River Song, page 32
‘It’s a Bora ring,’ interjected Harry, unable to hold back the news. ‘Sacred site. Really old one. The Elders are thrilled to find it. We didn’t want to tell you till it was all confirmed.’
‘You’re kidding me! How wonderful,’ exclaimed Leonie.
‘That means it can’t be touched,’ said Brett. ‘It’s a men’s ceremonial initiation place.’
‘The team who did the survey for you are asking the Elders to check it out,’ added Stevie. ‘Document it because it’s old and nobody knew about it.’
‘It’ll be off limits for sure, I reckon,’ said Harry.
Brett clapped his hands together. ‘Right. Well, any other problems, give us a call, since we’re on a roll,’ he said with a grin.
Leonie felt better than she had in ages. ‘How about a celebratory pot of tea,’ she said.
*
Despite the good news about the dam, Leonie had a restless night. She got up and tiptoed down to Corby’s room to quietly check he was all right, something she hadn’t done in a long time, then lay in bed in the dark, unable to go back to sleep. She couldn’t understand the sudden and overwhelming rush of loneliness that overtook her. Her life was busy, yes, and she’d had her fair share of ups and downs, but it was blessed in so many ways. And now, thanks to Brett – even though she still had mixed feelings about what he’d said – the purchase of the Playhouse didn’t seem quite so complicated, either. Why, then, was she feeling so down? Eventually, as dawn broke, she pushed these thoughts to one side and got up to face her day’s work.
At lunchtime she was walking towards the kitchen when she heard the back screen door slam.
‘Hidey-ho!’ called Alistair. ‘Ah, there you are. Surprise – not! I thought we could head out to dinner tonight? Try someplace new. What do you feel like?’ He drew her into his arms. ‘Apart from me, of course,’ he murmured.
Leonie gently wiggled from his arms. She would prefer to go out with Alistair, she thought, than have dinner with him at home. Times alone with him when Corby was staying over at his friends’ places had become a little predictable. The glass of wine on the verandah, the arms around her waist from behind as she cooked and he nuzzled her neck. They ate, cleared the dishes and then went to bed and made love. Sleep. Sometimes he left before Leonie awoke, leaving an ardent note behind explaining some early-morning appointment. She’d kept her rule that he only stayed over when Corby was away.
Alistair pulled a bottle of champagne from his shoulder bag.
‘Just off the ice at the shop! Let’s celebrate.’
‘Oh, what are we celebrating?’ said Leonie, and suddenly found herself wondering if he’d put it on her account at the shop as usual, then chided herself for being petty.
‘Us? Whatever you’d like. Do we need a special occasion?’ He poured the champagne into two flutes and handed her one.
‘Of course not.’ Leonie turned away, but Alistair caught her other hand.
‘My beautiful Lee . . . I’ve been thinking, and I think it’s time. I have a great idea, a plan, for us both.’
‘What sort of plan?’ asked Leonie cautiously.
‘There’s so much more we could do together.’ As Leonie went to speak, he put a finger to her lips. ‘Hear me out. It’s time you stopped letting this place drag you down. I see how exhausting it is for you. You could begin a new life, travel, start up an exciting new business –’
‘Alistair!’ Leonie looked alarmed.
‘Listen, listen, I’m not finished,’ he smiled. ‘Sell this place, and let’s invest in a new company – together! There are so many exciting projects we could be doing. After the success we’ve had with the Playhouse, we could restore heritage buildings in all the small towns around here, imagine it! With my expertise and your sensible charm,’ he enthused, ignoring Leonie’s stunned expression, ‘we’d make a great team!’
Leonie was utterly shocked. She took a moment to gather her thoughts. ‘Alistair, how could you suggest this? Sell this place? This land? This is Corby’s inheritance! I’m helping carry out Tony’s dream. I could never sell this place. Do you know what you’re asking?’
‘But Lee, what’s the point of this place, really? Nothing happens here. A few cattle and old horses – worth peanuts! It’s not being used to its full commercial potential.’
She knew he was deliberately downplaying the value of her property. ‘Well, to you, maybe. But this land – the soil – is the most valuable thing on this property. We work with nature to ensure that it remains good land, with clean water, biodiversity and protected wildlife! How can you have missed the importance of that to me, when you’ve spent all this time here, with us?’
Alistair gave a harsh laugh. ‘C’mon, Lee – don’t go all hippy-dippy greenie on me. Land means bucks: for buildings, developments, big crops. But it’s too much hard work. Don’t you want to be in a business that brings in the dollars but means we can live a freer life, with the world at our feet, not out here in the middle of nowhere? We can have so much fun together, you and me – travel, live the good life.’ He held open his arms, but Leonie took a step backwards.
‘This is the good life,’ she said slowly. ‘It’s what Tony and I wanted, dreamed of, worked for. And I don’t hear much room in your plans for Corby. He comes first for me, and this place is his, too.’
Alistair broke in, ‘We’ll create a far bigger inheritance for Corby, together! There’s better ways to do things now. I have lots of ideas –’
‘Stop! Alistair, no! Listen to me.’ Leonie fumbled for words, trying to work out how to make him see how badly he’d misread the situation, and how ridiculous his suggestions seemed to her. He didn’t understand her at all. Brett’s words suddenly came back to her like sharp arrows. Was Alistair really after her money? An easy life for himself? He clearly had no idea what this land, this place, meant to her. She suddenly understood how deeply different they were. How could she not have seen it before?
Oblivious to her stunned reaction, Alistair put down his champagne flute and went down on one knee, fumbling in his pocket. ‘Lee, darling . . . there’s something I want to –’
‘Oh . . . oh,’ Leonie gabbled.
‘Anyone home?’ Harry called from the verandah, the screen door banging behind him.
‘Bloody hell.’ Alistair scrambled to his feet.
‘Mail’s here,’ called Harry.
‘Thanks, I’ll get it in a minute,’ called Leonie faintly, and turned back to Alistair.
‘Alistair, look –’
‘Lee . . .’ Alistair frowned. ‘I want you to marry me. I have such plans for us; it could be so wonderful. Sell this place and we’ll see the world, start our own future, together.’
Leonie took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry, Alistair, but the answer is no. I can’t and won’t leave, let alone sell this place,’ she said steadily. ‘I intend to keep on doing what I do. Here. For Corby. For Tony, for myself!’ She paused, seeing his shocked and angry face. ‘Maybe I’ll pass on dinner tonight.’
Alistair downed the last of his champagne and put his glass on the table, saying, ‘You are making a terrible mistake, Lee. I can offer you so much – we could really be a team.’
‘I don’t think so, I’m sorry,’ she said again, more firmly this time.
‘How can you say that, Lee? You will have such regrets.’
‘Then I’ll have to live with them. And actually, I prefer to be called Leonie.’
Alistair frowned, his face blank, his eyes cold. ‘I won’t call you again.’
‘Goodbye, Alistair.’
He strode from the room, and she heard his feet stomp down the front steps and his car roar away.
*
A short time later, Harry walked into the kitchen.
Leonie turned as he dropped a pile of just-picked beans on the table.
He looked at her. ‘You all right?’
‘Never better,’ said Leonie, and realised she meant it. She felt lighter, clearer. ‘Alistair just left. For good.’
‘Right-oh.’ Harry walked back outside.
Leonie stared at the older man’s back. She knew damn well he had a big grin on his face.
*
Later, as Leonie drained her glass of Alistair’s champagne, her phone rang.
‘Hi Sarita,’ she began, but before she could break her news about Alistair, Sarita gasped, ‘Chrissie just rang me in a panic. She’s at her parents’ place in town. Troy has stolen her kids!’
‘What do you mean, stolen?’ asked Leonie in alarm.
In a rushed breath Sarita explained what had happened.
‘My God. We knew something was up, but I had no idea . . . Did she call the police?’ asked Leonie. ‘What’s happening?’
‘I’m not sure. I’m heading over to her mum’s place now to see what I can do.’
‘I know where Chrissie’s parents live, I’ll meet you there,’ started Leonie, then stopped. ‘Wait – why don’t we call Wade Franks at the police station? That might be quicker.’
‘Good idea. Maybe he’s already on the case, but he can fill us in,’ said Sarita. ‘I’ll call him now – see you soon.’
Leonie raced outside. She quickly arranged with Harry to pick Corby up from school for her, then jumped in her car.
*
A police car was outside Chrissie’s parents’ house. Her father was standing at the front door.
‘Thank you for coming,’ he said to Leonie as Sarita pulled up behind in her car. ‘This is all so dreadful.’
The group in the living room was sombre. Chrissie’s mother was talking quietly with Wade, and Sarita went to join them. Leonie sat down beside Chrissie and took her hand as the young mother spoke tearfully.
‘I thought I had everything covered – I did what Jennifer at the refuge said. How could he just be hanging around here at the very moment I come here with the kids? I haven’t been in Fig Tree River for ages.’
‘Don’t beat yourself up. We’ll get them back safely; he’s trying it on. He’s probably mad you got the better of him, stood up to him,’ said Leonie. ‘But he’d never harm the kids.’
‘He hit me,’ said Chrissie grimly. ‘The kids saw it. They’ll be terrified.’
‘Oh my God! That’s horrible! Has he done it before?’ gasped Leonie.
Chrissie hesitated then said, ‘Yes.’
‘Why didn’t you tell us? Report him? How long has this been happening?’ asked Leonie.
‘It’s been going on for ages, but it was getting worse. He used to always be so sorry afterwards, and would try to make up for it. Not so much lately. And anyway I felt it was my fault . . .’
‘Chrissie! No way! You can’t blame yourself for this.’
Leonie paused as Sarita and Wade walked over to them.
‘He won’t get far, Chrissie, as you have an AVO out on him, which he is now breaching,’ said Wade. ‘We have cars looking for him and an all-points bulletin out for all the vehicles registered in his name. Your husband must have a new phone number as we can’t track the number you gave us. Do the kids have phones?’
‘No. They’re a bit young so we hadn’t got them phones yet. They have iPads, but I kept them turned off just in case.’
Leonie shook her head. ‘I can’t believe this technological tracking stuff.’
‘There’s a lot to keep up with,’ said Wade. ‘How do you think we find people in the middle of nowhere? Infrared imaging tracks heat sources. And police can use GPS boundaries to know when there’s a phone conversation happening in a specific area. Plus, you would be amazed at the spyware for sale on the open market. Oh, the stories I could tell.’
Wade lowered his voice, turned away and said to Sarita, ‘The hard part will be getting the kids away from Troy when we find the car.’
Then he cleared his throat and turned back to Chrissie. ‘Do you know if Troy owns a gun?’
Chrissie’s eyes widened. ‘No . . . not that I know of, anyway,’ she said shakily.
As Leonie reached out to pat Chrissie’s shoulder, Wade and Sarita quietly stepped away.
‘I didn’t want to alarm Chrissie, but I had to ask,’ said Wade.
‘I understand. Come to think of it, she was always anxious not to upset Troy,’ said Sarita sadly.
‘I did wonder why Troy never turned up at the theatre, and why she never spoke about him,’ said Wade. ‘Not an uncommon scenario, unfortunately.’
They walked back to Chrissie. ‘We should have realised what was going on, when it was so difficult for you to meet up with us and when you said you couldn’t do the show. I guess Troy was making it hard for you? I’m sorry, Chrissie,’ Sarita said.
Chrissie shook her head. ‘You weren’t to know, Sarita.’
‘Yes,’ Wade agreed. ‘You even worked at home to make those –’ He suddenly stopped. ‘Those sets you made, that caught fire. I bet only your things were damaged, not Troy’s.’ Wade looked at Chrissie. ‘Did Troy have anything to do with –’
Chrissie nodded, her eyes filling with tears again.
‘Sit tight, Chrissie,’ said Wade grimly. ‘We are throwing everything at this. You’ll be the first to know when there are developments.’
*
Roger and Freddy came over as soon as they heard the news and were soon making tea and coffee for the group gathered in the living room.
Wade kept glancing at his phone.
Chrissie looked at her watch. ‘It’s been two hours,’ she murmured.
Sarita nodded. ‘Want a cup of tea?’
Chrissie shook her head. Then the landline rang again and she jumped. ‘Thomas rang me on Mum and Dad’s phone before,’ she said.
‘Answer it,’ Wade said gently.
Shaking, Chrissie managed a hesitant, ‘Hello . . .?’ Then she gasped. ‘Mia! Where are you, darling? What’s happening?’ She tried to keep her voice as calm as possible, then listened and nodded. ‘Is Thomas all right? Yes, we’re coming, darling, it’ll be ok–’ She listened a moment then stopped and looked at the phone. ‘She’s hung up.’
The room was silent, everyone frozen in place. Then Chrissie burst out, ‘They’re in some town, Mia didn’t know the name. She says Thomas got the phone away from their father. She’s hiding in the toilet at a café across from the Wanderlust Motel – where or what is that?’
Wade was immediately on his phone repeating this news as he strode towards the door. ‘I’m on my way,’ he said as he hung up.
Chrissie jumped up and rushed across the room. ‘I’m coming with you.’
‘No, Chrissie – it could be dangerous. Please wait here, a liaison officer will stay here with you.’ Wade shook his head and hurried outside.
‘They’re my kids, I should be there!’ sobbed Chrissie.
He stopped and turned back. ‘All right, but you can’t come with me. Get one of the others to drive you and do exactly what the other officers and I tell you. Do anything else and it could harm the kids,’ Wade said quickly, then raced down to the waiting police car.
Sarita was scrolling through her phone. ‘Got it – it’s the only place with a name like that within two hours of here. Let’s go.’
As the three women ran from the room, Chrissie’s mother called, ‘Take care and call us!’
‘Be careful,’ shouted her father.
*
Leonie drove in silence, Sarita plugging the address into the car’s navigation system and watching the speed limit, and Chrissie hunched in the back, arms tightly folded, hugging herself and biting her lip.
‘What kind of car does Troy have?’ asked Sarita.
‘Which one? He has several now,’ said Chrissie tightly.
‘I see. Spending your money, eh?’
‘Our money, unfortunately. He’s entitled to half – or so he keeps reminding me,’ said Chrissie.
‘Right. I see. I can understand what’s been going on, Chrissie,’ said Sarita.
‘I don’t think so.’ For a moment Chrissie felt she was going to crumble apart. ‘This has been going on a long time. The money has only made it worse. The woman from the refuge told me Troy’s behaviour is classic and predictable coercive control. I always thought it was me . . .’ Her voice trembled. ‘I just want my kids to be safe.’
‘Of course you do. I’m calling Ray,’ said Sarita.
She quickly filled her husband in, listened for a moment then, after hanging up, said, ‘Ray and Brett are on their way as well.’
Leonie nodded and glanced at the car’s navigator, which indicated they were getting close to the small township. As they approached, she pulled over. ‘I’ll call Wade, see what’s happening.’
‘Shouldn’t we just keep going?’ fretted Chrissie.
‘Let me call first,’ said Leonie. ‘I don’t want to arrive if the police don’t want us there yet.’ She dialled, then sat listening and nodding. ‘Okay. Yep, got it.’
Chrissie looked anxious.
Leonie hung up and turned to Chrissie. ‘Mia is still locked in the toilet in the café across the road from the Wanderlust Motel, and Thomas has locked himself in his father’s car in the motel car park, but they are both safe. Wade says Troy is being interviewed by two policemen,’ Leonie explained as clearly as she could. ‘There’s a roadblock either side of town, but they’ll let us through. Sounds like the kids are refusing to come out until you’re there.’
She started the car again as Chrissie slumped with relief and gave a tearful smile. Then Chrissie said darkly, ‘He’ll never forgive me for this. He’ll try something again, I know it.’
‘I believe that’s the pattern. You just need the right protections and procedures in place,’ said Leonie.
‘Everything just seems so hard,’ said Chrissie. ‘He made everything my fault – always told me I’m useless and hopeless. In his eyes the only thing I’ve ever done right is win that money. I don’t think he’ll ever leave me alone.’
