A Sense of Discovery(a Gripping Psychological Suspense Novel)

by Peter Martin

  ‘What? Are they ashamed of him… and all of us?’ Chris asked, rather brusquely.

  ‘It’s not a question of that Chris, it’s the circumstances under which Garry was born and later adopted. The identity of my client must remain a closely guarded secret. So much so she would like you to sign a document stating you will not reveal the true facts to anyone outside the immediate family.’ Charlene gestured with a sweep of her hand. ‘Even when you come home you must not divulge anything about her.’

  ‘You say when we ‘come home’. So where are we to meet her?’ Delia enquired.

  ‘She lives on a small island off Hawaii and she’d like you to meet her there.’

  Then Chris butted in, ‘I for one, think it’s all a bit much.’

  Charlene turned to Chris saying, ‘I’m afraid it’s this way or nothing because her private life is just that – private.’

  The atmosphere became tense and the silence was broken by Charlene saying, ‘Sorry, but that’s all there is to it. Although if it’s any consolation I do know she feels ashamed of her part in what happened all those years ago.’

  ‘Well, that can’t be undone now. All we can do is try and make up for lost time, but is there anything else we have to agree to?’ Garry asked.

  ‘No, except she’s invited all of your family.’

  ‘Well, that’s nice of her

  What does everyone else think about that?’ Garry enquired.

  And once again Chris made his feelings known by saying ‘I’m not so sure about this – seems a strange way of doing things to me.’

  When no one else commented Charlene said, ‘Chris, my client is eager to see all of you together, her son and his wife, grandchildren and great-grandchild. You must understand how emotional it is for her since she’s quite old. Now I hope that’s clear to everyone, or else we’ll be here all day.’ She glanced around. ‘Good, now let me explain what will happen next. We’re looking at the second and third weeks in January, from Saturday to Saturday. So when you’ve all booked your holidays, all the arrangements will be made by me personally. I shall send a mini-bus to pick you up here, and take you to Gatwick Airport. From there, a plane will fly you to Hawaii. Then a private plane will take you over to the Island where my client lives. From the airstrip, you’ll be driven to her home, where you’ll be introduced.’

  ‘But why is she being so melodramatic about this?’ Garry asked, smoothing down the hair at the back of his head nervously.

  ‘For your own good and hers. Oh, and might I suggest you tell everyone you’re going on a family holiday to Hawaii.’

  ‘Aren’t you taking too much for granted here? How can we all book the same days off from work?’ Delia posed.

  ‘Easy. Just say you’ve come into some money and wish to go on a special once in a lifetime holiday. I’m sure none of you will be refused. Couldn’t be more simple – could it?’

  They nodded.

  ‘Is there nothing else you can tell us?’ Garry pleaded.

  ‘No nothing. Be patient, Garry - it’s only a matter of a few weeks at the most. You email me when you’ve arranged the time off work.’ Charlene said. ‘As a matter of fact, I was forgetting, I have a few photographs I’ve been authorised to show you.’

  She rummaged in her handbag, pulling out an envelope containing a few photos, which she handed to Garry first.

  As everyone gathered round, Charlene went over to them, ready it seemed to explain what the pictures were.

  ‘These first two pictures are of the place where she lives, the landscape as you can see is breath-taking. Also, we have a view of the private beach, only a short distance from the house. Next, is a picture of the house which as you can see is very impressive. And finally an aerial shot of the house and grounds; from which you might be able to make out the gardens, tennis courts, swimming pool and so on. It’s just a taste of what you can expect.’

  ‘Wow!’ Adam shouted, ‘A swimming pool.’

  ‘Actually Adam, there are two. There’s a small one indoors.’ Charlene said.

  Garry was pleased the family were equally impressed, apart from Chris, sitting straight-faced. Who knew what was going through his mind?

  ‘And now Garry and the rest of you Flynn’s, once you have signed these ‘declaration of privacy’ papers, I’ll take my leave of you. I hope you’ve taken in what I’ve said. You’re about to embark on a holiday that could change your lives forever.’ Charlene grinned before getting up from her seat, with the signed documents.

  ‘Charlene… ’Garry began.

  ‘Sorry but I don’t have time for anything else now. But as I’ve said once you’ve booked your holidays, just send me an email and I’ll make the appropriate arrangements. I must go now, and I’ll look out for your email Garry.’ And with that, she walked out of the living room into the hall.

  By the time Garry reached the front door to show her out, she was already getting into the car. He shouted her, but she didn’t turn until pulling the car away from the kerb when she raised a hand and mouthed a silent goodbye.

  ‘Shit!’ he mumbled to himself, stamping his foot on the drive in frustration. He hated all this secrecy.

  ‘She’s gone,’ Garry told the others when he returned to the living room.

  ‘So what do you make of her?’ Delia asked.

  ‘A bit strange,’ Tom commented. ‘I’d like to bet she knows more than she’s letting on.’

  ‘Probably. But she’s very beautiful,’ Chris said, which from the look on Cassie’s face, didn’t meet with her approval. ‘But I don’t know what to think about this hush-hush business. I feel uncomfortable about it – since the whole family’s involved.’

  ‘Garry, is she genuine? Can we trust her?’ Delia seemed keen to find out.

  ‘Yes, and you’ve just come into a lot of money,’ Chris interrupted. ‘What if it’s a con, to swindle you out of your inheritance?’

  Garry understood where Chris was coming from. Maybe he should be more cautious, but he didn’t voice caution when he said, ‘I can’t see that, what could she possibly be after from us? We’re an ordinary middle-class family living just outside Birmingham. Judging by her car, her clothes and her manner, I’d say there’s nothing we have, that she hasn’t got already. All right so we have come into some money, but we’re a long way from being millionaires. Come on guys; let’s not get negative over this. It’ll be the trip of a lifetime, something we’ll never forget for the rest of our lives. Let’s be happy and excited about what’s to come.’

  ‘I think dad’s right,’ Cassie said. ‘I’m looking forward to it – and who knows what might be at the end of it.’

  ‘Me too!’ Adam piped up.

  ‘Of course, you are honey, and so am I,’ Delia said in agreement. ‘It’s silly old me worrying all the time and mistrusting everyone.’

  ‘I don’t blame you love – what’s happened is amazing, but I promise you there’s nothing to worry about,’ Garry assured her, not only hoping he’d sounded convincing enough, but that he was right.

  ‘Still sounds pretty fishy to me. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ Chris said.

  Garry found his attitude irksome but luckily no one appeared to be listening. Personally, he couldn’t wait to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Little did he know, however, it would be an experience none of them would ever forget.

  <><><>

  Everyone in the family did as Charlene suggested, by sounding out their respective employers about future holiday entitlement. After some wrangling, they all managed to book a fortnight off, commencing three weeks after Christmas. At this stage, Garry felt nothing could stop him from meeting his mother.

  Excitement about the holiday had put quite a damper on the usual Christmas festivities. Now the second Saturday in January, everyone sat waiting around for the mini-bus. Due to the early start, Garry had felt it best if the whole family spent the Friday night at their house. That way if there was any dilly-dallying he could hurry everyone along. The mood in the ro
om was subdued as no one had slept well that night, except for Adam, who now lay on the sofa quietly snoring.

  The lounge curtains were open and in the dimly lit room when the lights of an approaching car flooded in, Garry promptly got up and looked into the street to see a large black mini-bus pull up outside the house. He watched as the driver’s door opened, and out stepped a young man in trendy threadbare jeans, a white tee-shirt, thick woollen neck scarf and a baseball cap. Already walking into the hall, when the doorbell rang, Garry opened it immediately.

  ‘Are you Garry Flynn, mate?’ He said in a cockney accent, his smiling eyes confirming his friendliness, even at this hour.

  ‘Sure am.’

  ‘Are you all ready, Mr Flynn?’

  ‘Almost, won’t keep you a minute.’ Leaving the door open he went to shepherd everyone out, making sure nothing had been left behind.

  ‘Need any help with your baggage?’ The young man asked still standing on the doorstep.

  ‘Sure, we’ll bring the cases out, if you’d put them in the boot for us.’

  The driver nodded.

  While Garry, Tom, Chris and their little helper, Adam, carried the cases to the waiting vehicle, the women swiftly got into the back of the mini-bus. There were six suitcases in all plus four smaller bags, which after a bit of manoeuvring fitted snugly into the boot. Once the luggage had been stowed, the driver slammed it shut.

  Having checked the house over and locked it securely Garry got into the mini-bus. His heart beat at ten to the dozen - at last, his journey had begun. At this hour in the morning, not only were the roads quiet but the family travelled in relative silence too, except for negative comments from Chris and his lack of ‘kip’. Adam had dropped off to sleep, his head resting on his mother’s lap.

  Now approaching Gatwick Airport, the driver looked through his rear view mirror. ‘This is it, folks,’ he said and dropped them off directly outside the south terminal.

  Then he quickly got out of the car, went around to the boot, removed the luggage and stacked it on the pavement.

  Taking some notes from his wallet Garry offered the driver the money for the fare, but much to his surprise, it had already been paid. So he pushed a ten pound note in his hand.

  With the taxi gone, luggage loaded onto two trolleys, Chris went to enquire if the plane was running on time.

  On Chris’s return, from the look on his face, Garry guessed it was good news, which he confirmed by saying, ‘Well, it’s running on time, so it shouldn’t be more than two hours at the most before we’re on our way.’

  ‘If that’s the case we may as well sit in the departure lounge and put our feet up.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so, but it’s going to be a long journey,’ Chris grumbled. ‘It’ll take us a day and a half to get over the flight.’

  ‘We knew that before we set out, so look on the bright side, it’ll be worth it.’

  ‘I hope it is for your sake. I don’t want to sound pessimistic but you could be in for the biggest shock of your life.’

  ‘If that’s the case, I won’t have lost anything. At least I’ll have unravelled the mystery.’

  ‘Yeah, that’s true. And if she’s old and rich you might be in for a windfall someday,’ Chris said, very tongue in cheek, raising his eyebrows.

  ‘Yes, although I hadn’t really thought of it from that aspect. It’s just a question of wait and see, isn’t it?

  Chris had said it in jest but Garry wished he wasn’t so blunt and would think before opening his big mouth.

  He hoped his son-in-law wouldn’t put a damper on the proceedings, as he was well aware of the pitfalls of the holiday and didn’t need anyone to highlight them.

  Chapter Eleven

  Once the plane had taken off, it wasn’t long before they were all asleep, lost in their own little worlds, perhaps imagining what was to come. When Garry woke he’d no idea how long he’d slept. He looked at his watch - eight o’clock; they’d been in the air for approximately six hours, unbelievably for the biggest part of that time he’d been asleep.

  He guessed refuelling hadn’t taken place or he would have woken up. So most of the journey still lay in front of them.

  Not long after, his family gradually began to wake up, and like Garry were anxious over their whereabouts, and how much longer the journey would take. Adam, however, was still asleep on Cassie’s lap, and she was reluctant to wake him

  At eight-fifteen, a flight attendance came to hand out breakfast from the trolley, confirming refuelling would take place in approximately one hour’s time.

  Garry ate a light breakfast followed by a cup of strong coffee to wake him up, but the others picked at their food.

  To pass the time afterwards Tom and Jane read magazines they’d bought at the airport. While the rest did their best to occupy Adam who by now was having difficulty sitting still. Then out of the blue Chris produced a carrier bag with ‘Gatwick Airport’ printed on the side. He handed it to his son who tentatively opened it.

  ‘Wow, thanks, Dad,’ Adam shouted thrilled with what he saw. ‘Look Grandad it’s a Nintendo hand-held computer.’

  ‘You are a lucky boy. You’ll have to show me how to use it, won’t you?’ Garry replied pretending he knew nothing about it.

  After that, everything seemed to go smoothly for a while. The process of refuelling was very finely tuned and within just under an hour they were back in the air and making for Hawaii. By this time, however, Adam had started to get fidgety, having lost his enthusiasm with the Nintendo, and every few minutes asked how long it would be before they ‘got there’.

  Finally, the plane landed in Hawaii, the biggest part of the journey now over. Garry had at first thought Charlene would be waiting to meet them. But in truth, no one knew what lay ahead.

  A few minutes later, having disembarked, they were directed to the terminal building with the rest of the passengers, and once their luggage had been cleared and they were through customs, Tom drew his father’s attention to a young woman standing a few yards away holding a sign which read ‘FAMILY FLYNN’.

  Garry hurried forward holding out his hand to greet her. He looked down into warm oval brown eyes. A smile crept onto her face as she said, ‘I’d like to welcome you, Garry.’ She wore a black vest and denim shorts, an outfit which emphasised her petite build, obviously a native of the island.

  By this time the rest of the group had joined him; she greeted them by saying, ‘You’re all very welcome.’ Nodding past Garry to the family group in a friendly way. ‘My name is Kala, I’m here to help you on the last lap of your journey.

  ‘Will the journey take long?’ Garry asked.

  ‘No, perhaps an hour at the most.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a relief. This has been an unbelievably long flight – I hope it’s been worth it.’

  The young woman smiled up at Garry but didn’t comment on his last remark. But said, ‘If you’d all follow me, there’s a plane waiting to take you to your destination.’

  She led them towards another runway at the back of the building where a much smaller plane stood with its entrance open.

  ‘Ok, please come aboard, and make yourselves comfortable.’ She beckoned the family to follow her up the steps.

  Garry was impressed Kala knew all their names and thought how well she’d handled the situation.

  Within minutes of everyone being secured in their seats, the plane was cleared for take-off, and they were soon in the air again.

  The last lap of the journey went without a hitch with little or no turbulence, and in no time at all when the pilot asked everyone to put on their seat belts, the plane started its descent. A few gentle bumps were felt on touchdown before slowly taxiing to a halt.

  When the door opened bright sunlight filtered in - they’d finally reached their destination. Garry wondered which one of the islands this was. He had to admit the aerial scenery was magnificent; the undulating grasslands and vast areas of forest and vegetation were spectacular. If there was a
paradise this must be it.

  Once again on leaving the plane they were caught unawares by the blinding heat – it was stifling.

  Garry marshalled his family to the baggage compartment at the rear of the airplane, and within a few minutes, the pilot had joined them and proceeded to unload their belongings onto the tarmac.

  Struggling with their luggage across the airstrip the rev of the engines could be heard. Garry turned to see the plane move away down the makeshift runway. Faster and faster it went, until eventually it left the ground, climbing higher into the hot blue sky – and that was it. The plane had gone, they were alone.

  Garry felt strangely vulnerable. Looking around he noticed the long tarmacked airstrip totally devoid of buildings, surrounded by a vast jungle type vegetation, which made him feel hemmed-in. If no one came to pick them up it would be down to him - he’d put his family in danger. And if that were the case, Chris would be the first to voice an opinion and blame him and the awful truth was he’d be right.

  Kala must have seen the concerned look on his face, when she said, ‘Do not worry, Garry, everything will be all right, you wait and see.’ There was a hint of the native accent in her near perfect English speech.

  Her assurances did little to dispel his fears and in the eerie stillness which ensued, everyone gazed around this strange place of twittering birds and unusual animal noises.

  Delia broke the silence and asked in a stern voice, ‘So what are we waiting for now?’

  ‘It won’t be long,’ Kala said to nobody in particular.

  ‘What won’t be?’ Tom asked.

  ‘The vehicle that will take you to your destination.’

  ‘And where’s that?’

  ‘Not only where’s that, Cassie – but how far is it? It’s as if we’ve been travelling forever and a day.’ Delia said sharply.

  ‘So many questions from all of you,’ Kala chided. ‘Please be patient. When we get there you’ll get your answers.’

  ‘I hope so,’ Garry said. ‘After everything that’s happened these past few months.’