The Girl Who Never : A twisted crime

by HC Michaels

  She put down the urn and gestured for him to come inside.

  Without a word, he rose and went to her.

  “I want to get out of here,” she said.

  “We should say goodbye first.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips.

  She looked out at the three men on the balcony. “I don’t want to.”

  “Okay.” Paul nodded, winked, and pulled her toward the door. “Let’s go then.”

  Maybe it was good he hadn’t fallen down the stairs after all. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.

  6 Days Before The Break

  Elvira was clutching the urn with her mother’s ashes so tightly her knuckles were turning white.

  They were on the water, which meant soon this whole experience would be over.

  She was certain that when her mother had allegedly asked to have her ashes scattered in the water, she wasn’t picturing this scene.

  The dinghy made a nice fishing boat but was certainly not the kind of vessel anyone would choose to say goodbye to their family. Except her father. Only he’d choose something like this. It was exactly the reason her parents had been able to sell their modest Brunswick home and business and buy a luxury island apartment. They must have a fortune sitting in the bank from scrimping and saving in every other aspect of their lives.

  The dinghy had three rows of seats. Tino was at the stern with his hand on the tiller. Her father was seated next to him. Tessa had made a lunge for the front seat as far away from Tino as possible, which meant Amelia was also at the front. Elvira was left in the middle with Paul beside her. This seemed to be the story of her life.

  Her father had stuck to his word and Logan was nowhere in sight. It was family only.

  And Tessa.

  “Isn’t it beautiful out here?” Paul put his arm around Elvira’s shoulder.

  She tried not to cringe at the contact. She wanted to be left alone with her thoughts. He’d been so affectionate ever since she’d had sex with him when he’d arrived on the island. If this was the result of them breaking their drought then she thought maybe next time she’d just keep the dry spell going indefinitely. If only that were a possibility. Even the harshest desert still needed a little bit of rain occasionally to keep it alive.

  “It’s lovely,” she said to Paul, wriggling away from him slightly.

  He didn’t seem to notice her discomfort and shuffled closer.

  She looked at the scenery, wishing she could appreciate it in the same way Paul was. He was right. They were in one of the most stunning places in the world. The water was so clear it looked more green than blue and every direction she looked in there was another tree-lined island. They all seemed uninhabited, and she thought how nice it would be to live on one of them.

  Alone, of course.

  The air was warm and the breeze from the movement of the boat kept the sun from getting too hot. If this trip weren’t for such a depressing reason, she’d almost be enjoying it.

  It was no wonder so many holidaymakers flocked to this island. With weather and scenery like this, it rivalled any destination in the world. What Australian needed to go overseas to lie on a beach when there was paradise like this on their doorstep? Hopefully that murder didn’t deter people from coming. That could’ve happened anywhere in the world. Still, she doubted she’d ever return here. It would forever more be a place associated with her mother’s death.

  Amelia leant over the side of the boat to look into the water, sending Elvira’s heart racing, despite her daughter not only being firmly strapped into a life jacket but Tessa was holding onto the waist strap to stop her leaning over too far. Tessa was wearing a life jacket, too. She was the only adult to ask for one at the hire office—a direct result of Amelia stamping her foot when she found out she was required to wear one. When she saw her beloved Tessa putting on her jacket, she couldn’t get her own one on fast enough.

  Tessa was always so clever like that. She seemed to know exactly how to get Amelia to do what she wanted without having to put up with any tantrums. There was a lot Elvira could learn from Tessa if only she let herself.

  She looked down at the urn in her lap. She should be thinking about her mother, not Tessa.

  It was strange to think her mother could fit into this small metal container. In her hands she held the remains of a body that had once lived and breathed. A body that had nurtured her, birthed her, and held her in its arms.

  She wiped the tears that had started to pour down her face. She missed her mother. She’d been too young to die. She had so many good years ahead of her that she was supposed to have lived. It wasn’t meant to end like this.

  Paul tightened his grip around her.

  “Just give me a second,” she said, moving away.

  He nodded and removed his arm. He was always so understanding. She really didn’t deserve him.

  “Where do you want to stop?” Paul asked, swivelling in his seat to face Tino and her father.

  “Here’s good!” her father shouted back.

  Tino cut the engine and the boat drifted to a stop.

  Elvira held the urn to her chest and closed her eyes. She wasn’t going to make another speech today. This was her moment to say what she had to say privately.

  “Goodbye, Mum,” she whispered. “I know you tried, and I forgive you. Please forgive me, too.”

  She opened her eyes at the exact moment she heard a loud splash. Her gaze went straight to the front of the boat, only to see Amelia had fallen in.

  “Amelia!” Elvira screamed, throwing herself into the water after her.

  She reached her daughter in seconds that felt like hours, grabbing hold of her, and pulling her to her chest while she treaded water to keep afloat.

  “Mummy swimming,” squealed Amelia, laughing as she grabbed hold of her shoulders and pulled Elvira under the water.

  She rose to the surface and held Amelia away from her body, her small frame being kept afloat by the life jacket. Elvira could drown if Amelia had continued to hold onto her like that.

  “Swim to the boat, Amelia,” she said. “Can you do that?”

  Amelia took off, her arms thrashing in her expert dog paddle. Paul was leaning over the side of the boat, ready to scoop her up.

  Elvira continued to tread water, catching her breath before she returned to the boat. Amelia hadn’t fallen in. She’d jumped in. That girl loved the water so much. Maybe it had been a mistake not to allow her to spend her days in the pool.

  She’d really frightened her.

  The water was warm. Apart from being absolutely drenched, it actually felt nice. Elvira was getting so upset on the boat back there. The shock of the water had soothed her. She certainly didn’t feel like crying any more.

  Thank goodness she hadn’t had her phone in her pocket.

  Paul scooped Amelia into the boat and Elvira’s pulse immediately slowed. Her little girl was safe.

  “Where’s your mother?” her father called out to her.

  What kind of a question was that? Her mother was dead in an urn.

  Oh, crap.

  The urn! Where the hell was it? Please God, let her have put it down before she jumped.

  “Is the urn on the seat?” she called to Paul as she grabbed hold of the side of the dinghy to keep herself afloat.

  She could see him looking under the seat. The panicked expression on his face made her let go of the boat.

  Her fears were confirmed. She hadn’t put down the urn before she jumped. Her mother’s ashes had ended up in the water as per her wishes, but instead of being scattered, they’d been…dropped.

  That was the same thing, wasn’t it?

  The look on her father’s face seemed to disagree.

  She couldn’t be certain, but she could swear Tino was stifling a laugh.

  “Sorry, Mum,” she said to the water surrounding her.

  But really, what had her mother expected when she asked for her ashes to be scattered in the ocean? It was a crazy idea! She should’ve
been buried in the ground at Fawkner Cemetery like the rest of her family. It was no wonder things had gone so horribly wrong.

  “Carina!” her father called out, as if it were possible to summon his late wife from the water. “Carina!”

  In no hurry to get back in the dinghy and face him, Elvira swam a few lengths away and flipped to her back, stretching out her arms and floating. Her shorts clung to her legs while her white cotton shirt billowed around her like a cloud.

  The sun beat down on her face and she closed her eyes. Just like Tino, she stifled a laugh. The only difference was his laugh had been out of sick amusement at her mistake. Hers was more the kind of laugh that came only when everything was so not funny that it was suddenly the most amusing thing in all the world.

  She heard another splash and pulled herself into an upright position.

  “No, Millie!” cried Tessa.

  Amelia had jumped in the water again.

  “Mummy swimming,” she said, paddling towards her.

  This time Elvira wasn’t panicked or angry. Instead, she reached out her arms and pulled Amelia to her chest.

  She was never going to forget this day. It was such a shame that one day Amelia probably would.

  “I love you,” she whispered into Amelia’s hair before letting go and helping her swim back to the boat.

  Tessa watched Paul help Elvira back into the boat, uncertain as to what she should say.

  Thankfully, nobody expected her to say anything. Except Millie. And she had no idea of the seriousness of what had just happened.

  Tessa had seen the flash of sunlight catching the urn as Elvira dove into the water and knew immediately what she’d done. She’d hoped Elvira had hung onto it, but it was quickly apparent that wasn’t the case. Her hands must’ve released the urn when she hit the water.

  The ocean was deep out here. There was no point trying to find it. They all knew that.

  The moments that followed the realisation of what had taken place were like something out of a movie. It didn’t feel real.

  Elvira’s father, Roberto, was devastated. His face was scrunching up in unnatural ways as he tried to come to terms with the implications of Elvira’s actions. From what Tessa heard, he’d tried so hard to carry out his wife’s wishes in just the way she’d instructed. Being unceremoniously dumped into the ocean like that hadn’t been part of the plan. He was still crying out his wife’s name like he could turn back the clock.

  Paul’s eyes were darting around from person to person assessing the damage. He hated arguments and nobody on that boat needed psychic abilities to foresee that a colossal fight was about to explode.

  Tino seemed amused by the situation, which was typical behaviour for a psycho. There was nothing funny about it. Was he pleased that Elvira had been the one to stuff up this time? He was going to look like an angel in his father’s eyes by comparison.

  Millie was huddled on Tessa’s lap, having jumped back in the ocean for a second time. She really did love the water. Under normal circumstances, diving off a boat for a swim would be terrific fun. Tessa would’ve happily jumped in with her.

  Elvira sat back in her seat, looking bedraggled. Her white shirt was clinging to her, showing the patterns of her cream lace bra through the fabric. She didn’t even need a bra, her chest was so flat, but Tessa guessed that wearing one must make her feel like more of a woman. If Tessa had the body of a thirteen-year-old boy, she’d probably choose to wear one, too.

  Tessa had never seen Elvira in such a mess. She was normally so well put together. Her hair was plastered down with her fringe parted to reveal the pale skin of her forehead. She looked nice without that fringe. So much softer. Although, perhaps severe suited her more than soft ever would.

  “Fun, fun, fun!” said Millie, breaking the silence. “That was fun!”

  “Shh,” hushed Tessa.

  “What. Have. You. Done?” Roberto’s voice raised with each word.

  “I’m so sorry,” said Elvira. It was hard to tell if she was crying, given the rivulets of water already running down her face from her wet hair. She almost looked like she was laughing.

  “She had to get to Amelia, you know that,” said Paul.

  “But she did not have to take Carina with her.” Roberto glared at Paul, who seemed crestfallen that his peacemaking attempt had failed.

  “That wasn’t Mum,” said Tino. “You keep saying yourself she’s in heaven now. Besides, her ashes ended up where she wanted them to.”

  Tessa was surprised that Tino came to Elvira’s defence.

  “I don’t need you to stick up for me,” said Elvira. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough?”

  “What exactly have I done, Elvira?” Tino narrowed his eyes at his sister.

  “You’re always trying to make everything about yourself. Why else would you send me that photo?” She scrambled for something in her handbag. “You couldn’t just screw my nanny, you had to rub it in my face.”

  Tessa gasped, desperate to see the photo Elvira was waving in the air, but also dreading it.

  Tino turned white as he looked at the photo. “Where did you get this?”

  “You posted it to me!” Elvira went to snatch it back, but Tino leaned over her and handed it to Tessa.

  “Don’t let her see it,” he said, indicating to Millie.

  “I want to see!” Millie squealed.

  Tessa caught a glimpse of it and her whole world spun as her cheeks turned purple. “What the…”

  “I did not send that to you!” Tino said to Elvira.

  Tessa took another quick look, then tore the photo into pieces and threw it into the ocean along with Carina’s ashes. There’s no way she wanted to be reminded of how easily she’d been taken in by Tino in Greece. Talk about an invasion of privacy!

  “I want to see!” wailed Millie.

  “Did you take that photo?” Tessa asked, glaring at Tino. “You pervert!”

  “It wasn’t me!” Tino pleaded. “Tessa, I swear it. I’ve never seen that photo in my life.”

  Tessa blinked back tears. He seemed so genuine. But she knew better than to believe a word he said. The guy is a creep and that photo proved it. Nobody else would have taken it. She didn’t even know anyone else in Mykonos at the time, apart from Darcy and Darcy and they’d been miles away.

  “Stop it!” cried Roberto, standing up in the boat and making it rock. “Stop it! I not know what photo you are talking of but I don’t care! Elvira has thrown her mother in the water! That is what I care about right now.”

  “None of this would have happened if it weren’t for him.” Elvira pointed at Tino. “Why don’t you ever blame your perfect son for anything?”

  “Oh, it’s my fault now, is it?” asked Tino. “I suppose I pushed you in the water and threw the ashes in after you, did I?”

  “You know exactly what I mean.” Elvira crossed her arms and glared at him.

  Tessa held her breath as she waited, wondering how exactly this was Tino’s fault.

  “No, Elvira,” he said. “I don’t know what you mean. But I’m sure you’re about to explain.”

  “I only jumped in after Amelia so quickly because…because…”

  “Say it.” Tino leant forward with his forearms resting on his knees, making his biceps pop.

  Unwanted desire punched into Tessa’s gut.

  Elvira went to say something and stopped herself.

  “Go on,” Tino goaded. “Say it.”

  “Because you killed Bianca.” She spat out the name like it was on fire.

  Tessa found herself leaning forward now. This was her chance to find out who Bianca was. She’d almost gathered the courage to ask Paul yesterday, but they’d been interrupted, and she’d lost her nerve.

  Roberto stood and pointed his finger in Elvira’s face.

  “That was accident!” he shouted. “It was not Tino’s fault. When will you learn that?”

  “Maybe when he learns to take some responsibility for what he did,” Elvi
ra shouted back at her father. Tessa had never heard her raise her voice and found herself hugging Millie tighter trying to protect her from the unravelling scene.

  “Don’t you think he suffered enough?” asked Roberto, shaking his head.

  “He’s suffered? Him? He doesn’t even know what suffering is. Bianca was my daughter,” sobbed Elvira. “She was my little baby girl.”

  Tessa blinked in surprise. Elvira had another daughter? She’d wondered about that as a possibility but had dismissed it thinking if that were true then surely, she’d have seen a photo in the house, or Elvira would at least talk about her. People didn’t bury their daughter and live out their lives pretending they’d never existed. It was generally the complete opposite.

  “And she was my granddaughter,” said Roberto. “Tino’s niece. We all loved her. Not just you.”

  Elvira’s face was a picture of pain. “Tino wasn’t watching her. He let her drown.”

  “Darling, he was watching her.” Paul reached for Elvira’s hand only to be shoved away. “We’ve been through this a million times. It was a freak accident. It wouldn’t have made any difference if an entire life saving league had their eyes glued to her.”

  Tino sat in silence. Typical of him to step back when things got intense. Or maybe it was like Paul had just said. They’d been through it a million times. Perhaps Tino saw no point in going through it again.

  “I didn’t know you had another daughter.” Tessa heard herself saying the words before she had a chance to stop herself.

  All eyes turned to look at her.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s none of my business.”

  “You see.” Roberto thrusted his hands on his hips so forcefully the boat began to rock. “You see why your mother and I could no longer watch this mess? You act like Bianca never be born.”

  “That’s not true!” Elvira protested.

  Roberto beat his fist on his chest. “She exist to me. She exist to your mother. We loved that little girl.”

  “I do not act like that,” said Elvira. “If you hadn’t run away then maybe you’d see that. I pray for her every night. And when I’m not praying for her, I’m thinking about her. She was my child. My baby. And Tino did not watch her.”