by C J Brown
CHAPTER 24
Shorty Reynolds helped his grandson with his crutches and they sat down at the interview room table.
Shorty smiled at Tess. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. Good to see you up and about.” He then turned to Constable Leeson. “Mitchell is feeling a bit better and we thought we might pop in to see if we can be of any assistance.”
“Thank goodness you’re here, Timothy. You certainly can be of assistance,” Doris Lowman said severely. “We’re being ganged up on here!”
“It’s alright, Doris. I’m sure Ben has everything under control.”
Constable Leeson shifted awkwardly in his seat. “Well, we’re not making as much progress as I’d hoped but now that Mitchell is here to put his version of events I’m sure we’ll make some headway.” The policeman briefly reiterated the complaint and quickly brought Shorty and Mitch up to speed.
“Like I said,” Doris Lowman shook her head, “this poor boy is as much a victim as my Savannah. When I was in office I worked tirelessly to make this community a safe place for everyone. If I were still Mayor this meeting would be over by now. That boy,” she pointed at Jimmy, “would be behind bars and that girl,” she pointed at Mia, “and her family would be getting a police escort out of town.”
“Well, fortunately for everyone, Doris,” Shorty drawled, “we don’t put kids in jail for little stuff like this anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I sure don’t like the sound of what I’m hearing and I have to say I’m surprised. This doesn’t sound like something Jimmy would do. Up til now I believed Mitchell hurt himself playing footy on the beach. That’s what he told me, anyway.” He turned to his grandson. “What’s the story, mate? Have you and Jimmy had a run-in or what?”
Mia noticed that Mitch was avoiding eye contact as well. Savannah was glaring at him with such mental force that Mia knew Mitch would be able to feel her eyes drilling through his temple. Here come more lies, she thought. Mitch cleared his throat.
“Yeah, Jimmy and I haven’t been getting along too well for a while.”
“Exactly,” Savannah pumped her fist triumphantly, “Just like I said.”
“Hold on,” Shorty put his hand up for silence. Tess smiled to herself. Is this the same shy boy who used hardly be able to speak to me without blushing? “Mitchell hasn’t finished.”
Mitch continued, “But it’s not Jimmy’s fault. I’m a lousy friend.” He looked across the table. “I’m sorry, Jimmy.”
“Well this is all very nice,” snarled Doris Lowman sarcastically, “but I fail to see how any friendship problems between you boys have anything to do with my daughter being assaulted in the street.”
“It was Savannah’s idea.”
Savannah sat up straight. “You watch what you say, Mitch!” she barked with a lacerating stare.
“Shut up, Savannah. It wasn’t Jimmy’s or Mia’s fault. It was my fault for listening to you. You’re the one who told me to get in Jimmy’s face. And like an idiot I did what you said. Just like I always do. And if Jimmy hadn’t got me first I probably would have broken his nose.”
“Well that doesn’t excuse what she…”
“Mrs Lowman, my daughter has a name. Please use it.”
“Oh whatever! My daughter was still hurt.”
“Because I pushed Mia into her.” Tears welled in Mitch’s eyes and Shorty put his arm around his grandson’s shoulder. Mitch turned to Savannah. “No more, Savannah. You’ve already made life so miserable for some kids that they’ve left the school. You think you’re surrounded by kids who want to be your friends, but you’re surrounded by kids that are just too scared not to be your friends. And I don’t want to lose Jimmy. You’re… you’re just not worth it.” He looked at Tess. “There’s nothing worse than a fair-feathered friend.”
Shorty grinned. “Close enough, mate.”
Finally Doris Lowman was silent.
Savannah stared at the table as tears started to form in her eyes.
“Well,” announced Shorty standing. “I think we can safely rule a line under this little episode. We’ll be off then.” He helped Mitch stand and manage his crutches. As they left the room Shorty leaned in close to the boy. “I’m proud of you, mate.”
“This is not over, Kim.” Doris Lowman shook her finger at Kim Trang. “I will be terminating your lease of the restaurant immediately. You have until the end of this week to vacate the premises. Clear out the restaurant and clear out your apartment.”
“But you can’t do that, Mrs Lowman. It is our home. We have a contract!” She turned to Ben Lesson. “Tell her, officer, we have a contract!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs Trang.” Ben Leeson sounded genuinely apologetic. “That’s one for the lawyers.”
“Well said, Constable,” beamed Doris Lowman turning her back on Kim. “And Mrs Trang is perfectly free to engage a solicitor to challenge my action. But I’m quite confident that my purse is a lot deeper than hers.” She then smiled at the hapless police officer. “Constable Leeson, a word in private, please.”
As the others left the station Constable Leeson sat uncomfortably in the room with Savannah Lowman and her mother.
“Constable, you enjoy working in Clowder Bay, I presume.”
“Yes, Mrs Lowman, it’s a great posting. I love it here.”
“Lovely. Well, although I am no longer the mayor I think you will appreciate that I continue to know a number of very important people. In fact, the Deputy Commissioner of Police is a personal friend. It would be wise to keep that in mind as you write your report to your sergeant.”
Clearly taken aback, the police officer frowned. “Mrs Lowman, I just want to be clear. Are you threatening me?
“Threatening? Goodness me. I would never. But you are a young man in the early stages of what seems to be a promising career. It’s only fair that you are aware of all the relevant circumstances. Come on, Savannah.”
Constable Ben Leeson made himself a coffee and sat down to write the report to his sergeant. He picked up a pen and played with it in his fingers. Doris Lowman was right, he did like his Clowder Bay posting. He loved to go for a quick surf in his lunch break. He enjoyed mixing with the kids at the police discos. He didn’t enjoy breaking news to families of fatal traffic accidents but he genuinely appreciated that it was a privilege being in a position to help loved ones cope at such tragic times. All in all, he enjoyed his job.
At last Constable Leeson put pen to paper. He sighed deeply as he wrote his final recommendations:
1. That Mrs Doris Lowman’s complaint be dismissed without further action.
2. That Mrs Doris Lowman receive an official warning regarding the threatening of a police officer with the intention of influencing the outcome of a police investigation.
He closed the folder and placed it on the sergeant’s desk.
An hour later Ben Leeson was jogging onto the beach with his surfboard under his arm. I’d better enjoy this while it lasts, he smiled to himself.
Towards the end of the meeting at the police station Mia had started to feel nauseous. “I think I’ll go back to the room and lie down for a while,” she said when Tess offered to buy lunch. When she eventually reached the room she went straight to the toilet and vomited.
She was feeling a little better in the evening when Mia, Jimmy and Mitch and families all came together for dinner. There was much to talk about and Kim’s Kitchen seemed the most appropriate place. Jimmy’s father brought in extra staff so that Kim and Jimmy could join their friends. Mia, Jimmy and Mitch had a table to themselves. The boys enjoyed telling Mia the story of their night in the bush although their versions differed concerning who actually had the best survival skills and was responsible for getting the fire going.
Kim, Alison, Tess and Shorty laughed and shared stories.
“This is a wonderful restaurant,” exclaimed Shorty, “and the food is just magnificent. I don’t know why I’ve haven’t tried it before.”
“Because it’s not steak and potatoes,” laughed Tes
s.
“Exactly right!” Shorty slapped his hand on his knee. “But as sure as my butt’s not a watermelon, I’ll be back!”
The adults didn’t notice Mia leaving early to return to the hotel room.
“But Doris Lowman is right,” said Kim sadly. “She’s rich and can evict us whenever she likes and the only way I can fight her is by hiring a lawyer. We can’t afford that. Even if we thought we could win, and I’m sure we would, it could take months, maybe even more than a year to settle this. There is a vacant shop available back from the beach, but it is difficult enough in the restaurant business. We couldn’t survive if we moved from the main street.”
Tess took Kim’s hand. “If only half of the things you’ve told me are true, Kim, you are still one of the toughest women I have ever had the honour of meeting. You will get through this.”
“Thank you, Tess.” Kim looked through to the kitchen to where her husband was clouded in steam and good-smells. “We love this town. But we’re finished. We’ll start packing up the restaurant tomorrow.”
Mia lay awake staring at the ceiling as Alison and Tess returned from dinner. She closed her eyes as she heard the door open.
“Mia, are you awake?” she heard her mother whisper.
“Yes.”
Alison closed the door and walked over to Mia’s bed.
“If you’re still feeling sick I can give you something to help settle your stomach.”
“I’m alright at the moment but maybe I might need something a bit later.”
Alison poured a glass of water from the fridge. She placed the glass and two small tablets on Mia’s bedside table?
Alison went quietly into Tess’s room for more talk over a late-night beverage. Mia’s bedside radio softly hummed its mix of music and news. So much was happening that she thought her head would start spinning. And it did.
Savannah is a bully, that much is certain, but imagine having her mother.
What’s going to happen to Jimmy?
When will we see Peter?
How do you get over what he’s been through?
The eleven o’clock news quietly broke the sensational story of the capture of one of the most wanted terrorist in Afghanistan. Ahmed Khan was wounded, but not fatally, and several of his associates were killed. There were no fatalities among the combined American and Australian Special Forces Assault Team.
Hopefully it’ll be a beach wedding so I don’t have to wear a dress.
Is Nan telling the truth when she says she’s going to be fine?
Mia’s eyes became heavy.
Mitch isn’t such a boofhead after all.
Her eyes closed as she drifted into that foggy place between thoughts and dreams.
If I had a cat I’d name it Oscar… A ha’penny said the tillerman… Originally established by local merchants in 1950, some things are just not as they seem, If I had a cat I’d name it T&CM….
Mia’s eyes opened wide. She jumped out of bed and hurried over to where she had dropped her jeans on the floor. She took the promise key from the pocket and looked at it as though for the first time.