Fire Games

by Mark Stewart

  KENDAL DROVE across the wooden bridge on the outskirts of Aura Lake at 9:25pm. He followed the road around the first bend, catching only a glimpse of his in-law’s house on the hilltop.

  “The Lake is quiet tonight,” he whispered.

  Tegan nodded before pointing at an old house directly opposite the first shop. “Mr. K. looks peaceful.”

  Kendal stared at the sleeping man sitting deep in his rocking chair. The local kids nicknamed Mr. Saunders, Mr. K. He was named Kurt Saunders, in the year 1921. He was a gentle man who loved nothing more than to watch the kids and everyone walk past his house. He’d sit in his rocking chair all day so that he could wave at the kids on the school bus in the morning and again in the afternoon. His only downfall, he refused to have people fuss over him and flatly rejected all help. At the ripe old age of 85, he was the oldest person in the area.

  Kendal jumped on the brake pedal, bringing the car to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road.

  “Something’s wrong,” he stated. He opened the car door and stepped onto the road.

  “Dad, you’re acting weird.”

  “Sorry, something’s wrong, I can smell it.”

  Tegan sniffed the air. “I can only smell trees and wildflowers. What do you smell?”

  “Trouble, it leaves an odor.”

  “It’s probably your coat. It’s a little on the nose,” Tegan giggled.

  “I’m checking out the old fella. I’ll only be a moment.”

  Kendal made a beeline for the small white weatherboard cottage with the uninteresting front yard. He stood at the rusting front gate, staring at Saunders.

  “Excuse me, Sir.”

  Saunders didn’t move.

  Kendal swung open the old creaking gate and called again. Seeing no movement, he walked the short path to the verandah steps. He waited a moment to view the scene a little more closely before climbing the last three steps to the chair. Kendal stood hovering over the old man.

  “Patrick stopped for a visit. A coroner’s autopsy report will confirm my suspicions.” He reached out and touched the old man’s bony hand.

  The old fella opened his eyes.

  Kendal jumped.

  “I thought you were dead.”

  “Do I look like a ghost? I heard you calling from the gate.” Saunders coughed. He ran his arthritic fingers over the last remaining three strands of silver hair on his head. Satisfied they were still in place he reached for a half-finished bottle of beer. He polished off the remaining amber liquid in a single gulp.

  “Sir, do you need help to get inside?”

  “Young fella, I’ll have you know I was asleep. Ya’ stopped that noisy car of yours and woke me. Ya interrupted a perfectly good dream to ask me a stupid question.”

  Kendal flashed his police badge at the man’s nose.

  “Why didn’t ya say?”

  Seeing the old man awake, Tegan wandered over. She stood at the gate, displaying a friendly smile. Saunders mellowed. He lifted his hand and waved. She waved back.

  “She’s a good kid,” said Saunders, pointing.

  “Sir, could you answer a question?”

  “Sure, can young fella.”

  “Did you see a car come past a short time ago?”

  “Yep, I did. It stopped outside me gate on the other side’r road. Weighed down at the arse end it was. Maybe it had somethin’ to do with all them blankets covering the back seat. I don’t know why ya young folk won’t ride a horse.” Saunders leaned sideways, swiping up another bottle of beer out of his small Esky. “In my day, we rode a horse to school.” He paused and looked at the lake. “Them’s were the days.”

  Kendal cut in, stopping Saunders in mid-sentence. “Did you happen to see the driver?”

  “Yep. She got out and came up the stairs, just like you. She was a good lookin’ sheila. I told her, too.”

  “Did she say her name?”

  Saunders drank another half a bottle of beer before coughing. Kendal patted the old man on the back.

  “Thanks, young fella. Now where was I?”

  “You were talking about the woman driver.”

  “Yeah, said she was a doctor. Came to talk and gave me ticker a quick listen to. I’m stronger than an Ox she said. Yeah, that’s what she said. Me ticker’s stronger than an Ox.” Saunders leaned forward. “If only I was fifty years younger.”

  Tegan giggled from the gate.

  “Did you see anyone else in the car?”

  “No.”

  “How long ago did she stop?”

  “Now how the hell do I know? Time, it goes slow up here. The sun had gone, and the bats were flyin.”

  “Thank you; you’ve been a great help.”

  Saunders displayed a toothless smile. “Stop here again. It’s great talkin to ya young fella, missy.”

  “Tegan, time to move on, it is 9:45pm. Patrick’s waiting,” reported Kendal.

  He drove a little faster than usual towards his mother-in-law’s house. Passing a small gap in the trees, he glanced at the lake. He loved the serenity, the lake’s calm and yet at times turbulent water. The moment the gap disappeared a frown creased his forehead. Something seemed different. The road forked. He immediately drove away from the house, towards the lake.

  Tegan stared sideways at her father. Instead of asking the obvious, she decided to remain silent.

  Kendal parked the car outside the boat hire shed and stared out over the water. Although everything seemed quiet, he couldn’t shake off the feeling something was wrong.

  His gaze skimmed over the lake’s surface, homing in on the shadow of the small boat anchored one hundred from the shore.

  “Strange,” he mumbled.

  “Dad, it’s just a boat,” whispered Tegan, looking at what he was most likely staring at. Curiosity had worn her down. She needed to discover what he was thinking.

  “The boat looks to be sitting low in the water.”

  “Dad, all yacht’s sit low in the water.”

  “Yes, except a one-person yacht doesn’t have an anchor rope tied to the side.”

  Turning his back on the lake and in the car’s headlight beam Kendal studied the ground near the boat shed. Two, one metre wide tracks led down to the water’s edge.

  “Boat tracks,” blurted Tegan.

  “Yes, two boats waas dragged towards the water, yet there is only one set of footprints.”

  “The tracks can’t belong to the boat hire bloke he’d have gone and rescued his boat from the lake.”

  Kendal pulled a small torch from his pocket. He’d only walked four large paces before pointing at the soft mud.

  “Here’s another set of footprints leading away from the water. In my opinion, the person rowed out, tied the anchor rope to the side of the boat, dropped the weight into the water and rowed back. He came ashore where we are standing. There must be another boat around here somewhere.”

  Tegan pointed to flattened tree branches on the other side of the boat shed.

  Kendal marched over to investigate. He removed the scrub.

  “Here’s the boat.” He pulled the small yacht from its hiding place and dragged it to the water. “I’m going for a row. I won’t be long.”

  He climbed into the yacht. Snatching up the oars he dipped the paddle end into the water and pulled. Except for the headlights to his car, the darkness quickly swallowed the shoreline.

  In a short space of time, Kendal twisted his body to see where the small yacht might be. He found it to be in easy reach. Stopping his rowing technique, his yacht quickly lost speed. Sitting heavy on the ice still water, both yachts bumped. He reached for the anchor rope and lashed both vessels together. Staring into the other yacht, he saw a small figure coiled in a fetal position. He placed his oversized hand on her shoulder. She groaned and rolled over.

  “Tani,” he called.

  The girl’s eyes blinked open. She croaked. “Dad, where am I? Where’s Mum, Grandma, Patrick?”

  “Quiet now, don’t worry about anythin
g, let’s get you to shore.”

  Kendal reached out, scooping up his daughter. The sides of both yachts tilted to the waterline. He gently laid her back.

  “Stay still Sweetie; I’ll tow you in.”

  Kendal hoisted the anchor into Tani’s boat. He leaned forward so he could tie the rope to his foot. Kendal froze the moment he noticed a blue bag tucked under the seat. Using an oar, he carefully hoisted it into his yacht. He sensed Tani, watching his every move.

  “Except for the padlock, the bag looks harmless,” he casually mentioned. “Tani, I’m glad little Mike was on our side. He taught me how to pick locks.”

  “Who’s on our side,” Tani stammered.

  “It’s a long story. Before we start our return trip to shore, I want to check out this bag.”

  Tani sat bolt upright. Wide-eyed she stared into the darkness. “I want to go right now.” Her body trembled. Tears welled in her eyes. Her sudden movement rocked the small yacht.

  “Tani, keep still, and the boat won’t move.”

  She clung to the side of the boat with white knuckles, staring down at the dark water. A long ear piercing scream followed. Tears rolled down her puffed cheeks. She looked ready to scream again.

  “Tani, stop screaming,” ordered Kendal. He finished picking the lock and was about to unzip the small blue bag.

  “Dad, the water, it’s so black. I’m scared.” Tani leaned towards her father, tilting her boat once again to the waterline.

  “Tani, stop moving, my boat’s not big enough for two people. Look at the shore and not at the water.”

  She nodded slowly, turned her head and fixed her eyes on the shoreline.

  “Dad, a light has just gone out, and there are two lights close together near the boat shed. I’m scared.”

  “It’s okay. Patrick turned the lights out in Grandma’s house and is waiting for me. Those other lights are from my car.” Kendal craned his neck so he could see the contents of the bag. “Nothing unusual yet, it’s probably someone’s lunch.” He scooped aside a hessian cloth. The small square object was beeping. The digital readout on the face of the object read, 63-62-61-60. Kendal’s eyes widened. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. An alarm sounded. He jumped, bumping the bag.

  Reacting to her father’s surprise, Tani violently rocked her boat. Her crying intensified. Both yachts dipped dangerously close to the waterline. Tani’s fingers submerged under the water. Feeling the cold water, she screamed again.

  Kendal glared at his daughter. She was clutching the side of the yacht in a death grip.

  “Tani, you have to stop screaming. The noise was only my mobile alarm going off to remind me it’s 9:59pm.” He gently slipped his hand through the bag’s strap and placed the bag packed full of explosives back into Tani’s yacht. He whispered. “I want you to let go of your boat and come into mine.”

  “You said the boat’s not big enough for two people.”

  “I know I did, but this is an emergency. You must be brave.” He released the anchor rope from around his foot and let it slip silently back into the black water. “Come now.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Tani, come please.” Kendal outstretched his hands.

  “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  Tani stared at the water before glaring at her father. “It’s deep and cold and scary.”

  Kendal clamped his teeth together. He barked the word ‘now’ in a deep stern voice.

  The girl sat frozen.

  He shook his head. Reaching out he grabbed his daughter by the waist. Water licked the top edge of both yachts.

  “Tani, let go of the boat. You have to let go.”

  She screamed again.

  Tegan stood at the shoreline waiting for her father. She heard the oars dipping into the water and watched until the darkness had swallowed him. Over the next few minutes, she heard nothing. Hunching her shoulders, she walked to the boat shed. The front doors had been padlocked.

  “This is strange,” she whispered. “Two boats must have been left out. Patrick must have another accomplice.”

  After completing a full lap of the boat shed and finding the only window, she looked inside.

  “I can’t see much in there,” she mumbled.

  Tegan glanced at the lake before moving off towards the bush where the second yacht had been.

  “Nothing again,” she moaned. There are no clues, nothing.”

  Tegan jumped when a rabbit darted past her feet. Watching it hop away she chuckled at seeing its tail bobbing up and down. Returning to the car, she checked her watch. The hands had moved to 9:59pm. She heard a high-pitched scream. Staring out over the water, her eyes welled. She unexpectedly heard her father’s stern voice. A high-pitched scream quickly followed.

  Then silence.

  Exactly one minute after hearing the second scream, she heard a loud bang. Witnessing a large fireball mushrooming into the air, she ran to the water’s edge, screaming.

  “Dad, where are you?”

  Twenty times in the space of a minute she yelled.

  Except for the lapping of the water against the mud at her ankles, she heard no reply. She buried her head in her hands. Trembling from head to foot, she sobbed uncontrollably.

  Finally, she heard her father’s voice.

  “Tegan, I’m here, where are you?”

  Tegan looked up, wiped her eyes and saw the outline of her father walking towards her, holding Tani’s hand. Tegan sprinted along the water’s edge, holding her arms wide.

  “Dad, I thought you were dead.” The remainder of her sentence sounded worse than jumbled inaudible words.

  The trio group hugged. The two girls cried. Kendal held both his daughters tight.

  “Tani’s yacht had a bomb in it,” explained Kendal. “We managed to evacuate the area in time.”

  “Tani, you were so brave,” chirped Tegan, giving her sister an extra special hug.

  Counting down the seconds inwardly Kendal barely had twelve strokes of the oars completed before the bomb blew. He smiled down at his youngest and decided to bury the secret of having to pry her fingers from the yacht’s side. There was no point in telling the full story.

  “Come on you two; I have to rescue your mother and Grandma.”

  Tani spoke for the first time since the explosion. “Dad, Claire, Grandma, and Mum are in the house.”

  Kendal dropped to one knee so he could look his daughter square in the face.

  “Claire is in the house you say. Is she, Mum and Grandma okay?”

  “Yes. They are in the spare bedroom.”

  “Other than Patrick, is there anyone else in the house?”

  Tani vigorously shook her head.

  “Is there anything else you can tell me?”

  “Patrick’s a liar. He told me to smell a pink handkerchief. He said it smelt nice. It didn’t.”

  “I know all about that hanky,” said Tegan. She took hold of Tani’s hand. “It’s a horrible lie.”

  “I’ve just had a thought,” mentioned Kendal. “Patrick might assume Tani and I were caught up in the explosion. The scene would push him into a win, win scenario. I reckon he will want to kill everyone in Grandma’s house. I’m positive it’ll be his next move.”

  “I’d be the last Kendal,” sobbed Tegan.

  Kendal nodded.

  “Stay in the car and look after Tani. I’m off to the house to put an end to this game. I’ll pick up Constable Adams on the way. Here, take, my phone. Call police dispatch and request backup, a fire truck and an ambulance. Under no circumstances are you to leave the safety of the car.”

  Tegan nodded, pushed Tani onto the front passenger seat and slid behind the steering wheel.

  Kendal turned the headlight switch to parkers. “There’s no point in having a flat battery. No matter what happens, don’t come to the house. Wait here. When the local police arrive, inform them what’s going on.”

  He waited for Tegan to lock each door before marching
away.

  Both girls watched their father pull his gun from his shoulder holster, checked the gun for a full round of bullets, click the safety off and repeat the same check of his snub nose revolver strapped to his ankle.

  Kendal glanced back at the car before disappearing into the scrub.

  Tegan sat in the car, one arm cuddling Tani, her free hand tapping the numbers of police headquarters on her father’s mobile phone. She hummed quietly waiting for dispatch to answer.

  “Good evening, Police Headquarters, I’m Constable Jillian Forsythe. May I help you?”

  “I need an ambulance, fire truck, and police back up at number seven Sweet-Gum Circuit Aura Lake.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Tegan Kendal.”

  “I see,” said Constable Forsythe.

  “I need back up, now,” she yelled.

  “You can’t request backup unless you’re a police officer.”

  “I’m Detective Alan Kendal’s daughter.”

  “Hold the line I’m transferring you to Captain Hughes.”

  “No,” Tegan yelled, a full second too late. She looked at Tani. “I don’t believe this. I’m positive it would have been easier to call triple zero.”

  “It’ll be okay. Dad will arrest Patrick and receive a bravery medal. He doesn’t need backup.”

  Captain Hughes’ voice interrupted the music erupting from the phone’s small speaker.

  “Tegan, why are you ringing me? Is there a problem?”

  “The woman who was working dispatch put me through to you. Dad needs back up. We’re all at my Grandma’s house at Aura Lake.”

  “Don’t panic, I’m already here.”

  Looking at Tani, Tegan heard a click.

  “We have to warn Dad. Buckle up, I’ve an idea,” whispered Tegan. She turned the ignition key. The car’s engine roared to life.

  “Dad said not to go to the house under any circumstances.”

  “I know he did. This is an emergency. I have to let him know Captain Hughes is here.”

  “Do you know how to drive?” quizzed Tani. Her voice sounded doubtful.

  “Not exactly,” Tegan replied. “I’ve been watching Dad for ages. How hard can it be? Just as well Claire’s car is automatic.”

  “What’s an automatic car mean?” asked Tani.

  “The car changes gears all by itself,” replied Tegan, displaying an all-knowing look. “Quiet now, let me concentrate.”

  In the dark, she selected the correct gear, managed to complete a U-turn and slowly drove back to Sweet-Gum Circuit. At the main road, she checked for traffic before turning left towards her Grandma’s house. She squeezed her toes on the accelerator when the car slowed. The girls spotted a police car shrouded in darkness. Tegan braked and pushed the gear stick into park causing the car to come to a jerking halt. She chuckled at her sister’s worried expression and white-knuckle grip.

  “Stay in the car. I’ll be right back.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get back up,” she explained.

  Tegan opened the door and ran to the police car yelling for help. She pulled open the front passenger door. For several moments, she stared at the gruesome scene on the rear seat. Clasping her mouth shut to stop from vomiting, Tegan ran back to Tani.

  “Did you get help?” asked Tani, watching Tegan slide behind the steering wheel.

  “No, I didn’t and don’t ask why.” She shuddered as she threw the car’s gear stick into drive.

  “You must have seen something. Tell me why you didn’t get help?”

  “You’re too little. You’ll have nightmares.”

  “I’ll tell Dad you didn’t tell me what you saw.”

  “I wish I didn’t see.”

  Tani folded her arms. Glaring at her sister she pouted.

  “Okay,” groaned Tegan. “Don’t come wake me when you have nightmares.”

  Tani brightened, unfolded her arms and looked directly at her sister.

  “The cop was dead.”

  “How gross,” blurted Tani, scrunching her nose.

  Tegan navigated the car slowly along her Grandma’s drive, guiding it carefully so as not to hit a tree or one of her precious Rose bushes.

  “There’s Dad,” said Tani, pointing. “I saw him crouching at the kitchen door. He’s just crawled backwards into the shadow of the house.”

  The car rolled to a stop thirty feet from the kitchen door.

  “Stay in the car,” ordered Tegan. “It’s too dangerous for you now.”

  Tani watched her sister run on her toes towards the house and squat behind a thick bush.

  “Dad, where are you?” called Tegan.

  Kendal made his way over to where Tegan was hiding. When he stepped next to her, he didn’t look happy.

  “Didn’t I order you to stay at the lake?” His voice sounded one decibel above a whisper.

  “Yes, you did. I’ve important information.”

  “I hope so. It’s extremely dangerous. Patrick’s inside, and there’s a heavy petrol smell coming through the gap between the wall and the kitchen door.”

  “Can I help?”

  “Yes, tell me the information and get back in the car.”

  “Captain Hughes is here, somewhere.”

  Kendal nodded. “I understand.”

  Tegan set herself to run back to the car.

  “Hold it. I’ve just had a thought. Seeing how you drove from the lake, I want you to drive the car into Grandma’s rose garden and mow over all her precious rose bushes.”

  “She’ll never forgive you. She loves her rose garden.”

  “She’ll get over it. Besides, by morning there probably won’t be a house.” He sent his daughter a wintry smile. “Tegan, I love you. Tell Tani I love her too. Now go.”

  “Love you too, Dad.” She looked over her shoulder at her father. “Be careful. I want to talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Make sure you run over Grandma’s most favourite rose bush,” jeered Kendal.

  “I promise.” She turned and sprinted back to the car.

  “We’ll talk about your illegal driving in the daylight if I’m still alive,” he mumbled.

  Kendal watched Tegan drive the car over the rose garden. Every one of the old dear’s rose bushes was snapped cleanly at ground level.

  “The old woman will be pissed off alright,” he chuckled. “At least now I have plan ‘B’ if things take a turn for the worse.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE