The Crescendo

by Fiona Palmer

  ‘How is he? How are you?’ said Anna, turning around in the front seat. Her green eyes were huge and full of concern, reminding Jaz of the big sage lanterns that hung from the ceiling in their favourite coffee shop.

  ‘He’ll be okay. Me?’ Jaz shrugged. Her brain hurt and yet she couldn’t even grasp one thought from the thousands whizzing around her head.

  ‘Wanna go to Molly’s for a coffee?’ Anna asked.

  ‘Can you drop me off home first? I need a shower.’ She’d washed off Ryan’s blood, but still she felt a full scrub was in order. ‘Then a coffee sounds great.’ Plus she needed to check in with her mum after being away for a few days.

  Tay pulled up at her house and Jaz snuck in quickly, still worried she may have missed a spot of blood or her face might give her away. But, as usual, no one was home. Her mum and stepdad were no doubt at work and Simon, her half-brother, was either in his room pulling apart a computer, playing a game on it, or with his dad learning more. Their dad. Paul was the only father she knew. At least he was who he was, unlike her mum who had a whole different identity. She often wondered if Paul knew. Paul was as far from a secret kick-arse agent as one could be. He worked in computers, a bit of a geek but so loveable. A lot like Pax.

  Jaz frowned. Pax. She wondered if he would have answers to some of her questions. Man, her head was driving her nuts and no matter how hot she turned up the shower it didn’t help relieve the tension in her muscles.

  In ten minutes she was back downstairs, wearing black cargo pants and a white tank top and her commando boots. But something wasn’t right. She touched her neck for her missing gold medallion. It was a circle with Saint Michael on it and her father’s name engraved on the back. At least Salvatore couldn’t trace it back to her as it didn’t have a last name. Not even Jaz knew her father’s full name. Her mum had kept it from her, and pretty much any other information about her biological father.

  ‘Ready to go?’ asked Anna, who sat beside Tay at the kitchen table. They had helped themselves to the apples from the basket.

  ‘Yep. Can we get coffee to go and head back to the gym? I think I need a work-out.’

  Anna bit her lip. She was doing a great job of trying to give Jaz space when she knew she was dying to ask her a million questions. Jaz walked straight up to her and gave her a hug.

  ‘I will tell you everything, just not yet. I need time to process.’

  ‘I know. We’re here when you’re ready.’ Anna smiled, her expression said she hoped it was soon. Anna hated waiting for anything: good news, bad news, any news.

  Tay stood beside them in jeans and a blue singlet, as he’d given her his shirt. He was looking muscled, well more than usual. Tay had always been fit, good at sports, but since he’d started training to get mission-ready he’d really bulked up in the muscle department. The girls at school had noticed; Tay was already popular, but now he was reaching superstar status.

  If only some of that could rub off on Jaz, who was still the scary freaky one no one went near, and Anna the smart computer nerd. But they’d been friends since kids, and it didn’t change no matter what others thought.

  They got their coffees through a McDonald’s drive-through on the way to The Ring. Tay pulled up outside the large shed-like structure. Paint peeled off the old tin and the broken footpath didn’t improve the feel about the area, but to Jaz it was home. She liked that it wasn’t in a fancy neighbourhood like her house and that it was probably a dangerous area. Danger was fast becoming her friend.

  Yet Pax had lived in the little house connected to the gym for as far back as she could remember, and Jaz had been coming here to train since she could walk. Her mum the first one to teach her how to fight. At some point Pax took over her training while her mum integrated into her new life after meeting Paul. And that’s how Pax became the closest thing to a grandfather figure she had. He was also Anna’s grandfather’s brother.

  Anna pushed open the old door, framed in wood, fading white paint and glass in the middle. The familiar scent of the leathery sweaty gym eased her muscles more than the shower ever could have, and no sooner had she stepped inside did she hear her name shouted out.

  ‘Jaz, hey girl.’

  Tick waved from the floor mat where he was fighting against Bags, who had boxing gloves. Both were classed as Pax’s gym family.

  ‘Hi guys. Bags, don’t let Tick get you with a lead kick,’ she warned.

  ‘Never do, Jaz,’ replied Bags, who only just blocked a knee from Tick. He pulled a face and Jaz smiled for the first time in a while.

  ‘Hey kids, what are you all up to? Looks like trouble.’ Pax walked out of the office in a Hawaiian-style shirt over a white singlet and long shorts, topped off with sandals and glasses up on his balding head. He sniffed the air. ‘Bring one for me?’

  ‘Sorry Pax,’ said Anna. ‘I’ll go make you one though.’

  Anna gave him a hug and Pax kissed her forehead. ‘That would be awesome,’ he said, trying to speak like them. Tay laughed as he followed Anna. No doubt he would be looking for Pax’s secret stash of Tim Tams, which was never very secret.

  ‘How are you?’ Pax asked, stepping towards her.

  Jaz couldn’t get her mouth to work and just blinked. Pax pulled her into his arms and breathed out.

  ‘The kids told me what happened. I was so worried. How are you feeling?’

  Jaz tried to forget about the day’s events and let herself sag against Pax’s soft teddy-bear body. He was a familiar smell of coffee and cinnamon. A sure sign he’d been indulging in his love of pastries again. After a recent heart attack he was on a new diet, but right now Jaz wasn’t in a hounding mood. If anything, it was nice to smell the old Pax.

  As they stood embracing, neither moving, Jaz tried to piece together her thoughts. How was she feeling? Everyone kept asking but Jaz didn’t have an answer. Did she want to cry? Not really. Was she scared? Not anymore. Was she confused? Hell yes. But she couldn’t tell Pax that without the whole story and she wasn’t ready to share yet. Too much had happened in such a short time.

  One minute she’d spent the best time of her life with Ryan, making love to him, and the next she was lined up on black plastic awaiting death. She didn’t know where she stood with Ryan, how would it affect their relationship, working and friendship, now? And what did she do about the fact that she was in love with him? How long could she hold that in? And then there was Salvatore.

  Salvatore De Luca.

  She pulled away from Pax and from the thought of Salvatore, pushing him from her mind.

  ‘I’m okay, I guess. It’s good to be back here.’

  ‘It’s good to have you back,’ said Pax. ‘Safe.’

  She nodded. But she wondered just how safe she really was.

  Chapter 3

  Ryan opened one eye, then the other. His head felt a little fuzzy, but that was nothing compared to the pain stemming from his shoulder. ‘Bloody hell,’ he grumbled as he tried to sit up.

  ‘Stings a bit, hey,’ said Tilly with a chuckle.

  Ryan would have given him a mouthful of swear words but the man stood by his bed holding a glass of water and some good pain medication.

  ‘Oh, yes please,’ Ryan swung his legs over the side of the bed and reached for the drugs. Once he’d swallowed them, he glanced at the patch on his shoulder. ‘How long have I been out?’

  ‘All yesterday and a bit this morning.’

  Ryan looked at his clock. It was eleven-thirty. ‘Goddamn I’m starving.’

  ‘Thought you’d say that. Come on, I’ve made up mac and cheese for lunch, should be warm enough by now. Doesn’t look like you want to wait any longer.’

  Tilly was still wearing his torn black jeans from yesterday and Ryan knew he would have slept in the spare room down the hallway. Tilly had crashed here on a few occasions, usually when his medical expertise was needed.

  ‘You right?’ Tilly asked as he helped him get up.

  ‘Yep, am now.’ Ryan didn’t bother with a
shirt, too hard to get on with one arm out of action. Instead he headed to the kitchen where the smell of coffee called to him.

  ‘Is Jaz …’ he said, glancing around his house.

  ‘No, I sent her home. Said I’ll let her know when you woke up.’

  Ryan nodded. It was probably a good thing. Now he could talk to Tilly with ease.

  They took their full bowls to the table, Tilly carried Ryan’s strong coffee for him and they got comfortable. Well, he tried. Ryan found that all the muscles affected by the bullet hole stretched across his chest to places he never thought possible. Everything ached but the painkillers would help. Until then, he scoffed down his meal.

  ‘So,’ said Tilly, clearing his throat after he cleared his bowl. Ryan had finished his second lot already and was enjoying his coffee.

  ‘So I guess you want to know how it’s going with the Shesha Serpents?’

  ‘Yup. Got in good with the daughter?’

  Ryan nodded. ‘Yes, seems all good and solid for the moment. But I need something to happen to get the attention of her dad. Jamison is who I need to get into bed with.’ Sleeping with Annaliese was just a part of his cover, his mission, it helped that she was a looker, but it was still just a job. Jaz flashed into his mind. Her hair swept across his body, her nakedness pressed against his. Quickly he picked up his coffee and took a gulp, only to choke on it. Served him right for letting his thoughts wander where they shouldn’t.

  What had they been talking about? The mission, right.

  Ryan’s mission was to try and infiltrate the Shesha Serpents, who were an organised gang that Jaz had actually helped link to Jamison. They were working on a hunch that Jamison was behind the gang, plus a prostitution ring, drug running and other sordid things happening in their city.

  ‘So as far as we know, Salvatore isn’t involved with the SS?’ asked Tilly.

  ‘No, can’t find anything to link them both as yet. Maybe they work separately, maybe they don’t even talk. They are possibly competition to each other. Salvatore only seems to be in the drug trade, my focus has all gone towards Jamison and the SS. Especially after they manipulated Taylor’s dad.’

  ‘Getting to someone that high up in the police force isn’t uncommon,’ added Tilly.

  ‘Yeah, but usually they just offer a bribe. They resorted to blackmail and even harmed Taylor to get his dad onside. Just shows that they won’t let anything stop them getting what they want. That makes them dangerous.’

  Tilly scratched the dark stubble along his chin. ‘That makes Jamison a very dangerous man. What are you planning?’

  ‘I might need your help. I need to force a situation that makes me look good in her dad’s eyes.’

  ‘I’m sure we can do that,’ Tilly said with a conniving smile. ‘I’ve also gathered some more information. I’ve been following each of the bodyguards you marked, seems they all like to hang out at a bar on Charles street, not far from Jamison’s place. Some of them even live together at a nearby flat, all ready for when Jamison needs them.’

  ‘I’ve noticed when he’s at home he has his house protection, and when he goes out he has another couple. He seems to stick with this, but on occasion I have noticed a few changes.’

  ‘Gotta factor in sick days,’ said Tilly with a laugh.

  But it wasn’t really a joke, as it was very much the truth.

  ‘Tell me more about this bar they hang at?’

  Ryan listened and took on everything Tilly said, because his life could very well depend on it. Luckily the pills were starting to work and without the pain it was easier to concentrate.

  ‘So what’s up with you and Jaz?’ said Tilly ten minutes later and right out of left field.

  Ryan shook his head, trying to keep up with Tilly’s train of thought. ‘Say what?’

  ‘The lovely sweet Jaz,’ Tilly said with a lick of his lips, and waggled his eyebrows.

  Ryan frowned. He was instantly annoyed.

  Tilly smiled and pointed at him. ‘Yeah, that.’

  He’d been snookered. Tilly was too good at reading people, that’s why he was still alive in this game after so long. Ryan shrugged. The alternative was to lie, but he wouldn’t get away with that. Not with Tilly.

  ‘I honestly don’t know what it is, or how to explain it,’ said Ryan eventually.

  ‘Well, I have no words of advice, mate. My missus left me cos she thought I was too secretive and having affairs. Kinda hit the nail on the head, didn’t she? Anyway, that’s different to this. Jaz knows what we do, she’s one of us now. It could also work or it could be a major fuck-up and the agency could rip you a new one.’

  And Ryan knew what he meant by that. They were both at high risk of early death. Plus the distraction of the attraction alone could be enough to get them killed. This is why the agency had these strict rules of no relationships. Sure, there was a bit of interagency ‘blow off steam’ sex, but that was never talked about. It was all okay if it was just that, sex. Nothing love related. Not that Ryan thought this was love. But what they did in that hippy Wicked van hadn’t been just sex either. He’d been wanting it as much as he tried to push Jaz away, and even now he was thinking about it again. Wanting more. Not more sex, just more of Jaz. Warning sirens were going off, and so was his phone.

  ‘Hey, sis,’ he said, after eventually finding it in the bathroom. He shot Tilly an eye-roll.

  Tilly picked up their pasta plates and gave him some space.

  ‘Don’t “hey sis” me, big brother. Didn’t you get my messages? The wedding is in two weeks! Please tell me you will make it and that you’re bringing Jaz? I need you there.’

  ‘Calm down, Steph. I’ll be there I promise.’ He hoped like hell he could keep this promise. If he ended up with a chance to go deep undercover he could very well miss his own sister’s wedding. ‘Do you need me to do anything?’ He regretted asking when he realised he would be useless for a while in his state.

  ‘Just turn up, Ryan, that’s all I want. Just please be there.’

  ‘I will. You sound a little stressed. Is everything going okay?’

  ‘Oh, just the usual wedding crap. My dress still hasn’t come back from the seamstress and there is a gastro bug going around. I don’t wanna be sick on my wedding day, Ry.’

  ‘Sounds to me like you need a day at the beach,’ he said trying not to chuckle. It was nice to hear everyday problems; for the moment he could picture a simpler life that being with his family brought. Except he’d chosen this life of danger, secrets and alienation for the greater good. He just hoped his family hung in there with him through all his absences.

  ‘Wanna join me for a coffee one day?’ she asked. ‘You always make me feel better.’

  ‘Sure, I’ll give you a call when I’m free in a few days. How’s that?’ It was the best he could offer. He had to give enough time for his shoulder to improve and for a gap in his mission detail.

  ‘Sounds great. Alright, thanks bro. I’ll talk to you then.’

  ‘Love you, Steph.’

  The phone went quiet. Maybe Steph was unsure of what she’d heard.

  ‘Yeah, I love you too, Ryan.’

  He could hear her smile through her words. Good. One lady made happy today. Now he just had to figure out what to do with Jaz. They had things to discuss, and he didn’t mean their lovemaking.

  For a moment he wondered if he should tell Tilly about Jaz’s medallion that now was in the hands of Salvatore, but the more he thought about it the more he decided to keep it quiet. He needed to find out more first before any guesses were made. This was not something to chat lightly about.

  ‘So how are you going to explain the shoulder to Annaliese?’ Tilly sat back down at the table.

  ‘I don’t know. I have to try and keep my clothes on around her or say I had a cancer cut out.’

  ‘A big bastard at that.’ Tilly glanced at the large white bandage. It was stained with blood and would need changing soon. ‘It’s probably the best explanation.’


  Neither of them could think of anything else that would fit. Everything had to be plausible. Since starting this mission, Pax had given Ryan a whole new identity.

  He had a flat in another suburb, which he spent time at in case anyone came looking. His name was Reece Lancaster, and Pax had created an online profile for him, one case of assault at a bar and jobs that all linked back to James, who could cover for him. And he had a fake sister, so he had cover texting-out coded messages if needed. Should anyone chase this sister up they would find Sandy, who was also an MTG agent. It could get complicated and you needed your brain switched on at all times. But Ryan had plenty of practice and he found the best way to cope was to pretend he was an actor and really get into the role of the character he was playing, almost to the point he had to believe this was who he was. Especially if he managed to get in with Jamieson, then he’d need to go hardcore. Cut off all ties to any of his real life. One time he was undercover for nearly a year. His cover story for his family had nearly worn thin, but lucky Tilly and Pax would send them the odd postcard from his ‘travelling adventures’.

  ‘So do you want me to tell Jaz you’re up and about? Or you wanna wait until we’ve cleaned you up a bit?’

  Ryan wanted to see Jaz, but didn’t think he should. He didn’t want to encourage her, but it was just so damn hard. What he needed was to talk to James. ‘Yeah, you can, but tell her not to come around. We need to wait for the dust to clear. Tell her to go on as normal for now and I’ll be in touch when I can.’

  Tilly raised his eyebrows but nodded.

  ‘And I wanna see James. Have you heard if he’s back in WA this week?’

  ‘Yeah, should be in sometime soon. He has a meeting with the WA government about funding, so I hear. You wanna brief him?’

  ‘Yep.’

  That, and ask him a few questions. With a bit of luck, James could shed some light on this whole Salvatore shemozzle.