“Name, relationship, password.” A speaker prompted, and when Ellie responded, the gates swung open.
She drove almost a kilometre through vast gardens before parking in the allocated bay for Michael’s visitors. Or visitor. Ellie was nearly positive she was the only person who came here, except when Gabi made her once or twice a year visits. She’d stay for a week nearby, spending her time with Michael for hours a day, then disappear back to her solitary life in her secluded cabin or on her yacht.
The main building was once the gracious home of a family of great wealth. The property was put into a trust when the owners died, many years after their own child was brain damaged. They wanted somewhere safe and protected to offer the rare chance of healing, or more often, a dignified and comfortable way to continue.
Michael wanted for nothing. Twenty-four-hour care, the best medical and psychological treatment, access to cutting edge technology. And all for a million dollars a year.
Money was no object when it came to Michael. Jack even wrote it into his will how his son would benefit and nobody had a hope of contesting it. Whether Jack had stepped foot here since Michael arrived, she had no idea, but suspected not. She shook her head to dispel the thoughts.
A text message directed her to Michael’s location so she diverted and found him in the water garden. Part pool, part huge glasshouse, the beyond-luxury area provided warm, safe swimming for those who could, or assisted water activities for those less able. To one side were a few comfortable deck chairs amongst an abundance of greenery, and here Ellie found Michael. She stopped to watch him. Stretched out as though lazing around a pool, he might be any mid-thirties man with wealth. Great haircut, open shirt and board shorts, and designer sunglasses.
But she knew better. Her strong, funny, and talented brother was a shadow of the person she grew up with. Instead of the banter between them, the competitive nature of their relationship, the respect and love for each other, there was only awkward silence with occasional connections. Michael still knew her, but so many pieces of the puzzle that made him unique were gone.
After taking a deep breath, Ellie made her way to Michael and sat next to him.
“Now, before you say anything, would you like to see what I brought you?”
The expression on his face warmed her heart. From a bland daze at the roof, his smile lit the room. He grabbed at the sunglasses but couldn’t quite manage them, so she reached over and slid them off.
“Hey, there you are!”
Those brown eyes of his danced with delight and Ellie’s heart was full. She reached into her handbag and slid out a block of chocolate. This she dangled in front him.
“This is just for you!”
His mouth opened and he tried to push himself upright. In an instant, an assistant was there, guiding Michael to sit up and adjusting the deck chair to support him. Just as fast, he was metres away again.
Worth every cent Dad pays.
Ellie opened the chocolate and broke a few pieces off. She grinned as Michael forced his palm out and then she closed his fingers around the strip. “Go for it.”
The effort of simply putting chocolate into his mouth cut holes in Ellie. But she smiled and nodded as he managed at last and grunted in pleasure. This was their special treat. No doubt he had chocolate and every other good thing he desired here, but their bond over basic caramel filled chocolate was worth more than anything.
As he munched his way through the block, Ellie entertained him with snippets of her London trip, keeping the conversation light. Every specialist reported Michael had limited understanding of anything outside his routine. He might recognize faces and feel a connection, but many words lost their meaning and his memory was poor. But there were times he would emerge, like when he saw the chocolate.
“I have two important things to tell you.”
Michael was busy licking melted chocolate from a finger.
“The first is about Dennis. Do you remember him? My husband?”
It would be surprising, as Dennis only met Michael a couple of times and then found reasons not to visit anymore. But Michael nodded.
“Well, he and I have decided not to be married now. He has moved out so I’m a single sister again.”
Single sister used to be Michael’s way of introducing her to his male friends. “Here is the lovely Ellie, my single sister.”
He grinned.
Ellie grinned in return, a little stunned he remembered.
His mouth opened, not for more chocolate, but one of his rare attempts to speak. “Ba.”
“Ba? Bad news?”
Michael’s face contorted in effort. “Beh. Nnn. Be…n.”
With a small gasp, Ellie sat back. Ben? “Did you say, Ben?”
You think I’m with him again after everything he did to you?
The grin was back and Michael bit into the last of the chocolate. He looked pleased with himself.
“Right. Okay, but no. Ben Rossi is not the reason my marriage is over.”
He might be the reason her marriage lacked the intense love she’d dreamed of. Some things only happen once in a lifetime.
Some loves.
“Michael, sweetheart, there is something else I need to talk about and this is pretty serious. Are you still listening?”
He finished his mouthful and his eyes found her.
“I don’t want this to worry you but it is important you hear it from me in case anyone mentions it and you don’t know what’s happened. When I got home a few days ago, Dad had disappeared. He’s missing at the moment.”
He recoiled, almost overbalancing. The assistant was at his side to help him.
“I’m sorry I upset you.” She reached for one of Michael’s hands, but he pulled away. “I’ll find him.”
Michael’s head tossed from side to side and guttural sounds poured out. The man grabbed Michael’s wheelchair and helped him into it. “Ms Connor, I’ll take him inside now.”
On her feet, Ellie tried again to take Michael’s hand, but his face screwed up and he pulled his arms against his body.
“I love you, big brother.” Tears flooded her eyes as the man wheeled Michael back to the main house. “I’m so sorry.”
She gulped the pain down and when he was out of sight, rushed to her car. A bitter taste rose in her mouth and she leaned against the bonnet for a few minutes until the nausea subsided. This wasn’t fair. Michael made mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, but his left him broken.
I’ll find you Dad and you will come and see him.
As she slid behind the wheel, her phone rang, the caller ID belonging to Ambling Fields.
“Ms Connor, this is Kerry, I’m Michael’s case officer.”
Ignition on, the Bluetooth picked up the call and Ellie left the carpark.
“Is he okay? I didn’t mean to distress him.”
“He will be. I’d meant to call you anyway. The other day he saw news coverage of your father’s disappearance.”
“Oh, damnit.”
“We can’t filter everything, unfortunately. He reacted then as he has now. I should have warned you he’d be easily upset. My apologies.”
“I just wanted to reassure him I am going to find Dad. Once I do, we’ll both visit.”
“Well, I wouldn’t recommend doing so. Of course, please do find him, but it is better he stays away from here.”
Ellie pulled the car to the side of the driveway. “Sorry. Did I understand you correctly? Not bring Dad to see him?”
“This may be difficult for you to hear, Ms Connor. Mr Bannerman’s disappearance is not what set Michael off. It was seeing his face. We’ve worked with your brother for a long time and there is always the same response when your father’s name is mentioned, or his picture appears.”
“Dad is the problem?”
“Yes. It may be best if the two never meet again if Michael is to live the best life he can. I must go now.”
The bitter taste rose again, and Ellie only barely managed to op
en the car door in time.
25
Twists
Dennis had the limousine collect him after a much later start than planned. There was a ton of work he’d let slide, thanks to Jack and his poor decisions. He was hardly perfect, though. Instead of telling Meredith no to dinner, he’d assumed nobody would find them together. By the volume of phone calls this morning, and media camped outside the gates, too many people were interested to expect any sort of privacy.
Traffic was heavy and Dennis opened his briefcase. At last he was in the position he’d coveted since joining Bannerman Wealth Group, and regardless of the reason, or the opposition, he intended to keep it. The top file in the briefcase kept him busy for most of the trip, reviewing and approving several new accounts.
As they entered Domain Tunnel, he put the file away. Beneath it was the sealed yellow envelope marked ‘Private’. It was Jack’s baby, not his, but now there were big decisions to make. He could follow Jack’s wishes and respond to the piling up emails from Jack’s contact with a firm date. The fallout was the unknown factor. Loss of jobs. Risk to his own status. Or, he could exit the negotiations and lead the group into a different future.
What were you thinking, Jack?
His hand strayed to an inner pocket of the case. Zipped inside was the letter he’d found in the bottle. There was no need to open it as he’d memorized every word, but he unfolded and read it again. This wasn’t the Jack Bannerman he knew. Thought he knew. With everything running the way Jack wanted, why pick this moment? And without offering a word about what came next.
My darling Ellie,
No matter what anyone tells you, remember I love you. You are brave and strong, loving, and beautiful.
Dennis shook his head. The bond between Ellie and Jack was a pain in the butt. More than five years ago she’d returned from her unsanctioned time away, hopeful of resuming her position as Jack’s right hand. For a week, Dennis watched with growing confidence as Jack’s resolve hardened. Once bitten, never again. Let Jack down and expect things to change. Ellie’s abandonment of her job and her life at Bannerman had left her father perplexed and then angry. The anger had cooled, and Jack’s solution was for his daughter to create the Bannerman Foundation. Dennis stayed in the role everyone expected Ellie to return to.
What nobody foresaw was the rapid success of the Foundation, bringing help to thousands and new clients to the group. It took little time for Jack to re-establish the relationship with his daughter and when speculation began about Jack moving her back to her former position, Dennis acted.
He married the boss’s daughter.
One way or another, he wanted Jack’s job and was prepared to wait. Surely Jack would retire soon, but his sixtieth came and went with no sign of a change. Day after day, he’d get out that gold pen Ellie had commissioned for his birthday, sign the contracts Dennis wanted to sign, and reinforce the likelihood he’d never leave. Damn him and his pen. He glanced back at the letter.
Not everything is as it seems. Gabi once told me happiness lies in our hearts if we look hard enough. I’ve searched, Ellie. I truly have, but all I see are shadows closing in.
“Sir? Shall I go into the carpark as there are media out the front again?”
The driver spoke through the intercom and Dennis’ head shot up. The entry to the building was invisible behind cameras and reporters. All thanks to his bad judgement. And Ellie’s.
“Thanks.”
Dennis folded the letter and zipped the pocket. He was no closer to a decision on how to use Jack’s note to his benefit. Not yet.
It annoyed Ellie to see media outside her apartment building. She nosed her car into the underground carpark and phoned Teresa Scarcella as she waited for the elevator.
“Ms Connor, I’m happy to hear from you.”
“I’d like to make a deal.”
“Love deals. Go ahead.”
“I’ll give you an interview.”
“And?”
“Two things. Clear your lot from in front of my apartment because you are impacting the daily lives of people who are not involved.”
“Okay. I can’t speak for other channels though. And what else?”
“I’d like your help.”
There was a long silence. The doors opened and Ellie let some people out, then got in. “Teresa?”
“Help, how?”
“With Dad missing, I’ve been exposed to another missing person story which is every bit as important. I want some coverage.”
“Of someone else’s story?”
“Take it or leave it.”
“Take it. Shall we schedule for this afternoon?”
“I’ll text you.” Ellie disconnected the call as the doors closed. If the media hadn’t moved by the time she got to her apartment, there’d be no interview.
The doors opened on the ground floor and gym man got in. “Are those reporters all here for you?” He asked.
“Sorry. They should be headed off soon.”
“I saw the paper.”
Ellie rolled her eyes and he laughed.
“You had a big day, being chased down an alley and all. Need a security guard?”
The hairs on the back of her arms stood up. “How do you know about it?”
“Huh? Video taken from a phone somewhere online, I think.”
Yes, someone was videoing her with the police and Paul, or at least it had looked like it. Were they close enough to overhear though?
“Apparently some copper was asking around the area about a dude running from the alley. Kind of made sense.”
The doors opened and Ellie hurried out.
“So, do you need a security guard?” Gym man called after her.
“No thanks.”
“Can’t be too careful.”
Was that a warning? Ellie glanced back but he’d already reached his door and wasn’t looking her way. She got into her apartment and locked herself in.
Floors below, the media mob dispersed. As one lot left, the others followed. At least Teresa kept her side of the first part of the agreement. Ellie sent her a quick thank you text, and asked for details of time and place for the interview.
The balcony was too warm for comfort, with a hot wind rattling the chimes. Ellie closed the sliding door behind herself and took her shoes off. The quiet of the apartment settled around her and she sighed deeply, releasing the tension of the past hour. Her stomach had stopped churning but her thoughts collided. She filled a glass with water and perched on the end of the sofa.
Michael’s reaction broke her heart. Kerry’s recommendation Dad never see his son again was a shock. But had Dad ever visited Michael? Not to Ellie’s knowledge. He’d always refused to go with her, and changed the subject of Michael so often that now she wondered if he’d truly turned his back on his son. How would Michael understand his once-beloved father’s absence from his life?
She remembered the photo album she’d taken from the safe at Dad’s house and found it in the handbag she’d had that night. Back in the living room, she curled her feet under her on the sofa and opened the album.
Her own eyes stared back. Serious, possibly cross by the body language of her seven-year-old self. Ellie laughed. She didn’t remember this being taken, but it was on Wind Drifter, the yacht Gabi eventually took. Michael was in the background with their mother, playing a board game of some sort. The photo was faded and the clothes dated it.
Ellie turned page after page. All the photographs were of her family. Memories Dad kept of his children growing up, including one of Michael surfing and another from the set of the TV show he starred in for two years. Dad’s disappointment when Michael chose a path away from Bannerman gradually turned to pride as his fame and fan base increased. This was the last photo of Michael in the album.
The rest featured Ellie—first day at Bannerman, her wedding, at a fundraiser for the Foundation. Even one she’d sent from Africa during her year away. She’d thought he’d disposed of it, but here it was. And at
the back, one of Gabi. Bare footed on a beach, wrapped in a sarong, she was young and so pretty. Over one shoulder she’d slung a bag, and in her hand she carried a small book. Ellie knew it straight away. She’d always called it ‘Mum’s happiness book’ and quoted phrases for any occasion as a child. After Gabi left, Ellie would retreat to the library and sit on the floor reading it when she missed her mother or argued with her father.
What an interesting find. She’d return it to the safe tomorrow so Dad didn’t find out she’d looked at his private memories. And maybe she’d see where the happiness book was and borrow it for a while. God knows she could use some right now.
“Finally spoke to the remaining resident in that apartment block.” Andy helped himself to coffee and poured one for Ben, who leaned against the counter in the police station kitchen.
“And?”
“Nothing. Shift workers with no recall of the dates we need, nor any suspicious going ons in the carpark or marina. Had hoped we’d get something.”
“What about the one for sale? Thanks.” Ben took a coffee.
“Agent is arranging a time to go in for a look. Owners are overseas.”
“And no joy with the alley?”
Andy shook his head. “Sorry. Nothing out of the ordinary. Couple of cameras over the road but nobody running from the direction of the alley. Traffic may have hindered seeing anyone.”
The men walked through the open plan squad room to their desks opposite each other.
“Did you speak to Ellie about the yacht and things?”
Last Known Contact Page 13