by Renée Dahlia
‘A pyramid scheme works like multi-level marketing, each layer buys a product from the one before, making the product more and more expensive as it is passed down the layers, and the higher layers make money from the people below them. It is limited by the maximum price point of the product and the number of layers. A Ponzi scam simply takes the money from the initial investors and pretends to give some of it back as profit.’
‘They both sound dodgy,’ John said. Rachel’s leg jiggled faster as she continued to tap her foot under the table. Blah, blah, the technicalities didn’t matter if Jacob’s team was getting ripped off.
‘Back to my problem.’ She frowned at John.
Toshiko waggled her head. ‘Look, I’m not saying that this punter’s club is a Ponzi scam, just to be cautious.’
‘How would it work?’ John spoke at the same time as Rachel, and her foot stopped moving.
‘If it is a Ponzi scam, then whoever is running it won’t show the bets before the races are run and will only produce a list of winners afterwards.’ Toshiko persisted with the technicality.
‘But anyone can read the results and make up a list,’ Serena said the thing everyone was surely thinking. Rachel cursed under her breath. Fuck. How had she missed something so obvious? She should have asked Jacob this question.
‘Yes.’
Shannon rolled his eyes, ‘If people are too stupid to see that obvious fake, then they deserve to get ripped off.’
‘Hey, Mr Cynic, no one deserves to get ripped off,’ Rachel said. Jacob had been right to be concerned for his team mates. A nasty lump started to form in her stomach, and a bitter taste made her swallow.
Serena shook her head, ‘Yeah, Shannon, when did you get so nasty?’
‘Since I’ve had to deal with owners. If training was just about horses, it’d be much nicer.’
John shook his head, ‘How many times have I told you that I’d be happy to do the administration side of training for you?’
‘Yeah, yeah, don’t mind me. Carry on with the punter’s club.’ Shannon stabbed his roast beef and kept his gaze on his plate. Toshiko gave Rachel an expectant look, and Rachel nodded for her to continue.
‘The next thing to watch are the initial investors.’
‘Why?’ Rachel frowned. How do you know who they are?
‘Ponzi scams, and pyramid schemes too, I mean, that’s why they get confused. All these scams work by having a group of initial investors who help spread the word. These investors put in a bunch of cash, who then go out and recruit the next level of investors. In a Ponzi scam, the person running the scheme keeps most of the money for himself and gives the initial investors some of their money back.’ Toshiko laid down her utensils and waved her hands before her in an expansive gesture.
‘Okay, why?’
‘Those initial investors are told that the money they get back is profits, and the person running the scheme will tell them to keep their source money in the account to be reinvested to make more profits.’
‘They get their own money back, but are told it is profits? New money, except not?’ Rachel asked.
‘Yes. And with the list of winners to prove the fake profits.’ Toshiko tilted her head.
‘But how does that help the main person running the scam? He’s just given some of the money back.’
‘That’s the beauty of the scam.’ Toshiko’s lips quirked up a little. Rachel knew Toshiko loved the maths side of gambling, but it felt wrong for her to smile and call a scam ‘beautiful’.
Everyone at the table yelled in protest, ‘Beauty?’ It seemed all her siblings and Mama agreed.
Toshiko grimaced. ‘Beauty isn’t the right word. Giving people back their own money and telling them the lie that it is profits helps to bring in new investors, thus growing the amount of money in the pool.’
‘That’s dastardly.’ Rachel’s lungs emptied of air. She had to ring Allira now and warn Jacob.
‘That’s why Ponzi scams are often confused with pyramid schemes. Both types rely on a pyramid of investors, with each new investor providing income for the earlier investors. Every time someone is paid out a profit, they are encouraged to bring in new investors, and the scheme continues until it collapses.’
‘What makes it collapse?’ Serena asked. Rachel glanced at her twin and noticed everyone at the table was leaning forward intent on listening to Toshiko’s explanation. If it wasn’t so serious, Rachel would have found the idea of her family caring about maths incredibly amusing.
‘It won’t collapse until people ask for their full profit, or for their initial funds back, and when the person running the scam can’t pay, people realise they’ve been duped.’
‘Could it go on for years without anyone knowing?’ Rachel asked, the shake in her voice reflecting the pallid feeling in her chest. If Jacob’s team had become involved in something like this, there would be a lot of pain when it ended.
‘Potentially, but usually only a couple of years, depending on the speed of the investors joining. There is probably an equation out there that’ll tell you how many layers the pyramid will exist for.’ Toshiko bit her bottom lip, and John nudged her shoulder.
‘Don’t.’ John shook his head.
‘What? I could work it out.’ Toshiko closed her eyes.
‘This isn’t a mathematical experiment,’ John said, and Toshiko opened her eyes with a curt nod.
‘I’m sorry.’
Rachel grinned. ‘Don’t be sorry, Toshiko. Knowing the maths might be interesting to you, but it isn’t going to help—’ She paused, Jacob’s name stuck on her tongue. Why didn’t she want her family to connect her new room-mate’s sexy brother to this scheme?
‘Oh, I didn’t mean it like that. I hope your friend hasn’t put any money into this so-called club.’
‘No, not yet. He’s worried about his friends.’ Rachel saw Serena’s eyebrows shoot upwards. She shook her head once: It’s not like that.
‘Well, I hope this was helpful.’
Rachel smiled at Toshiko. ‘It was. You are amazing. Thank you.’
‘Anytime. I don’t mean to sound like I have no empathy for your friend, just the maths interests me. And the way people use maths to trick other people is both fascinating and upsetting.’ Toshiko scratched her temple.
‘It’s cool. Without your knowledge, I wouldn’t be able to help.’
‘Glad to help. I really do hate to see people scammed,’ Toshiko said.
‘Now that we’ve resolved this, can everyone eat before dinner gets cold?’ Mama’s quiet voice made Rachel giggle.
‘Thanks for dinner, Mama. It was beautiful as usual.’
‘And you didn’t eat it, as usual.’
Rachel smiled, ‘Neither did Serena, but you know it’s not your cooking. The food was delicious, and when I retire, I’ll eat all of it.’ The other day, Jacob had eaten enough food to sustain her for a week, he’d be the perfect dinner guest to keep Mama happy. No. She almost stamped her foot under the table. Stop. Fucking control your hormones, girl. Control your goddamned life without being so needy for a quick fuck, needy to be needed. She hauled in a deep breath through her nostrils, her lips clamped shut, her lungs expanding.
‘It’s true, we will,’ Serena backed her up.
‘Thanks again for dinner, Mama. And Toshiko, that was really informative.’ Rachel gave a half-hearted wave, ‘I’ve got to get back to the city for trackwork in the morning.’ Rachel bolted from the table, the weight of her family’s love on her shoulders, and Serena followed her into the hallway, with every footstep taking them closer to a confrontation Rachel had been avoiding. Serena’s footfalls echoed loudly behind her, although it was probably just the guilt making it seem that way.
‘Rach, what is going on with you?’ Serena’s whisper felt like hissing, an accusation. Rachel swallowed. Perhaps she should have shared more with her twin.
‘I’m sorry about Lisa,’ Serena continued in a softer tone and placed her hand on Rachel’s shoulder. Rachel
shrugged her off and tried to ignore the flush of guilt which came every single time her twin wanted to connect. Serena had only met Lisa once. It would be easy to blame Lisa for that, except Rachel knew she’d deliberately kept the relationship distant from the family. Did that mean she’d always known it wouldn’t last? Was she doomed to sabotage her relationships?
‘It’s not your fault.’
Serena wrapped Rachel in a hug. Rachel couldn’t help but stand stock still, tense. She would love to be one of those people who could let someone comfort them. Instead she blinked back the rush of hot tears and waited for Serena to step back.
‘Do you need me to help with anything? Are you all moved in with Allira?’
Rachel’s heart slammed to a halt. Her next words were going to sting. ‘I sorted it out myself.’
‘Of course, why would you need me to help you?’ Serena tried to hide her hurt under sarcasm, and Rachel felt her twin’s hurt as though she’d punched herself in the guts.
‘I’m sorry. It happened really fast, and Allira offered me a room at her place. It’s working out quite well, except—’ Rachel bit her tongue. Why had she said that? She didn’t want to mention how she felt about Jacob, especially when she didn’t know how she felt. The lump in her gut grew. She knew how she felt, she just wasn’t ready to admit it aloud yet.
‘Except, what?’
‘Allira does shift work, so our schedules don’t overlap much.’ Rachel glanced down the hallway as Serena finally stepped back from their hug, releasing Rachel’s body. She dragged in a long breath, filling her lungs, then blew out some of the tension. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she accept her twin’s comfort?
‘That sounds like a lie. What is actually wrong? Is it her brother? Has he been harassing you?’
Rachel smiled. The image of Serena ready to put up her dukes and defend her made Rachel all warm inside. That was the comfort she needed.
‘Thank fuck for sisters,’ Rachel sighed, most of the tension in her shoulders releasing.
‘Well, do I?’
Rachel shook her head, giggling at the mental image of tiny Serena with her fists up. ‘No. No, I’ve only met Allira’s brother a couple of times and he kept his distance. But thank you for the offer. It’s exactly what I needed.’
‘Okay?’
‘I am okay. Truly.’ Rachel worked hard to keep her gaze on Serena’s confused face.
‘I just want to understand you and be there for you.’
‘I know. And I appreciate it, I really do.’ Sometimes this family smothered her, and she just needed to be away, so she could figure out who she really was. Growing up in Tranquil Waters had been claustrophobic in many ways, even before her sixteenth birthday disaster. Ironic really that she’d stayed in racing where the gossip grapevine grew as though fertilised with superphosphate. Serena frowned, her gaze flicking all over Rachel’s face.
‘We love you, Rachel, that’s all.’
‘I know. Jacob has done nothing. He’s fine, and …’ Why did she feel the need to defend Jacob to her family? Like she said, she’d only met him twice, and if it wasn’t for his silly team mates and their punting club, they’d have no reason to talk again. He certainly treated her with disdain during that first meeting, and she’d brushed past him to prove it didn’t matter to her. If only that simple touch hadn’t burned her skin with the crackle of electricity.
‘Fine, as in fine, okay, or fine, as in nice to look at.’
Rachel’s cheeks prickled with heat and her lips suddenly dried. She licked them.
‘I see. Rachel, I know you don’t want advice from me, but it’s not wise to bounce from relationship to relationship.’
Rachel glared at Serena, ‘That’s superb advice coming from someone who is too afraid to have a relationship at all.’
‘Hey, that’s not fair and you know it.’
Rachel closed her eyes and counted to three before opening them again. Serena spoke the truth, and that was the crux of the problem between them. Rachel had Dad’s devil-may-care personality, with all the downfalls of leaping before she looked, and Serena had Mama’s careful planned approach to life. Tranquil Waters adored Serena because she belonged. The town’s gossipmongers hated Rachel because she pushed against them, always had, and probably always would.
‘I don’t want to fight with you, Se.’
‘Neither do I, but you started it.’ Serena’s mouth kicked up in a grin, and Rachel sighed, thankful for the way her sister could diffuse any argument with a jest. Once again, Rachel longed for the mythical twin connection that other twins talked about—the idea of being half of a duo and belonging to each other.
‘I’m not bouncing into another relationship. Lisa cheated. She burned me. I don’t want another relationship, but that doesn’t mean my eyes don’t work. I can admire from afar.’
Serena nodded, ‘Ahh, that’s my Rachel.’
‘I don’t belong to you.’ Rachel nudged Serena with her elbow and laughed.
‘You don’t belong to anyone. Go on, get back to Melbourne and make that career of yours fly.’
‘Thanks. Hey, I meant to ask. I’ve noticed you’ve been doing a bit of riding for a new trainer, Edwards.’
Serena grinned, ‘He’s moved into the old Patterson property. He did the Godolphin Flying Start program before deciding to be a trainer in his own right. He must have some rich clients, as he has some beautifully bred horses to train. Real bluebloods. Shannon invited him to use our track for fast work, which led to me riding for him.’
‘Oh, he’s young, then?’ Rachel frowned. Even though there was no age restriction on the Flying Start, most graduates tended to be in their late twenties, and with a very select entry criteria to the global horse-racing study course, Edwards would be a trainer to watch in the future.
Serena blushed, a faint rinse of pink on her cheeks and nose, ‘Yeah.’
‘And hot?’
‘If you like the tall, lean, blond type with an English accent.’ Serena’s blush deepened.
‘You sly dog. All this talk about me and wanting to help me, and you’ve been holding out on me. Is he single?’ Rachel punched her sister lightly on the arm.
Serena shrugged, colour on her cheeks. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Find out. Report back to me,’ Rachel said. The splash of pink on Serena’s face continued to get richer in colour.
‘Only if you promise to stay single for a while. I want you to be happy, Rach, and you can’t be happy if you give yourself to everyone.’
Rachel bristled at the comment. There was so much wrong with it, for starters, the idea that being bi made her naturally disloyal was one that she railed, hard, against. Okay, sure, she’d had a lot of partners, but she wasn’t a fucking cheat. Rachel craved loyalty more than anything, and she’d always treated her partners as exclusive. Unfortunately, Lisa chose to destroy her loyalty. Choosing the wrong partner didn’t make her a bad person. Her judgement might be in question, but at least she was out there having a go.
‘So do I—want to be happy, I mean. And you are right, of course, I need to focus on my career and all these personal dramas take too much energy.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. Look after yourself.’ Serena’s words were smug, but her expression countered Rachel’s assumption with the same sympathetic gaze Serena always bestowed on her.
Rachel grinned, ‘Don’t I always?’
‘No.’ Serena laughed. Neither of them needed to say the obvious—Rachel’s tendency to chase the next thrill led her to ride the wildest horses, the ones no one else would get on. Rachel quickly hugged Serena, sucking in a sharp breath at the parallel to her love life. She had chased lust too often, and that had ended in pain too many times. Well, fuck them. It was just her now. She had hands and a vibrator, she could satisfy herself.
‘I’d better go. It’s a decent drive and I have trackwork in the morning.’
‘See you. Text me when you get home.’
‘Will do.’
&
nbsp; Chapter 6
Rachel bounced out of the front door. She loved her family, especially in small doses like this. As she pulled on her boots, the smell of the farm at night filled her lungs. The new spring growth in the air, and the faint sounds of the staff walking around the foaling paddocks checking the mares due this week, all added to the promises the season brought. Rachel slid into the driver’s seat and pulled out her phone.
I’ll be home in about 3 hours. Can you text me Jacob’s number? I have that info he was after.
Allira responded quickly with the number and a smiley face, and Rachel turned the key in the ignition before calling Jacob with her hands-free kit. He answered before she reached the end of Merindah Park’s driveway, and she stopped before pulling out onto the road.
‘Hey, Jacob, it’s Rachel.’
‘Hi.’ Jacob sounded distant. Didn’t he want to hear from her? Maybe it was weird of her to ring him about this, or was she reading too much into one word? Damn her family for creating all these doubts. Could the call have waited until she got back to Melbourne? Nah, better to do it while Toshiko’s thoughts on the matter, and the logic of how it all worked, were still fresh in her mind. She stumbled over her words, rushing to get out her justification for calling him.
‘Allira gave me your number. I’m calling about the punter’s club.’ Was that a sigh she heard?
‘Right. What did you find out?’ Jacob still sounded terse, making Rachel want to fight back at him. She eased out a long breath, it wasn’t his fault she felt combative.
‘Toshiko—she’s my sister-in-law—says there is a chance it might be a pyramid scheme—’
‘What?’ Jacob shouted, his voice echoing in her car as she flicked the headlights onto high beam, not wanting to risk hitting a kangaroo in the dark as she accelerated, bringing the car up to highway speed. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel at the sudden boom of his voice.
‘A chance, not definite.’
‘I don’t want my team mates getting wrapped up in a pyramid scheme.’ His voice remained loud and forceful, different to how she remembered him in person.
