Last Known Contact

by Phillipa Nefri Clark

  “Right.”

  Ellie checked her watch. “Thanks for the coffee and these fabulous cupcakes. I’m going to pop into the library to collect some papers I need for the office.”

  “But it is so nice here in the sun.”

  “I’ll find my way.” On her feet, Ellie leant down to kiss Meredith’s cheek. “You enjoy your cupcake.”

  While you still can.

  When Dad got back, he’d be appalled by Meredith’s lack of interest in finding him let alone the new living arrangements for Dennis. And Ellie would make sure he knew about it.

  13

  Dad’s Days

  Ellie locked herself into the library. There were no papers to collect but Meredith wouldn’t know the difference. Of all the shallow, selfish people she’d met, Dad’s second wife was the worst. No apparent distress at her husband’s disappearance, instead, she was content to eat cupcakes in the sun.

  Before she could wind herself up any further, Ellie searched through the drawers in her desk again. The place that the rum bottle normally occupied was still empty.

  Dad’s desk was just as useless. He kept even less here than at the office, apart from a small pile of novels on the corner of the desk. She sat there, eyes roaming along the bookcases to the far wall. Clichéd as it might be, his safe was behind a painting.

  She rarely opened this and hesitated before touching the artwork, a simple watercolour of a garden. Was it slightly angled? Meredith may have been in there, although Jack had told Ellie the main safe in the bedroom was the only one his wife cared about.

  When Ellie pulled out the passport, she closed her eyes for a moment in relief. Logic told her some record would have come to light had he left Australia, but still, she’d wondered. If he was anywhere in this country, she’d find him.

  From under the bundle of money he stashed in every safe, she pulled out the photo album and slid it into her handbag. If it meant enough to Dad to keep it in there, then she wanted to know why.

  After locking the safe and straightening the painting, Ellie wandered around the bookshelves. She flicked through the books they’d used in the past for messages but no notes fluttered out, no folded pages provided a clue.

  Her phone vibrated and she grabbed it from her bag, heart dropping when it was Paul’s name, not Dad’s. Would you like a drink tonight to swap updates? No, she wouldn’t. She ignored it. What she did want was to open the library door and find Dad on the other side, but he wasn’t there. Ellie found herself in the huge, country style kitchen. Two women, in the black dresses and white aprons Meredith insisted on, worked in silence at a long counter.

  “I wanted to thank you for the coffee and such lovely cupcakes.” Ellie smiled at the women as they looked up. “I have friends in restaurants who’d love to meet you…whoever made them?”

  “Young Derry did, miss.” Brenda nodded at the younger woman.

  “Well, they were delicious. You both do a terrific job.”

  “Miss, is there any news…of Mister Jack?” Derry stepped forward.

  “I wish there was. You don’t remember the last time you saw him, do you?”

  Derry nodded. “He had breakfast here in the kitchen.”

  “The day he disappeared?”

  “Yes, miss. I made him coffee and scrambled eggs. He read the newspaper.”

  “How did he seem, Derry? Happy? Tired?”

  Derry frowned. “Just…like normal. I hope he comes back soon.”

  So do I.

  “Brenda? Were you here for breakfast?”

  “I started late because I’d made him a late dinner. He told me to sleep in.”

  “What time? Dinner, I mean.”

  “Maybe around midnight. And, he was…”

  Ellie tilted her head. “Please go on.”

  “At first, I thought he was sad. But when I took the meal to him, he was different. Smiling. And gave me a hug.” Brenda blushed and glanced away.

  “Where did he eat?”

  “Oh. The library, miss. He ate in the library.”

  Ellie sat outside a café overlooking Brighton Beach, her coffee cold and a salad untouched. She’d missed lunch and only had the cupcake since breakfast, but even halfway through the afternoon, it was a mistake thinking she could eat.

  A man jogged along the beach followed by a spaniel, who periodically rushed into the low waves and then sprinted to catch his owner, shaking water from its long ears.

  She’d like to have a dog. Once she found Dad, she’d sell or rent her apartment and buy a townhouse. Or even a house. A garden and somewhere to play with a new, furry friend.

  With a sigh, she pushed the coffee cup to one side. What had happened to Dad the night before he disappeared? Over and over, Ellie ran through the words from Brenda and Derry.

  Dad had come home late from the office where he’d been working on the wind farm project, at least, according to Meredith. Between arriving, and Brenda bringing him dinner, he’d cheered up to the point of hugging her. Not a normal response with the staff.

  What was his state of mind like recently? Paul mentioned tension in the boardroom. She needed to talk to Dennis. Except his mood earlier made her stomach turn. Two cups near the pool at Dad’s house meant something. Something she wasn’t ready to explore.

  “Would you like a fresh cup?”

  “Oh.” Ellie started. The waiter began clearing her plate. “No. Actually, I’m leaving but thanks.” She stood. “Sorry about the salad. I’m sure it was lovely.”

  Outside, a recycling bin overflowed with bottles. She took her phone out and dialled Dad’s house, wandering to the edge of the sand as she waited.

  “Bannerman Estate. How may I be of assistance?”

  “Brenda, this is Ellie.”

  “Mrs Connor. Please hold and I’ll put you—”

  “No, I want to speak to you, not Meredith. If you have a moment?”

  “Me? Oh, certainly.” The other woman’s voice was strained.

  “I just wondered if you’ve come across any empty bottles. Actually, an old rum bottle.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “Sorry. There’s an old empty bottle my Dad and I used to keep in the library. It seems to have disappeared and I would love to find it. Sentimental reasons.”

  There was a long silence.

  “I’m hoping you or one of the other staff might have come across it. Or could keep an eye out for it.”

  “Any empty bottles are disposed of in the recycling. Do you know when it went missing?”

  “No. I’m sorry, I don’t know. But it is short and very dark with a faded label. Would you look out for it and let me know if it appears?”

  “I should ask Mrs Bannerman.”

  Screw Mrs Bannerman!

  “Please, Brenda, let’s keep this between us. The bottle belongs to me, and Dad. I think it might help me find him and you said you want that.”

  “I do, of course. Very well, I’ll ask the others and phone you if we find it.”

  Ellie stared at the sea for a while after terminating the call. Brenda was scared of Meredith. Why was this so hard? Nobody knew anything. Or wanted to talk about Dad.

  The sea air enticed Ellie and she longed to kick off her shoes and be like the spaniel running into the waves.

  “Do you think we should be in here?” Joni glanced at Jack’s desk then back at Ellie’s face. “In case the police need to check anything?”

  “Why would they do that? Come on, let’s sit by the window.” Ellie sank onto the sofa facing out over the city and patted the seat beside her. “I promise it is okay.”

  Joni perched on the edge of the seat, hands folded around each other. In the years Ellie had known Joni, she’d never seen the woman without a ready smile. But there were only drawn lines on her face, a weariness Ellie knew must be reflected on her own.

  “You need to go home soon. Try to rest a bit.”

  “I’m fine, Ellie. Really, I should be here. In case…”

  “When
we find Dad, I’ll let you know. And we will.”

  “It doesn’t add up. Mr Bannerman doesn’t ever go anywhere without appointments, a timetable, and regular contact with me. What could have happened?” She turned glistening eyes to Ellie.

  “Can you remember anything about the day he disappeared? When he left, where he was going, what other appointments he had?”

  “Of course. You know there was a board meeting that morning?”

  Ellie nodded.

  “After that, Mr Bannerman returned to his office for a few minutes. He left with his briefcase and a small envelope and dropped past my desk.”

  “To leave the envelope?”

  “No, although I offered to post it. But he said it wasn’t going in the mail.”

  Was it my note?

  “He wished me happy birthday for next week.”

  “What?”

  Joni pulled a tissue from a pocket. “He said there was something extra in my pay and to have a special night out on him.” She dabbed her eyes. “But normally he’d say something on the day and always gave me flowers. He was so generous.”

  “Yet he wished you birthday greetings in advance? How odd.”

  “There you are.” Dennis burst into the office. “I need you downstairs for this media thing.”

  Both women turned to look at him. His face was red and his tie loose. Ellie stood.

  “Suggest you go via a bathroom so they don’t think you’ve been drinking all afternoon. You haven’t, have you?”

  He didn’t bother replying, just glared then stalked out.

  “I do have to go. Sorry. Walk me to the lift?”

  They stopped outside the office where Ellie gave Joni a hug. “At the moment, Dennis is in charge, so just treat him as if he’s Dad.” She closed the door behind them both. “You didn’t say…do you know where Dad was going after he stopped at your desk?”

  “He was going to meet Mr Connor at the Sea Angel, but not until later. I had him pencilled out for the afternoon before a dinner meeting.”

  “So, he left, what, a couple of hours before meeting Dennis? Where did he go?”

  Joni shrugged as they covered the distance to the elevator. “He only said he was going to go home first to change.”

  But nobody saw him there. Or was someone lying?

  “Last question. Who was the dinner meeting with?”

  “Actually, I don’t know.” They were at the elevator and Joni tapped the button. “It was for eight o’clock at The Riverview, but he told me to arrange it for two, and under his name.”

  “How odd that nobody came forward to say they were meant to meet him.” The doors opened and Ellie stepped in. “I have to go deal with this media storm. You’ve been great, Joni, but please, go home.”

  Ellie’s heart went out to the other woman. She’d been Dad’s PA for a decade and must feel lost. Dennis had better treat her properly. She stopped the elevator on a lower floor, not ready to be the face of the business to a mob who wanted answers until she checked her make-up and found her game-face.

  14

  Media And More

  Game-face firmly on, makeup and hair perfect, Ellie strode into the foyer where a podium was set up. Dennis’ insistence on making a formal press statement might get them off her back for a while, but as the media group turned, she somehow doubted it.

  “There she is!”

  Dennis met her and took her arm, as though escorting her out of concern. He squeezed her hard though and whispered, “About damned time,” through a smile.

  Paul was there with a couple of his security guards and they made a path past the group. Dennis and Ellie reached the podium and turned their backs on the media.

  “Teresa Scarcella is your target. Get her onside and she’ll back off.”

  “And how do I do that?”

  “I’ve written the statement, so you need only to look like you know what you’re doing and read it. Meredith is here and might say some words, as will I. No going off-script.”

  Ellie scanned the paper he shoved into her hands, annoyed to see them shake. Get the job done, then have a drink. Quiet, alone. She drew in a long breath and nodded, then adjusted the microphone. Dennis withdrew to one side, where Meredith stood. Ellie refused to look at them.

  “Good afternoon and thank you for taking time out of your busy day to come along.”

  What the hell rubbish had Dennis written?

  “I’m going to make a statement, then there will be a short opportunity to ask questions.”

  “Ellie, do you think Jack is dead?” Someone called out.

  “Of course not.” She snapped.

  “Stick to the script.” Dennis hissed.

  “We didn’t have to let you in here.” Ellie ignored Dennis and his script. “I’m happy to have a conversation, let you ask questions, but keep them respectful. This is my father we’re discussing.”

  The chatter subsided and cameras moved closer.

  “Thank you. Bannerman Wealth Group is eager to get any information about Jack’s whereabouts, so hopefully we can work together. He was last seen leaving this building late morning on the fourth of December. He apparently drove himself back to his house. His next appointment was to go sailing on his yacht, and then have a dinner meeting.”

  “Who was he sailing with? Was it you, Dennis?” Another reporter pushed forward and his camera operator followed. “Were you the last person to see him? The last known contact?”

  Dennis shook his head and kept his mouth closed.

  “We are unsure of where Jack went between leaving the building and his expected rendezvous at the yacht. This is the time he disappeared, to the best of our knowledge.”

  “Ellie, Teresa Scarcella. What involvement is there from the police? Is Jack officially a missing person?”

  “I can’t speak for the police, Ms Scarcella. You’d need to approach them.”

  “When did you last speak with your father?” Teresa pressed on.

  “Dad and I spoke before I boarded the plane in Heathrow. About two hours before.”

  “And no contact since? No message, or phone call?”

  Oh, she’s good.

  “What we’d appreciate from you all is help asking the public for anything they might have seen. Jack Bannerman is a person of habit, of order. His disappearance is completely out of character.” Ellie stepped away from the podium, closer to the crowd. “Look, I understand this is news to you. You’re all doing your jobs. But this is my dad and I’d rather be spending time finding him, than constantly answering questions or going around you to get into my own apartment.”

  Teresa turned up one side of her mouth, but kept it shut.

  “I’ll tell you once I know what’s happened. But please, please respect our privacy as a family and as Jack’s beloved company. It would mean a great deal to me.”

  “Thank you, Ellie.” Dennis was at the podium, Meredith at his side. “Mrs Bannerman would like to make a short statement. Are you still feeling okay to do this?” his voice softened as he looked at Meredith.

  Dressed in a plain blue skirt and white blouse, with minimal jewellery and her hair in a tight bun, Meredith gave Dennis a small shake of her head, then touched her eyes with a handkerchief.

  Oh, please.

  “It has been a difficult few days for Mrs Bannerman, so please excuse her. Ellie, would you mind escorting Mrs Bannerman to a quiet room, and I’ll open the floor to questions.”

  Ellie wanted nothing more than to tell Dennis to take Meredith himself and stop playing whatever game they were playing. Imagine what the press would do with that!

  “Come on, Meredith.” She guided her stepmother past the crowd, catching Paul’s eye. He rolled his and Ellie almost giggled. Turning it into a cough, she headed toward the elevator, not particularly concerned whether Meredith kept up.

  Once inside the elevator, she took out her phone. No messages.

  “I think that went well, despite your little display of emotion. Might have h
elped if anything.”

  “Why didn’t you speak?” Ellie shoved the phone in her bag and stared at Meredith. “Or was the whole thing of ‘are you still feeling okay’ pre planned with Dennis?”

  “No need to get snippy, darling. We did discuss this, of course. Nothing like forward planning. I was worried I might get a bit too upset, which really wouldn’t help, would it?”

  “Maybe some genuine concern about your missing husband—”

  “Oh, Ellie, I’d be very careful who you offend.” Meredith smiled a forced, cold smile. “None of us know what the future holds. None of us know where your dear daddy is, so let’s play happy families and make the most of this situation.”

  The doors opened and several people, sharing a conversation, entered. Ellie balled her hands into tight fists. Meredith dabbed her eyes again and one of the others in the lift nodded their sympathies.

  When the group alighted, Meredith went to follow, but Ellie tapped her card against the reader again and pressed the sub-penthouse level.

  “You are going to go and wait for Dennis in his office, Meredith.” Ellie was pleased her voice stayed firm, unlike her churning stomach. “His PA will bring you something to drink if you need it.”

  “I’d rather we are friends, darling.”

  “I’m sure Dennis will be along soon.”

  Ellie checked her phone, filling in the seconds until the doors opened. They did with their soft whoosh and Ellie touched the ‘hold’ button. “Mark, would you escort Mrs Bannerman into Mr Connor’s office and see she’s comfortable?” she called to the main reception desk.

  As Mark hurried over, Meredith stepped out with a hissed, “Watch yourself, princess.”

  Exhausted, Ellie drove to her apartment without speaking to anyone, but she still had things to do. She made coffee and sat on the sofa, feet curled under herself. She needed to sleep so much it hurt.

  Coffee finished, she dragged herself to the bathroom and showered for the second time today. Water streaming over her head drowned out the remnants of Meredith’s nasty tone. They’d never been friends, but this open hostility was new and confronting. Dennis might be showing too much concern for Meredith’s wellbeing, but he’d never touch her. His job meant too much to upset Jack. And he was married to his boss’s daughter at least in name.