Last Known Contact

by Phillipa Nefri Clark

  Paul shuffled some papers as if he wasn’t interested in who was on the other end of the phone. He thought the caller was male from a snippet of voice he’d heard.

  “Alright. I’ll head straight over.” She hung up and stood in one fluid motion.

  Paul pulled his eyes away from that red-hot body and to her eyes.

  “Want a lift?”

  “No, I’m fine thanks. I do want to talk about the video footage though, so can we do that over dinner as well?”

  “Sure.” He got up and reached the door first, opening it. “I’ll message you in a bit.”

  With a nod, she was gone, and he locked the door again. What was wrong with the footage? Had she seen it?

  He sank on his chair. What had he missed?

  By the time Ellie pulled into the carpark near the pier, she’d worked herself into a state of mild panic. Ben wanted to look around Sea Angel but hadn’t said why. Only something about an incident in the area overnight. Had someone vandalized the yacht? Or was there some new evidence?

  Half of the carpark was fenced off with police tape, and a patrol unit was across the road, stopping cars driving any further than the entry. Heart in her mouth, she parked and climbed out, looking for Ben.

  “Mrs Connor?”

  A young, well-dressed man approached. The detective from the station this morning.

  “I’m Detective Andy Montebello. Detective Rossi asked me to escort you down.”

  “What’s happened? Have you found…”

  Was Dad here? Or his…body?

  Tears sprung into her eyes and she grabbed sunglasses and forced them on. The detective didn’t seem to have noticed and led her out of the carpark toward the pier. Ben’s car was parked to one side, along with another car marked ‘Crime Scene Services’.

  At the base of some bushes, one officer took photographs of the ground and branches. What the hell was happening?

  Ben stood partway along the pier, speaking to a man she recognized as the owner of one of the small yachts. His eyes met hers as Andy stopped to wave her past, and he shook the hand of the other man.

  Somehow, she managed to control herself until he reached her and was hopefully out of earshot from anyone else. She hated to be upset, to risk losing control, and took what was meant to be a calming breath but felt like sea water.

  “Ben…is it…” her voice was raspy and she wanted to kick herself. Stop being pathetic.

  “Hey, no.” On the other hand, his tone was soft, concerned. “I’m sorry if you misunderstood, but we haven’t had anything new about Jack.”

  Relief and disappointment mingled to form a knot in her chest. She managed a nod back at the carpark. “Then, what?”

  “Let’s go to Sea Angel.” He waited until she stepped forward, then walked at her side. “Remember the missing fisherman Andy mentioned this morning?”

  “Yes. He wasn’t here, was he?”

  “According to his wife, he fished here a few mornings each week. Has for years. And this morning he left home but hasn’t arrived back. Not yet, anyway.”

  “I saw broken glass back there.”

  “From the light globe. Looks like half a brick took it out.”

  “Did the fisherman drive here? Is that why your people are in the bushes?”

  They reached the yacht and Ellie slipped her shoes off. Ben did the same, placing them on the pier. “There were a few snapped branches and before you imagine the worst, it might be from anything. A car backing into them, for example.”

  “If this fisherman only went missing a few hours ago, why the big presence? Is it because of the location?” Ellie took her sunglasses off, wanting to see Ben’s eyes clearly. He wouldn’t lie to her, but he might filter information. His expression didn’t change when he nodded.

  “Unusual for two people to go missing in a matter of days and the only thing in common being one secluded pier.”

  “Unless something is going on! Who is the fisherman? Did he know Dad?” Ellie put her hands on her hips, chin up. “Nobody is meant to be on here anyway.” She seen plenty of people ignore the signs.

  “We’re trying to establish why he was here or supposed to be here. Do I have your permission to board Sea Angel?”

  “As long as you tell me why.” Ellie stepped aboard.

  “Gut feeling, Ellie. Something’s not sitting right about Jack’s disappearance, nor the fisherman’s. This pier has no security, no cameras or way of knowing who comes and goes. Yet, these boats are valuable and could be stolen or tampered with.”

  Ben sounded puzzled, and Ellie agreed. She’d never understood why Dad left the yacht here instead of at the Yacht Club. But there’d never been an incident before, and the area was low crime and peaceful.

  She stepped back. “Please, come aboard.”

  The boat rocked a little as Ben joined her on deck. He looked at home, his legs planted a little wider than normal, but his body steady.

  “What do you need to see? You won’t upend the beds and throw the cutlery onto the floor?”

  “This isn’t television, and I don’t have a warrant.”

  “So, if you had a warrant, you’d wreck the place?”

  He grinned broadly and warmth flooded through her.

  Oh, for goodness sake, Ellie!

  “Do you want me to wait up here?”

  “No, I’d prefer you to see everything I do. If there’s something I need to take a closer look at, you need to know why.”

  She went down the steps, all too aware of how close he was behind her.

  “There are two cabins. When I was here the other day, I checked every room and they were perfect. Beds are always made with fresh linen, towels ready, water and beer and so on in the fridge. Dad has someone who cleans and makes sure she’s always ready if he wants to take her out.”

  “I’ll look in each of those first. Would you stay in the doorway to observe please?” Ben entered the left cabin. This was the one Ellie normally used if she was onboard overnight. Not very often these days. The room appeared normal, the way it was the other day. Ben took a few moments to carefully open drawers and cupboards, look under pillows, and slide his hands beneath the mattress.

  “You forgot to check behind the curtains.”

  “Good point.” Ben pulled the porthole curtain aside. “Nice view.”

  “The other cabin is exactly the same, except there’s probably Meredith’s stuff in the drawers. She tends to have clothes all over the place.” Ellie let Ben squeeze past, their bodies almost touching. His familiar scent hit her senses and she bit her bottom lip.

  “So, Meredith sails?” Ben repeated the search pattern. “Often?”

  “Rarely. Only when Dad insists. She wants a bigger yacht, thinks Sea Angel is ancient and not worthy of Dad’s status.”

  Ben stopped near the bed, his eyes on Ellie. “What do you think?”

  Ellie ran a loving hand over the timber door frame. “Sea Angel is a beautiful old lady who can outsail anything modern.”

  “You love her.”

  “Yes. And with good reason.”

  “What reason?”

  With a frown, Ellie stared at the bed. “Someone’s touched the bed. It wasn’t tucked like that.”

  “Here?” Ben took his phone out and snapped some photos. “The corner isn’t a regulation Navy fold, is it?”

  “Nope, and Dad insists on them.”

  “I’m going to lift the mattress up a bit.” Ben dropped onto his knees and slowly raised the side of the mattress.

  Ellie looked over his shoulder, leaning down to see…

  “Oh my God, no.”

  18

  Evidence

  “Ellie, can you reach my phone?” Ben didn’t move. “I need two things. One, some photos, and then for you to call Andy for me.”

  She moved closer to him, until her breath was on his face and her hand was on his chest. “Where?”

  “Um, top shirt pocket.”

  In a moment she had the phone and was at
his level, on her own knees. The heat left his chest the second her hand did, but her hip pressed against his.

  “It is password protected. Shall I use my phone?”

  “No.” Damnit. “Twenty-five ten.”

  She tapped it in, then shot him a look. “You are kidding, right?”

  “Old habits, sweetheart.”

  The word came out before he could stop it, but she ignored him, taking a series of photos of the gun nestled between the mattress and bed base. He needed to change his password from her birthday.

  “Okay, there’s a heap there that look okay. So, do I just look up Andy? Oh, found him. What shall I say?”

  “Nothing. Hold it against my ear.”

  “You don’t want much.”

  At least she was handling this.

  The phone rang a couple of times and Andy answered. “Boss?”

  “Come to Sea Angel and bring forensics. Right now, please.” He glanced at Ellie. “Hang up?”

  She slid the phone back into his pocket, her eyes intense. “We don’t carry guns on the boat, by the way.”

  So, you keep them elsewhere?

  “Are you okay having others onboard? Officially, we can now, but I want you to be okay with it.”

  She sat on the floor with a thud. All the bravado drained away. “I’m not okay with any of this, Ben. I don’t know what to think.”

  He adjusted himself to touch her shoulder with his. “Hey, look at me. I’m going to work this all out and we will find Jack. Once Andy arrives, you go back to the pier and I won’t be too long. Okay?”

  Her eyes were wide and there was a trace of panic but she nodded.

  “The next steps will be upsetting, so I’m telling you to prepare you. Crime Scene Services will take over from me and the yacht will be searched. Sea Angel may be locked down for a while and you can’t touch anything on your way out. Once the gun is processed, I’ll need to speak to you officially.”

  “I’m a suspect?”

  “No, Ellie. This is a process. But you’ll do a statement about this. And depending upon the forensic results and anything else found onboard, other people may be interviewed. You have to trust me.”

  “I don’t have a choice, do I?” she pushed herself onto her feet as hurried footsteps approached. “I need to find Dad and you are the only one with any sort of means to help me.”

  “You have a security team, aren’t they working on it?”

  “I don’t know anymore. Dennis is stopping Paul from doing his job and doesn’t talk to me unless he wants something.”

  “Boss? You down there?”

  “Cabin on the right, Andy.”

  What was Connor up to? Bannerman Wealth Group had money and the freedom to look in ways Ben didn’t. If your father-in-law and CEO was missing, why wouldn’t you use every resource at your disposal?

  By the time Ben briefed Andy and relinquished control of the mattress, Ellie was gone.

  It might be any normal day of a Melbourne summer. A bit too humid for comfort, the sky a brilliant blue and not a cloud in view. The low tide lapped against the pylons beneath the pier, whilst seagulls cawed as they hovered on the slightest of breezes.

  Under Ellie’s bare feet, the timber boards burned, so she slipped her shoes on. She didn’t want to leave Sea Angel, now bustling with police, but her heart raced so fast she had to walk away. Off the pier, past a remaining uniformed officer, to her car. There, she sank into her seat and closed the door.

  Her hands shook as she tried to insert the key to the ignition and she gave up after two attempts. Ben wanted her here. But she couldn’t bear this. She pulled out her phone and dialled Gabi. The call went straight to message bank, same as every other one since she’d returned from London.

  The phone rang the moment she put it down and she grabbed it, answering without checking the caller. “Gabi?”

  “As if. No, this is your dear step-mamma.”

  Ellie rolled her eyes. “What do you want?”

  “No need to be snappy, dear. I want to discuss some boundaries.”

  Ben emerged from the path between the bushes, glancing around then seeing her in the car. As he approached, Ellie swung the door open. “Meredith, this isn’t a good time.”

  “You answered the phone.”

  “I thought you were someone else.”

  “Charming. Anyway, I’m not happy with you speaking to my staff without me being present. Don’t do it.”

  “Your staff?”

  Ben slowed as he noticed the phone in her hand, but she managed a grin and mouthed ‘Meredith’. He rolled his eyes as she had, and a giggle started somewhere deep inside. Ellie clapped her hand over her mouth to stop it coming out as Meredith went off the deep end.

  “What are you insinuating? I’m really tired of you playing Daddy’s little girl. Jack is my husband and that makes the staff mine. The house mine. The business mine. Do you hear me?”

  Ellie was holding the phone a little away from her ear so Ben could listen in. His expression turned serious, as she imagined hers had.

  “Bannerman Wealth Group is not yours, Meredith. It will never be yours because you signed a pre-nuptial agreement and I’m pretty certain that includes anything suspicious happening to Dad. Isn’t that true?”

  The silence on the other end dragged on, then the phone call disconnected. Ellie threw her phone into her handbag. “Perhaps she forgot about such a small detail.”

  “Pre-nuptial. What else don’t I know?” Ben squatted beside the car to use its shadow.

  “No idea. Did you find anything else? Hand grenades? Assault rifles?”

  “Not sure if you are teasing me or having a go, but no. The team will do their stuff and I’m going to meet with my boss to decide what happens next. When would you like to make a statement?”

  Ellie glanced at her hands. They weren’t shaking, so she put the key in the ignition and turned on the air con. “I’m going to go see Dennis. I get the feeling you’ll want to look around the office at some point, so maybe I can help him see the wisdom of doing it voluntarily.”

  “Do me a favour and don’t say why. No mention of the gun yet. I’d prefer to be there.”

  “He’s still my husband, although I kind of expected Meredith to add him to her list of things she owns. I won’t mention the gun, okay. But I have to talk to him.”

  Ben stood and stretched. “Call me if there’s an issue. Or if he agrees to let us drop by for a look and see. Or just call me.”

  As he walked away, Ellie closed the door and started the motor. She waited at the carpark entrance for the police officer to move a car they’d put across. Ellie glanced toward the pier. Ben stood halfway to the pier, watching her drive out. It was time she went to see Michael. More than time.

  Dennis stared out of his office window at the street far below. All those people hurrying from place to place, jay-walking as they tapped on their phones. Plans and dreams. Most of them had no idea. Sheep, following the rest, with an annual holiday in Bali and an oversized mortgage in the suburbs. They might get a promotion every few years, believe they are something special. Buy a new car.

  Losers.

  They should look up and see what they’ll never have. CEO of a Melbourne icon. Control of a multi-billion-dollar business that wasn’t even at its peak. But now, with him at the helm, there were new opportunities. New markets and a direction Jack would never consider. And a project to cancel.

  Long live the frigging king, and don’t come back.

  The intercom beeped and he dropped onto his chair and hit the button. “Yes?”

  “Mrs Bannerman on line one, sir.”

  “Joni…why are you still coming in to work, and where is Mark? Didn’t we arrange some leave for you?”

  “It was offered, Mr Connor, but everyone is still fielding calls so if it is all the same, I’ll work the rest of the week. Mark is on a break.”

  “Sure. Whatever.” He disconnected and picked up the phone. “What’s up, Merry?”
r />   “That bitch of a wife of yours—”

  “Settle down. Have a sip of something and tell me what happened.”

  This should be good.

  Dennis pushed the chair back and rested an ankle on one knee.

  “I found out she’s been interrogating the staff here. Asking questions about when Jack came home and when he left and if anyone found some stupid bottle.”

  He leaned forward. “Bottle?”

  “Oh, some old rum bottle. Meant something to her and Jack.”

  “And?”

  Exasperation filled Meredith’s voice. “Why are you worried about a stupid bottle, Dennis?”

  He wasn’t. He knew where it was. But why was Ellie pushing the point with it?

  “Anyway, I phoned her to ask nicely if she’d please run things past me before speaking to the staff. But she just threw it all back in my face.”

  The elevator opened and Ellie stepped out, her eyes going straight to Dennis.

  “As if I have no rights at all over the house, or the staff, or the business, just because…”

  “Because?”

  Ellie walked directly to his office, bypassing the reception desk.

  “I’m going to have to go, Merry.”

  “Fine. But I want to go out somewhere nice tonight. Can’t stand all the doom and gloom.”

  “Sure. I’ll arrange something.” Dennis hung up as Ellie came into the office. “Most people knock.”

  “Most people who are married don’t leave their spouse without explanation, move into their father-in-law’s house while he is missing, and refuse to have a civil discussion with said spouse. Do they?”

  She had a point.

  “Sit down. I need to talk to you anyway.”

  “Has your stepmother-in-law been complaining about me?” Ellie pulled out a chair across the desk and relaxed into it as though she was here for a pleasant visit. She crossed her legs and smoothed her skirt to almost cover her knees. Despite today’s heat, her hair and makeup were flawless and she might have spent the morning in front of a cooler. But that was Ellie, always looking great no matter what life threw at her. Even the other night—straight off the plane and with the news about Jack—she was amazing in jeans and T-shirt. Pity things weren’t different.