Buying Thyme (18 page)

I hold my breath and push down on the brass handle and open the door enough to poke my head into the room to make sure Tench knows it’s me. The room is spectacular. The opulence of the office space puts even Tony Montana to shame. Rich wood panels line the walls and the room itself has a second mezzanine level where wrought iron balustrades on either side imprison a full library of books. A medieval-style chandelier hangs between the levels and below it, sits a heavy dark mahogany desk. Two high-backed tub chairs with a beautiful brass-coloured guild pattern on them, sit facing the desk. Tench is standing in front of a tropical fish tank on the left wall that stands higher than he does. Two small black-tip reef sharks circle a mass of living coral in the centre of the vast tank. Tench drops in chunky flakes that don’t look like your normal kind of fish food. The chunks zigzag their way to the bottom, leaving a reddish trail behind them as they sink.

“That’s very ‘Dr Evil’ of you Joe.” I say as he looks up at me and smiles.

“I’m pleased to see that you have recovered Miranda.” His blatant arrogance about the whole situation annoys me, but I try and keep my emotions in check.
 

Those emotions mind you, are still wavering between breaking down into a foetal position on the floor or shredding the velvet curtains with a kitchen knife.

“Come in and meet Bruce and Betty. Did you get back in touch with Miss Stephanie?”

“Yes I did.”
 

I fully enter the room and make my way over to Tench, feeling a little more at ease now that I know his mood is jovial. I contemplate whether I should tell Tench about my concern for Sally, but instinctively decide against it until I find out what she wanted to tell me about him. Tench plops in the last of the fleshy chunks and turns towards me. He pulls me towards him and wraps his arm around my body. I look up to him to try and find some answers in his eyes, but his hollow stare and trite smile give me nothing. His thumb and index finger grip around the bottom of my chin and he holds my face in front of his. He lightly brushes the corner of my lips with his lips. He slowly makes his way to the centre of my lips with a trail of tender bounces. His full lips softly push against mine and this tongue gently licks the outside of my lips until a shot of electricity pierces my body and I am drawn back to a yearning for Tench that is consequently unwelcomed at this point. I cautiously test my desires for him and reciprocate the kiss. His strong touch around me feels assuring, the polar opposite to his forceful hands this morning. The actions of the morning still have enough of an impact on me that I find it difficult to fully enjoy the moment. Tench pulls back and I open my eyes before Tench and see that he is slowly opening his eyes, a dreamy smile upon his face.

“So tell me gorgeous… What have you come to see me about?” Tench directs me towards the chairs and motions for me to take a seat. 

I watch Tench casually stroll back around to the other side of the desk. My eyes stop following Tench when I catch sight of my phone sitting opposite me on his desk. Again my emotions have switched back to seething. I can feel my earlobes burning from the rising anger.
Keep your cool girly! You can do this… poise… poise!
Tench looks down at my phone when he notices my fixated stare.

“Ah… So you’ve noticed that I have taken your phone for you then?” I remain hesitant to engage in this conversation with Tench, “I guess you can call it my insurance. While you’re here you won’t be needing this, so I’ll be keeping hold of it for you.”
 

Tench slides my phone into a desk draw. I watch his hands with intent and then lock eyes with him when my phone, full of important and private information, is out of my sight and reach. I feel vulnerable, but I try my best to keep my poker face on.

“I have no intention of going anywhere Joe. I’m yours for as long as you pay me to be so.” I aim to sound as harsh as possible. 

If he wants to remind me that I’m nothing but his whore, then I’m going to act like his whore.

The phone on
the desk startlingly interrupts the uncomfortable silence between Tench and I. Tench reacts quickly and snatches the phone up from it’s place of rest.

“Yes.” He barks into the receiver.
 

A moment passes and he barks once again,

“Put her through.” He holds the phone out towards me for me to take, “It’s for you. It’s your Agency.” 

I cautiously take the phone from him, frightened by the look in his eye. I frown and shake my head to show him that I know as much as he does about what the call may be for. Tench looks unconvinced that I haven’t divulged our secret to my madam, so I shrug my shoulders and hold my free palm outwards to further show him that I have done nothing wrong.

“Hello.” I say into the receiver, my eyes not leaving Tench.

“Hello Miranda. It’s Miss Stephanie. We need you to come into the Agency ASAP. There are some detectives here that need to speak with you. I’m sending Ben around to collect you now.”
Miss Stephanie does not mince her words. I gasp with utter shock of the news. A flood of different reasons for my immediate return to the Agency flashes before my eyes.

“What is this about? Is it Sally? It’s Sally isn’t it? What has she done? Is she okay? Tell me now!” I begin to sound frantic.

“You will be told everything as soon as you get here Miranda.”
Miss Stephanie coolly replies. Tench is still staring at me with a look of concern.

“What is it Miranda?” Tench asks. I hold the phone receiver to my chest to speak to Tench.

“Something has happened at the Agency and they need me back there ASAP.”

“How long for?” He says with an air of unease.

“How long will this take?” I repeat the question back down the line.

“Tell Mr Tench we will have you back to him within a couple of hours.”

“Couple of hours?” I inform Tench and wait for his reply.

“Is it serious? Toni can take you. I would prefer it if he escorts you there to be honest.”
 

Of course he wants his prisoner
watched. 
Tench’s serious stare remains firmly fixed on me.

“Tench wants his security to bring me over Ma’am.” I feel wedged between the two people who own me right now.

“Very well then. Get yourself over here immediately.”
In Miss Stephanie’s usual style, she bluntly ends the call. 

I am left spinning from the call and my mind races to come up with any reason why I may be called back to the Agency to speak to the police. All theories keep leading back to the same conclusion… Sally!

CHAPTER 16

I imagine every
possible scenario of what is waiting for me at the Agency. I feel nauseous, so I put the rear passenger window down slightly and let in some of the cool wintery air. Toni’s eyes glance back at me in the rear vision mirror. No doubt it’s to check and make sure I’m not going to jump out of the Range Rover. What is Tench so worried about? I seriously couldn’t be bothered plotting an escape from him. Where am I supposed to go exactly? He practically owns the city! We pass through Kings Cross on our approach to the CBD. I notice more and more of the pretty young things partying along the strip as we drive by. They make my profession look tame in comparison. The barely-there skimpy outfits and poorly caked-on makeup, only further exemplifies that their intentions for the night have less morals than my own shady trade. I still have my dignity… well did have my dignity, but I get paid for my effort. All the girls that I work with have far more class than these tramps. I’ve always felt that my industry is just misunderstood. There is far worse than me out there, that’s for sure.

Watching the sights
of the city roll by the car
window has taken my mind off the frightening unknown at the Agency, and the trip is quickly over. Toni opens my rear door as soon when we’ve pulled up in the basement car park of the Agency. He lights a cigarette, leans against the Range Rover, and watches me as I make my way over to the elevator. Once in the elevator, I press the security sequence into the pad to access the penthouse level and the elevator begins its ascent. I feel physically ill from the whole situation, afraid to even open my mouth in case I actually do vomit. The elevator doors spring open at the top level and I take a moment to compose myself before I exit it. Everything is as it was when I left the penthouse just a day ago. Nothing seems out of place in the foyer. A massive lead-lighted oval skylight on the ceiling highlights the stark white interior of the foyer.

“Is that you Miranda?” My usual greeting from Miss Stephanie replays, as always before I’ve even closed the front door.
 

I make my way to her office and notice over in the lounge room, a few girls are huddled together on the couch. Embracing each other and visibly upset. Even Carmen, mega-bitch, is sitting there… red-eyed and upset. Paris looks up at me with two mascara soaked lines streaking her face. She shakes her head and nestles it back into the shoulder of one of the other girls. Needles prickle all over my body and it feels like someone is gripping onto my earlobes. A throbbing pulse in my ears silences any sense of hearing around me. I know in my heart what’s happened. I know it. My knees feel like they can no longer hold my weight. I step into Miss Stephanie’s office and she looks up at me over her glasses. She tilts her head to the side sympathetically and I see her bottom lip starts to contort as she holds back her tears. I can’t focus on her anymore. Everything is a blur and I take another step but feel myself moving sideways instead of forwards. Ben and another man in a suit- who I’ve never seen before- both rush to my side and grip onto my arms.

“Get her over to the seat.” Ben directs the unfamiliar male.

Their grips help me not to fall over. I try my best to remain conscious.

“Here. Drink some water darling.” Miss Stephanie holds out a glass of water from her own personal supply on the desk, “You look pale darling. This isn’t easy but we have some news about Sally.”

I don’t want to hear any more. I know Sally is dead. I drink the water and try not to look at anyone.

“Miranda. I’m Detective Senior Sergeant Kelly and this is my partner Detective Senior Constable Cain. We’re from homicide. Your friend… aaah… Sally…” He says as he looks into his notebook, “Her body was found in Sydney Harbour two days ago. We haven’t been able to identify her until today when Miss Stephanie here, put in a missing persons report about her and it matched our victim.” 

I instantly look up at Miss Stephanie as the detective says she put in a report about Sally being missing. I thought she was convinced that Sally had taken off on her and the Agency? What made her think differently all of a sudden? Did Ben find something at her house? I’m unable to murmur a single word let alone a sentence, or a question.

“After I got off the phone from you, Ben went around to Sally’s house. The front door was wide open and there was no sign of her anywhere. Her handbag was still beside her bed. I was worried about her… and you were right. I’m so sorry Miranda. I know how close you two were.” Miss Stephanie continues to look at me sympathetically. 

I can’t breath. I try… but I can’t breath in. I try again… I begin to panic when no oxygen enters my body no matter how hard I try and inhale. Now I can’t brea
th out. I can’t get any air out. I want to close my eyes and fade away… no I need air… I need fresh air.

“I need some air!” I splutter, trying to get up from the chair and stumble backwards in my attempt.

My legs still fail to support me. The detective comes to my side and nods towards Miss Stephanie. I give him an unwelcoming look and he backs away instantly. I stumble out of the office and make my way towards the massive outdoor terrace. I don’t look at any of the girls as I pass the lounge room. I can’t. I just need air before I pass out. The air is way too thick inside this penthouse. I rip the sliding door open and finally the cold air outside pierces my nostrils and I gulp in deep breaths, but my breathing can’t catch up with itself and I feel like I am going to vomit now. I run for the big pot plant in the corner and bring up all of the well-cooked eggs that I had for breakfast. I imagine what Sally’s body must’ve looked like, floating in the water. The image of her face in my dream washes over and I can’t get it out of my head. Beautiful Sally. Why? My tears now flow and I'm soon becoming a dribbling mess. Why Sally? It can’t be true. I’m going to wake up in a minute. Just like my dream the night before. This has to be a dream… no… a nightmare! The detective again tries to approach me, holding out a handkerchief from his pocket. Still sobbing, I take it without looking at him and wipe my face. I hate him right now, but remind myself that this isn’t his fault. He’s just doing his job. Homicide…  why homicide? Did someone do this to her?

“What happened to her?” I ask between sobs.
 

The detective looks out across the city then back at me. His cheap suit and tired eyes are a sign that he lives for his job, with little regard to anything else in his life, or the small amount that he gets paid each week for his troubles.