The Crescendo

by Fiona Palmer

  ‘Oh honey.’ Anna knelt down by the chair and held her hands. ‘Did you ever think that maybe he’s trying to spare you any pain, or maybe even spare himself pain?’

  Jaz frowned at her. Why would Ryan spare himself any pain?

  ‘I’m sure he cares about you, Jaz. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and protects you. Maybe he was just scared? I’m sure it would have hurt him to walk away.’

  Jaz smirked a little. ‘Actually, it was me who did the walking away.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Yeah, we were dancing and I realised why make things harder when I knew it was goodbye. So I just walked away. It nearly killed me but I didn’t want him to think I was weak. But I do feel weak, Anna. As if Ryan is my kryptonite. Like I’m only half a person when he’s not around. It’s so strange. Is this what love does to you?’

  Anna smiled at her sadly. ‘I guess. I’m yet to really experience a real love. But hey, you still have us, and the gym. I wish I could make you feel better.’

  ‘You have. Just getting it off my chest helps.’

  ‘I wish you’d come to me sooner.’

  ‘I didn’t want to admit it, that he was pushing me out of his life, you know?’

  ‘I get it,’ said Anna. ‘Hey, so what’s gonna happen if Ryan ends up at this pub with the other Shesha Serpent dudes and he sees you?’

  ‘I don’t know. That’s the thing. No one knows what’s happened, not even Tilly. I’m not sure how Ryan will react at all. I’m guessing he’ll just carry on unaffected, as if I’m just like another operative and not someone he slept with.’

  Anna pulled a sad face. ‘Hey.’

  ‘I know, it’s my own fault. I talked him into it. I wanted it, no strings attached. Only my heart had other ideas. I didn’t know it was going to change me.’

  ‘Would you sleep with him if you could go back, knowing what you know now?’ asked Anna.

  Jaz thought for a moment. To go back and change the most amazing moment in her life or not? The thing is, it wouldn’t really change a damn thing. She was already in love with him by that stage, she just hadn’t realised how much. That night with Ryan was worth every bit of shit she was going through now.

  ‘Yes, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.’

  Chapter 15

  Ryan stood outside the door of the office building, where he was told to wait while Randall and Jamison went inside for a meeting. He’d been waiting here for an hour and a half, it was hot in the afternoon sun. At least Wilkins got to sit inside the car, which he left running so he had the air con. Sweat was beading along Ryan’s forehead and he could feel his shirt sticking to his skin under his suit coat. But he didn’t take it off because it hid his gun, in a holster given to him by Randall.

  Randall was proving to be a tough nut to crack. Ryan made Randall look bad in front of Jamison, so in getting this job had also put the other workers offside. He’d been trying to make up ground ever since. Maybe Randall thought he was gunning for his job, which was true. And Wilkins was grumpy about being the driver but he knew it was that or nothing. He was probably just waiting around for his old job back.

  Last night, as Ryan had done a perimeter check around Jamison’s house he’d heard some of the staff talking near the quarters.

  ‘He’ll be gone the moment the boss’s daughter dumps him,’ said Wilkins.

  He should have been polishing the car, but he was a slacker.

  ‘Do you think he’s after Randall’s job? Randall says he’s not worried but I think he is,’ said Bud, another one of the house guards. ‘I heard Reece is over-qualified for this job.’

  ‘Bud, you’re an arse,’ said Wilkins. ‘No one can be more qualified than Randy. Stop spreading shit you don’t know.’

  Ryan had listened for as long as he dared, in case anything else was mentioned about Jamison, but it was just staff whingeing and then talk about going to the pub.

  Ryan needed to get in with the boys, he needed them onside and already he was working on a plan to do that.

  His phone rang; with no sign of Jamison, he quickly answered it. ‘Annaliese?’

  ‘Hi, baby. You free to talk?’

  ‘At the moment yes, but when your dad comes out I gotta go.’ She knew the routine. It meant he’d hang up on her. Luckily for Ryan, Annaliese thought it was endearing how professional he was for her father.

  ‘I’ll be quick. I’m just hoping we could do something tonight?’

  ‘I’d love to babe, but I was hoping to try and do something with the boys tonight. They still aren’t happy with me, you know, dating you. I’d like to try and win them over.’ That and he liked to take a break from Annaliese whenever he could.

  ‘How about I pop over for a bit just after work. I’ll be quick, I promise?’ she said with a purr.

  The door opened behind him and he quickly finished the call. ‘Okay, see you then. Bye.’ Tucking the phone away he checked the area as Jamison emerged. He nodded to Randall to say the coast was clear and they walked Jamison to the car.

  When Jamison was safely at home, Ryan had to hang around outside until he was needed again. He got to knock off at five tonight; if Jamison decided to go out late then they would be called back.

  ‘So what’s this pub I hear the guys talking about?’ Ryan asked Randall as he met him by the house on one of his perimeter rounds.

  Randall gave him a blank look. It had been two weeks since Ryan had scored Wilkins’ job, you’d think Randall would cut him some slack.

  ‘Look, I get the feeling everyone is pissed at me. I’m not after your job, or anyone else’s, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m just here until I can find a better job or start my own business.’ Ryan turned away from Randall and gazed down the driveway. He could see Wilkins down the bottom, buffing the rims on the car.

  Randall was quiet for a while. Ryan didn’t pressure him, just left the ball in his court.

  ‘It’s called The Duke. Not a bad place, the beer’s cold and the fellas like it.’

  Ryan turned to thank him but Randall had already headed back inside. Was that his first welcome of sorts? At least Ryan had the name of the pub now, it was almost as good as an invite. Soon he’d show up and shout the boys beers and try and win them over that way. If he could work on Randall, get him to like him more, then the others would follow. They all looked up to Randall as the leader of the group, per se.

  When the day was over Ryan headed back to his flat. He’d decided to stay in and not pressure the guys at the pub just yet. Let what had happened with Randall simmer and work its way to the rest of the staff and then he’d see.

  But staying in meant Annaliese.

  She knocked on his door at six.

  ‘Hello, Reece.’

  Annaliese looked like she was ready for the club. Little strapless black dress, heels, hair cascading over her shoulder and the reddest lips. She was a head turner, yet to Ryan she was just his job. Annaliese lacked life, she wasn’t interesting nor did she do things that amazed him. Some blokes probably like their trophy girlfriends, but Annaliese was not the kind of girl for him. In saying that, the sex was easy.

  ‘Don’t you look amazing,’ he said, pulling her into his arms and swinging the door shut.

  ‘I brought wine,’ she said with a smile as she waved the bottle in her hand.

  ‘Later,’ he said, taking it and putting it on the table. Annaliese groaned as he grabbed her backside.

  She, in turn, pulled off the black shirt he’d put on after his shower. Her fingers ran over his chest, tracing the lumps of muscle with long red nails as her waist pressed against his.

  Ryan bent and kissed her bare shoulder, then her neck, before kissing her ear lobe. He’d kiss her everywhere in the hopes he didn’t have to kiss her properly. It was the hardest part of all for him, to kiss her convincingly. He slapped his hands against her legs then ran them up towards her bum, dragging her fitted dress up with them. She had nothing on underneath. He went exploring, her breathin
g intensifying as she pulled out the condom in his pocket before undoing his jeans, pulling them down, setting him free.

  He waited as she slipped on the protective skin.

  Ryan grabbed her butt and lifted her up. Annaliese put her arms around his neck and lifted her legs, wrapping them around him as he leant her back against the door.

  ‘Oh baby,’ she purred.

  Annaliese was kissing his shoulder in between her groans, no doubt leaving lipstick smeared all over his skin. But he couldn’t focus on that. He closed his eyes, pushing her hard against the door as he found his rhythm. He closed off his ears to her noisy groans and the words she liked to mumble. He sunk deep into his thoughts, picturing long raven hair that glided over his skin like a satin sheet. He thought of the tight fit body that could take down a grown man, hell, it could take him down if he wasn’t careful. That thought alone turned him on. He imagined her lips, the taste so sweet and innocent. He remembered what it was like to cup her perfect breasts in his hand and as he grew closer to release he let Annaliese kiss him, but in his mind it was someone completely different.

  ***

  At work the next day Ryan found Randall easier to be around. He hoped the rest of the staff noticed.

  ‘Get ready, the boss has a stop at the warehouse and we don’t want another incident like at the farm,’ said Randall. ‘Just stay a metre or two from the boss at all times unless told otherwise.’

  ‘Righto. I’ll have my eyes peeled.’

  ‘Morning, Mr Lancaster,’ said Jamison as he came out to get in his car. He was in a deep velvet suit with a black shirt and tie. A matching fedora on his head.

  ‘Morning, sir.’ Ryan sat in the front with Wilkins and they were silent all the way out to the warehouse. Jamison wasn’t the chatty sort.

  Ryan thought they were going to the shed on his rural property but instead they were still in the city, heading towards the shipping area in Fremantle. He took note of every detail, as it was a new place. Wilkins pulled up outside a large corrugated iron shed. Shipping containers were stacked outside and by the size of the shed there were probably a few inside. It was next door to a fresh seafood business, their boats and packing crates stacked outside also.

  Randall ejected the clip on his gun and reloaded. Ryan did the same. His nerves started to tighten with excitement. This visit was something special. Ryan focused, taking in every little detail. From the flaking black and white sign on the shed, ‘Drake Industries’, to the dimension of the shed. He was accustomed to searching for hidden rooms, false walls and space that was missing.

  When he got out the smell of the ocean was strong, they must be just a stone’s throw from the channel. The breeze was quite resilient, lifting the bottom of their suit jackets. Jamison’s hand went to his fedora.

  As per Randall’s instructions, Ryan followed Jamison closely, his hand ready to reach for the gun. Randall keyed in a number into the keypad and opened the door, checking inside before waving Jamison in.

  That was interesting. Why would Randall need to check inside a locked place? Did they have workers inside they didn’t trust? Ryan tucked those details away as they moved through the large building. It stunk of fuel, salt, wet wood, mould and another dirty smell he couldn’t put his hand on. No one seemed to be working today, but there were a couple of forklifts, stacked crates and fridges and freezers that lined the back wall. None of their intel had brought them any connection to this side of Jamison’s business. The seafood industry would give him access to the water, being able to bring things in and out of the country. Ryan wondered what ingenious ways he used to bring in the drugs or girls.

  A half wall sectioned off an area that looked like a prep area for the fish. Then there were rooms beyond that, an office, kitchen area, and a room or bedroom area, which looked like it was used casually. Maybe by staff pulling long shifts? There was another room but the door was shut. Ryan checked the ceiling, walls and corners for any cameras. There had been one over the main door they’d come through and another outside the office. If there were more he was yet to find them. He’d have to be careful. If he seemed untrustworthy, or was caught in areas he shouldn’t be, then he could blow everything. Each step had to be slow and meticulous. For now he’d play the dutiful bodyguard.

  They came to a stop at the end; there was another door with a coded keypad. Randall entered this code as well. If Jamison trusted anyone it must only be Randall.

  ‘Stay here, and keep watch. You can make yourself a cuppa,’ said Randall. ‘We won’t be long,’ he added, following Jamison.

  Okay, so this is as far as he went. He was dying to know what was behind the door but he couldn’t see a thing before they closed it.

  Ryan tried to check again for cameras. When he was certain he had them all covered, he casually walked back to the couple of rooms they’d passed. He went and got himself a coffee, just to keep it real. Then, with his foam cup, he went and tried the door that interested him. He found it opened. What if there was a camera inside?

  Did he just take the chance? Just pretend he was having a stickybeak? Lots of people would want to see what was behind a closed door but bodyguards were supposed to just do their job.

  What to do?

  You didn’t get anything without risk, so Ryan took it. Slowly he opened the door enough to poke his head inside. It was just a normal square room, with a bed and wash sink, much like the other one. Except on the second glance around the room, he spotted a lady’s shoe poking out from under the bed and a very long strand of dark hair hanging from the basin. Did they have women staff with their own separate sleeping areas? Or was something else at play?

  Ryan shut the door and went back to the kitchen. He wanted to look for any clues, even the fridge may hold something. Then he stood at the door to the office and could see the screen with one of the cameras feed on it. He didn’t dare go in, just leant against the doorjamb and searched the desks. It all looked like paperwork, pallet sheets and orders. Why was no one here? Did this place only run at certain times? Ryan would make sure the agency got an operative to keep the place under surveillance.

  Something flashed past on one of the camera screens and Ryan stepped inside the office to get a closer look. He now had a reason. Watching the screen, he saw the person again and quickly pulled out his phone and took a photo of him. Randall would be interested to know who was moving around the building. While he was inside the office Ryan glanced around. No hidden cameras that he could see, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any. For all he knew this could be a test. Not wanting to push his luck he stepped out of the office slowly, while trying to take in papers on the desk. He doubted that anything of interest would be left about. What he needed was to get into that room Jamison was in now.

  He was walking out of the room just as Randall came out the door. The squint of his eyes gave away his surprise at finding Ryan in the office.

  ‘Mr Randall, I just captured someone out the front of the building on the camera. I got a photo. Do you recognise this person?’ Quickly he stepped towards Randall and held out his phone.

  Randall glanced at it then nodded. ‘It’s okay, that’s just Pete. He keeps an eye on the place. He was probably just checking the outside while we were here, or chatting to Mr Wilkins.’

  ‘Oh, yep. Good to know. Sorry.’ He’d have to warn the operative that he wouldn’t be alone in watching over the building. Hopefully this Pete was the only one.

  ‘Don’t apologise, I’d rather you come to us with any little detail,’ said Jamison as he shut the door. ‘Please, take me back home now.’

  There was a weird smell that clung to both their clothes and Ryan tried hard to place it.

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Ryan turned to Randall. ‘I thought I was best suited watching the cameras while I waited,’ he said softly as they made their way out of the building. ‘And I helped myself to a coffee too.’ He wanted them to think he was honest.

  It would take time to build up their confidence in him. Especially
if Jamison was keeping this business secret from his daughter. But then again, if he liked Ryan enough he might just groom him to take over the family business one day. Ryan almost shuddered at the thought. How many years down the track was he thinking? Would he have to marry Annaliese before that happened? Did he want to go that far undercover? Maybe once upon a time he’d have been prepared to do that for the agency and for the greater good, but now something lurked in his mind, changing his way of thinking, making him feel a little selfish. He just couldn’t put his finger on what.

  Chapter 16

  Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

  Jaz lowered her gun as she stared at the target. The smell from her gun was strangely comforting. And the kick it let off with each pull of the trigger filled her with an awesome energy, yet she felt calm and relaxed. It was like she could rest her mind as she thought about nothing else but the target.

  ‘Holy shit, Jaz, you’re getting bloody good,’ said Cody as they both pulled off their earmuffs.

  His mouth was open for a second before his smile spread across his tanned face. His eyes sparkled and Jaz couldn’t help but smile too. The range was her second favourite place after the gym. Derik and Stew who managed the place were becoming fast friends like Bags and Tick. These were her kind of people. Cody, Taylor, Ryan, Tilly and Anna. They all felt the same when firing a weapon or fighting. They all understood what she felt and they all were on the same level. Jaz wasn’t a loner anymore. She wasn’t the odd one out, it was as if she’d finally found her crowd. It was an amazing thing to realise you had a big circle of friends you could call family.

  ‘Yeah, well, I’ve been practising lots, and I’m so in love with my gun.’ Jaz tilted her shiny Firestar handgun. The handgrip was black, but the barrel was steel and it was engraved with a phoenix. Ryan had brought her the 9mm for her birthday. It wasn’t new, but the Star Firestar was a compact pistol designed for concealment, and Jaz found it very stable when shooting and the recoil was offset by the weight of the gun. She’d researched everything on it, well, actually Tay told her all about it, being a know-it-all on guns, and she’d been shooting with it every moment she could get. She wanted to feel like the gun was an extension of her arm, a part of her own body. She took out the magazine. Tay had also taught her how to pull it down to clean it. It had been the best lesson she’d ever had. If only her exams could have been on that she would have aced them!