If your crystal ball could tell us where that pendant is, I’m sure Jenna would be eternally grateful to you,” Jesse said with a wistful on his face, totally manufactured for the camera. “It’s been handed down through the family, and apart from being quite valuable, it has a lot of sentimental value.”
Another image came into Georgie’s mind. This time, the image was of some kind of shed or old garage. She did see a shadowy entrance, and in the dimness beyond some kind of machines… she concentrated, but instead of growing sharper, the image dimmed, and she couldn’t see what was inside the garage at all. But then the image pulled back, enough for her to see shrubs and trees around the shed, as though a camera was taking a wider view. And then she saw the walls of a blue house behind the trees and she knew.
She put it together in a flash: you didn’t have to be a genius to join the dots. Chad Royston’s house. If the pendant wasn’t there, it certainly had been – and she had a fair idea who would have taken it there.
She looked at Jesse, and decided to give him part of the information, but not enough to go charging off to confront Chad. “I’m seeing a picture of a garage. Whether the pendant is there, or it once was there, I don’t know.”
“A garage?” Jesse’s brow furrowed. “You mean, like – Jenna might have dropped it in the garage at home? When she was getting out of the car?”
Georgie was certain that the garage adjoining Jesse Burns’ home would not be remotely like the one at Chad Royston’s house, but she kept that to herself as well. “I’m not getting information that specific, but I feel that you would have noticed it if it was in your garage at home. No, I think this is somewhere else.” She shrugged. “Perhaps you should think about where you and your wife have been, whether it might be at a friend’s house – or even in a different city.”
Jesse looked as though he was going to say something else, but closed his mouth again. An image of Harrison floated into Georgie’s mind, and she knew that Jesse suspected the same as she did: that Harrison was behind the disappearance of the pendant, and he had most likely taken it to a garage in a backyard somewhere to sell it on.
She decided to push a little. Thanks to Bluey, she knew the timeline of a few things that Jesse had going. “One more thing: I have a strong feeling that you’re going to get a phone call sometime today – with news that you’ve been waiting for. It’s in relation to a major development that you have been working on for some time.”
She felt the instant tension in Jesse’s body. It was almost a surge of panic, but he covered it with a laugh. “Well, that’s good to know. I’ll be waiting on that phone call. I’ve got quite a few things on the go at any one time, being in real estate development, so it could be any one of a number of things. And some of them will definitely bring jobs to the local area.” He waited a beat, and then drew back, looking up at the cameraman and tapping his watch. “Sorry guys, but I really need to go. Have you got enough to work with?”
“And cut.” The cameraman slid his earphones back off back around his neck again. “We just have a couple of staging shots to do, Mr Burns. It won’t take long, and then we can let you go.” He looked at Georgie. “That was interesting stuff – about the broken leg, and the missing pendant. Should be enough to bring people along to your markets.”
“I hope so.” Georgie glanced back at the crystal ball again. The mist was dissipating.
She was glad that nothing too definite had appeared there today. Really, it took like the universe was cooperating in her efforts to bring down Harrison and his father.
Five minutes later, it was all over. She and Scott chatted briefly to the cameraman, who predictably were interested enough to ask more questions, and then Jesse took his leave and strode away.
But not before agreeing that he would return to Georgie’s tent at the markets for a follow-up piece.
Georgie was happy enough with that. By the weekend, she felt that a lot more of the puzzle was going to be in place.
19
Harrison in Trouble
He might have been ordered to leave, but they could hardly stop him taking his things. Buzzing with anger, Harrison grabbed a large duffel bag from the storeroom of the garage and tossed it on his bed. He crammed in shorts, jeans, T-shirts and underwear until the bag bulged and then shoved in his iPad and charger on top of them.
It was going to be good to be out of this place. He’d miss the meals — his mother was an excellent cook — but he could do without the nagging and long-suffering looks from his mother and sister.
He glanced around his room, and wondered how difficult it would be to removed the TV attached to the wall. Probably too much trouble to get it off now, but he could come back for it. He still had a key, and unless they changed the locks he would be able to come and go as he pleased, when he was sure they’d be out.
He heard a sound behind him, and turned to see his mother standing in the doorway. There was no sign of friendliness on her face.
“So. You’re going, then.”
“Didn’t have a choice, did I?” His glance raked her up and down, and he curled his lip, knowing that that would press a few buttons.
Sure enough, her lips tightened and she folded her arms, leaning against the doorjamb. “You have only yourself to blame for this, Harrison. God knows, your father and I have done nothing but try to help you over the years. But ever since you took up with that Tyler –”
“Spare me, will you? I’m going, you don’t need to go on at me anymore.” With one hard yank he zipped up the bag and slung over his shoulder. “I’ll be back later for a few more of my things.” He went to push past her, but she stayed in place, her eyes glittering with anger.
“What have you done with all the jewelry you stole from me, Tyler? And don’t blame your sister. Leah might have borrowed it sometimes without permission, but she always brought it back.”
“Yeah, of course, it’s me. It’s always me, isn’t it? Don’t think for a minute that your precious Leah might’ve worn it out and lost it – all too convenient to blame the black sheep of the family, right?”
“Stop it.” She hissed out the words with surprising venom. “Just stop it, Harrison. You’re a user and a liar. I know your father told you that he hired a private investigator, so we know exactly what you’ve been up to and who you’ve been seeing.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” He shifted the bag to the other shoulder, grinning at her without any humor at all. “I bet you didn’t see me going into any pawnshop with your jewelry, though, did you?”
“Oh, I’m quite convinced you’ve got the contacts to ensure you don’t have to do that.” Her chin came up and she stared at him challengingly. “You’re becoming a very gifted little criminal.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you really think?”
“You won’t be coming back here unless you’re prepared to go into rehab.”
“Well, mother dear, I’m not going into rehab so I won’t be coming back here, will I?”
“Harrison.” She put a hand on his elbow as he brushed past. “Please, just tell me where the butterfly pendant is. That’s the one piece I really care about.”
Relishing the pain he saw in her eyes, Harrison just let his grin grew wider. “What butterfly pendant? I have no idea what you’re talking about, mother.” He held her eye just long enough so that she would know, without any doubt, that he was perfectly well aware of where it was.
“I’ll buy it back.” She almost spat out the words, but Harrison was unmoved.
“Much as I need the money, seeing as how you’ve cut me off, I’m afraid I can’t help you there. Maybe you can hir
e another private investigator to see if he can find it. Good luck with that.”
Leaving her behind, he clattered down the stairs and through the foyer, taking the time to give his sister the finger as he passed the living room. She glared at him, and called out “Good riddance!”
Harrison kept going, down the front steps and around to the garage.
His mother’s car was where it always was, in the carport next to the garage. Humming to himself, he pressed the key fob button that unlocked the Prius, her pride and joy, and slid in behind the driver’s seat. Wasting no time, he fired it up and headed out of the driveway.
As he had expected, she came flying out of the front door, down the steps and out of the gate to stare after him as he rocketed off down the street. In the rearview mirror he saw her plant her hands on her hips before she shook her fist at him and turned to go back inside.
Mission accomplished.
She’d probably guess he’d gone to Tyler’s – where else did he have to go? But she could come and get her damn car herself. No doubt daddy dear would drive her there later today.
If, that is, he hadn’t sold it first.
Harrison wasn’t expecting what he walked into when he arrived at Tyler’s. He parked the Prius behind Tyler’s five-year-old 4WD with its fat tires, and jogged around to the apartment that Tyler had claimed for his own at the back of the garage. He pushed open the door before realizing that someone else was there.
Hard hands grabbed him, and before he had time to do more than let out a startled yelp, he found his arms twisted behind his back.
A few paces away, Tyler lay on the floor in a fetal position, protecting his head with his hands, his knees jammed tightly up to his chest as far as he could get them. He was moaning.
Oh, shit.
“Hey, man,” Harrison said hastily, struggling. “This is got nothing to do with me. He –”
“Just shut up.” The man who held him slammed a fist into the side of his head, and Harrison went down like a ton of bricks. He tried to scuttle away, but copped a hard shoe to the midsection before he could get out of range.
“Now isn’t this fortuitous.” A quiet, well spoken voice sounded from across the room.
Harrison squeezed his eyes shut tight and groaned. Not him.
This was turning out to be a really shitty day.
The voice from across the room went on. “We came to collect from your friend Tyler, but it appears he has no money. You, on the other hand, owe us money too. We’ll be happy to collect from you instead.”
Wincing at the pain, Harrison pushed himself up to where he could lean against the lounge. He tried for a conciliatory tone. “Listen, mate, I told you I’d get you the money. Don’t I always?”
“No, you don’t always. And we are beginning to doubt that you’re going to come good with it, aren’t we, Bruno?”
The other man grunted agreement.
“I’ve spoken to my father,” Harrison improvised hastily, drawing on the conversation he’d had with his father the day before. “He said he’d only help me out this one last time if I agree to go into rehab.” He went to shake his head helplessly, but the movement brought pain glancing through his head, and for a moment the world went dark. Bruno had one hell of a punch on him.
The man he knew as Wally just laughed. “You go to rehab? That’s a good one. And did you agree?”
“Yes,” Harrison lied. “If it’s the only way to get you guys of my back, sure I agreed. Go to rehab for a month or two, come out, and soon I’ll be back running my own life again.” He let his head sink into his hands “Oh, my head.”
“Take a look at your friend Tyler, and consider yourself lucky that it’s only your head.” He heard footsteps approaching, and glanced up fearfully. The man just looked down at him, with an assessing gleam in his eye. “What are the terms of this agreement you have with your father? He gives you the money so you can pay me off? If I were him, I’d hardly agree to that. Not knowing you like I do.”
Harrison knew that he had no chance of keeping the two grand that his father had given him. Give it up now, live to fight another day. He swallowed hard, and said, “I told him I’d have to give you something or I wouldn’t make it to rehab. He would only give me two grand.”
“Two grand.” Wally’s voice held no emotion at all. “And the rest?”
“You tell me when where and how you want it delivered, and I pass that on to him,” Harrison lied. “He’ll send somebody he can trust with the money.”
“And what guarantee do we have that this will actually happen, if I accept the two K as a down payment?”
Harrison looked up and let out a laugh that was almost genuine. “Come on, you know who my old man is. Mr Clean of Hyams Beach? Him, the one who sits on boards all over Sydney? Do you think there’s any way in the world he wants this getting out? Don’t worry, he’ll pay up. It’s chump change for him.”
Wally extended a hand. “Give me the two grand.”
Harrison nodded over at the duffel bag. “It’s in there. Side pocket.”
Wally just gave a nod in Bruno’s direction, and Bruno lifted the bag, tossed it on the lounge that Harrison was leaning against, and rummaged in the side pocket. He fished around a bit, and then came up with the money, secured by rubber band. Expressionlessly, he slid the rubber band off the money and flicked through it quickly, counting. At the end he gave a nod and said, “All here.”
“I want the money tomorrow,” Wally said. “I’ll text you the details of the meet. It won’t be us picking it up, so don’t get smart.”
“And if we are not happy,” Bruno added with a grin, “we’ll be sure to let you know.”
Without another word, they left.
Harrison slumped against the lounge, and let out a long groan. “I’m dead. I am so dead.”
Across the room on the floor, Tyler didn’t answer. His moans were growing quieter, until finally he just emitted a huge sigh. At length he sat up, slowly and painfully, and Harrison’s eyes widened at the sight of his face. “Oh, shit, man. They did you over.”
Tyler, too sore to move, just propped himself up on the other end of the lounge and closed his eyes.
20
Going Ballistic
The more Harrison thought about the situation he was in, the madder he got. Nothing had gone right in his life – nothing – since that stupid kayaking camp last year. And it should have been different. Just look at all he and Tyler had learned about scuba diving while they were overseas. Two courses, basic and advanced.
He, Harrison, had a gift for it, the guy running it had told him that. Not everyone picked it up as quickly as he had – in an aside, the guy had said quietly that just between them, even Tyler wasn’t as good as Harrison.
He could have made a go of the business, he was sure. He had watched everything the guy running the courses overseas had done, and it was easy. Get your boat license, get the scuba licenses, do a bit of health and safety stuff… there were always people coming to St Georges Basin wanting to be shown the wonders of the deep. If only his father had agreed to bankroll him, he could’ve used some of the money to clear his drugs debt and then had plenty left to get something started.
Now, everything had gone to shit. His father had kicked him out of the house, his mother had come and taken her car back, and now he had to find more money to pay off the people who beaten up Tyler.
Sitting outside Tyler’s house in his friend’s 4WD, Harrison considered his options. He could do a runner. He had enough friends in Sydney to go and hide out for a while — but how long? Half the kids he used to go to school with were going to uni now, or working for their parents, or in some other cushy job.
And then there was the cash flow problem. He had no money to survive on.
Getting angrier by the minute, Harrison thumped the steering wheel. He didn’t even have the two grand his father had given him to buy anything to take the edge off.
Not even enough money to put fuel in the car.
He could sneak back into his parents house at night, see what he could take. He mused over that idea for a while, and then shook his head. His father would be on the alert now. He wouldn’t put it past him to have more cameras or alarms rigged.
Well, if none of that was going to work, where else could he get money?
His mind roved over the names of people he knew at Hyam’s Beach, and other people who lived at Huskisson. He could probably sneak around at night, steal enough stuff… But it wouldn’t tide him over for long.
Again, his mind went to the two men who had taken his last two grand. They’d suggested a couple of times now, that he could work for them, use his influence with kids that he knew from school to get them into the drug scene.
The drug scene. His eyes flicked up to the rear vision mirror, and he looked over all the cars parked in Tyler’s Street. He recognized a few of them, but there were still a couple that he didn’t know. More than likely, one of them hid his father’s private investigator.
He closed his eyes, and again felt the need for something. He had planned to either get something from Tyler, or to use part of the two K to go out and buy.
Chris Moore. Drew Moore. Jason Hoy. Chad Royston. One by one, he ticked off the list of people who had brought him to the situation he was in. They all deserved to pay in some way for the situation he was in.
Well, he was no dummy. He’d drive around for a while until he was sure that he was not being followed. Then, he’d pay a visit to Chad’s place, demand something in return for his silence. If he wasn’t there, he’d move on to the Moores’ Place, find something to turn into cash.
And if they weren’t home, he’d leave his calling card. The thought of it made him grin.
No Good Reason Page 11
