ALASKAN FIRE

by Alaskan Fire (NCP) (lit)

  She was in Sam’s study pouring over a text book on Eskimo tribal customs and making copious notes, when she heard the front door open and close. Even though she knew it must be Mrs. Palmer, she trembled as she listened to the footsteps coming towards the study.

  “Hello love, you must be Jessica. Sam said you’d be here.” She greeted Jess with a wide smile, which Jess instantly returned, enjoying the warmth exuding from her. Mrs. Palmer was well into her sixties with a robust figure, snow-white hair and a lined, caring face.

  “Shall we have a coffee?”

  Jess smiled again. “That would be wonderful, Mrs. Palmer. You don’t mind me being here then--I mean, living in Sam’s home?” she asked tentatively, wanting to meet the approval of this kindly lady.

  “Bless you, no! Sam told me about the problem you’ve been having with that young lad. Terrible, I call it. It’s quite proper Sam should be looking after you.” Mrs. Palmer chatted away as she led Jess into the kitchen where she proceeded to brew a fresh pot of coffee.

  “There love, get that down you and don’t you take any notice of what those blooming journalists says about you and Sam either. They’re a load of charlatans,” she said, cutting some slices of fruit cake.

  “I’m afraid I’m one of them and so is Sam,” Jess said, with a laugh.

  “Oh, you’re different, love. Otherwise Sam wouldn’t have taken to you like he has,” Mrs. Palmer said emphatically. “Now, I’d better get on. I’ve got to clean the place for Sam’s birthday dinner tomorrow and I don’t want any of his guests saying I keep a dirty house, particularly that snobby Pauline Marshall! The only good thing she has done is to arrange for an outside company to do the catering but...I’ll still be here to supervise them. You can’t trust anybody these days.” Mrs. Palmer paused for breath and Jess wondered whether she dared ask her any details about Pauline or Tanya, Sam’s ex-wife. Mrs. Palmer was very chatty. She would take a chance.

  Sipping her coffee, she asked lightly,” Does Tanya live near here?”

  “No, she lives in Melbourne. It’s always been her favorite city. She lives in some posh house in Toorak that she insisted Sam bought for her when they separated. Mind you, her dad is very wealthy and he has always spoilt her rotten.”

  “Do you like her?” Jess couldn’t resist asking.

  Mrs. Palmer fastened an apron around her ample hips and bent to get some cleaning materials from the cupboard under the sink. “I don’t mind Tanya. I used to do for Sam and her when they lived in the big place over in Vaucluse,” she said, referring to the exclusive Sydney suburb. “They led separate lives, though. Sam spent all his time working, and still does, mind you, while she flounced around at her charity functions.”

  Jess pushed a piece of cake around her plate. She wondered if she dare ask anymore questions. She was consumed with curiosity about Sam. She wanted to know everything about him. Was he still immune to women and buried in his work or was he really having an on-going affair with Pauline or someone else. Did he perhaps still love his ex-wife?

  Mrs. Palmer began to clean the wall oven. “Sam can be very difficult to get on with,” she said, with a small grunt as she vigorously polished the door.

  “I know.” Jess gave a tiny smile thinking of the angry words they had already exchanged.

  “But even so, he is special,” Mrs. Palmer continued. “All these women fawning over him, ringing him all the time, pestering him. No wonder he gets impatient!”

  Jess didn’t answer. She wasn’t quite sure what to say. She wondered how many women there were in Sam’s life. Perhaps he was between affairs at present and that was why he didn’t mind her staying here. Jess sighed as she rose to return to the study. What did it matter? Sam wasn’t really interested in her. Or if he was, it was for a brief, sexual fling. She was probably very fortunate he had played along with her unplanned situation.

  “Thanks for the coffee, Mrs. Palmer, I’ll get back to the computer,” she said, smiling at the older woman.

  “Okay, love. We’ll have a nice lunch later.”

  Over lunch, Mrs. Palmer wasn’t forthcoming with further information about Sam and Tanya and Jess decided to probe a little more.

  "It's odd that Tanya is coming to Sam's party, isn't it?" she ventured.

  Mrs. Palmer laughed. "No, not really. Since they've been divorced, she and Sam get on fine."

  "Would you call them good friends?"

  "Oh, yes. I know Sam is very fond of Tanya. She just wasn't strong enough to manage him when they were married."

  "Manage?"

  Mrs. Palmer made a face at Jess. "Funny word to use, I suppose but I think men like Sam need to be managed, don't you?"

  Jess opened her mouth to reply and found herself speechless.

  "Tanya tried hard to make the marriage work but they weren't meant for each other," the housekeeper continued.

  "Do you think Tanya still loves Sam?" Jess held her breath as Mrs. Palmer gave her a strange look.

  "I'm talking too much, as usual," she suddenly blustered. "I must get on with my work."

  Jess said no more realizing that Mrs. Palmer had clamed up, probably feeling she had said too much. She went back to the study trying to shake the feeling of despondency that had descended on her. Pauline, Tanya, how many more women were under Sam's spell? She knew she was.

  Mrs. Palmer left at five o’clock saying she was well pleased with her sparkling clean house. She told Jess she’d left two meals in the fridge for when Sam got home. “Tell 'im everything is ready for tomorrow, dear, not that I think he’s too interested,” she said with a laugh, as she closed the study door.

  Jess worked without stopping totally engrossed in her research. By eight o’clock she had collated most of the information she needed for both stories. The research on Carmichael had been the easiest as there had been a great deal on file and Jess had put together a series of questions she believed would bring out the best from him. The mining story had been more difficult and although she had documented a large amount of data, she wasn’t sure whether Sam wanted a news story or a documentary, or a bit of both.

  Jess went to the kitchen and made a coffee, eating some sweet biscuits to keep the hunger pains away. She wondered why Sam was so late or, even more worrying, why he hadn’t rung her. She decided to explore Sam’s house. It really was a beautiful home but the rooms seemed austere. She opened the huge folding doors leading from the lounge revealing a magnificent dining room with heavy, antique furniture. Jess stood back to admire the two rooms realizing this must be the area where Sam’s party would be held the next evening.

  Along the passage she passed the study where she had worked all day and peeped into the adjacent door. Here was Sam’s private work domain. It was a fully equipped editing studio with every conceivable piece of modern equipment imaginable. Jess sat in the office chair in front of the impressive console. She briefly glanced through the rolls of tapes and films faithfully documenting the major World Watch stories.

  Curiously opening the door at the end of the passage, she gasped in admiration. The door lead into a huge atrium containing a large indoor swimming pool and attractive patio area surrounded with shrubs and greenery. She ventured further in, delighted with this unexpected find and noticed a spiral staircase twisting its way up from the patio. Following it, she found herself in what could only be described as a den. It was not a big room but had luxurious olive green leather furniture and a soft beige deep pile carpet. A timber bar was built along one side and another wall contained a bookcase and stereo system. Full length glass doors opening to a balcony presented spectacular views of Sydney Harbor. What a wonderful hideaway, Jess thought.

  She noticed another door set into the paneling and opening it found herself peering into Sam’s bedroom. She quickly stared around the tidy, severely decorated room dominated by a huge, king size bed. She thought how lovely it must be to sneak into the gracious, cozy room away from everyday worries and then pop down the spiral staircase for a refreshing swim.


  She checked the time again. It was nearly nine o’clock. Where was he? Jess nibbled at her bottom lip. What if something had happened to him? What if Tom had harmed him! Shakily she poured a glass of wine from an open bottle in the fridge and swallowed a mouthful. I will be turning into an alcoholic at this rate, she thought ruefully. Jess investigated the stereo system and placed a disc of classical music on the player. She sat for sometime letting the sound of the music wash over her. She then switched on the outside light and opening the glass doors, stepped on to the balcony taking great gulps of cool evening air. She wondered if she could see Sam drive in from here and peered over the railing, but realized the driveway was too far around the side of the house for her to see. She watched the lights twinkling across the harbor but her mind was not appreciating the beauty. She was now desperately worried about Sam. He was over two hours late.

  She shrieked when a strong arm grabbed her and yanked her back into the room. She stared into Sam’s face.

  “For God’s sake, what were you doing out there?” He pulled the glass door closed and turned off the outside light. “I’ve looked all over the house. I thought something had happened to you.” he said, going to the bar and pouring a drink.

  “Instead, you’re standing there under a spotlight encouraging someone to take a pot shot at you.” Sam’s face was pale with tension as he sat in one of the deep lounge chairs.

  Jess’ breathing began to settle but her hand holding her glass was shaking. “Don’t speak to me like that!” she spluttered. “You said you’d be home at seven o’clock. It’s nearly nine thirty. I’m the one who’s been worried. You didn’t phone. Would that have been too much to ask?” she cried. “Didn’t it occur to you I might have thought something had happened to you?” Jess blinked away the tears prickling the back of her eyes as the realization hit her Sam was safe and sitting here in front of her.

  “I've been ringing for the past hour but you’ve closeted yourself in the only room without a phone,” he sighed.

  Jess stared around her realizing what he had said was correct and she couldn’t have heard the phone from here, particularly with the music playing.

  They stared at each other. Sam rubbed a hand across his jaw in a frustrated gesture. How could he tell her that she had invaded his every thought for every second of the day? The soft, scared look in her huge eyes, the creamy texture of her skin, the way her mouth curved when she smiled, and heavens above, there hadn’t been much to smile about in the past couple of weeks! Could he be falling in love with her? He shook his head in disbelief. It had been so long since he had felt any form of passion except for his work, he’d forgotten what it was like.

  He laid his head against the arm of the chair and closed his eyes willing himself to think of other things but Jess continued to fill his mind.

  “I’m sorry,” he said getting up and turning off the stereo. He stared out of the window, and then swung around to face her. “I’ve been at the police station,” he said quietly.

  “What!” Jess gasped. “Why? What's happened?”

  “When Angela opened my mail this morning, she faxed a letter to me in Canberra. The police have the original now but the message was from Hunter saying he knows where I live and more or less that I should never have taken you away. Because of it he’s going to kill me. He knows then that you will go back to him.”

  Jess stared. She had done this. Because of her Tom was going to kill Sam. She sat down burying her head in her hands, her mind numb.

  “I’m used to death threats in my line of business,” Sam continued, “But, I’m damned if I will let some pip-squeak kid get away with this. Anyhow, I’ve reported everything to Marty at police headquarters. Hopefully, Hunter will be arrested very soon.”

  Jess lifted her face, studying him. She felt overcome with emotion at the thought of anything happening to Sam and a sharp pain cramped her stomach. She wanted to hold him in her arms, close to her and never let him go. The emotion was so strong she was about to reach out to him, when he turned sharply, his eyes hard on her vulnerable face.

  “Then perhaps we can get on with our lives!” he said abruptly. “I can stop worrying whether a member of my staff is in danger and end this ridiculous pretence of an affair. I’m sick of the whole damned thing.”

  Jess drew back, her expression quickly masking the hurt his words caused her. She got up, her stance defiant. “Sam, I’ve already apologized for causing this problem and you know I will leave here as soon as I can.”

  “You will leave when it is safe, not before and for appearances sake we will continue our so-called torrid love affair for the time being.”

  Jess stared into his ruthless face suddenly unforgiving and impatient with her. Tears filled her eyes and she knew she was seconds away from breaking down and making a complete fool of herself, which would annoy him even more. She turned away, running down the spiral staircase, along the passage and up the main staircase to the sanctuary of her room.

  Sam cursed. Why the hell had he said that? It was completely out of character for him to loose control and to say such hurtful things, particularly to Jess who needed him right now.

  He poured another drink and gulped it down in one go. The trouble was she was getting to him! How could he explain how frantic he’d been when she hadn’t answered the phone and moments ago, when he couldn’t find her in the house? His heart hammering in his chest with the sound thundering through his ears, he’d raced from room to room calling her name. The thought of Tom hurting her, or worse, had torn at him as he’d struggled with the panic threatening to overtake him. When he’d seen her on the balcony as if she hadn’t a care in the world, he’d wanted to shake her senseless for her stupidity but at the same time hold her tightly to him to keep her safe.

  Jess lay on her bed and curled herself into a tight ball letting the tears fall at last. Why was Sam being so cruel, she sobbed. She had heard of his no nonsense reputation within media circles and she had certainly come up against it when they first met. But, she thought they were getting on so much better now. Although he had teased her, he had also been kind and caring. Now he had made it clear he couldn’t wait to get rid of her. She nervously contemplated the time they would spend together on their trip.

  Jess thought about Tom and fresh tears poured down her cheeks as she relived their good times together in Morrissey. She wondered what would happen when the police found him. Tom had made specific threats against Sam and she guessed he would press charges. She moaned as she thought of Tom’s and her own parents and the distress this would cause them all.

  Eventually, she fell into an exhausted and fitful sleep with Sam’s handsome, disturbing face haunting her dreams.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Jess woke early with hunger pains gnawing at her insides. But a deeper pain mixed feelings of shame and powerlessness etched its way into her mind. So this is how women feel when they’ve been stalked or abused, she thought. Somehow I feel responsible as though I share the shame and blame.

  Memories of her past and her association with Tom kept fast tracking through her mind. Hang on girl, it’s Sam’s birthday, you haven’t got time to wallow in this self pity, she decided. She quickly showered and dressed in her jeans teamed with a dusky pink shirt. Making her way downstairs, she prepared to meet Sam and start his birthday on a cheerful note.

  However, there was no sign of him, only a hastily scrawled note, “Gone to work. See you tonight.” Jess sighed. Sam was indeed a workaholic. On an impulse, she dialed the office number and the operator instantly connected her. Sam’s voice was terse when he answered. “Yep!”

  Jess swallowed. “Sam, I...I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday,” she said nervously, her voice soft.

  There was a few moments silence before Sam replied. “Thanks. Do I take it this charming, thoughtful phone call means you intend to grace us with your presence at my party tonight?”

  Jess tightened her grip on the receiver. “No, it does not. Please s
ay I have a headache, or something. I don’t want to spoil your party or be treated as a scarlet woman.” Jess attempted a light laugh but it lacked conviction.

  “Tut, tut, Jessica. Would you have me lie on your behalf?” came the mocking reply. “Besides, you're the only one giving yourself labels. As far as I am concerned you are the love of my life and I will treat you accordingly. However, the decision is up to you.”

  “Yes, you’ve made that plain enough, Have a great day. Bye.” Jess replaced the receiver. So much for that, she thought. She wished she had asked him if there was news about Tom from the police. She wanted to walk out at that moment, but knew it was the easy but dangerous option.

  Jess ate a lonely breakfast and contemplated the day ahead. She decided she would work in the study and complete her research on the Alaskan story. Tonight, she would lock herself in her bedroom and prepare the list of things to take away with her and to hell with Sam and his friends.

  She settled in and emerged only to join Mrs. Palmer for lunch. Jess' eyes widened at the amount of activity in preparation for the party. Mrs. Palmer was in her element. The kitchen buzzed with excitement as catering staff prepared a magnificent buffet, two florists arranged huge urns of flowers and other people were blowing up balloons and hanging streamers.

  Jess watched the activities with interest for a few moments before disappearing to the study. “How the other half live,” she said to herself, almost wishing she was attending the party after all.

  It was past six o’clock when Jess decided to call it a day. Her eyes ached with the concentration of reading and peering at the computer for many hours. The door clicked and turning around, she was astonished to see Pauline standing there. She wore a white chiffon gown that swept elegantly to the floor and once again, expensive jewelry glittered at her throat and wrists and long diamond earrings sparkled as they caught the light.