The Crescendo

by Fiona Palmer

  Chapter 4

  Jaz sat on the steps covered in white sand, her knees pulled up so she could lean on them, and stared out at the ocean. The cars passed behind her on the road, mixing with the sound of the crashing waves, but she didn’t really hear either. Her eyes were glued on the horizon where the water seemed almost black, but what she was searching for couldn’t be found out there.

  This spot did bring her some peace, it felt familiar and comforting. She’d come here with Marcus a few times. He’d been her pretend boyfriend, a way to get inside his family home and seek out information on his dad. But in the process, Jaz had grown to care for Marcus a lot. She missed his company. But not even Marcus could give her the answers she’d been searching for, yet avoiding at the same time.

  It had been nearly a week since Jaz and Ryan had escaped with their lives. And in that week she’d not seen nor heard from Ryan since she’d left him in Tilly’s hands. Sure, Tilly had told her he was fine and back at work but it didn’t ease the hurt. Was he avoiding her over what happened in the Wicked van? Was it more than that? Was Jaz just being oversensitive because she’d admitted to herself that she was in love with him? Did she overanalyse this much before they had sex? Was Ryan back-pedalling? Regretting being with Jaz?

  Shit, she had so many questions, they were driving her insane.

  Anna and Tay had noticed her mood and tried hard to be there for her, but Jaz felt like she was closed off in a tiny box. Not even sitting by the wide empty beach and endless ocean did she feel any freer. She couldn’t seem to escape the confines of her own mind. It didn’t help that they had mock exams coming up and she really needed to study.

  ‘I thought I’d find you here,’ said Anna as she sat down beside her, and held out a coffee cup.

  Jaz blinked before turning to her friend. She was out of her school uniform and in jeans, thongs and a t-shirt that had ‘E=mc2’. Her hair was in a long plait over her shoulder.

  The smell of the coffee wafted towards her nose and Jaz took the cup with a smile. ‘Thanks, this is just what I need.’ It tasted as good as it smelt.

  They sat there in silence for a while longer, which is usually very out of character for Anna. Or maybe she was waiting for the coffee to work its magic. Jaz was halfway through when her friend finally spoke.

  ‘Do you want to start from the beginning?’

  What would be the beginning, Jaz thought?

  She exhaled slowly. ‘We were camped in the sand dunes, set up like backpackers and I’d just gone to the beach to scout, but I got spotted by one of the men patrolling the beach waiting for the drums to wash up. So I ran back to Ryan and improvised.’

  Anna’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Improvised?’

  Jaz couldn’t help the smile that grew as she remembered the shock on Ryan’s face as she pulled off her shirt and began to kiss him. ‘I figured if we were too busy getting “busy”’, Jaz quoted the air, ‘then the drug dealer wouldn’t see us as a threat. He’d just put us down as some backpackers getting it off by the ocean. It was all I could come up with in that moment.’

  ‘Good thinking. I wouldn’t want to disturb someone going at it.’ Anna cleared her throat. ‘So … how far did you go?’

  Jaz tried to keep the goofy grin from her lips but it was hard. Anna’s eyes got wider with each second of silence.

  ‘No way,’ she drawled out slowly.

  ‘Yes, way. We kissed for a while but the guy was still watching us, Ryan could see the light from his cigarette. So I figured we’d have to keep playing along. I undressed and pretty soon we both forgot about that guy. He left at some point but neither of us knew when.’

  ‘Oh my God. What was it like? Tell me, tell me!’ Anna was gripping her arm in eagerness.

  ‘Let’s just say it was amazing, even though we were on a stake-out and quite possibly could have been killed by that man and buried in the sand dunes.’

  ‘I know, who would miss backpackers, hey? You’re so lucky.’

  ‘To be alive or to be with Ryan?’

  ‘Both,’ Anna replied with a grin. ‘So it was amazing?’

  ‘It was, but now I’m afraid he has my heart and it’s going to get torn in two.’ Speaking her fear was hard but a weight off her shoulders at the same time.

  ‘Oh honey, I know Ryan cares for you.’

  ‘But he doesn’t love me. His work comes first and I’m afraid he regrets what we did. I don’t want it to be awkward, he’s still a friend.’

  ‘Has he still not made contact?’

  Jaz shook her head.

  ‘Pax and I have been going over Ryan’s papers, well, Pax has been showing me how to create a record and all this other cool stuff. He gave Ryan a rap sheet, has him convicted of a few charges so he looks tough. His undercover name is Reece Lancaster.’ Anna shrugged. ‘It’s crazy isn’t it? Knowing just what goes on. I feel like we’ve been living like zombies, programmed to live out the perfect life, yet in fact we are actually in the Alias show crossed with James Bond, just without the British accent and suits.’

  Jaz laughed. Anna sure had a way with words. ‘I know. But I’m so glad you guys are on this journey with me. Where is Tay, by the way? Normally you two are joined at the hip lately.’ She’d noticed even at school they walked together to classes, which was new. Taylor had all his cool mates that he usually went with.

  ‘Tay is at the gym training. I think he’s on a mission to get abs like Ryan. Imagine that,’ she said with a swoon. ‘I think since we both started with the agency, he’s feeling a bit out of the loop at school and seems happy to hang with us. I’m not complaining, I love spending time with Tay. Even if it is just studying.’

  ‘Studying what … his body? You don’t need to study,’ Jaz said with a chuckle.

  ‘Hey.’ Anna sounded like she was going to protest but then changed her mind. ‘Yeah, you’re right. He is pretty fit.’

  Jaz felt much better already. Why hadn’t she opened up to Anna sooner? Maybe it was time to see Pax about her other issue. Jaz stood up, determined. ‘I’ve gotta go see Pax, you wanna come catch up with Tay?’ she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

  ‘Sure, why not. Can I catch a lift? Mum dropped me off.’

  As Jaz drove them to the gym in her Jeep Wrangler, Anna didn’t stop talking about the catastrophe of having to rely on her parents to ferry her around still. ‘I wish they’d just let me get a car already. At this rate I’ll end up with an army tank.’

  Anna suffered from a bad case of protective parents syndrome. Imagine what they’d do if they found out she’d just begun working with a secret agency that worked for the government to infiltrate and destroy bad guys. Yeah, there weren’t enough days left in her life for the grounding she’d get.

  At the gym, Jaz parked out the front and went inside in search of Pax. Tay was with Cody, another recruit who was a year older and looked like a surfie with a deep tan and bleached blond hair. They were fighting on the mat, red welts over both their bodies as they swapped blows. The rest of the gym was empty. Not even Bags was in the boxing ring teaching lessons. There were only the grunts and slaps of skin against skin as Tay and Cody sparred.

  It was rather cool watching two good-looking guys fighting. Jaz glanced at Anna, who was spellbound. ‘You right here?’

  Anna nodded without taking her eyes off the guys. ‘Yep, good as gold.’ She grinned.

  Jaz headed off to the office, then into Pax’s house until she found him in his ‘special’ room sorting out stuff.

  ‘Hey Pax,’ she said entering. It still felt funny finally being in this room, when her whole life it had been locked up.

  He looked over the rim of his glasses and put down the plastic sleeve he was holding for someone’s ID. He was sweating, but it was warm in this small room with all the computers and fancy printers.

  ‘Am I interrupting work?’ she asked.

  ‘No, no this can wait. What’s up? You look serious. Is everything okay?’ said Pax as he rubbed his arm.

  Jaz sh
ut the door behind her and sat on the spare computer chair, which was now Anna’s. ‘Yeah, I have a few questions actually.’ Jaz felt her heart begin to race. No wonder she’d put this off all week. She was scared, so scared her hands were shaking.

  Pax slid his chair closer and took her hands. ‘What happened? Is it Ryan? The mission?’

  Jaz took a deep breath to try and settle her nerves. She could see Pax was now just as agitated; sweat beaded along his brow and his face seemed pale.

  ‘No, as far as I’ve heard Ryan is fine and back at work.’ Jaz managed to suppress the shiver that threatened when she thought of Ryan ‘at work’ with Annaliese. ‘He’s healing well, so Tilly reckons. This is more to do with the operation towards the end, when we followed the drugs to Salvatore De Luca’s airplane hangar.’ Jaz watched Pax carefully. The corner of his eye was twitching and his hands let go of hers as he sat back. His eyes darting across the room. Anywhere but at Jaz.

  ‘Oh. What happened then?’ he said softly.

  She knew Anna would have already given him the rundown of events, but not even Anna knew about the necklace. ‘We were about to be shot point blank. Made to kneel on the plastic, when my medallion swung free. Salvatore reached for it and asked me if I believed in God.’

  Pax’s bottom lip quivered as a drop of sweat ran down the side of his face. Jaz didn’t like where this was going but she couldn’t stop now. Like a detective, she needed to know more, even if it was life shattering. Even if it was her worst nightmare come true. Even if she could never go back to the way it was. She needed answers.

  ‘Then something strange happened, Pax. He read the engraved name on the back. Salvatore. My father’s name and his medallion. I thought maybe he’d laugh at the circumstance of having the same name but instead he demanded to know where I got it from. Then it went a little crazy with gunfire as we made our move, but I recall Salvatore saying that it was his medallion. His medallion.’

  Jaz could remember the tone of his words, almost disbelief and shock, and how his brow creased as he stared at her medallion in his hand. It had only been seconds but she knew his reaction was not faked. He truly believed it was his. And if it was … Jaz shivered and continued with her painful question. ‘Pax, there is no way possible that my biological father Salvatore is the same Salvatore De Luca, is it?’

  Pax had gone paler and looked like he was holding his breath, which just made Jaz feel even worse. But she needed to hear it from Pax, so she kept going. ‘Because, as we were running from the hangar, his men had opportunity to shoot us but Salvatore stopped them. Why would he do that? Unless that medallion really was his and it had him rattled. Pax, you know all about Mum, you helped her hide, you know her story and I’m betting you know who my real father is, don’t you?’ Jaz was just about out of breath when she finished. She’d also realised over this past week that Pax had overreacted when she first mentioned she’d run into Salvatore at the casino on a mission. Was that because he knew she’d just met her real father? It made sense Pax would know all her mum’s secrets.

  Her heart was in her throat and she felt as shitty as Pax looked. Only now she realised Pax was pulling a funny expression, then a gasp escaped his lips right as he slid sideways to the floor.

  ‘Pax,’ Jaz yelped and dived down for him, and just managed to catch some of his weight before his head smacked the ground. ‘Pax, are you okay?’ His eyes were wide and she could tell he was in pain. She thought about the sweating, rubbing his arm, being so pale. Maybe it wasn’t from her questions. ‘Are you having another heart attack?’

  He didn’t reply but Jaz was already reaching for her phone while opening the door and screaming out for Anna at the top of her lungs. ‘Hurry, it’s Pax.’

  Anna came running in seconds later, with Tay and Cody on her heels.

  ‘What’s happened …’ Her words died away as she saw Pax on the floor. ‘Oh my God, Pax.’ It came out as a squeal.

  ‘Make him comfortable, I’m calling triple zero,’ said Jaz, just as the operation came on the line. ‘Yes, I need an ambulance,’ said Jaz and answered all the questions as best she could and then did as they were instructed while they waited for the ambulance.

  ‘This is deja vu,’ mumbled Jaz. Pax. Heart attack. In this same room.

  Anna had tears rolling down her cheeks. Last time it had just been Jaz; Anna had been spared the horror of watching someone you loved struggle for life, but now they were all here.

  ‘We need to get him into the passageway and make him comfortable.’ Jaz shouted orders and the boys complied. Anna stayed by his side, holding his hand and talking to him.

  ‘It’s okay, Pax. They’re coming, you’ll be fine.’ Anna lifted her gaze to Jaz and her green eyes pleaded with her. He will be fine, won’t he?

  ‘Pax is tough as old boot leather, he’ll be fine,’ she said, but Jaz wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince. ‘I can hear the ambulance. I’ll go show them in.’

  The ambulance crew were methodical and before long they had Pax on the stretcher, wheeling him out to the bus. Cody put his hand on Jaz’s shoulder; it was comforting so she allowed it. He called out, ‘Hang in there, Pax.’

  ‘Can I go with him?’ Anna asked the female officer, who was about to shut the doors.

  ‘Um, are you family—?’ She didn’t get to finish her reply as the other officer who sat in the back with Pax yelled out.

  ‘Cassy, need help here,’ said the officer as he started compressions on Pax’s chest.

  ‘Oh my God,’ cried Anna, her hand shooting to her mouth.

  Tay put his arms around her and she leaned into his chest, trying to shield her view but still watching from the corner of her eyes.

  The ambulance officers worked together before Cassy undid Pax’s shirt and they used the defibrillator on him.

  ‘Oh shit,’ mumbled Cody.

  His grip on Jaz intensified but it didn’t hurt. Right now she couldn’t feel anything, just a numbness mixed with disbelief. The ambulance lights were flashing while they worked on Pax. Jaz felt like time had stood still as they stood and watched. Her heart was in her mouth and she wasn’t sure when she’d last taken a breath.

  ‘Okay, we’ve got him,’ said the male officer as he leaned back. ‘Let’s go,’ he said to Cassy.

  Cassy nodded and her short blonde hair fell into her eyes before she moved to the back of the ambulance. Jaz finally took a breath, and realised she was almost gasping and felt faint. She also realised that Cody was holding her up, his arms tightly around her waist. When did that happen? She wanted to step out of his embrace, but would she be able to stand without him? Part of her wanted his comfort; she also wanted him to tell her Pax would be okay. But he didn’t.

  Cassy told them which hospital she was taking Pax to and then drove off with the sirens blaring. Anna hadn’t asked to ride in the back again. Seeing Pax brought back to life had been a shock for all of them.

  Jaz glanced at Anna now. Taylor was holding her tightly as silent tears trailed down her face. Taylor had his head tucked close to Anna’s and he looked just as gutted. Neither of them had any answers, or words of support. It was all just shock.

  Jaz stepped away from Cody and breathed deeply. Someone had to take the lead.

  ‘What are we waiting for? Let’s follow that ambulance.’

  Chapter 5

  Ryan suppressed his grimace as Annaliese tugged on his arm, not enough to damage the wound but enough to pull at the sore area.

  ‘Come on Reecie, Daddy will be waiting and he doesn’t like to be left waiting,’ said Annaliese as she shot him a bright red lipstick-covered smile.

  She was a very pretty lady, nice body, long legs, extra cleavage if you were into the fake kind and always was made up to perfection. Maybe a little too much. High-maintenance kind. She also had expensive tastes in clothing and accessories. Probably why her daddy was in the crime business, to keep his daughter happy with her lavish tastes.

  How Annaliese could walk so fast in her
amazingly high black heels he didn’t know, but she pulled him into the restaurant on Seventh Street. Deparro’s was an upmarket place with designer meals. It was one of her favourites and she often had dinner here with her dad. But this was the first time Ryan, aka Reece, had ever been invited. This was big.

  Sure he’d met her father, Jamison, a few times, but only in passing as Annaliese introduced him as her boyfriend. This time was different. Ryan had told Annaliese he was looking for work, and just as he hoped she suggested her dad might have something for him. At the moment he had Annaliese hooked around his finger. He just needed to keep her interested enough to keep him around.

  ‘Oh, there he is,’ she said, waving to a man sitting alone by the back wall in a dark grey suit with white accents.

  But he wasn’t alone. Ryan counted two bodyguards, maybe three. Two guys sat at a nearby table and another man sat alone at another. They were in suits but looked the bodyguard type, with extra muscle, thick necks and darting eyes. Ryan also checked for exits, escape routes plus anything else that might help in case something came up.

  ‘Hi Daddy,’ said Annaliese, giving her father a hug and kiss. ‘You remember Reece?’

  ‘Mr Figlomeni,’ said Ryan, shaking his hand rather firmly. He had to make an impression, and what better way than that.

  ‘Reece, nice to meet you again. Sit. I’ve already ordered a bottle of the house red,’ said Jamison.

  He was a tall, lean man whose chunky silver jewellery only added to the superior impression. He was a man who thrived on power, his head always held high, as if he looked down his nose at all those under him, and his dark eyes seemed to take everything in, just like Ryan had when he first walked in. This was a fierce opponent, one many had been trying to catch out for years. He was cunning, clever and not one to outwit. Ryan had to tread very carefully here and come across as real as possible.

  Ryan played it cool, ordering and then letting Annaliese take the stage with her ramblings of her life of parties, friends and social moves. Much to his credit, Jamison listened intently to her chatter, a besotted father indeed. Good to know. Ryan had derived that when Annaliese’s mother died when she was six, Annaliese became his life outside his crime business, which he wasn’t sure how much she knew about. All this would come out in time. Some undercover missions could be years in the planning. Ryan was lucky Jamison had a daughter who was easy to please.