‘So the police still haven’t any idea who planned or executed the robbery?’ Warren asked.
‘They have their suspicions. There are two, maybe three known gangs in Sydney who specialise in that kind of activity. At present they’re trying to get information via several lowlifes. It looks as if they were smart enough to move the stolen goods interstate for easier disposal. That makes it harder for investigators to track down.’
‘Do we have any further general business?’ Daniel asked.
‘Just the acceptance of a signed memo from board members regarding the appointment of a new firm of auditors for the company,’ Warren informed. ‘Colin Coberg’s accountancy firm has been engaged. Kate Murray says they come highly recommended.’
‘I … I … When did this happen?’ Neil swallowed hard as he jerked upright in his seat. With difficulty he controlled the sickly feeling that began to rampage through his stomach. Not Coberg’s. Anyone but that mob.
‘You weren’t at the last board meeting, Neil, that’s when it was discussed. You should have read it in the minutes.’ Daniel’s tone was moderately critical. ‘You have a problem with Coberg’s?’
‘N-no, of course not.’ Neil regained his aplomb. ‘I did accountancy with Colin, know him well. It surprised me, that’s all. I don’t recall getting the board’s last minutes.’ He made the excuse as to why he hadn’t known. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Coberg. The man was like a feral animal protecting his last bone if he sniffed something illegal going on. Shit, he didn’t need this! Coberg’s had a fearsome reputation for weeding out the smallest inaccuracies in companies’ books.
Think man, think! He would have to bring his plans forward. Yes! And afterwards, when he was in control, he’d replace Coberg’s with auditors of his choice.
‘When do they start? I’ll need some advance notice to assemble the books, etc.’ Neil forced his tone to remain casual, though it almost killed him.
‘Next week, the first of the month. They expect a thorough audit to take about six weeks,’ Daniel advised.
Michaela just happened to be looking at Neil during this exchange, and the change in his manner kindled her curiosity. Was she the only one who saw the fleeting, crafty expression come over his face, then just as quickly disappear? Her cousin was up to something, she immediately thought. The quiver in her bones also told her to be alert. Was he trying to conjure up reasons to shaft her 18 to 28 proposal, even though the board had given final approval and the bank had approved the loan? She knew he hated the idea of her getting any kudos from the plan. Perhaps … Neil would bear close watching over the next few months or, at least, until her 18 to 28 plan was well advanced.
Fern greeted her father at the front door. ‘I’m ready, Dad,’ she said as she patted the overnight bag slung over one shoulder.
‘Great, love. Is your mum around? I wanted a quick word with her. You can wait in the car if you want to.’
‘She’s out on the patio practising Tai Kwon Do. Michaela’s watching, trying to get a few self-defence pointers, I think, though I can’t imagine why,’ Fern advised tongue-in-cheek. She skipped down the front steps and opened the front passenger side door of his BMW and disappeared inside.
Nick walked across the foyer of number fifty-two and down the hall, through the breakfast room and out to the patio. Caroline, dressed in navy sweats and joggers, was running through a series of stylised moves. For a moment, because she was unaware of his presence, he watched. She looked good. The navy suited her fair colouring and she was naturally athletic and graceful, as the different exercises she ran through showed.
He acknowledged that relations had been strained between them since his and Fern’s return from London and, for the life of him, he didn’t understand why. He couldn’t ask why, either. Or … the thought presented itself in his head … could he?
Michaela saw her half-brother on the edge of her peripheral vision. Sitting on the patio railing watching, she was killing time for an hour till she went to meet Leith. She straightened up as he came into view. ‘Hi, Nick. Where are you and Fern off to this weekend?’
‘We’re going to look at some caves. The Jenolan Caves today, the Abercrombie Caves tomorrow.’
Caroline stopped exercising. She reached for a towel to wipe the perspiration off her face, after which she stood there regarding Nick silently.
‘I’m off to get a cup of coffee.’ Michaela winked encouragingly at Nick as she left. ‘Catch you later, Nick.’
Caroline moaned inwardly. Trust Michaela to exit when it would have suited her more to have a third person present to act as a buffer between herself and her ex. Why? Because she felt more comfortable that way.
‘The Tai Kwon Do thing’s going well?’ he began conversationally.
‘Yes. I’m up to the yellow belt level now, with four more levels to go to the black belt, according to my instructor. The controlled exercises help the arthritis, the stiffness.’
He took a breath and jumped right in. ‘I think you’ve been avoiding me for weeks, Caro. Why?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Nick, why would I?’ Caroline’s hackles rose straight away, but mostly because he was right! She had been avoiding contact with him. ‘Do you think all I have to do is wait around for you to call to pick up Fern? If I’m not here when you come, there’s a reason for it.’
‘Oh!’ He absorbed that thoughtfully, especially the sharp, defensive tone. ‘It’s just that I haven’t had the chance to tell you how Fern and I enjoyed ourselves in the UK. Fern’s a wonderful tourist, she’s a natural.’ He chuckled as he remembered. ‘She learned how to understand the London underground system in a matter of hours. Much better than I did. And … she loved the places we visited: Warwick Castle and Bath, Arundel Castle too, and Shakespeare’s Stratford-on-Avon. That’s all we had time for. I’m looking forward to taking her back …’ he gave her a questioning look, ‘maybe some time next year.’
Caroline ground her teeth together. She just bet he was! ‘And did dear Geraldine go with you, to act as tour guide for the places you visited?’ The acid comment slipped out before she could control it. Damn. So stupid! She knew she had to be careful around Nick. He could be very perceptive and was capable of picking up the slightest vibes of anxiety or attraction from her.
‘Geraldine Baxter?’
A frown darkened his already dark features and was matched by the puzzlement in his tone. Geraldine. What was Caro on about? Was that what the hostility, the distancing was about? Did she think he’d gone all that way to see the English critic? A smile played briefly across his lips. How very interesting! Clearly she was liverish, though — he could tell by the way she was trying to control herself. Good! He smiled again. She’d be that way if she had feelings for him, wouldn’t she? If Caro weren’t interested, she wouldn’t care where he went or with whom and, as well, he knew from selective questioning of Fern that she hadn’t gone out with Tremayne since their date at the Opera House. Encouraged, he moved closer.
‘I didn’t see Geraldine in London. Why would I?’
That set her back for several seconds. He hadn’t. ‘But I thought, assumed …’ Shut up. For God’s sake, shut up before you make an even bigger fool of yourself. She clamped her lips together and attempted to regroup her thoughts. That he hadn’t gone to see Geraldine Baxter meant that he wasn’t romantically interested in her? Yes. It had been as he’d said, a business trip combined with a short holiday with Fern. Idiot. Why had she found that difficult to believe? Because of the green-eyed monster dwelling within her, her inner voice patiently explained.
‘You know,’ he drawled, ‘it was great to have the time with Fern, but it would have been perfect if you’d been with us.’ He stepped forward again. ‘Playing tourist is so much nicer when you experience things, not alone, but through someone else’s eyes, too.’
Caroline saw how close he’d got. She could touch him if she reached her hand out to him. Alarmed by how much she wanted that, she tried to step back, but the back of he
r legs hit one of the loungers her mother liked to relax on. There was nowhere else to go … And Nick was looking at her so intently, trying to interpret her thoughts, trying to reach in and touch her soul … Oh, God. He’d caught her completely off guard. A panicky feeling started low in her stomach. She had to … to put some distance between them. She couldn’t think. All she wanted was to …
‘Caro.’ His whispering of her name was like a sigh. He was going to do it, he decided. Kiss her. If she pushed him away, he would know there was no chance, that he’d deluded himself for several months into thinking that she might still care. Strong arms reached out and enfolded her against his chest. He expected her to struggle, to try and escape, but she didn’t, she just stood there with her hands on his chest, not moving. Waiting. He couldn’t begin to express, verbally or mentally, how good it felt to have her in his arms.
‘Look at me,’ he said huskily. When she did, he murmured, ‘Almost every day for ten years plus several months, I’ve wanted you to be where you are right now. I’ve been a fool, I think we both know that. I’ve missed you, my Caro.’
He bent his head and kissed her.
How long they stood in the embrace, Caroline could never remember. She did remember how she felt though. Cherished, wanted. Oh, yes, very much. And safe … as if she had finally come home. The feelings he aroused were as wonderful as she remembered. She looked up and saw his dark eyes lighting with passion and that her face, with its tremulous smile, was reflected in his pupils. She didn’t want to think about the wasted years, the time apart, the unhappiness. Right now she was happier than she’d been for a very long time, probably happier than she deserved to be. She wanted this, the moment, to last forever. Then he spoke …
‘I’ve got to go.’ He remembered that Fern was waiting for him. His tone was regretful. ‘Fern and I, we’ve made plans. I can’t disappoint her.’ A large hand came up to stroke her cheek, the gesture endearingly tender.
‘I understand.’ They didn’t need to talk about how they felt, not yet; it was too precious to put into words. That might spoil what she was feeling at this very moment and, she hoped, for always. ‘I’ve things to do, too,’ she admitted. ‘I’m meeting Teddy Rivkin for lunch.’
‘Teddy.’ Recognising the name, his eyebrow lifted curiously as his arms dropped to his side. He stepped back a pace to see her more clearly.
‘Why?’
‘I’ll be resigning from Ashworths soon, when Jo comes back to work. Teddy’s offered me a position with the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra and I’ve decided to take it.’
He looked stunned. ‘Playing the piano?’
She smiled sadly. ‘Not that. He thinks I might make a good conductor. Wants me to train under him.’
‘Why would you want to do that? It wouldn’t be the same as playing.’ Nick was suddenly perplexed. Damn. This was the last thing he’d expected to hear. Was she trying to tell him, without actually putting it into words, that the same routine that had pulled them apart years ago was going to start all over again?
Caroline, listening intently, heard the nuance of tone, the negativity, more than the question. He didn’t approve, didn’t want her to … God, the thought raced through her head that he probably thought it a godsend that she’d contracted rheumatoid arthritis and couldn’t play professionally any more. Hurt, her defence mechanism went up. ‘That’s an odd question, even for you. Because I love music, of course. It’s been a part of my life for thirty years and always will be.’
‘Does that mean you’ll be tripping off overseas again?’
‘I don’t know.’ Her answer was only half honest. Teddy had assured her she didn’t have to, that she could understudy him when he was in Australia, but that later there might be the occasional overseas concert. She had too much pride to tell Nick that. With regard to their relationship, why should it come into the equation? And if it did then, possibly, she should rethink where that kiss might be leading. Let Nick believe what he wanted to. ‘It is a possibility.’
He took that in with a terse shake of his head. ‘I see.’ Christ, she had thrown him a real curved ball. He didn’t know how to react, what to say. He needed time to think, but he couldn’t do that when she was this close. All he could think of was that he wanted her in his arms again. In his life again, too. ‘Got to go, Caro. We’ll talk later, hey?’
‘Sure. You and Fern enjoy yourselves.’ Caroline watched him walk back into the house. When she knew she was alone, she slumped down onto her mother’s lounger. Nick’s reaction had been transparent. He could cope with their relationship being rejuvenated if she had a small time career at Ashworths, but if she returned to the arts, followed her heart by doing what she truly wanted to do, then, then … What?
Had Nick changed so much over the years that he could accept her new career? It would be a test of his maturity and his feelings for her if he could. And, from her own viewpoint, shouldn’t being with him outweigh a possible career as a conductor? She sighed as, confused, she shook her head. She didn’t know … but, unhappily, she knew she had a lot of thinking to do and decisions to make.
Jo Levy and her two children, Joshua and Kirra, lived in a restored terrace opposite Henson Park in Marrickville. Since her divorce four years before, Jo had spent energy and considerable money revitalising the run-down two-storeyed home, utilising her artistic skills as a decorator. Jo was such a good homemaker she could have made a career for herself in interior decorating had advertising not been her first career choice. The terrace reflected her love and clever combination of colours to make the rooms look larger than they were, and her attention to detail was impressive.
On a Friday afternoon in the modest paved courtyard out the back, shaded by a pergola and the branches of a huge silky oak, Jo and Michaela had just consumed a light lunch and sat talking.
‘Mum and Dad, my brother, Aidan and his family have been great, but I don’t know what I would have done without Daniel,’ Jo admitted with a sigh. ‘He insisted I have counselling while I was having the radiotherapy, even though I didn’t lose a boob. A psychologist friend of his said people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer, no matter where it’s found, should talk out their fears to a professional.’
‘Did it help?’
‘God, yes.’ Jo grinned at her friend. ‘Talking to someone, verbalising my feelings, the fears and the frustrations have helped. I don’t feel like a freak any more, as if everyone is staring at me. Neither do I keep saying to myself, “Why me?” and “It isn’t fair”. Counselling’s helped me to come to terms with it, at least for now. To accept what’s happened and that it’s changed how I see things. Hopefully, now I can get on with my life.’
‘Does that mean you’ll be coming back to work soon? You’re needed at Ashworths, you know.’
‘I told Daniel I’d be back on Monday. I think the kids will be glad. They expect life to return to normal once I’m working again. Having me at home all the time,’ her tone was amused, ‘the rare treat of meals on time, the house being spick and span, the ironing up to date — well, they’re not used to that.’ Jo had the grace to look shamefaced as she added, ‘And, I guess I’ve been short with them at times. Kirra understands, though. She’s that much older than Josh.’
‘Look, Leith’s at a legal conference in Melbourne this weekend, and I don’t have to fly Lenny anywhere, so I’m free. Why don’t I have Josh and Kirra at number fifty-two for a few days — Fern wouldn’t object — so you and Daniel can spend some quality time together?’ She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. ‘Kidless, so as not to cramp your style.’
Jo beamed. ‘Would you? That would be sensational. I’d owe you forever. We’ve got so much to talk about, plans to make. You know …’ She paused, then it all came out in a rush. ‘Daniel wants us to get married, as soon as we can organise it. What do you think?’
Michaela leant forward and hugged her friend. ‘I think I deserve a matchmaker’s fee. It was damned hard work getting the two of you together.�
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‘I know. I thought we should wait, you know, to see if anything else happens.’ Jo’s expression showed that she knew she didn’t have to say the dreaded ‘c’ word for Michaela to know what she meant. ‘Daniel says he doesn’t want to. He says that from now on, every minute we spend together is precious.’
Michaela blinked. ‘Daniel said that? My, isn’t he the romantic! Who would have thought it.’ She looked at Jo. Her friend had slimmed down, maybe four kilos, from her experience — weight she could ill afford to lose — and she still appeared strained, especially around the eyes. ‘I don’t agree with everything Daniel says, but in this case I think he’s right. The specialists believe you’re over the worst of it, so why wait? Grab your share of happiness now, love, with both hands, and hold on tight.’
‘You think I should?’ Jo sounded as if she needed convincing.
‘Definitely.’
She and Jo had talked extensively since she had had her ‘scare’. Jo had changed because of it and was, in fact, still changing. Her priorities and how she saw life were different from what they’d once been — a close shave with a life-threatening disease could do that to a person. She was concentrating on herself, her happiness and her family. All of which couldn’t be a bad thing, Michaela believed. From now on Jo would have to play a waiting game; there would be years of waiting to see if any cancer cells had filtered through the lymph glands and moved to other parts of her body. Experts said that if she were cancer-free in five, then ten years, then and only then could she consider herself ‘cured’.
Michaela mentally shuddered over the ongoing anxiety for her friend. That’s why she’d said ‘grab your happiness now, with both hands and hold on tight’, for who knew — though she would never intimate a sense of foreboding to Jo — how many healthy years her dear friend might have? She prayed for another forty, at least.
52 Waratah Avenue Page 28
