The Reef (51 page)

Tony grabbed his shaving kit and a change of clothes and went back to the resort. He and Rosie had a quiet dinner and when they left the dining room they heard Willsy in the bar, laughing, surrounded by people, ordering more champagne. Gordon was nowhere to be seen. With Blair away he seemed to have no boss and went his own way.

‘I wish the gang were back here,' said Tony. ‘I wish I could figure out what the hell went down over at Cookshead. I don't want to push Patch but he has given me some damning evidence. Now if I use it, his life could be in danger.'

Tony couldn't sleep. He lay in bed thinking back to this time the previous evening as he and Jennifer had made their dangerous trip back to Headland. What a trooper she'd been. When he thought how scared she'd been of the sea, even a little trip in the resort launch with Lloyd around the island from Gideon's had been such a big deal for her. After last night nothing would daunt Jen.

He began to ponder his feelings for her. He'd been so vulnerable when they'd met, sworn off relationships and needing to heal his heart and psyche. But she'd slipped under his radar. It had been easy to develop their friendship, given the circumstances and the group of people and the fact
she was married and off-limits. She was safe. But as her marriage to Blair had disintegrated, their lives and careers had become interwoven, and now they had reached a different plateau.

He had played a small part in a significant moment in her life and he felt even more connected to her. But he was afraid to step forward, make any move or approach, for fear of damaging a friendship that had become precious to him. If this was as good as it got, that would be enough. He was not going to do anything to spoil the easy bond they shared.

Tony was dozing when he heard the tap on his window. He leapt up, pulling back the curtain, and recognised Patch. He slid open the glass door and brought him into the room, but didn't turn on the light.

They spoke in low voices, the old man's stutter worse with nerves.

‘Patch, you go and get Rosie. Tell her what you told me. She'll know what to do.'

There was a cool edge to the night air. The moon hadn't risen to its highest point and was obscured by trees. Tony cursed as he stumbled over a sleeping mutton bird.

He slowed as he reached Gideon's compound. The goat was penned, everything looked in its place. Doyley was in charge of the goat, the garden and general maintenance while Gideon was away.

Tony stopped and looked at the sandy garden.
Even in the poor light he could see the scuffed marks in the sand. He had the key from Rosie but he went to the shed where the shark mobile was neatly wrapped and covered. He stared at it in the light from the dim lightbulb, and saw one end of the cover had a loose tie. He pulled back the canvas and opened the small hatch. Inside the submersible were half a dozen large cartons.

He ripped open the top one and found it filled with plastic bags. He didn't need to open it to know what it held. The white powder was unmistakeable. In exchange for the animals, payment came in this form, Tony surmised. He stepped back, trying to calculate, and gave up. Over a million dollars or more depending on the purity of the powder. How many shipments of innocent creatures had been sold for this? he wondered. There was probably a huge money-laundering scam involved as well.

Who would have thought of searching the premises of the grand old man of the island? Fishing charter be blowed. This was going out tomorrow and would be on the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, in days.

Back at the resort Tony called Bob in Headland, who agreed to pick him up in the chopper at first light. After a few more phone calls he had everything in place to implicate Willsy, Gordon and the slick boys. And he had a hell of a story to write for the paper.

After two days Jennifer couldn't imagine her life without this small child beside her. Already she and Isobel agreed Bella was her own person, wilful, cute, dependent and kissable.

‘I want to take her back to the island right now. But I promised Mum . . .'

‘Jenny, she is still so tiny, you must keep in touch with the medical people, and you must get strong. Enjoy a couple of weeks' bonding and being with your mother. Make it a healing time. She is a woman in great pain,' said Isobel.

‘Yes. But I'm so glad Vi and Don are here as well,' said Jennifer.

Later Jennifer realised how lucky she was those first few days alone with her baby to have Isobel calmly supportive in the background. When Bella refused to breastfeed, Isobel placed her on a pillow and gave Jennifer a small cocktail to relax her, sat and chatted and, before any of them knew it, Bella's rosebud mouth was clamped firmly on her nipple and Jennifer's let-down reflex allowed her milk to flow.

Christina seethed at being a ‘visitor' to her daughter but Jennifer insisted she'd been advised not to upset her baby by moving straightaway.

When she did move to Christina's unit, Jennifer was confident and secure. She and Bella had a pact.

Blair rang. He was flying back to Australia. Jennifer assumed it was for the baby till Tony came to make his first visit and filled her in on the news. He arrived with flowers and stood
staring at Bella in Jennifer's arms, deeply touched.

‘So? What do you think of her?'

‘She's just perfect. I'm trying to imagine what she thought about our boat trip.'

‘I hope we can take her out sailing when she's bigger, and it's a calm and sunny day,' laughed Jennifer.

‘She'll be swimming, sailing and diving before she can walk probably.' He grinned at her. ‘Can I take a photo of you both?' After he'd taken several pictures, he sat beside the bed. ‘Are you ready for the latest developments?'

‘I saw the TV news, what on earth went on?'

‘It's been a hectic week. Willsy and Gordon found Lloyd's boat at Cookshead.
Kicking Back
cruised back to Headland to be met by customs, who found nothing on board. Seeming to do a good deed, Willsy and Gordon took Lloyd's boat to Branch and unloaded the drugs at Gideon's. Who'd search his place?'

‘But Patch, as usual, stuck his nose in,' said Jennifer.

‘It's starting to unravel. I gave the cops the transcripts of all my interviews with Patch.' Tony paused and stroked Bella's tiny, curved, shell-like hand. ‘He told me about Willsy and the girl,' he said slowly.

Jennifer stared at him.

Tony went on in a steady voice. ‘He saw him attack the red-headed girl from the resort staff and she went to you and Blair. She stayed at your unit, and you got her out the next morning.'

‘Poor Rhonda. Oh my God, he saw that? Why didn't he come forward?'

‘He was scared. Who'd believe him? And you seemed to have it under control. But it's pretty damaging evidence against Willsy.'

‘Rhonda has been paid off so she won't talk,' said Jennifer.

‘She will if you and Patch go public. If we need to add that to the case.'

‘Well, I'll speak up if I'm needed. I felt terrible about covering it up. I thought maybe it was best for Rhonda, but I hated to see Willsy get away with it.' Jennifer remembered the arrogance of the TV personality. ‘Blair is pretty shattered. He's taking the job in Switzerland. What was Gordon's connection with all this?'

‘I don't think Daddy knew what he was up to, until late in the piece when Gordon got involved on the ground here with Willsy. Gordon's father has a private zoo and he wanted the wildlife. He was prepared to pay money and unwittingly became part of the network.' Tony stood up. ‘Look, don't fret about this. You have more important things to think about. We've done our bit.'

‘Well,
you
certainly have. We'll have a tale to tell the gang when they come back, won't we?' She smiled at him.

‘Yep. That's a few weeks off. You enjoy Bella. I'm going back home to do some writing. I'm on the email and the phone. I still have work to do.'

‘I'll get back to mine when I go back to the
island. Tony, I can't thank you enough . . .' Jennifer faltered.

‘Hey, what are friends for?' He opened his arms and gestured towards Jennifer sitting up in bed with her baby sleeping contentedly in her arms. ‘This is worth everything.' He leaned down, kissed her cheek and brushed his lips across the baby's head. ‘Ciao, Bella. Say goodbye to Don and Vi, they're good people.' To his relief Christina had made herself absent, walking to the shops.

Three weeks passed and Jennifer was so grateful she had friends to break the obsessiveness of her mother. Vi and Don adored the baby, but they couldn't help noting that, while Christina loved showing Bella off at the tennis club and around the local shops, her attention was constantly on Jennifer.

Outings, lunches and breaks away from Christina with Rosie and Beverly, Isobel, and Vi and Don, gave Jennifer great relief. She had Bella in a routine where they'd adjusted to each other, Jennifer fitting in with the baby's sleeping and eating pattern. In between, she tackled her computer, emailing Mac pictures of Bella as well as her redrafted papers.

Sitting on the balcony of her mother's unit while Don had a cigarette downwind, Jennifer told him, ‘I'm making arrangements to go back to the island. I have to attend some classes at uni eventually, but I'll move back there. I was thinking
of having the baby-naming on Branch. I want you and Vi there. What do you think?'

‘We've been looking forward to an island holiday. Bored with the caravan park. But I don't know how your mum will take to the idea. She's been talking about having a party at the RSL . . .'

‘No way, Don. All my friends will be back there.'

Don carefully stubbed out his cigarette, waving the smoke away from Bella. ‘You do what you think is best and what you want for your little girl. We'll fit in, luv.'

Jennifer waited till the last possible moment to tell Christina of her plans, even though Rosie and Isobel had been working on them for two weeks.

Christina was not impressed. ‘I know Don and Vi want to go to that place for a holiday. It's certainly not my cup of tea.'

‘Mum, there'll be plenty of people over there. Carmel and Lloyd are back and engaged. The party is for them too. Please come over.'

‘We'll see,' said Christina, which meant she had no intention of considering the idea.

Jennifer was packed and, with her doctor's consent, was moving back to the island. Bella was a placid baby, loved people, and was happy to be passed around to strangers like a parcel. Isobel and Gideon were featuring in the media – prompted by a great write-up from Tony as their film had been nominated for a prize in a world
documentary festival. Isobel was using the publicity as a means to promote awareness of the dangers facing the Great Barrier Reef.

Rosie had a suite set aside for Vi and Don, who left on the cat for their holiday. Jennifer was taking the chopper over with the baby. Blair had promised to be there for the naming ceremony and, at present, the only unconfirmed participant was Christina.

As Jennifer carried her bags and boxes down to Isobel's car, Christina watched sullenly. Bella was asleep in the carry cot. Jennifer came back and looked around the unit filled with cards, flowers and small toys.

‘Well, I guess that's it. I've left the bassinet and some other gear. It's great that's here when we come back over.'

‘Oh, and how often will that be?'

‘Mum, we'll visit every ten days. At least. Now come on, why don't you come too? It's not a big deal. You'll like it once you're there.'

‘I will never set foot on that place in the middle of nowhere. I have no love for the sea, Jennifer,' she said pointedly.

‘Mum, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I want to have Bella's naming ceremony over there.'

‘Tosh. Such new-age rubbish. I would like my granddaughter to have a proper christening. In a church. Before Vi and Don go back to Sydney.'

‘I guess we can do that too, if you insist. But the Minister who does the marriages is doing it. Rosie has everything arranged.'

Isobel quietly appeared in the doorway and edged into the room, not wanting to interrupt.

‘What if Blair doesn't get back from Europe in time?' said Christina in a rush, grasping at reasons to stall Jennifer.

‘Mum, that's too bad then. Blair and I are separated. I want him to be involved in Bella's life but we're not going to run things to suit Blair. If he doesn't get there that's his loss.'

Christina caught sight of Isobel waiting in the background to take her daughter and granddaughter away. She spun around and pointed a finger at her. ‘This is all
your
doing. Ever since you came along Jennifer has been different! You're brainwashing her.'

Jennifer laughed. ‘Mum, don't be ridiculous!'

Isobel took a step forward and said calmly, ‘No, your mother is right. You have changed, Jenny. You're not intimidated any more. You're making a life for yourself, finding a passion and a career. You should be proud of her, Christina.'