He knew he was making a big call. He could easily draw a line under the past few weeks and retreat to the security of his previous existence.
He tossed all this around as he turned into Lygon Street. As they were bouncing over the disused railway line, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, spreading a watery glow across the skyline.
When they slowed at the Pigdon Street lights, he turned to Emily: ‘Hey, let’s do it properly. How about a serious coffee, fancy cake, and all that stuff? Like at Brunetti’s? Never been there, but they say it’s pretty good …’
‘Deal.’ Emily smiled at him, a glimmer of pleasure lighting up the impish grin that he found so charming.
Jack had never enjoyed a cab trip as much as this one. A new world had opened up in front of him, and he had decided to give it a try. Goodbye to the old Jack van Duyn, he thought. And good riddance.
Author’s note
The characters in this story are entirely fictional. The locations in which it takes place are real, but in some instances I have taken liberties in my description of them. Dan O’Connell’s, the Court House, and the Lyndhurst are all real hotels, but my descriptions of their clientele, atmosphere, and decor are drawn from countless memories of inner-Melbourne hotels over several decades, not contemporary reality. There have been several ethnic community centres housed in various public housing tower-blocks, but, as far as I am aware, there is no Somali Welfare Centre. Dracula’s is a genuine, and longstanding, theatre restaurant in Carlton, but again my descriptions are not drawn from real life. There is no Matt’s Pool Room in Orr Street, and the Carlton Police Station closed some years ago. There is no hayfever drug called Teludene — either on or off the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Omar Farah for his critical comments on my portrayal of the Somali community. Thanks to Henry Rosenbloom and the staff at Scribe for enabling me to attempt something outside of my comfort zone; to Mary Day for her invaluable advice over many years; and to Jason Steger, Helen Elliott, Fiona Kranenbroek, and Sybil Nolan. Thanks also to Graeme Simsion and Harrison Young for their advice on fiction-writing. Needless to say, any flaws in my work are my responsibility, not theirs.
And heartfelt thanks to my family, particularly my wife Andrea and children Jemma, James, Ainsley, and Remy, and my mother Maree, for all their support and forebearance.
Contents
About the Author
Dedication
Title Page
Copyright Page
1 Rescue
2 Return
3 Rendezvous
4 Entanglement
5 Adventure
6 Dilemmas
7 Traps
8 Pursuit
9 Confusion
10 Violence
11 Apprehension
12 Assault
13 Connection
14 Abduction
15 Ultimatum
16 Confrontation
17 Resolution
18 Departure
Author’s note
Acknowledgements
Comfort Zone Page 23
