Jealousy at TAC

by Richard Pinkerton

  Vanessa melted into Rex’s arms. It felt so good to be held by him. It always felt good, but this time it was extra special. ‘I’m so glad this is over.’

  They were still in the police station, in one of the interview rooms, but Rex had been given permission to leave.

  ‘All the charges have been dropped,’ Rex said. ‘Nadia made a confession. Said she made it all up.’

  ‘Oh God, I am so relieved!’

  Rex sat down on the chair and she fell into his lap, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and gazing into his eyes. ‘I can’t believe she would be so vindictive.’

  ‘Who would have thought?’

  ‘You would never do anything like she said.’

  ‘I wouldn’t.’

  ‘You’d never need to. You can have any girl you want. Even adult women want you.’

  ‘You’re not kidding.’

  ‘Do you think Reverend Flanders will be fired?’

  ‘I don’t know. From what I understand, he changed his story and now he’s just accusing his wife of sleeping with me. But Mr Harris and Katy have successfully convinced the cops that it was them two in her bed on Sunday night.’

  ‘Good old Mr H.’

  ‘Yep, he always comes through for us when we need him.’

  ‘And vice versa.’

  ‘True. In fact, I think Mr Harris is really enjoying himself. Apparently, he got to kiss Katy.’

  ‘Oh, he’d love that!’ She kissed Rex a few times, softly on the lips.

  After a few seconds, Rex spoke, ‘I’m sorry about Nadia. I should have picked up on her from the word go.’

  ‘You can’t have known. She seemed so cool.’

  ‘But very devious. I should have seen what she was like back at the aquatic centre when she lured me out to the car park and then down to the beach. She even had a condom tucked in her bikini top. She planned it all, every step.’

  Vanessa widened her eyes. ‘You did use protection?’

  ‘Of course! I would never betray your trust like that. You and I don’t use them. I’m not gonna put our lives at risk by taking chances, especially with a girl neither of us hardly even knew.’

  Vanessa felt a tremendous release at that bit of knowledge. She even felt silly for ever doubting him. She should never have taken Nadia seriously, never. She planted another long kiss on his lips. ‘I love you so much!’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Rex, I’ve had a crazy couple of days. Everything's been so messed up.’

  ‘Is that why you left school in such a hurry today?’

  ‘Yeah huh. I needed to be alone. Especially after I saw the stuff Nadia had Tucker put in your computer text book.’

  ‘What stuff?’

  ‘A picture of some girl called Carol.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘I don’t know who she was really, but they wanted me to think you had some secret love behind my back. Tucker, Nadia and I’m pretty sure Shawn, were all behind it.’

  Rex’s raised his left eyebrow. ‘They were trying to convince you I was seeing someone behind your back?’

  ‘Yeah huh. Can you believe that?’

  ‘Drokk! Why didn’t you tell me about all this?’

  Vanessa felt so small. ‘I don’t know. I guess I was afraid. Afraid that maybe it was true.’

  Rex placed his hand on her face. ‘It would never be true. I could never do that to you and would never want to. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and no one could ever take your place. Besides, I tell you about everyone I see.’ His eyes stared past her and for a moment seemed distant.’

  ‘Rex?’

  Suddenly his eyes flicked back to her. ‘Drokk!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I forgot all about Chelsea.’

  ‘Huh?’ Vanessa’s mind automatically viewed the photograph Tucker had sent her in her mind. How Tucker had managed to get that photograph, she still hadn’t worked out, but she guessed he had snapped it with his mobile phone somewhere there in Te Arawa.

  ‘I saw Chelsea last week for about half an hour not far from her place. She was really depressed over this business with Holly and Mav. I comforted her a bit and well… it kind of went beyond just comforting her with words, if you get my drift. She needed it. Damn, I am so sorry, I fully intended telling you all about it.’

  The horrible feelings immediately evaporated. Once again, Vanessa felt uplifted as yet another one of her doubts vanished. ‘It’s ok.’ She smiled broadly. ‘I know you wouldn’t deliberately keep anything like that a secret from me.’ She wanted to kiss him again, but had to be careful not to make it look as though she really had had such doubts.

  ‘You sure it’s ok? It honestly slipped my mind completely. I feel like such a jerk.’

  Vanessa ran her fingers through his hair. ‘It’s ok.’

  His eyes appeared troubled and he was silent for a few seconds and then spoke again, ‘There’s something else you should know. Something I haven’t told you and something that I should.’

  The horrible feelings suddenly filled her body again. She tensed up, expecting the worst. She racked her brains trying to think of something it could possibly be, but she couldn’t come up with any scenario.

  ‘I don’t want to cause any trouble here,’ Rex said. ‘It’s the only reason I haven’t said anything at all, but it’s about your mother.’

  ‘My mother?’

  ‘Yeah. Ummmm, Two times in the last week, she err... kind of came on to me.’ He stared her in the eye, a worried expression on his face. ‘One of those happened when I went to your place earlier to find you.’

  Vanessa stared at Rex for a moment, wondering if she’d heard right. ‘Mum... has come on to you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘Well she kind of started kissing me the first time and this afternoon when I came to see you she kind of deliberately accidentally dropped the towel she was wearing, sat down next to me and propositioned me. I got out of there both times. Honestly.’

  Vanessa froze for a moment as the images appeared in her head then she burst forth with laughter.

  ‘I’m serious!’

  Vanessa continued to laugh hysterically, especially at the expression on his face. ‘Oh, Rex...’ she continued to laugh as she talked. ‘My mum is so silly.’

  ‘You’re not upset?’

  ‘No... hell, my mum and I talk about how hot you are all the time. She’s always telling me how she’d love to have a piece of you. She’s even asked me if it would be alright.’

  ‘And what did you say?’

  ‘I said, if she had the guts to go right ahead!’

  ‘You’re kidding!’

  ‘Nuh uh. I’m serious.’

  Rex’s jaw dropped and he gazed at her.

  Vanessa couldn’t help but laugh some more at his reaction. ‘Have I shocked you?’

  ‘Hell yeah.’

  ‘Great! At least I can still do some things to take you by surprise.’

  ‘Oh yeah,’ Rex said. ‘You are still very unpredictable.’

  They cuddled each other a little longer then decided it was time to move to somewhere more comfortable and private.

  ‘We’ll go to your place,’ Vanessa said.

  ‘Anything the lady desires.’

  They stepped out of the police station but came to a grinding halt when they came across four Wild Dog members standing near the entrance. One of them was Hone, the leader of the Dogs and when he saw Rex his eyes widened and he marched over towards him.

  Vanessa was horrified, but at the same time thought there was surely nothing the Dogs would dare do being right outside the police station.

  Rex, stepped in front of Vanessa to face Hone straight on. The other Dogs followed in behind Hone, staunch looks on their faces. Vanessa turned her eyes towards the entrance of the station, considering dashing inside to shout for the police, but Hone raised his hand in the air. ‘Hey, chill. No trouble.’ He pointed to Rex. ‘I wa
nna talk.’

  Vanessa slipped her hand under Rex’s arm and moved up nearer to him. She hoped he would get the message that she didn’t want him to go. Rex turned his head and she gave him a worried look.

  ‘We’ll talk here,’ Rex said.

  Hone paused then nodded. He turned to his friends. ‘Piss off for a few minutes.’

  His men turned and walked away with out argument. Hone peered at Vanessa.

  ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Vanessa said, tightening her grip on Rex’s arm.

  Hone’s expression didn’t change. He switched his eyes to Rex. ‘You’ve been giving my bros grief.’

  ‘How so?’

  ‘Hassling them on the streets. Threatening them.’

  ‘What? You mean those eejits who were hassling a fourteen-year-old girl for money?’

  Hone’s expression changed and a puzzled frown came over his face. ‘What?’

  ‘You heard.’

  ‘Hassling a kid?’

  ‘Yes. So I just stepped in and told them to rack off.’

  ‘They never told me that.’

  ‘Well it’s the truth.’

  Hone studied his expression for a few seconds then nodded. ‘Then my bros have been feeding me bullshit.’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Bro. Looks like I have no problem with you then.’

  Vanessa clasped her fingers through Rex’s, feeling relief sweep through her body.

  ‘You sure?’ Rex asked. ‘What about those guys that got busted in your gang for dealing P?’

  ‘They weren’t acting under my domain. I had no knowledge of that. My gang doesn’t deal drugs. Anyone who deals drugs in my mob has to deal with me.’

  Vanessa studied Hone’s face. His face showed no emotion and it seemed to Vanessa that he was telling the truth.

  ‘So then we have no problem then?’ Rex asked.

  ‘No problem,’ Hone said. ‘The Wild Dogs have no gripe with Rex Cassidy.’

  ‘Glad to hear it.’

  Hone nodded. He turned and walked away.

  CHAPTER 24:

  Final Act of Justice