The Crescendo

by Fiona Palmer

  ‘So Reece, Annaliese tells me you’re out of work?’ said Jamison halfway through their mains.

  Ryan dapped at his lips with the napkin, taking a moment to gather himself. It was batter up. ‘Yes, I’m trying to get a job as a bouncer in the meantime, until something better comes up.’

  Pax had worked hard on making sure his past jobs, past employers, all matched up and all numbers worked should anyone ever check up. Ryan guessed that Jamison would have done a background check on Ryan the moment he started dating his daughter. So it had been imperative that the details were right from the very start.

  ‘What work are you looking for?’

  ‘At the moment, something to pay the bills, but I’m after a well-paying job in security, preferably, as that’s where I’ve worked before. I have a keen eye for trouble so I’d like to stick with that. I know something will come up. In the meantime I’m not averse to doing the small jobs. But I’d like to find something good soon because my lovely lady here deserves to be spoilt, and this is her favourite restaurant,’ said Ryan. He hoped he’d played his cards right. Not too desperate, yet keen.

  Jamison raised a bushy eyebrow. ‘My Annaliese does have good taste and she does deserve the best.’ He gave her a wink.

  ‘Daddy, do you have anything for Reece? Anything to keep him going until work comes up?’ Annaliese tilted her head and smiled, curling him around her little finger.

  Jamison nodded. ‘I’ll have a look around, I might be able to find something to keep you out of trouble.’

  Or put me into trouble, thought Ryan. ‘Thanks, Mr Figlomeni, I’d appreciate that.’ Ryan wasn’t going to beg, or sound to desperate or overly keen. Play it cool, he reminded himself.

  Jamison dipped his head in acknowledgement. He appreciated the formal way Ryan addressed him. Which was no fluke; Ryan had heard his bodyguards and workers call him the same when he first started gathering intel, no nicknames or informal names were used. Jamison obviously liked the respect.

  They continued on with their dessert, and it was after their plates were scraped clean that Jamison pulled out his phone. ‘Yes, Mr Tyson, bring the car around please.’

  His bodyguards moved the moment Jamison got up. Not suddenly, but slowly and protectively yet still looking like they were going about their own business.

  ‘Do you have to go already?’ said Annaliese, standing up and reaching for her father.

  ‘I’m sorry, honey. I still have some work to tend to. But it was lovely to see you. I’ll go fix up the bill and then you can walk me out.’

  ‘Thank you for dinner, Mr Figlomeni. Next time it’ll be my shout,’ said Ryan. He hoped to imply a few things: one, that he didn’t want to be a freeloader and two, that he was man enough to pay for his girlfriend’s dinner.

  Jamison studied Ryan and then nodded. ‘You look like a man of your word. I’d like that.’

  They waited while Jamison paid and then they headed for the door. Outside it was dark, the streetlights illuminated the road verge, along with the fairy lights around the restaurant’s front windows. The bodyguards stationed themselves around Jamison, but at a few metres distance, as they waited for the car to arrive.

  ‘Can we do this again soon, Daddy?’ asked Annaliese.

  ‘Hey sexy lady, I’ll do it with you,’ came a shady voice behind them. A scrawny man wobbled closer, smoking a cigarette.

  Annaliese ignored him. The bodyguards tensed up, but none of them moved.

  ‘Bugger off, mate,’ said Ryan, stepping closer to Annaliese, trying to shield her.

  The drunk pulled a face. ‘What, can’t I talk to the pretty lady? She might prefer to come home with me,’ he said, and shot out a hand, grabbing Annaliese’s wrist.

  Annaliese squealed, and before anyone else could blink Ryan elbowed the drunk, splitting his lip, and yanked his hand away from Annaliese, jerking it up hard behind the drunk’s back and steering him down the road as the drunk tried to stop the blood running from his face while he cursed.

  ‘Time for you to head home.’ Ryan gave him a big shove. Then he stepped back to Annaliese’s side, reaching for her arm to caress it. ‘You okay, baby?’

  Annaliese hugged his side. ‘I am now.’

  Jamison’s car arrived, a black Jaguar in the latest model, and the driver got out. ‘Sorry, Mr Figlomeni, the traffic,’ he stammered as he opened the back door.

  Jamison glanced up the quiet road before turning to Ryan. ‘How does being my driver sound? You’re on call and get paid well. It would be handy having your expertise as well,’ he said.

  Ryan could see the current driver tilt his head in confusion, not sure what all this meant. Ryan lifted his head and squared his shoulders. ‘I’d be honoured, Mr Figlomeni.’

  ‘Oh Daddy, thank you,’ said Annaliese hugging him. ‘It’s just until Reece can find something more permanent. Maybe you could work your way up in Daddy’s business?’ she added while squeezing Ryan’s arm.

  Jamison turned to his driver. ‘Consider this your notice and last day.’ He swung around to the nearest bodyguard. ‘Mr Randall, please see to it that Mr Lancaster is ready for work tomorrow and that this dipshit moves on.’

  Mr Randall nodded his large head, which sat on his thick tree stump neck. ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Bye sweetheart.’ Jamison kissed her goodbye and then shook Ryan’s hand again. ‘I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.’ With a nod, he got into his car, a bodyguard each side, while Mr Randall stayed behind.

  ‘Can I get your details, Mr Lancaster? I’ll get Miss Naree to load you up on the payment system early tomorrow morning and ring you with all the details about work. Mr Figlomeni requires you wear a black suit at all times.’

  ‘That won’t be a problem.’

  Mr Randall nodded again as he entered Ryan’s number into his phone. ‘I’ll be in touch shortly.’ Then he got into a black Commodore that had just pulled into where Jamison’s car had vacated.

  ‘Bye, Randy,’ said Annaliese with a wave. ‘Wow, what a night,’ she said, turning to hug Ryan. ‘I knew Daddy would help with a job. I know it’s just a driving job, but Daddy takes all the positions seriously. If you want to, babe, I know he’d make you head of security eventually, or at least second under Randy. Randy’s been with him for a long time.’

  Ryan brushed a strand of her hair back and tried to ignore the swell of cleavage that was pressed against his chest and threatened to burst from her blue dress. ‘Yes, you were right. I know I can work my way up. I’ll show your father how loyal I am.’

  ‘He will love you like I do soon enough,’ she purred into his ear. ‘Let’s go clubbing.’

  ‘I would love to, babe, but I want an early night. I start with your father tomorrow, remember. Got to be at my best.’

  Annaliese pouted her lips. ‘But the girls are going and I said I’d meet them.’

  ‘You can still go, baby.’ Ryan kissed her lips softly.

  ‘Hmm, you tempt me so. Can we catch up tomorrow night?’

  ‘Of course,’ he said, tucking her into his side as they walked to his car. It was a Holden Statesman, black with all the paperwork leading to Reece Lancaster.

  Ryan dropped Annaliese off at her friend’s place so they could go out together, and then he headed back to his little flat. As he got out of his car, he walked to the bottle shop just down the street and walked the aisles looking for a few drinks. When he saw Tilly enter the shop, he headed into the back fridge for a carton of beer. Tilly entered soon after.

  He was in different clothes to earlier but nothing could hide the strips holding his bottom lip together. ‘Shit, Tilly, sorry about that,’ said Ryan out the corner of his mouth as he pretended to search through the beer selection.

  ‘Na mate, you did good. Better to make it real. Did it work?’

  ‘A treat. Got the driver gig. Start tomorrow.’ Ryan glanced at him and couldn’t help feel a little bad about Tilly’s lip, but it had to be done and it had to be convincing. But that wasn’t the only thing
about Tilly’s face that worried him. There was something unusual in his eyes he hadn’t ever seen before. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘I hate to tell you like this, but Pax is dead.’ Tilly picked up a carton of beer, keeping up appearances. ‘I’ll get more info to you when I can. Sorry mate.’ Then he walked out.

  Their exchange happened quickly and anyone who’d been watching would have thought nothing of it. Even though there was no one in the back beer fridge with them, they still played it safe. Ryan had his carton of beer and walked out also, but it took every effort not to stumble as Tilly’s words rattled through his head.

  Pax is dead.

  Surely not. Ryan’s mind whirled, spinning forth arguments that proved Tilly must be mistaken, must have it wrong.

  Like a robot, he had to walk out calmly and pay for his beer then walk to his flat, but inside he was a mess, like the inside of a rotten egg that threatened to explode.

  He made it back to his second-storey flat. It was a nice two-bedroom place with a grey and white theme throughout with red accents. Ryan put the beer on the table, opened it and stored two sixpacks in the fridge, then turned on the TV before closing the black blinds on the windows. He undressed and went for a shower, and it was only then did he let the emotion come. Only then did he let the thoughts of how this news would affect them all, at the agency, at the gym. His heart ached as he thought about Jaz. He knew how much Pax meant to her and her friends. And the worst thing was Ryan started his new job tomorrow, which meant he’d be under more scrutiny. No more going to his real home, no more going to the gym, no more seeing Jaz.

  He was now deep undercover.

  It was killing him already.

  Chapter 6

  Jaz sat in the waiting room, staring at the wall with posters telling you to check your poo and to feel your breast and other helpful things, but where was the one about how to cope after a death? The one that kicked her in the stomach was the one that read ‘How to tell if you’re having a heart attack’. She’d read it five times now, each time that sinking feeling grew worse as she realised the signs were right in front of her but she’d been so worried about her own problems, her own scary thoughts, that she didn’t see Pax struggling right in front of her. It wasn’t the only thing rolling around in her mind.

  Had she led to this heart attack? Did she cause it?

  ‘Jaz, are you okay?’ Cody touched her shoulder. ‘You’ve been rocking like that for a while.’

  The concern in his voice made her take note, realising she was indeed rocking back and forth on the white plastic chair. She sat still and then felt weird, as if she needed the movement to keep her mind busy and off the real problem.

  Pax was dead.

  After seeing the ambulance officers revive him, they all headed to the hospital with hope, only pausing long enough for Cody and Taylor to throw on their shirts. They all expected to see him in the bed draped in white sheets and hooked up to all sorts of monitors, much like last time. Expect this time they were greeted with a nurse who went to fetch the doctor.

  Anyone who says, ‘I’ll just get the doctor,’ and can’t tell you themselves, or lead you to the patient’s room, sets off little alarms there and then. All four friends had glanced at each other nervously.

  The doctor came before their parents did. He’d glanced around the waiting room, searching for adults, before playing with the top button on his shirt. He cleared his throat as he clasped his hands together. ‘Mr Johnson’s heart stopped again in transit; the ambulance officers did their best and we continued to work on him when he arrived, but I’m so sorry to say we couldn’t get him back.’

  Anna had let out a sob then, and that had ripped through her heart more than the doctor’s words had. As if it was more final because Anna believed it.

  ‘He’s gone?’ Taylor had asked. Needing that clarification. Needing longer for it to all sink in.

  Even now, as they sat waiting for their parents to arrive, Jaz still was struggling with the notion.

  Pax is dead. Pax is gone. Pax will no longer greet her at the gym. Coffee and pastry will never be the same. The Ring will never be the same.

  Anna was still crying, quieter now as she was wearing out, but her sobs and jerky breaths still remained. Taylor hadn’t let her go and tears lined his face also. He too was staring at the wall with all its pamphlets. Cody had been pacing up and down the length of the room; occasionally he’d come and sit beside her before pacing again. He’d notified James but none of them had the heart to tell their family what had happened since arriving at the hospital. It wasn’t something you texted or told over the phone.

  She realised Cody was sitting there now, still waiting for an answer to his question. What had he asked? Was she okay?

  No.

  No she wasn’t. Her mouth wouldn’t open, it seemed her whole body didn’t want to function properly. She forced her head to move from side to side.

  No, she wasn’t okay.

  Cody reached up and wiped at her face with a tissue before holding it out for her. Had she been crying?

  Jaz took the tissue and found her face was wet and her nose was running, and with a few swipes the tissue was a wet ball in her hand.

  ‘Girls, girls, how is he?’ said Anna’s mum as she rushed into the waiting room.

  ‘Oh Mum,’ said Anna, leaving Taylor’s arms and launching into her mum’s tall lean body.

  Fresh tears and sobs started again. Lenore hugged her daughter fiercely but her green eyes shot to Jaz. Probing for answers no one wanted to give.

  Jaz, yet again, could only shake her head.

  ‘Oh my God. Oh my God,’ said Lenore.

  While Lenore and Anna wept fresh noisy tears, Jaz went back to rocking on her seat and studied the poo chart again. That was until her mum and Paul came in. Tash still in her office clothes, blonde hair in a high bun and blue eyes bright. Paul was in his work clothes too; he hated suits and much preferred a knitted jumper with his shirt and tie.

  They rushed to her and sat either side. Cody went back to pacing to give them some space and Jaz was relieved when Lenore broke the news to them.

  ‘He didn’t make it this time, Tash. They couldn’t save him. Pax is gone.’ Lenore’s green eyes were half red, bloodshot and glossy.

  ‘No. I can’t believe it.’ Tasha shot up from the chair.

  ‘Love, what are you doing,’ said Paul, who Jaz realised was holding her hand and rubbing gentle circles against her skin. When had he started that?

  ‘I need to see him. I need to see him for myself.’

  Jaz’s mum stood strong, and for the first time Jaz could see the agent she used to be. The strength that radiated through her was unlike anything she’d ever seen from her before. Even if she was in a grey pants suit and black high heels. Spinning on said heels, she strutted out on a mission.

  Everyone gaped at each other. Did they too feel as if there was some hope that Pax was really alive? If Tasha didn’t believe it, then maybe it wasn’t true.

  They hadn’t seen his body. What if there was a mix-up.

  Jaz heard raised voices down the corridor and Paul stood up. ‘Oh no.’

  ‘I demand to see him.’

  Yes, it was her mother’s voice.

  ‘We better go get her,’ said Paul, pulling her up off the chair.

  Jaz followed him along the corridor towards where they’d heard Tasha’s demands.

  They found her in Pax’s room, her body flung over his. Jaz found herself studying Pax’s face. It was as if he was simply sleeping. She itched to go and shake him awake. Except if her mum’s body weight and crying didn’t wake him, nothing would.

  Tasha got up and kissed Pax’s forehead. ‘Thank you, Pax. Thank you for everything. I owe you my life,’ she whispered as she wiped back tears.

  But Jaz heard her mother’s words and she knew exactly what Tasha meant, even if Paul didn’t. Jaz stepped closer as her mum joined Paul. Jaz studied Pax’s face, so at ease even his wrinkles seemed less. Jaz
wanted to go and hold him but she was scared. Scared of how he’d feel without a heartbeat, without the flow of blood in his veins. Would he be cold?

  She couldn’t do it. Instead she backed out of the room after her parents.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Pax. I’m really sorry.’

  ***

  They had all gone back to Jaz’s place for a strong coffee. Anna and her family only lived a few houses down so it was going to be one house or the other. Seeing as Anna’s dad was still stuck at work for another hour, they came to Tasha’s.

  Paul was working their coffee machine, Simon was home and topping the coffee with lots of chocolate, Tasha was pulling out chocolate biscuits, slices, and whatever else she had in the fridge until the table was full. Everyone sat around the long jarrah table, staring at the food, but no one reached out. Instead they sat there, eyes glazed over in silence.

  Jaz stood between the table and the kitchen bench in limbo land.

  ‘Jaz, I’m gonna go check the gym is locked up properly and then I’m off home. But call if you need anything at all, hey?’ said Cody. His mop of blond saltwater rinsed hair was knotted at the top of his head; it contrasted against his deep tan and black singlet. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest tightly.

  Jaz hadn’t had this much contact with Cody ever, and the last time he tried to hit on her she’d dropped him to the ground. But now she found his hug okay and realised that Cody had become a great friend to them all and had managed to join their little circle or, more to the point, they had joined his. The agency had brought them all together.

  ‘You’re not alone, okay,’ he whispered.

  Her body sagged against him, her arms went around his strong back as her head rested on his shoulder. In her mind, it wasn’t Cody who was comforting her; it was Ryan. Ryan’s strong body holding her up. Ryan whispering comforting words. But would Ryan even know? Could someone get a message to him? Would he even be able to come to the funeral? She knew that seeing Ryan would be less likely the more and more he went undercover with his mission. He’d be under more scrutiny and attending Pax’s funeral would be too risky, even trying to see Jaz would be risky, but in her mind she was dreaming of that moment when he’d come for her. But for now, Cody was as good as it got.