Behind him Benson asked nobody, “Can he do it?”
“I don’t know.” Horvath answered.
“For his own sake, he must!” said the Colombian.
Chapter
29
Rookwood would be one of Australia’s major cities if it was not a necropolis – a city of the dead – the agency for a million souls on the journey to their ultimate peace.
In the crematorium Myra Mitchell sat in the front pew with her daughters, behind them sat Jim Mitchell’s parents. His friends, acquaintances and representatives of his few clients there to show their respect filled the remaining pews. Jan and Danny sat with their arms linked in the pew behind Mitchell’s parents and John Cade sat next to Jan.
The service was mercifully brief, the chapel soon empty of mourners. Cade, Jan and Danny were among the last to leave followed by Myra Mitchell and her girls.
“Danny,” Jan said, “I can’t bear it here, let’s go home.”
“Sure. I’ll get a cab.”
“Let me take you, you’ll be all day trying to get a taxi here.” Cade added, “I’ve got a company car.”
Danny was about to decline the offer but when he looked at Jan’s red, puffy eyes he could do nothing but accept. “OK,” he agreed. “Jan lives at East Hills and I’m going to my place in Greystanes, thanks Mister Cade. I’ll talk to Missus Mitchell later.”
“No problem, Danny, we should support each other, I’m sure we’ll find strength that way.” As Cade moved them out into the stream of traffic he glanced in the rear vision mirror. He saw Jan was into another burst of sobbing. “Jan, I don’t want to see you around the office for a while yet. I’m sure the firm can afford you some paid compassionate leave. Why don’t you take a month off? We can afford that.”
“No Mister Cade. I’ll be OK shortly.” Danny squeezed her knee and nodded at her.
“Well, if not a month, then take what you need,” Cade was sympathetic. They dropped Jan at her parents’ house in East Hills. Danny walked her to the front door, pecked her cheek and returned to the car.
“You direct me, Danny,” Cade ordered as Danny settled in the front seat. It was a short journey to Greystanes and nothing was uttered but instructions until they stopped outside the young man’s house in Meredith street.
“What about you Danny. Do you need time off?”
“Yes, Mister Cade, I’ve done a lot of serious thinking. I’ve got some money coming and some saved. I’m going to get an owner-builder’s licence and do this place up. I’d say it’ll take about six months to complete. I’ll think about returning to work then and I’ll come and see you. If there’s no position there for me then I’ll put my body on the market. But what about Missus Mitchell and the girls? When I spoke to her last night on the phone she said they were destitute except for the house. She mentioned some clause in the partnership contract that excluded her from receiving any disbursement of money from the sale of Jim’s share of the business.”
Cade was expecting to need an opening, he was relieved when Brannigan broached the subject “That’s not quite correct. There was a clause in our contract to prohibit the sale of the firm for a reason such as this. It was put there to protect the interests of the other partner while the partnership was consolidating. Even though it was never withdrawn I wouldn’t consider applying it. Our firm is wonderfully healthy and I’m sure that Missus Mitchell and I will come to some amicable arrangement. I do intend to close the office, probably for a month unless Jan forces me to open it earlier. I’ll have the phones diverted and work from home.”
“Well so long, Mister Cade,” Danny offered his hand, “I think I may have misjudged you on first impressions, you’re alright.”
“I knew that there was tension between us. Good luck, Danny.”
He shook Cade’s limp outstretched hand and again recalled his first impressions. Shaking his head he walked up the path to his front door.
Chapter
30
“You can’t paint this wall green and that one red.”
“Why not? They’re my walls.” Danny leaned over and painted her nose white with undercoat. Jan puffed a strand of hair from her eye and eased the irritation with her shoulder.
“It’ll look like your football team’s dressing room,” she laughed. They were standing in the master bedroom amid an array of partially filled paint cans.
“If you were observant, my little goose, you’d notice that the red and the green are paving paints. The green is for the laundry floor and the red is for yard paths,” Danny said as he decanted an apricot colour from a can to a roller tray.
“Oooh! I like that,” said Jan, “but I don’t like red paths. Why don’t you lay paving blocks?”
Up on the plank bridging two step-ladders Danny was applying the apricot colour with long strokes of the roller. “What colour is that? It’s lovely.” she asked.
“It’s called Enchantress, an ideal name for your bedroom I’d say. As for paving blocks I can’t afford them yet,” he said with a mock gruffness. “Do they have a colour called Grumpy ‘cause you’ll be sleeping here too,” she ran and he caught her in the hallway near the front door. He scooped her up in his arms and bit her gently on the breast. “Ouch! Do you remember what we were doing, here behind the front door when Dave came looking for you on that weekend?” she asked.
“You tiger. How could I ever forget?” He was getting excited at the memory.
“Do you think Dave knows it was me asleep on top of you when he looked through the window?”
“I know Dave well, he wouldn’t have been looking at your face.”
She coloured and her eyes glistened. He said “There’s something that I’ve been meaning to ask you ever since that night. Here goes. Did you have any nickers on that night? I can’t remember either of us taking them off.”
“I took them off earlier in the cab.” she giggled.
“What!” He laughed. “Well that explains something else that I thought was weird. When I went to pay the cab driver that evening I gave him twenty dollars for a fifteen dollar fare. I was about to tell him to keep the change when he groaned and wished me luck. I thought ‘Christ you’ve got a hide, Mate’ and I waited for my change. You cost the poor guy five bucks.”
“I’ll bet that the poor guy thought it was worth it. What do you think?” She pulled her jeans and nickers down to her knees.
“Priceless. You little tease.” Danny reached for her. They kissed as the sound of a wheel with a badly adjusted brake shoe squealed to a stop out front. Danny said, “Sounds like Dave’s truck.”
“Bugger! Not him again,” she said, and struggled her jeans back on. Danny opened the front door.
Dave said, “G’day, Bra. I just came to tell you that I’m away on a job next week. Put your finish colours around the holes for the light switches, ceiling roses and power outlets. Then I can connect the skin fittings before the painting’s finished.”
“Doesn’t matter we’re nearly finished, I’ve got one room to paint and that’s it.”
“A wasted trip,” said Dave, “OK. See you!”
“I love him but I’m glad he’s gone. Let’s get Kentucky take-away.” Jan suggested.
“Is that a euphemism for something immoral?” Danny asked. “Let’s have a bath while we’re waiting. You ring the order while I clean up here and run the bath. My undying gratitude to the dinosaurs for gas but it’ll be great to get the power on, shouldn’t be long now.”
Danny ran the bath and was soaking himself to sleep when he felt Jan step in; she sat between his legs and leaned back on him. He encircled her with his arms and together they drifted into a lazy daze.
“We’ll have to get out soon or we’ll both look like prunes.”
“I could love a prune like you.”
They started to doze once more when a nagging thought that often crossed Jan�
��s mind resurfaced. She said dreamily, “You know there’s one thing that’s been bothering me ever since Mister Mitchell’s death.”
“Mmmm, whassit?” Danny was almost gone.
“Mister Mitchell never went anywhere without his briefcase, yet when I came in to work on that Monday morning it was there in his office.”
He was suddenly wide awake. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m positive otherwise it wouldn’t bother me. I remember thinking `Thank God, Mister Mitchell’s turned up, I wonder where his car is?’ And I kept waiting for him to appear. Then the police came.”
“Perhaps he was drunk,” offered Danny, “and he forgot it.”
“He was only over the driving limit. You weren’t drunk as I well remember and you had the same amount he did.”
“Yeah, you’re right. What are you suggesting?” he asked.
“I’m not suggesting anything; I’m just saying that it’s always bothered me. Now are you pleased that I’m here or,” she reached back, “is that a gun at my back?”
“And fully loaded.”
Chapter
31
“Bugger Jan,” Danny said to himself. He couldn’t get the uncomfortable thought out of his mind that something didn’t add up. On the Monday after Jan had infected him with her worry he dialled his old work number.
“James Mitchell and Associates, Chartered Accountants, how may I help you?” came Jan’s sweet voice.
“Hello, my love, it’s Danny here, you’ve got me going now, are you alone?”
“Yep, Mister Cade has gone for the rest of the afternoon. Why?”
“I want to have a look around the place but I don’t want anyone to know. I’ll come right over, see you soon.”
When Danny entered the office Jan stood and kissed him, she asked “What’re you looking for?”
“I don’t know. Have you got the key to Jim’s office? I want to have a look around in there.” She unlocked the door and withdrew the key. Together they moved silently into the room. Danny went straight to Jim’s desk and searched through the draws.
“Have you seen Jim’s diary or his organiser?” he asked.
“His electronic organiser? He always kept it in that draw.” she said, pointing, “his diary was usually kept in his briefcase.”
“Where’s his briefcase?”
“I haven’t seen it since that awful Monday, I suppose Missus Mitchell has it. Do you want to give her a buzz?” she asked.
“Not yet.”
“Oh bugger.”
“What’s the matter love?”
“I dropped the key. It’s bounced under the desk.” She got down on all fours to retrieve it. “Ouch!” She withdrew her finger, it was bleeding.
He got down beside her. “Here, let me.” He ran his hand under the desk and his fingers encountered something unidentifiable but sharp. It was about palm size and seemed to consist of a number of segments that were hinged together. He scissored his fingers and withdrew the object sandwiched between their ends. They both gazed at an almost entire Johnny Walker label; it was the hinge that held several shards of a whiskey bottle together. He retrieved the key with little difficulty and Jan was the first to speak. “What do you make of that?”
“I don’t know. There are a lot of crazy thoughts running around in my mind at the moment. I’m going to ring Missus Mitchell, what’s her number? I forget it.”
Jan gave him the number and he dialled. “Hello. Margaret Mitchell speaking.”
“Hello, Marg, it’s Danny here, how’ve you been?”
“Danny! We haven’t seen you for so long. You’ve stopped coming around. How are you?”
“I’m well, thanks Marg, I bought a house and I’ve been renovating. It’s taken up all of my time since Jim died. It’s almost finished now.”
“I’d like to see it.”
“Wait until I get the power connected and I’ll have you around for dinner one evening.” He looked at Jan who was shaking her head. He mouthed ‘formalities’. She bared her teeth. “Tell me,” he continued into the phone, “is your mum there?”
“Yes Dan, I’ll get her.” There was a short wait and then Myra Mitchell spoke,
“Danny, it’s so good to hear from you, when are you coming to see us?”
“I was just explaining to Margaret that I’ve bought a house. I’ve almost finished renovating and I’d like you and the girls to come for dinner one evening.”
“Danny we’d love to. I would and I’m sure the girls would too, we haven’t seen you for such a long time.”
“It’s settled then, I’ll ring and let you know when. Oh by the way, just before Jim died one of our clients that I did a lot of work for told him they’d be interested in hiring me if he ever had to let me go,” Danny lied, “he did tell me their name but at the time it wasn’t a consideration of mine. Now I can’t remember who they were but with Jim gone I think I’ll take up their offer.”
“How can I help Danny?”
“I’m sure Jim would have made a note of their name in his business diary and I was wondering if you could look it up for me.”
“It’s strange, Danny. We can’t find the diary anywhere. John said he might have had it in his pocket when he had his accident. But that wouldn’t be possible. He’s been using the same brand of book each year since his university days. You remember I’m sure, a red covered Universal business diary that’s larger than A4 size. We scoured the office and it wasn’t there. It wasn’t in his briefcase either when John brought it over. I personally wanted to see if there was an entry that would explain why he drove his car along that road on that night after he had asked Jan to get me to pick him up at the office.”
“When did Mister Cade bring Jim’s briefcase to you?”
“I think it was on the Monday after the accident. Yes I’m sure it was. It wasn’t long after the police had left. Yes it was the same morning in fact. Why?”
“Nothing, but I wonder why Jim didn’t have his briefcase with him. He never went anywhere without it, or at least it was always in his car whenever he travelled.”
“John said Jim was very drunk that evening so I guess he could’ve forgotten it. John was waiting outside for a taxi because he said that he was over the limit. When Jim backed his car out of the car park John said he ran to the car to try and stop him from driving. But he wasn’t quick enough. I believe you were all celebrating the purchase of your house.” There was an accusatory edge to her tone.
“Yes, Missus Mitchell,” Danny’s tone was contrite, “I deeply regret that now. With hindsight, of course, I wish I‘d never done it. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Oh, Danny, how could I ever blame you? I feel so guilty myself for not being more loving, more caring, more patient with Jim. I always expected a long life, together with him. You know, into old age, enjoying our grandchildren in our twilight years. I never made the effort at any time to convey to him all that I felt.”
“Do you see much of Mister Cade?”
There was a short pause. “A little. He’s a very fine man, Danny. Did you know there was a clause in the partnership contract put there to protect a surviving partner in the early stages of the growth of the partnership? It was put there so the firm could not be sold in the event of circumstances such as this. It was there so the surviving partner could carry on; otherwise the business could have been ruined.
“The clause remained for some reason, probably laziness, and it was never revoked. John could have applied that clause after Jim’s death but he never did. Instead, he commissioned an independent evaluation of the worth of the firm. I must say the amount he settled on me will mean that I’ll never have to worry again. It was more than I got from the insurance company after the small print was brought into play. I know he’s concerned there has been tension between you and him but honestly, Danny, he’s a wonderful man.”
“That’s great,” said Danny, “and I’m sure he is. I’ll let you know when the food will be cooked. Bye now.” and he hung up.
“Well!” Jan was pulling at his sleeve. “What did she say?”
“I dunno, I think she said that Cade is sleeping with her or is about to. Let’s get out of here and lock up. And Jan…”
“Yes, my love.”
“I want you to be very, very careful. Don’t talk to anybody except me about any of this.”
She gave him a sceptical grin but there was a nervousness in the pit of her stomach, “I’ve got to pee,” she said.
Chapter
32
“Mister Benson, there is a complication arising over Mitchell’s death.” Cade was going to enjoy this. He was sitting across the desk from Benson, Salazar filled another chair.
“Yes?” Benson’s manner was immediately terse.
“That bloody fool left Mitchell’s briefcase behind in his office, it should have been burnt along with him in the car. I took care of it but I think that young turk, Brannigan, noticed it. He knows that Mitchell went nowhere without it.” Cade was looking at Salazar while he delivered the accusation. Benson needed no hint as to whom Cade was referring.
“What makes you think Brannigan noticed it?” Benson asked.
“It’s the Mitchell woman, she told me Brannigan was asking her questions about the briefcase and Mitchell’s business diary.” Cade didn’t tell them the information was passed to him in his warm bed in the afterglow of sex. They didn’t know he was porking Mitchell’s wife and they weren’t going to find out. Not if he could help it, he wasn’t sure how that would go down with these ruthless bastards. “It wouldn’t have happened if Salazar had had his mind on his job.” He looked back at the Colombian whose expression hadn’t changed. “What a bloodless bastard,” he thought.
The Cooktown Grave Page 14
