THE GREATEST BETRAYAL: A romantic thriller with a shocking twist, page 14
‘I wish you all the best, Liz,’ he said, then he turned and walked quickly through the rain to his car.
‘Stay in touch, Mac,’ she called after him.
Joining the Pacific Highway traffic, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, Mac felt the anguish rise inside. The windscreen wipers swished back and forth. He wanted to smash his fist into the windscreen, he wanted to choke up and cry. He hadn’t cried tears since he’d been a young boy.
He did neither. Instead, he just drove. And drove.
And drove.
* * *
Liz watched him drive away. She went back into the house and up to the main bedroom on the upper level.
Wide glass doors opened onto a balcony. She stood, hands on the railing, looking out over the garden and the rooftops and the trees of the surrounding neighbourhood. A wind had sprung up and the rainfall was heavier now.
She was in love with Raf, so what was this she was feeling for Mac? Sympathy? Regret? It had, after all, been only six months. But after that text she’d shut down her emotions, and after a few months her friendship and professional relationship with Raf had morphed into something else entirely.
She heard far-off thunder.
She couldn’t stop herself from remembering the past and imagining what might have been in a different universe.
It’s not what I feel now. It’s not who I am now.
And yet, those locked-away emotions had come to the fore and she needed to let them loose. She wanted to scream them out.
Inside she was wailing like the bird that had given her nightmares in her childhood.
FORTY-SEVEN
It was the annual TPA address to shareholders, a gala business event at the InterContinental on Macquarie Street, just an easy walk from the harbour foreshore. Liz was seated at the directors’ table to the front of the convention room, taking her cue with the others to applaud as Martin de Courcey was called to the podium.
‘One thing I don’t have to stand here and sound convincing about,’ the CEO said to a smattering of laughs, ‘is the positive impact our marketing and PR has had over the past year. You’re all well aware of that, and we’ve all seen the uplift in our share price. So, I’m now handing over to our marketing manager, Martin de Courcey, who will highlight just how the campaign has expanded our national sales and profits.’
Martin took his place, raising the mic to his lips. ‘Thank you…’
The months had flashed by quickly for Liz. She made every effort to push Mac and his dilemma to the back of her mind. She was caught up in the exhilaration of being with Raf, the excitement of the house they were building by the Hawkesbury, and the challenge of expanding her agency.
She’d texted Mac a few times but had no response.
‘With both our profile and our national bookings in overdrive,’ Martin said, ‘TPA is now formulating plans to expand our market share further in key locations…’
Listening to Martin, Liz was reminded that her own business seemed to be in tandem with TPA when it came to this new wave of growth. With her agency rebranded as Liz Vetrani Communications, Liz had interviewed and employed bright account managers to run her offices in Brisbane and Melbourne. She’d expanded her suite of offices in the Australia Square Tower in George Street. Raf had said that later they would look at furthering the expansion into Adelaide and Perth. He was always thinking big, always enthused with new ideas.
When she said that to Raf, he patted her swelling belly. ‘We’ve got an heir on the way,’ he’d said, beaming. ‘When we’re finished, and he’s grown, he’ll be inheriting quite the empire.’
Raf had opened doors, and Liz and her team were adding a couple of major new accounts each month.
One of the directors at the table leaned towards Liz, interrupting her thoughts as he whispered in her ear, ‘Good speech. Martin knows how to deliver…’
‘Gift of the gab,’ Liz whispered back, smiling.
‘He’s got good words to work with. Your words?’
‘A collaboration,’ Liz said, her smile broadening cheekily, ‘but mostly mine.’
Martin was winding up his speech. ‘…and a special round of applause, if you will, to the young lady seated here, Ms Liz Vetrani, our PR and advertising consultant – give us a wave, Liz – whose exceptional contribution has certainly made my job a whole lot easier.’
After the speeches, a duo played soft jazz as the guests mingled. Liz’s and Martin’s glasses were refilled by a waiter. Neither of them could have been unaware that of the many promotional posters on the walls, several were of Captain Mac.
‘How is he, Martin?’ Liz asked, cocking her head in the direction of one of the posters.
‘He’s taking an extended break. He hasn’t been in any rush to resume duties.’
‘Is he okay?’
‘He tells me he is, but to be honest I haven’t spoken much with him lately. He hasn’t been easy to contact.’
‘I know.’
‘I’m hoping he’ll be back in town, and back in the cockpit, sooner rather than later.’
Martin was being drawn away by one of the directors when Liz caught sight of Monica Leeman in the crowd, approaching. Her hair was styled differently, her backless evening gown attracting stares.
Monica stepped in her path as Liz turned to move away.
‘I see you fell pregnant even though you were on birth control,’ Monica said.
‘What are you doing here, Monica?’
‘I’m a guest. You haven’t forgotten I still hold my parcel of shares in Vetrani Investments, even though I have no control and hold no positions there?’
‘No, of course I haven’t forgotten–’
‘I have a few TPA shares of my own as well, and this, after all, is a shareholders’ event.’
‘What do you want, Monica?’
Monica motioned towards Liz’s belly. ‘What happened?’
‘Not that it’s any of your business,’ said Liz, ‘but what makes you think I was on birth control?’
‘You and Raf were only dating for just a few months. You eloped suddenly and clearly you were already pregnant at that time.’
‘That doesn’t mean I was still taking the pill.’
‘Of course you were.’
‘It’s none of your business, Monica. You need to stop this. You need to let this obsession of yours go.’
‘Have you looked into why the pills didn’t work?’
‘The doctors–’
‘Said there’s a small percentage of situations where this happens,’ Monica said, completing the response for Liz. ‘That may be so, but why you, why now?’
‘Monica–’
‘Were the pills checked?’
Liz simply glared back, her patience at an end. ‘That’s enough.’
‘And where is the great man tonight? Is he still using that line about flying all over the country, building his beloved little empire?’ Monica’s eyes locked with Liz’s, and she saw the hesitation there. ‘Oh, of course he is.’
‘I said that’s enough.’
‘I’m going,’ said Monica. ‘Really don’t know why I keep worrying about you. You’re just not getting it, are you?’ She began walking away. ‘I’m betting those pills have disappeared. But if you can find them, Mrs Vetrani, get them checked.’
Martin moved back alongside Liz. ‘That’s a mighty big frown on your night of nights,’ he said. ‘Everything okay?’
‘Fine thanks, Martin.’
‘Who was that?’ He gestured to the exit as Monica walked out.
‘Raf’s ex.’
‘That’s Monica? She’s still turning up uninvited, creating tension. I thought–’
‘She’d given up? So did I. Apparently not.’
‘What did she want this time?’
‘Nothing worth talking about.’
‘Liz–’
‘Don’t worry. I’m through giving that woman the chance to move on. If she makes one more approach, even though she hasn’t done anything threatening, I’ll be having a discussion with the cops.’
‘You’d take an injunction against her?’
‘Not sure there are grounds for that, but I’ll at least discuss what the options are.’
The rest of the evening was like a flash. Liz had brief conversations with many of the directors and guests, but later couldn’t recall anything that had been said.
Her nerves were on edge. She found herself battling to keep her hands from shaking. What was it about that woman that played on her mind? She couldn’t seem to get Monica’s words about her birth control pills out of her thoughts.
If you can find them, get them checked.
FORTY-EIGHT
Liz opened the front door and embraced Sally as she led her inside. ‘Thanks for coming.’
‘No probs,’ said Sally, glancing about the Chatswood home. ‘Nice digs. What’s this about?’
‘I need some help from someone level-headed and impartial. I don’t know anyone who fits the bill the way you do, Sal.’
‘Me? In that department, I’m just a rank amateur next to you.’
‘Maybe once,’ Liz said. ‘Now I’m not so sure.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘I eloped with a man I’d been dating only a few months.’
‘Yeah… well… ain’t love grand?’ said Sally with a wink. ‘So how can I help?’
‘I want someone clear-headed to tell me if I’m being paranoid or not.’
‘Okay.’
‘I found out I was pregnant while we were in Fiji,’ Liz said. ‘So I had no need to keep taking the pill.’
‘Of course not.’
‘When I returned to Sydney, I threw the pack into the bathroom cabinet and forgot about it.’
‘Has this got something to do with Raf’s ex at the function last night? What did she say?’
‘It’s more what she implied.’
‘Which was?’
‘That I get the pills checked, if I could find them.’
‘Right,’ said Sally, ‘we’re now officially on the paranoia border.’
‘The pills are gone.’
‘And we’re crossing over.’ Sally took a moment to examine Liz’s face. She’d never seen her boss frazzled like this. ‘Seriously, Liz, you probably threw them out.’
‘I didn’t.’
‘Liz, you’ve got to stop letting this strange woman get into your head.’
‘I know. It’s just…’
‘What? You really think the pills could’ve been… what? Tampered with? Or switched?’
‘I don’t know what to think. That’s where your level-headedness comes in.’
‘You were on holiday, Liz, all out of routine. You probably just forgot to take the pill one or two nights. Not so unusual. And when you got home, the pills could easily have been misplaced. Happens all the time.’
‘Thanks. I needed someone down to earth to speak some sense to me.’
‘Anytime,’ said Sally. ‘So, is everything with you and Raf okay?’
‘Great.’
‘Where is he?’
‘Out of town. Actually, he’s been spending two or three nights away, each week, for the past month or so. Looking for companies to buy.’
‘That’s Raf.’
‘Yes. And he’s been spending more and more time with his buddies on a yacht they’ve recently purchased.’
‘Training for the Sydney to Hobart?’
‘Yeah. That race is a long-time dream of his. And now we’re spending more time apart than I’d hoped.’
‘You married Mr Busy-Taking-Over-The-World, so I guess it’s to be expected.’
Liz patted her swollen belly. ‘It’s just the hormones talking.’
‘And that’s to be expected, too.’ Sally bent down and placed her ear against Liz’s stomach. ‘No more stressing about missing pills. You’re having a baby, which is absolutely fantastic – I can hear its little heart beating – and you’re going to be the best mother in the world. Got it?’
‘Got it.’
* * *
Later, after Sally had left, Liz was in the bedroom slipping into her negligee, when she was struck by a sudden thought.
I just can’t switch off from this damn thing.
She went down to the study-office Raf used when he was at home. It adjoined the double garage at the side of the house. Liz remembered there was a storage area with shelving in an alcove between the two areas. Raf tended to stash all sorts of odds and ends in there. She’d never had any reason to go into that alcove herself, but she’d seen it from the study.
If Raf had removed the pills, then he would most likely have thrown them out with the rubbish. So, there was no reason to go looking in his storage spot.
And yet here I am.
She rummaged through the shelves. There was no sign of her birth control pills. She was about to retreat when her eye caught a medium-sized dark blue pouch she hadn’t seen before. She recognised it as one of those handy travel packs she’d seen in department stores. She slid back the outer catch and opened it. The interior was a transparent Ziploc bag with multiple pill-holding compartments.
She took out one of the pills and held it between her thumb and forefinger. The edges were rounded slightly differently to her birth control pills, and the surface wasn’t as smooth. However, those slight differences weren’t noticeable, unless you were examining it closely and looking for differences.
What are these pills?
She kept the pill and replaced the travel pouch on the shelf. One of her recently acquired clients was a small pharmaceutical firm and she hoped her contacts there would do her a favour and have the pill analysed.
Back in the bedroom, she placed the pill in her handbag then lay down. The softness of the pillow against her head was pure heaven. She was tired, and she had an early start the next day. But the more she tried to push Monica Leeman and the pills from her mind, the more awake she became.
It’s going to be one of those nights.
Damn.
The minutes ticked by. Just as drowsiness was finally overtaking her, she was startled by the shrill ring of her alarm.
6.30 a.m.
New day.
Yeah, right.
She dragged herself from her bed. Usually, she faced the mornings with a sense of exhilaration and excitement, but today she found herself filled with dread.
FORTY-NINE
Liz picked up the phone late that afternoon. She was instantly more alert when she heard the voice on the other end of the line. It was her contact at the pharmaceutical company, Dr Michael Su, a calm, genial, middle-aged man with whom it had been easy to establish a rapport.
‘Hi, Liz. I’ve got the results you asked for.’
‘I really appreciate your help, Michael,’ Liz said. ‘What did you find?’
‘Absolutely nothing. I don’t know where you obtained this tablet, it’s nothing but a harmless powder. No medical properties whatsoever.’
‘Like a placebo?’ Liz asked.
‘That’s exactly what it is.’
* * *
‘A placebo.’ Sally had seated herself in front of her boss’s desk. She’d been called in and told what had happened, after Liz had finished the call. ‘And Raf has a whole heap of these stashed away?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you think he switched these out with your birth control pills?’
‘It’s too much of a coincidence.’ Liz shifted her weight to ease the tension in her shoulders and her back.
‘Why on earth would he think he needed to do that?’ asked Sally. ‘After all, you were getting married. And married couples do have babies.’
‘Yes, but although he planned to propose to me in Fiji he didn’t know I’d say yes and agree to elope then and there.’
‘Even so…’
‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled about the baby,’ Liz said, ‘but it’s not something I would’ve intended at this point in time, not with the marriage so new and the busyness of both Raf and myself expanding our businesses.’
‘Too much happening all at once,’ said Sally.
‘Exactly.’
‘Liz, if you think Raf did this, then you have to confront him and talk it through.’
‘He’ll come up with a perfectly reasonable explanation – that the pills I found were samples of some proposed business venture, something like that… he’s always got an answer.’
‘You can’t let something like this just sit there in your mind, hanging between the two of you. You have to talk to him.’
‘I know.’
‘Before you do… maybe there’s something else you should do.’
‘Such as?’
‘I can’t believe I’m saying this,’ Sally said, ‘but perhaps… first… you should be the one to go and confront Monica Leeman, instead of it always being the other way around. She’s been feeding you these suspicions… sending texts… dropping hints… instead of just coming out and saying what she means. Maybe you need to establish once and for all just what she knows, and how much of it is real and how much of it isn’t.’
‘I’m not sure I could trust anything that comes from her mouth,’ Liz said.
She was silent for a moment, pondering this as Sally looked on.
‘Before I talk to Monica, there is someone else I could talk to first.’
‘Who?’ Sally asked.
‘Raf’s sister-in-law.’
‘Bruno’s wife?’
‘Yes,’ said Liz. ‘I’ve always got on well with Caterina. Happy, bubbly, but she’s also the grounded, earth mother type. And there’s something else…’
Sally waited expectantly while Liz considered her next words carefully.
‘Something Monica sent me… I ignored it at the time… something that, I think I always knew, sooner or later, I was going to have to show to Caterina.’
FIFTY
Despite everything, Liz had always found something particularly comforting in the weekly Saturday evening barbeque at Bruno’s home. As usual she was met with hugs by Caterina as she was led through to the dining room.
‘So unusual to have Raf miss two of these in a row,’ Caterina said, ‘but I’m so glad you’ve come anyway.’
