The Road Back

by Di Morrissey

  Susan looked saddened. ‘That is so cynical. Alan could do that?’

  ‘It’s been done before. The guy at the top is very hard to reach. He just says that there was a bad apple in the company who acted without his knowledge and that everyone else is squeaky clean.’

  ‘It’s a cut-throat world out there in corporate land,’ said Susan, standing up. ‘I’m just going to stick my head in Megan’s room to make sure she has everything she needs when she goes down to Port Macquarie tomorrow for that jazz band competition.’

  ‘Thank heavens. I thought it would never come around. They’ve all practised hard enough. It’s a shame that I won’t be there to cheer them on.’

  *

  As he drove into Neverend the next day after work, Chris noticed a fisherman on the river and decided to see if any of his mates wanted to go fishing on the weekend. It had been a while since they’d been out together and now the weather was warming, the idea was appealing.

  He turned into View Street and slowed to a stop when he saw a car parked on the grass verge opposite the house. It was a classic dark green Jaguar, the same model he’d seen on TV the night before.

  Could it be Alan Carmichael’s car? Suddenly fear gripped him. Megan was still at the jazz competition, but Susan was home. He quickly drove up the driveway and raced into the house.

  ‘Mum, are you here?’ he shouted.

  ‘Yes, dear, in the kitchen. Whatever is it?’

  ‘Are you all right?’

  Susan looked surprised, then concerned at the expression on his face. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘It’s him, Alan. I’m sure it’s his car out the front of the house.’

  ‘What! Are you sure? Quickly, shut the door.’

  Chris raced to the front door. Terrible scenarios started to run through his mind. Why on earth would Alan Carmichael be here in Neverend? What did he want with them? Had he come to harm them?

  As Chris approached the front door, he saw through the window a man crossing the road, heading for their house. It was Alan Carmichael.

  He was wearing a short bomber-style jacket and not carrying anything. Chris stepped out onto the verandah, closing the door behind him, and walked to the railing. Alan stopped in the driveway as soon as he saw Chris.

  ‘Mr Carmichael? What can I do for you?’ asked Chris, calmly.

  Alan stopped and stared up at Chris, pointing a finger at him. ‘Are you Chris Baxter?’ Chris nodded. Alan continued, his voice seething with rage. ‘Then I think you’ve done enough for me already. You and your mother.’

  ‘I’ve had nothing to do with your current problems,’ replied Chris, now very puzzled as to why Carmichael had turned up on their doorstep.

  Alan walked to the verandah steps and put one foot onto the bottom tread. Chris didn’t move. ‘My problems only started when you began nosing around!’ he suddenly shouted.

  Chris gripped the balustrade. ‘I’m not sure how. I have no idea why you tried to stop me writing a book about your success.’

  ‘What I do is my business. I don’t want people poking their noses into my affairs.’

  ‘Is that right? Well, it seems that you like to take action against anyone who tries. Me, for example. I think you had someone intimidate me and my family to try to stop me from writing about you.’

  ‘And it worked,’ said Alan, nastily. ‘Bit sad for me that by the time I got you to stop writing your poxy little book, it was too late. You’d already done the damage.’

  ‘I didn’t do anything. I backed off, remember? I sent you a letter from my solicitor to that effect.’

  ‘But that didn’t stop you from telling Thomas Anderson about me and what happened to his brother. Isn’t that right?’

  Chris stared at Carmichael with a perplexed expression.

  ‘How do you know that I spoke to Thomas Fairfax Anderson?’ he asked.

  ‘Because he told me. He enjoyed telling me. He said that he’d waited a long time to see that there was justice for his brother.’

  ‘I’m not sure that I fully understand.’

  Alan gave a bark of a laugh. ‘Oh, I think you do. Once Anderson found out that I was involved in the death of his brother, then I became persona non grata as far as the financing of my projects went. Anderson made sure that no one in the States would lend me money, and without those loans, well, you know the rest. I’ve lost my homes, my business – years of hard work all gone – because you had to interfere.’

  ‘So you had no idea that Thomas Anderson was Jimmy’s brother until he told you?’ asked Chris, slowly.

  ‘Of course not. Why on earth would I have connected someone as important and successful as Thomas Fairfax Anderson to that Yank who used to hang around your mother and the rest of us all those years ago? Don’t you think that if I had known he was Jimmy’s brother, I’d have given him a wide berth? I don’t know how you found out, but you’re the one who told Anderson what I did in Bogor and ruined everything for me.’

  ‘My son didn’t tell Tom Anderson about what really happened to Jimmy. I did.’

  Chris spun around to see Susan standing behind him. She walked to the railing of the verandah and looked down at Alan.

  ‘Why are you here, Alan?’

  ‘Just so I can tell you both that you won’t get away with what you’ve done to me. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, I will pursue you. I want to see you both come unstuck.’

  ‘Alan, I only wanted Tom to know about his brother. I had no idea Tom was integral to your loans for your US expansion. But I tell you something, Alan, even if I had known, I would still have told him the truth. He deserved that.’

  Carmichael put both feet on the bottom step.

  ‘Please don’t come any closer. You’re not welcome here. Neither my mother nor I want to have anything to do with you,’ said Chris angrily.

  ‘You have ruined me and I’m going to make you pay!’ Alan yelled, and Susan took a quick step backwards.

  ‘Mum, go inside and call the police. Carmichael, get off our property.’ Chris heard the door close as Susan hurried inside.

  ‘Just remember this, Chris Baxter,’ Alan said grimly. ‘I’m going to beat the charges. There’s no way I’m going to gaol, and I want you and your mother to know I’m going to make sure you’re haunted every day for the rest of your life. You’ll always have to be looking over your shoulder and that includes everyone close to you, including your daughter.’

  Chris stared at Alan in horror. Surely Megan wouldn’t have to pay as part of this man’s revenge? With all the calm he could muster, Chris said, ‘The police will be here in a minute or so. I suggest you leave right now, Mr Carmichael.’

  ‘Remember what I said. No matter how long it takes, you’ll pay for what you and your mother have done.’ With that, Alan hunched his shoulders and, suddenly looking like an old man, turned and stalked back to his car.

  Chris watched the Jaguar roar off down the street.

  Susan put her head cautiously around the front door. ‘Has he gone?’

  ‘Yes, Mum. Are you okay?’ Chris reached for his mother, pulling Susan close to him.

  ‘Yes. Except that I can’t stop shaking.’

  ‘I think you were very brave. You certainly stood up to him. What did Pete say?’

  ‘I was on the phone to him when I saw Alan leave, so he said that if he turns up again, we are to ring him straight away and he’ll come right over.’

  Chris nodded and realised he was shaking too. ‘I think we need a cuppa,’ he said.

  They sat inside with mugs of tea and coffee and went over the incident again.

  ‘Are you going to tell David?’ Chris asked Susan.

  ‘Of course I am. We don’t have any secrets from each other, and I expect that David will be part of the threat, that is if Alan is serious and it’s not all bluff and bluster. Wil
l you tell Georgia?’

  Chris paused. ‘I will, but I’d rather do it face to face. I don’t think I can tell her about that vile conversation over the phone. But I want to ring her now, just to hear her voice after that horrible episode.’

  Chris settled at his desk to call Georgia.

  ‘Hey, nice surprise. What are you up to?’ she asked.

  ‘Nothing much. Just wanted to hear your voice, that’s all. Megan is at a jazz comp in Port. Her band is taking part. What have you been up to?’

  ‘A lot. Chasing a young author who sent me a manuscript for a novella that I think has a lot of potential. Been talking to an old actor I heard interviewed on Radio National. I thought it could be turned into a very interesting autobiography. But darling, you do sound a bit funny. Is anything wrong?’ asked Georgia.

  ‘I’m just missing you.’

  ‘I miss you too. Shall I come up this weekend? I can juggle appointments.’

  ‘I’ll be okay. You’re busy, I’m working.’

  ‘And writing?’

  ‘Yes, I love doing this book. It’s funny, but now that I’ve got a good job and the pressure is off, I’m finding it so much easier to write than the first time round. It’s my escape and pleasure now, not my whole future hanging on it. The radio position suits me and comes with a few pluses. I’ve actually had some people stop me and say they enjoy what I’m doing, especially when I do the occasional off-beat story.’

  ‘Chris, I’m very proud of you and have enormous faith in you.’

  Chris smiled. ‘Thank you, darling. I’m so lucky to have you. I feel better just talking to you.’

  ‘Chris . . . ?’

  ‘Yes, my lovely?’

  ‘It won’t always be like this . . . being apart.’

  ‘Nah, we’ll work something out.’

  ‘Yes, we will. I love you.’

  ‘Gotta go. Love you.’

  A few hours later, Chris heard a car in the driveway and walked outside to see Sergeant Pete Pollard stepping out of his police vehicle. The policeman took off his cap and rubbed his hand through his hair.

  ‘Pete, g’day, thanks so much for your help before. Can I offer you a beer?’

  ‘I’m still on duty, so would you fancy making me a cuppa? Your mother around?’

  ‘Sure thing, but Mum’s just popped over the back to see one of the neighbours for a bit of a chat. I think she feels she needs a change of scenery after what happened.’

  Pete looked grave. ‘I can understand that.’

  Chris made the tea and the two men sat together on the verandah in the gathering twilight. There was not a breath of wind, and the remnants of the sunset glinted on top of the hills. In the valleys the temperature was cooling and a light mist began to form.

  ‘It’s still nice to have the occasional fire going at night, but you can sniff spring coming over the ridge,’ said Pete, as Chris handed him his tea.

  ‘I can never decide which season I like best,’ agreed Chris. ‘Maybe we could take the boat out for a bit of a fish soon.’

  Pete sipped his tea. ‘Sounds good. I remember when we used to go out fishing with your dad. We had some good times.’

  ‘Do you take your sons fishing these days? Must be a nice thing to do.’

  Pete smiled at him. ‘It is, but I also know a bunch of kids who need a father figure in their lives, and I like to take them fishing, too. Maybe you could come out with us some time.’

  ‘I will. I’d like that.’

  They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Pete straightened up. ‘This isn’t just a social visit, Chris. I have some news for you.’

  Chris gripped his mug at the tone of Pete’s voice.

  ‘That visit you had earlier today . . .’ Pete paused. ‘I got a phone call a few minutes ago. Carmichael drives a green Mark 2 Jag, right?’

  ‘Yeah. That’s the car he came here in,’ said Chris.

  Pete nodded. ‘Well, a car matching that description just drove into a gully on Palmers Road. The driver took a corner too fast, it seems.’

  Chris stared at Pete. ‘And Carmichael, how is he?’

  ‘He’s dead.’

  Chris was silent for a minute or so. Initially, all he could feel was relief. All those threats that Carmichael had made were now as nothing. He would never be able to carry them out. Then anger began to stir in him. Carmichael would never be made to face all those charges of corruption. His death meant that he had escaped the justice system.

  ‘You’re kidding,’ Chris said finally, shaking his head. ‘Man, this is a lot to take in. It’s some surprise. I’d like Mum’s and my involvement with Carmichael kept out of this, Pete. Only you know that he came to the house. It has nothing to do with this accident.’

  ‘I don’t suppose it has,’ said Pete in a low voice. ‘But maybe what happened was no accident. It’s early days yet, and the accident unit are still investigating, but I have my doubts. The man was facing not only bankruptcy, but the prospect of spending years in gaol. Big comedown for a man of his standing, and he wasn’t young, either.’ The sergeant rubbed his chin. ‘Maybe he didn’t want to have to face any of it. Of course, we’ll have to see what the accident guys have to say, and these things are not always conclusive. You might want to break the news to your radio station. It will be everywhere tomorrow morning.’ Pete swallowed the last of his tea. ‘Give your mum my regards.’

  ‘Thanks for telling me, Pete. I’ll let her know.’ They shook hands and the sergeant left the house. Chris sat looking at his empty tea cup for a long time, not sure what to make of what he had just heard or how he should feel. Alan was gone and the episode was over, but Chris still felt puzzled. His family was safe, but they would probably never know the whole truth about what happened.

  As darkness fell around Neverend, Chris felt the stillness steal over him, comforting him as only home can.

  *

  As Sergeant Pollard had predicted, Alan’s sudden death was a media sensation, and over the next few weeks more evidence came to light about Alan Carmichael’s corrupt business practices.

  ‘The tabloids are having a wonderful time trashing Alan’s reputation,’ said Chris, sitting companionably with Susan in the peaceful garden.

  ‘I’ve noticed there have been questions as to why Alan had driven so far north,’ said Susan. She and David had moved into their little cottage, but Susan usually popped in if she knew that Chris was at home.

  ‘I’ve thought about things, and I don’t know if Alan killed himself or was just so angry that he wasn’t paying attention to the road,’ continued Susan.

  ‘I suspect we’ll never know the answer to that. Why do you think he blamed us?’

  ‘I think that Alan was simply not prepared to accept that the collapse of his business and the charges he faced were the result of anything he had done himself. He wanted to be able to blame someone else for the shambles his life had become, and that was us. Nonsense, of course – he brought it all upon himself – but he was never going to admit that. Threatening us made him feel in control, I suppose.’

  ‘He certainly was in denial. I think men like Alan honestly believe that the law does not apply to them, only to lesser mortals,’ said Chris.

  Susan nodded. ‘I’ve had a lot of long chats with Evan and Mark on the phone, and I’ve also had a call from Tom Anderson.’

  ‘Really! What did he have to say?’

  ‘He said it was all very unfortunate, and he was sorry his call to Alan had caused trouble for us. I didn’t quiz him about his business dealings with Alan. I don’t think that I really want to know all those details. Anyway, what he was really ringing to tell me was that he was going to further the education of some bright young Indonesian kids by setting up scholarships to allow them to attend some of America’s leading business schools. The scholarships will be called the James Anderso
n scholarships. Jimmy would have liked that,’ she said with a soft smile.

  Chris nodded. ‘That’s impressive. A great thing to do.’

  ‘I also rang Norma to let her know about everything.’

  ‘What did she say?’

  ‘She mentioned something about karma. She’s heading back to Indonesia for a couple of weeks to check on the clinics she helped set up.’

  ‘I would like to get up there myself sometime. I might go when Megan visits Jill at Christmas. Might see if Georgie wants to come with me. I’d like to go to Bogor, to see where you were.’

  ‘I think it’ll be very different from the place I remember,’ said Susan. She looked across the lawn towards the vegetable garden. ‘Now, are you across looking after the garden here? Those tomatoes have well and truly finished. You might want to think about planting some more pretty soon.’

  ‘Yes, Mum.’

  Susan chuckled. ‘Oh dear, tell me to butt out. You’re living here, so you do whatever you want, Chris.’

  ‘It’s fine. I’m still adjusting to being man-of-the-house and Megan misses you, but we’re getting on very well, just the two of us. She’s good company.’

  ‘Yes, well, she’s growing up. She’ll be fifteen in just a few weeks. She doesn’t want to hang out with her grandmother so much anymore. She’s a bright, intelligent girl with lots of healthy interests.’ Susan rested her hand on his arm. ‘Chris,’ she said earnestly, ‘you’re not sorry you came back, are you?’

  ‘How could I be? Maybe it’s not what I expected my life to be, maybe it’s even better. I’ve got a good job and a book happening. I’ve become a solid fulltime father, not a token dad, and I have an amazing daughter. I have a beautiful, loving girlfriend. I’ve reconnected with the place I love. I’ve got great mates who are true friends, not just professional acquaintances. I have a mother who is not only very contented, but is actually in love with a very nice and interesting man. I’m living in a paradise. How bloody lucky am I!’ He grinned broadly.