Immortal Espionage

by Debbie Behan

  The sound of footsteps in sand alerted Jay that Berry had come to join him. Why? The shadow overhead watched him before his unwelcome intruder sat beside him.

  ‘Jay, I’d like it if we could stop getting annoyed with each other every time we speak. Your love life has got nothing to do with me and is not why I brought you here. I have just one request, that you give me some of your time. No strings, I’d like to get to know you better. I promise, nothing more is involved.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I have my reasons, but not to cause you harm. If you give me a second chance I won’t break your trust in me this time.’

  Jay glared at him, amazed at what he was hearing. The worst possible outcome was to call Detective Berry, the person trying to kill his best friends, a pal. It struck him all of a sudden he might be gay. ‘Look Kalam, I have no idea why you chose to want to get to know me better. Unless you want to find out what I know, which you already do–or else you fancy me. If that’s the case I have to tell you the feeling is not mutual.’

  Berry threw his head back and laughed, holding his stomach with the discomfort it caused.

  Jay got into a sitting position and pushed him over. ‘It wasn’t that funny.’ He smiled at him–in a strange way he liked that he had made Berry laugh so hard.

  He got his breath. ‘Jay, sorry to burst your bubble. You’re funny and you fascinate me, but that’s where it ends.’ He stood up, still smiling. ‘Come on funny guy–help me light a fire to cook dinner.’

  Jay jumped to his feet, energised by the laughter. He still didn’t trust a word the detective spoke. But he had tried to make an offer of friendship and if that kept Jay alive or stopped Berry torturing him, then he must try to be civil.

  ‘I never went to Scouts Kalam, so you better show me how to light a camp fire.’

  ‘Why not? I thought all young boys joined a wilderness club of sorts.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have concentrated.’

  Kalam laughed again, amused at his honesty. ‘You must have been a funny kid. What did your folks say when you told them your preference was male?’

  ‘They were very polite towards me. I think they knew anyway when I couldn’t keep my hands off Kev when we reached high school. I was sick of hiding it by then.’

  ‘Ah… now I get why you two are so comfortable around each other. You’ve grown up together.’

  ‘He’s a geek, so computers and me are pretty much all he thinks about, aside from sport. That’s why I asked you to let him go. He’s just an innocent bystander, there because of me.’

  He didn’t ask any more questions. For the next two weeks Jay learned much of the island as they explored it together. They camped out and hunted for food by night, and during the day they snorkelled and fished in and around underground caves. The activities kept the moment strong in his mind, but it never stopped him from fretting for the ones he loved.

  * * * *

  Kalam watched him, and could see his growing unease at being away from his friends for so long. He was desperate to find the right words to tell this kid he now cared for and respected, the real reason he kept him isolated…

  ~ Chapter Thirty Four ~

  Offer Enough

  Jay was well aware of how annoyed Kalam got when he spoke of his friends but today he couldn’t keep the truth from him. ‘I miss them.’ He got up, dusted the sand off his shorts and turned the wild turkey that cooked on the open fire.

  ‘Son, I understand, really!’ Kalam said.

  Jay hated being called son. Young and immature was not how he saw himself. But he was pleased he actually understood and was calm. It softened Jay to him.

  ‘Wish I could have…’ Jay shook his head, confused. He had ended up enjoying it here with Kalam. ‘Dinner will be a while so I’m taking a stroll.’ Jay finished basting with rich sweet syrup and headed off up the beach. He wanted this here and them. Kalam’s promises of a tropical paradise where he and Kev could live happily for as long they wanted had him in a spin. But Kalam had made it clear, to get this, Jay had to say goodbye to Ricco and Alina. Wish I had both.

  With energy to burn he ran into the sea and swam until his arms ached. Kalam had to get back to the real world but he gave Jay an ultimatum. Either he could stay here in the safety of this island or go back to consorting with criminals and suffer the consequences. Crappy choice and even though he’d choose Ricco and Alina over Kalam any day, he wanted what he couldn’t accept—this!

  After taking a swim he was more at ease with his decision. Back at the fire he sat and dried off. He watched Kalam break up the turkey, and kick potatoes out from the coals.

  ‘Here!’ He handed Jay a plate of food. ‘Good swim?’

  ‘Battled the tide most the way.’

  ‘Figured that to be the case,’ Kalam commented as he sat beside him.

  Jay ate without tasting, his senses and mind elsewhere. With their time here over, he wanted the real reason why Kalam dragged him to this island. His pretence of wanting to get to know him didn’t sit right. He had chills worrying what his answer was going to be. Do I already know? Little things played on his mind.

  Kalam always sat close, but never close enough to be creepy. Each time, Jay heard him sigh and relax when he sat down. It was kind of the way he was with Alina. He only needed her near to be content with life, happy to be wherever she was.

  ‘Kalam, you told me you had a child. Does that mean you’re married or have a girlfriend?’ Jay asked.

  His arms rested on his knees as he leaned forward and looked out to sea.

  ‘Many years ago I had a daughter. I was told by the physician she had died at birth with her mother, my wife. I hated that child for taking my wife’s life and it took many years to get over the woman I loved so deeply. I still ache for her. I guess it’s the same way you ache to be with Alina. You can understand how you’d feel if she was to die. To go on would be hard. Am I right?’

  Jay nodded. ‘I’d wish for death too.’

  He turned and eyed Jay. ‘So you understand how much animosity I have for the child. It took my significant other. Disliking the child eases the pain of my loss.’

  ‘But she died too, right.’

  Jay’s words caught Kalam’s breath. ‘She is not the story. Not what I want to talk about.’

  ‘I’m sorry, please continue,’ Jay said.

  There was more to it but doubted he was going to get the entire story.

  Kalam’s eyes softened as a memory shifted his mood. ‘Anyway, twenty years ago I met a hooker off the street. Her laugh eased my pain, but ended after she got pregnant. God knows who the father was. Still, I was willing to take care of her if she cleaned up her act. This she refused to do unless I believed it was my child. Stubborn as they come. To think I was the father was a joke, so she told me to go to hell–and I did. I went back to my miserable life and never saw her again.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘My true love had died, and at the time, I had no room in my heart for another. A year later, I so missed her laugh and her, I went looking for her. She’d gone. It was as if she went up in a puff of smoke. No trace whatsoever. So I forgot her and moved on. I guessed she’d overdosed somewhere or else ran off with one of her paying customers.’

  He looked up at the sky. The stars were out and the full moon was bright and shone down on them. The surrounding glow made Kalam appear angelic and mystical.

  ‘Many months ago I ran into her. It was by accident. I was looking for you lot and she turned up in a black limo. I froze when I saw the vision of beauty she had become. She was more graceful than I ever remembered but fled once again, only I found her. She’s the woman I intend to live out her days with. And a couple of days ago this angel answered my call and came to my rescue. I owe her my life.’

  ‘Sharon?’ Jay guessed.

  He nodded. ‘You saw.’

  ‘Yes. She was Alina’s business partner. Now it fits why she went rogue,’ Jay said.

  They both sat for a while in thought.
This touched on territory neither wanted to tread.

  ‘What happened to Sharon’s child? The one you said was not yours?’ Jay hoped to steer the conversation away from Alina.

  ‘Sharon had no money and didn’t want him raised on the streets by whores and pimps. Sharon agonised over it, and wanted more for him. His only way to happiness and a good life was without her. At birth, he was put up for adoption.’

  ‘Him?’ Jay eyed him.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Is he your child?’

  ‘He is. I feel it in every fibre of my being when I’m with my boy.’

  ‘So you’ve met him?’ Jay asked.

  Kalam nodded. ‘And like his mother, he’s funny and so likeable I’m finding it difficult to work out where to go from here. How do I tell him that it only takes one of his smiles to brighten up my life and dissolves years of sadness? That when I hurt him I could cut my own heart out, it pains me so much?’

  ‘Does he know he’s adopted?’

  ‘Not sure his parents ever told him.’

  Jay deliberated how different he was from his own parents and his sister. There was no resemblance. Growing up he had wondered at times if he’d been adopted. Kalam has clung to me from our first meeting. If it was anyone else he’d be with him, not Jay.

  ‘It’s me! You think I’m your son?’

  ‘I’m sorry; I wanted to tell you sooner and hoped that if you knew me first you might not take it so hard.’

  ‘This is a bloody nightmare Kalam. Ricco will never trust me if this is true. Hell, why didn’t you just stay away?’ Jay jumped up. The bile in his throat rose and he leaned over and threw up.

  Kalam was at his side and rubbed his back. ‘I love you son. Please give me a chance.’

  Jay wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘You’ve ruined everything. I love Alina. I need her! You’ve in turn ruined my life now.’

  ‘Son, I’m so sorry. I should have known you two would find each other as I have found you. It’s something to do with the chemistry of an immortal; we gravitate to each other. How do you think I kept finding her? Neither love or hate stops us wanting to be near each other.’

  ‘Alina!’ Jay’s stomach churned with the new realisation. It was falling into place. Kalam’s story, his wife, and his hate for a daughter that couldn’t possibly be dead from the way he spoke. ‘What are you saying? Your daughter never died. You tried all these years to kill your own daughter?’ Jay screamed, angry at the heartless act. ‘I’m nothing like–like you! I’m not your son! You lie. I could never be that cruel. You’d have killed everyone I know to get to her. I hate you!’ he yelled and sprinted along the beach. ‘I hate you.’ He kept screaming it back at the figure that never moved. I should have kicked and punched him until he was dead.

  Jay cursed as he ran and kept running.

  ~ Chapter Thirty Five ~

  Secrets Unfold

  It was nearly dawn before Jay returned. Exhausted, he flopped on the bed fully clothed and slept.

  His deep sleep was disturbed by the sound of a plane engine. With a groan he hoisted off the mattress and in the bathroom splashed his face to wake himself up. The entire time, he planned how to get on the plane he heard land. He wanted off the island–the sooner the better.

  Berry stood casually speaking to the pilot as Jay trudged towards them, still mad as hell with him.

  ‘Jay.’ Berry turned to him. ‘I instructed the pilot to take you home. If you’re ready to go he can get you back before dark.’

  Jay froze, his emotions frazzled. Berry wanted him gone. ‘Good! That suits me fine!’ His temper rose that Berry didn’t want to deal with him any longer. Tells me he is my father and once again, deserts me when the going gets tough.

  ‘Typical, get rid of me as you both did twenty years ago. It’s my misfortune to have a crooked cop and a whore as parents. Thanks for the education Berry,’ he spat out spitefully.

  Berry lifted his hand and slapped Jay’s face. ‘Your mother is not a whore. That was a very long time ago and she did it to survive. Unlike you she didn’t have wealthy parents to give her whatever she wanted. You spoilt little shit.’

  Kalam hit him so hard it brought tears to his eyes but it was his words that stung worse. Jay had difficulty in processing the news and was obviously taking it worse than Berry expected. But even now he couldn’t kerb his words. His pride was in tatters. ‘I like that I am the son of a wealthy tycoon. But I’ll never be a son to you and certainly not to her. She dumped me off and so did you. She’s a whore and always will be and you’re an arsehole,’ he said viciously.

  A gasp made Jay turn his head and there was Sharon, his real mother, standing on the beach waiting to see him. She’d heard every snarly word he spoke.

  Tears streamed over her cheeks from his outburst and letting out a sob, she ran back into the cabin. His heart went out to her as she looked so sad and helpless standing there, thinking she was at long last going to meet her son. His slurry of hate directed at his so-called father was so nasty it cut her to pieces.

  Berry glared at Jay. ‘I thought better of you son. You can be as moody with me as you want, it’s justified, but that was uncalled for. You don’t deserve her as your mother, so just go.’

  He turned and jogged off after her.

  * * * *

  The pilot started up the engine. ‘Ready to go?’ he yelled over the sound of the motor and propellers.

  Inside, Jay buckled up. He was saddened and yet anger for the abandonment so many years before fuelled his wish to leave and not apologise. Instead he wanted to yell at them. He wanted to hate them, but there was a burning part of him that wanted to be acquainted with his real mother. This is my only chance. He had a whole other family that reached out to him. Was he able let go of that opportunity, and forgive Kalam for previous cruelty? He didn’t know who I was then, he justified. If there was ever to be a shred of hope for their future as a family, Jay had to stop the plane leaving.

  ‘Can you hold on buddy?’ he asked, and the pilot nodded.

  ‘Twenty minutes. After that I have to go.’

  Jay ran back up the beach and slammed through the door. Sharon stood by the kitchen bench, still crying. Kalam was trying to pacify her. Jay strode towards her as if possessed, standing right up close, studying her face and eyes. She was beautiful as Kalam said. He had seen her on the security feed, but not in person, not this close and certainly not this personal. Jay didn’t think she looked much like him but the features looked so familiar. He felt the overwhelming emotion that catches you the first time you see someone and sense you’ve known them a lifetime, but how? This was their first meeting.

  ‘Mum!’ Jay let out a sob.

  She put out her arms and hugged him gently, just like a mum does when her kid’s been naughty and tries to apologise but can’t find the words. They love you unconditionally. Words are not always needed. She gently pushed away his hair and kissed him sweetly on the forehead. ‘It’s okay love, I know you didn’t mean it. You were angry and in shock. It was a lot to take.’

  She was being so kind he felt worse and pulled back to talk. ‘I don’t know you, Sharon, but your arms are home to me. Maybe one day I can come back and visit and get acquainted with you better.’

  ‘I’d enjoy that Jay. But for now we need you to go home and stay safe.’

  ‘Why, what’s wrong?’

  She smiled and it was a smile that reflected back every time he looked into a mirror. She has to be my mum. A warm-baked-cookies sensation wafted around him.

  ‘Nothing we can’t handle. I need your father for a while so we can sort through a few things.’

  Jay’s mind reached out for the reason. He and Kev cleaned out their accounts and after that sent the IRS after them. Jay bankrupted his real parents. But where was his loyalty? With them whom he barely identified with, or with Alina, Ricco and Kev? His head spun with scenarios and doubts. This might be an elaborate hoax to get me to reverse what I did. What if this is a plan to
make me change sides and they aren’t my parents at all. What if Kalam drugged me and I’m hallucinating… but she has similar characteristics to mine. Confused, he wanted to leave. He needed them for now to trust he believed in them. He hugged Sharon and shook Kalam’s hand goodbye, trying to shake the soppiness you get when you say farewell to someone dear.

  ‘I’ll miss you son, but you know where to find me now. Please come back and visit. Kev too, if you want to bring him.’

  Jay looked back. ‘What of Alina, will you see her?’

  ‘Give it some time son. I will try.’

  ‘I’ll keep your location secret Kalam, I promise.’

  He smiled. ‘Thanks son.’

  They both walked to the porch to wave him good bye. Jay turned before getting in the plane. Kalam’s arm was around Sharon’s waist and the picture sent a wave of happiness through Jay, yet he had no idea why considering the encounter with her was so brief.

  * * * *

  ‘Ricco I’m at the airport.’

  When he pulled up Jay looked nervous.

  ‘We thought you were dead. You left without a trace,’ Ricco said.

  ‘I was on some private island. No way off it but by plane,’ Jay responded.

  ‘How come he let you go?’

  Jay shrugged as Ricco pulled his eyelids up.

  ‘He’s been giving you some kind of drug. What’s he been giving you?’

  Jay shook his head. ‘I don’t feel drugged. How can you tell?’

  ‘Your eyes are a dead giveaway even before I test you.’

  ‘That bastard.’ Betrayed, Jay’s mood changed. ‘He made me trust him. He promised this time it was to be different.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Jay, but I’m going to need blood tests and scans done of your whole body.’ He ran a normal scanner over him and found nothing. He got on the phone and talked to someone and next thing Ricco took him on a wild ride. They changed cars three times before pulling up in a house hidden deep in a mountain.

  * * * *

  When they got out of the car, Jake and Millie, my lying parents… stood waiting for them. Would he ever trust them again?