by C J Brown
CHAPTER 28
Eddie Butler felt stuck in his council job, stuck and underappreciated. In fact so stuck and underappreciated that he had even responded to an advertisement in the newspaper where ASIO, Australia’s spy agency, was looking for new recruits. His application was rejected. But he still thought he had the necessary skills. So when his friend Dep Chandra phoned and asked for a special favour, one that he had to keep absolutely secret, Eddie jumped at the chance.
At first Eddie was disappointed when Dep said that he wouldn’t have to sneak around the building at night, breaking into offices and photographing secret documents. However, he did enjoy working on his computer and relished the chance to do a little forensic database searching.
Eddie, it turned out, was a very good investigator and it only took him a couple of hours to uncover some information that he knew Dep would find very helpful. Looking at a scanned version of one particular document he couldn’t help think how atrocious was the original handwriting. Almost indecipherable. How could this person hold down such an important position. And look what it has resulted in. Then he noticed that the document had been signed, in a very awkward fashion, by Joan Butler, his favourite aunty, who had worked in the council years earlier. Oh well, anyone can make a mistake.
At the hospital Mia still lay in an unconscious state. Her vital signs were good and the swelling that was causing the pressure on her brain was slowly lessening. The scans showed some bruising but no lasting damage. The doctor still assured them that she would wake up soon although he now declined to attach a number of hours or days to his prognosis.
“Initially the unconsciousness may have been compounded by the pills but now it’s mainly from the impact with the road. I can’t say how long,” he finally conceded. “Just keep holding her hand and talking to her.”
And Alison was doing just that when Jimmy appeared at the door.
“Would you like a break, Mrs Turner?”
“Hi, thanks, Jimmy. I’ll stretch my legs.” Alison stood to leave. “Jimmy, if you feel comfortable with it I’d like you to call me Alison.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll try.”
“And, Jimmy, you have to hold Mia’s hand.”
“Pardon?”
“Doctor’s orders I’m afraid. The things we have to do!” Alison smiled and left the room.
Jimmy sat in the chair Alison had just vacated.
“Um… hi, Mia. I um, just dropped by to see how you were going. So, how are you going? What’s happening in there? Look, don’t get a fright or anything but I have to hold your hand. Doctor’s orders. I hope you don’t mind.”
As Jimmy took Mia’s hand he watched the cardiac monitor wondering if, just like in a movie, the fair damsel’s heart rate might jump as the brave hero caressed her soft, pale skin. Nothing.
“There’s a lot happening out here. My mum is really excited because your grandma has some sort of plan to help us stay in Clowder Bay.”
Jimmy looked around the room. “Those flowers are nice.” He shifted uneasily in his seat. “Actually, I really want to say thank you. I haven’t even known you for two weeks and you’ve changed my life. I’ve got my best mate back for a start.” Jimmy wiped his forehead. “Gee, I think someone’s turned the heat up in here.” He clenched his free hand into a fist and shook it in the way a tennis player might when trying to encourage himself to greater things.
“Mia, I want to tell you something.” Jimmy looked towards the door then lowered his voice. “I think I … I think I …” Jimmy took a deep breath. “Mia, you’re amazing and I really like you.” Jimmy dropped her hand and sat back in the chair exhausted.
He was still like that when Tess walked in.
“You look worn out, Jimmy. Has Mia been giving you grief.”
“Yeah, she hasn’t let up. So annoying.” Jimmy stood up. “Ms Newell, thanks for what you’re trying to do for mum and dad, whatever it is.”
“It’s my pleasure, Jimmy. Let’s just hope it all works out as planned.”
“I haven’t seen them this happy for ages.”
There was a quiet knock on the door. Jimmy and Tess were both surprised to look up and see Savannah Lowman entering the room.
Tess immediately suspected an undesirable motive and protectively moved between her and Mia.
Savannah stopped. “I’m sorry. I understand what you must think but I’ve really just come to talk with Jimmy, and Mia.” She looked at the sceptical expressions on both faces. “Look, I’m not here to cause trouble.” Savannah looked at Tess. “You can stay if you don’t trust me.”
Jimmy gave Tess her a reassuring nod.
“I’ll just be outside in the corridor.” Tess left the room and Jimmy sat back down. Savannah stayed standing.
“Jimmy, I know I’m not a nice person at times. Well, most of the time, it turns out. I think if I’ve learned anything recently it’s that you’ll tell me the truth when others won’t, even if I don’t want to hear it.” Jimmy still looked sceptical, unsure where this was headed or how it would turn out. Savannah continued. “What Mitch said at the police station, you know, about me not having real friends, do you think he was right?”
You already know the answer to that, Jimmy thought. Jimmy knew Savannah well enough to know that she walked a fine line between nice and nasty, and she could flip from one to the other in a blink. He looked at Mia lying on the bed. If Mia is taking any of this in, the last thing she needs is to hear Savannah going berserk.
“Savannah, do you think Mitch was right?”
Savannah shrugged her shoulders. “I guess he was.” She sat on the second chair on the opposite side of the bed and stared at the floor. “I don’t know if I can change, Jimmy. But I’d like to think I can. I saw a glimpse of myself as an adult the other day. My mother was talking to the policeman after the meeting … no, she wasn’t talking to him, she was bullying him. And I started to think about her friends and I realised that she really doesn’t have any. There are people who want to be seen with her because she’s wealthy and she used be the mayor. She gets invited to dinner parties and official functions around the place but I can’t think of one person who she would just call up on the phone and chat to about little things, like the weather, or their children, or how she’s coping after she and dad split up. It’s just like Mitch said. She’s surrounded by people who are afraid of the consequences of not being her friends. I don’t want that to be me.”
Savannah stood and looked at Mia. “Well, I can see you’re busy. I’d better go.”
“I’ll see you later,” Jimmy said and Savannah gave him a smile that he hadn’t seen for a long time.