Finding Elizabeth

by Louise Forster

  “I don’t drink champagne,” she told him firmly.

  He took a step closer. Katherine stood her ground. Would he resort to violence? If he had that tendency, she’d never seen it. Her friends had only met him a couple of times, and they all thought he was charming, if kind of creepy.

  He put the bottle to his mouth and took a few decent gulps, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His movements were erratic, unnerving, especially the way he looked at her right now, squinty eyed and twitching mouth. “You’re such a prissy bitch. You don’t know what you’re missing. And,” he hissed, “you don’t want to miss any more of me.” He grabbed his crotch.

  Ugh! The alcohol was making matters worse. Perhaps if he drank the lot, he’d pass out. “How could anyone resist?” she said, nearly choking on her words.

  “That’s right, mother always said I should use my charm.” He began to pace faster, feet stomping. “When she was in a mood, she said I was giving cheek and she’d hit me. But I kept trying to do it right. I was always attentive and charming with you. And what do I get in return—your contempt.”

  “Attentive? Is that what you call it?” Her hands shook in frustration. The light arced around the small room before she realised and quickly settled it back on his face. “You’re invading my privacy!”

  “Nonsense!” Eric looked at her as if she was dense. “Mother says artists are vulnerable, and we must protect them,” he explained as if any fool could see that. “You’re easily taken in by a handsome face, and you’re a sucker for a few flattering words. I know only too well,” he sneered, agitated and unable to stop from moving around the room. “Like the pathetic womaniser who took you to the dance.”

  Now he was being insulting. Damn this stupid, stupid man—and his mother. Katherine wanted to punch him in the nose. But getting violent wasn’t going to help this situation; the opposite was more likely. She took a calming breath and told herself to keep a cool façade.

  Eric’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowed. Chin down, and shoulders bunched, he took a menacing step towards her. He placed the bottle on the dressing table with a heavy thump, and a fountain of champagne shot from its neck. Katherine flinched, and thought it prudent to back off and stroke his ego until help arrived—hopefully by the bus-load.

  “I’ve been thinking, Eric,” her voice soothed, hopefully not so patronising that he would notice. “You’re right; you have a very distinctive personality. I think we should drink to that, don’t you?”

  His eyes narrowed in on her. “You better not be dicking me around.”

  Pumped with adrenalin, Jack, closely followed by Dave, ran through the lobby.

  “Wait!” Leandra sang out as she put the phone down. “I’ve asked at the desk for the car to be sent up. The receptionist will keep trying to get hold of the police and tell them to meet us at the town hall.”

  “Wow, you’re good,” Jack said.

  “Of course,” Leandra replied. “Women multitask. Now if you two get the coats, I’ll go check on the car.” Leandra kicked off her stilettos, grabbed them, hitched her gown to above the knees and, legs flying, ran off towards the valet station.

  “She’s really something,” Dave murmured, a look of admiration on his face.

  Coats in hand, Jack grabbed Dave by the sleeve and pulled him into the revolving door. Both in the tiny glass enclosed space, they shuffled and pushed. Jack caught sight of Leandra’s bewildered expression and muttered to Dave, “Lea’s shaking her head. Now she’s rolling her eyes.”

  Arms out, shoulders up, Dave mouthed, “What?!”

  “Why are you out there?” she mouthed at them through a glass side panel. “My coat! Car—valet?” She waved her hand around in an elaborate style game-show hostesses use and pointed out the valet call button.

  “Shit!” Jack nodded, and gave her a cheesy grin.

  “The valet’s inside,” Dave stated, matter of fact. “Why would he freeze his ass off?”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I would’ve, but I was hauled into the revolving door!”

  Jack grabbed him and pulled him back inside.

  A side door opened just to the right of Leandra, and a valet appeared.

  “Your car is ready ma’am. It’s just now arrived out the front.”

  “Thanks,” Leandra said.

  The valet handed Leandra the keys. “Ma’am, I see you have studded snow tyres, but be aware the highway patrol issued a warning, there are sections of ice, and snowdrifts.”

  Jack handed the valet a fifty-dollar bill. “Thanks, mate.”

  “Thank you, sir. Be careful.”

  “I’m driving,” Leandra announced and slid behind the wheel.

  Eyebrows raised, Jack looked at Dave, who shrugged.

  “Are you going to stand there all night?” Leandra yelled, making a point by revving the engine.

  Jack slid in next to Leandra and fastened his seat belt. Dave crawled into the back and buckled up. Leandra gunned the engine and fishtailed out of the car park.

  “Sorry.” Leandra cleared her throat and switched the headlights on.

  “Yep, lights would be good right now.” Dave settled back.

  She turned left onto the road that led through the hotel gardens and golf course. The further away from the hotel, the darker it got. She switched on the high beam, its arc lighting a road that looked more like a tunnel made of tall fir trees, ice and snow.

  Without warning, a large moose ambled onto the road about fifty metres ahead and stopped dead in its tracks.

  “Watch out!” Jack yelled.

  “Shit!” Leandra cursed, easing her foot down on the brake.

  “Fuck—stop—brake!” Dave hollered.

  Leandra hit the horn. “Get your hands off me! I’m trying to drive.”

  Jack glanced across and saw that Dave’s fingers were disappearing into Leandra’s shoulders.

  The moose, at least seven foot in body height and not the least bit intimidated, slowly turned his massive antlered head. He blinked, the bright lights reflecting in his eyes, but didn’t move. The car continued to slide.

  “Don’t turn the wheel! Don’t turn the wheel!” Jack ordered.

  “What am I—stupid?” Leandra screeched.

  The car slid slowly to a stop. The moose filled the windscreen. Jack let go his breath. The moose reached down to sniff the car. Jack flinched and slammed his back into the backrest, bracing himself. Dave lunged over the driver’s seat and hugged Leandra to protect her in case the windscreen shattered if the beast decided to poke an antler at the glass. With one determined nudge, the animal could damage the car severely, and turn it into a wreck.

  “Fuck—he’s taller than I am,” Dave squeezed out through a breath.

  “Everyone’s taller than you are,” Jack said matter-of-factly, not taking his eyes off the windscreen. Someone cuffed him up the back of the head and someone else thumped his shoulder. That’s interesting, flashed through his cluttered mind. “When do you think he’ll move? I can count the hairs on his nose,” Jack whispered.

  “For the love of Mike, get the hell off me! I can’t breathe—Dave!” Leandra yelled.

  “Sorry,” Dave whispered and eased back. “Don’t yell anymore. I just saw him twitch.”

  Unconcerned, the moose leaned forward, and scratched his head on the bonnet. The car shuddered, and a thunderous noise filled the interior.

  “Back up—back up,” Jack urged quietly.

  “No,” Leandra stated firmly. “Just wait.”

  Time dragged, and Jack decided size was irrelevant. The door handle in his grasp, he was ready to hop out and kick its arse. His fingers tightened, and the door clicked open. The moose swung his massive head around to see where the noise came from.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Leandra grated, teeth clenched.

  Dave clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Fuckin’ move and I’ll paralyse you.”

  Wincing, Jack stiffened and stayed put.
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  Something rustled on the opposite side of the road. Distracted, the moose grunted, “Ugh—ugh—ugh.” Then he lifted his massive head and squealed as if someone was trying to cut his throat. The dreadful noise was deafening to those inside the car.

  Hands over his ears, Jack muttered, “Fuck, sounds like rooting uni students.”

  Not taking her eyes off the moose, Leandra said, “And that would have to be your friend here. Dave Wilson.”

  “Hey!” Dave started to complain.

  “Sh-sh-sh-sh,” Jack and Leandra said.

  The moose swung his head to look inside the car. Everyone squeezed down, trying to make themselves invisible. Distracted by soft grunts across the road, the bull finally ambled off.

  Shoulders slumped, breaths expelled and, like a comforting blanket, relief settled inside the car. Still clutching the steering wheel, Leandra closed her eyes and let her forehead rest on her hands.

  “Are you okay?” Dave asked, gently.

  Leandra took a deep breath in and slowly let it out.

  “Sorry about the swearing,” Jack put in.

  Voice muffled, Leandra said, “I don’t give a shit about your fucking swearing. Fuck-fuckity-fuck. Make you feel better?”

  “Only slightly,” Jack said and rubbed her arm. “Are you okay to drive? You want me or Dave to take over?”

  Leandra glanced at him, then over her shoulder at Dave. “Fuck no.”

  “Hey, I’m quite capable. I even know the ins and outs of a moose now and—” Slightly embarrassed, Dave quickly stopped his complaining.

  “Too much information.” Leandra glared at him.

  Hands raised, Jack motioned, ‘it’s all good’. “I don’t care. Unless it’s behind a cyclone fence, I never want to see one of those again.” Slowly, a thought occurred to him. “What do you mean, you’ll paralyse me?” Jack swung around.

  “Jujitsu. It was the only thing I could think of to keep you in the car. I can’t paralyse anyone—yet, but I can turn your arm into a useless appendage.”

  “Nice,” Jack murmured.

  Leandra moaned and eased her foot down on the accelerator. She turned the car onto the main road towards Spruce Valley, and drove as fast as she dared.

  The town hall came into view. Jack’s tension eased. He wondered what it was like inside, because outside it wasn’t nearly as festive as earlier. All that remained of the blazing spectacle of Christmas lights was a colourful outline around the building. Jack let out a breath, grateful they’d arrived in one piece. A navy blue SUV, its engine running and vapour billowing out of the tailpipe, waited under a streetlight.

  Jack hopped out and tapped on the driver’s window. Dave and Leandra followed.

  The window cracked open. “You Jack Riley?” the scowling man asked from behind the glass. Jack nodded. “Show me ya driver’s licence.”

  He pulled his wallet out and flipped it open. The caretaker studied the picture, comparing it to Jack’s face. Satisfied, he wound the window up, turned the ignition off, got out, and extended his hand.

  “Phil Murphy,” he said, “And who are these two?” he asked with a slight nod towards Jack’s helpers.

  “This is Leandra Paige and Dave Wilson; we’re all friends of Katherine’s. We think she’s trapped inside.”

  “Yeah, don’t know why I’m freezing my butt off for someone who didn’t get themselves on the bus,” Phil said, and wrapped his arms around his chest. “C’mon,” he muttered, hunching deeper into his parka.

  “I totally agree,” Jack slapped Phil’s shoulder. “But we can’t leave her in there, can we?”

  “Nope,” Phil grunted. Pulling a bunch of keys out of his parka, he hurried up the steps with Jack, Leandra and Dave. He opened the front door, waited for everyone to pass through and quickly shut it. The boom resounded through the hall.

  “Sh-sh-sh,” Jack whispered.

  “Why?” Phil wanted to know. “Shouldn’t you be callin’ out for Katherine?”

  “We think she may be held against her will,” Jack told him.

  “Kidnapped?” Phil squeaked.

  “Not exactly sure what you’d call it. We don’t think he’s taken her anywhere.”

  “And we hope to catch him red-handed,” Leandra put in. “You know, in the act, so we can bear witness and Katherine can press charges.”

  “Where are the cops?” Dave wanted to know.

  Everyone shrugged.

  “Okay,” Phil whispered, getting involved in the whole save-the-damsel scenario. “I’ll go to the equipment room and turn the hall lights on. The dressing rooms will still be in darkness ’cause that’s a different switch. If ya want them on, ya gotta get on the stage; there’s a lever to the right of the pillar. Don’t worry if ya can’t find it, I’ll be with ya shortly.”

  “Thanks, Phil.” Jack pushed at one of the swinging doors and entered the main hall. Tiny night-lights dotted each side of the aisles. It was enough to help him see his way. Suddenly, the hall lights came on.

  “Jeez!” Dave cursed.

  Leandra gasped.

  Jack blinked, and waited a moment for his eyes to readjust. “Okay, this way.” He took the stage steps two at a time. Light filtered through the heavy drapes, but it wasn’t enough to see without tripping over something.

  Jack turned left then right and flexed his fingers. A couple of pinpoint ceiling lights high among the ropes and pulleys weren’t much help. He spotted the lever that would switch the power on backstage, reached for it, his fingers curled around the handle. “Damn!” he whispered roughly.

  “Yeah, not a good idea if you want to surprise him,” Dave whispered.

  “Which way?” Jack asked them.

  “I know,” Leandra said, and took the lead. “Follow me.”

  They tiptoed behind stage scenery, found more drapery and, fingers rifling through the folds, they looked for the opening. “Got it,” Leandra whispered.

  “What’ve ya got?” Phil asked behind them.

  All three rescuers jumped.

  “Holy crap, Phil,” Jack said, hand over his heart.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean ta scare ya,” Phil chuckled quietly.

  “It’s okay—any sign of the police?”

  “Nope, haven’t heard a thing, ’cept you lot.”

  “We’ve been very quiet, hardly a peep,” Leandra whispered. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “Wait,” Jack turned to Phil. “Mate, would you mind waiting in the foyer or the main hall for the police? When they get here, just explain where we’re headed.”

  “I’ll give them another call from the office if ya like? Your friend better be here. Cops don’t like turnin’ up for nothin’,” Phil muttered and tiptoed away, disappearing behind the drapes.

  Jack followed Leandra and Dave as they moved further down a corridor. Leandra stopped and raised her finger to her lips. All three waited, listening. Nothing. All Jack could hear was his pulse hammering in his ears. He held his breath. Muffled voices came from a few doors down. They crept along, and Jack pointed to a faint glow coming from underneath the door ahead. He waited until he heard the voices again.

  “Eric, have some more champagne. I’ll join you.” It was Katherine.

  Jack turned to Leandra, eyebrows raised in question.

  Moving closer, her face almost touching his, she dismissed his query with a glare and an are-you-nuts expression, adding a thump to his forehead with the heel of her hand for good measure.

  Jack rubbed his forehead, smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. Satisfied, Leandra nodded and gave him a look he interpreted as I should think so, are you stupid or what?

  Adrenalin pumping, Jack carefully turned the door handle, and shoved. The door flew open, and thumped against the inside wall. Katherine screamed, and Eric squawked.

  “Jack!” Katherine shouted, smiling with relief.

  All three marched in.

  The moment Jack saw Eric, his anger turned to rage. He advanced on Eric, eyes narrowed; he itched to take him apar
t. Anger had never felt this intense. A heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

  “Steady on, mate,” Dave whispered.

  Eric made a sudden move.

  “Watch out!” Katherine squealed.

  Eric swung the champagne bottle. Jack veered. The bottle glanced off his cheek and smacked Dave on the forehead. Dave fell, hit the back of his head on the brick wall behind him and slid to the floor.

  Oh shit, what have I done? flashed across Eric’s face.

  Watching Eric was like watching an accident waiting to happen; he could barely stand. Fists ready, Jack waited for him to stop swaying long enough so he could smack him right on the jaw.

  Eric lurched forward. Katherine kicked his butt, and Leandra kicked his feet from under him. He went down. Elbows, knees and feet drummed on the timber floor as he landed in a crumpled, dishevelled heap of expensive tuxedo.

  Katherine turned on Eric, fire in her eyes. “If you ever come near me again, I’ll flatten you, make no mistake.” She stomped her stiletto into his back, and snarled, “Have you got that?”

  Eric groaned and tried to nod.

  “We did it!” Leandra raised her hand for a high-five with Katherine and then hugged her. “And you’re all right.”

  Jack looked on, his heart bursting with admiration.

  Behind them, Dave groaned and Leandra hurried to his side. She sat on the floor and rested his head on her lap, murmuring and stroking his head.

  “There will be a restraining order out on you!” Katherine added. “You’ve assaulted two people. I have witnesses and I will press charges.” She turned her attention to Jack, eyes flashing. “What’s that look for?” she bristled.

  Man, I want her. Jack inclined his head, lost in a hot-sex dream.

  “C’mon, what are you smiling at?” Katherine insisted.

  “I’m in complete awe.” Well, that was true.

  “Oh,” she breathed, and cocked an eyebrow. Dave’s moan caught her attention. “Your poor friend!”

  “I’m okay … I’m okay,” Dave croaked. “Just let me lie here and die of embarrassment.”

  “You probably deserved that and more for all the f—fu—fooling around you do,” Leandra said, helping Dave to his feet.

  “I’m sorry you’re hurt,” Katherine said, clutching her coat, “but I’m very glad to see you. I thought I’d be here all night talking to that idiot.”