Last Known Contact

by Phillipa Nefri Clark

  She stepped into the elevator and tapped Paul’s floor. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Hang in there. Where are you now?”

  “Going to check on the staff. I’ll probably send them home.”

  “Are you going home?”

  “I’m the new CEO, remember? No rest for me.”

  “Uh huh. I’ve got to go.”

  She slid her phone into her handbag as the doors opened. The chatter of staff and tapping of computers filled the air. The doors along the walkway were all open. She spotted Joni at a desk among the team that worked directly with Campbell.

  Paul’s office door was closed. She tapped, and when no response came, peered through the glass door. He wasn’t in there. One row of monitors was blacked out, and she frowned. How bad was the surveillance situation? The second row was on, one monitor trained on the carpark. Two men talked in a dark corner. Their arms were raised, body language angry. Ellie opened the door and went in.

  She picked up Paul’s land line phone to call the monitor room just as the men went separate ways. One stalked off in the direction of the street. She was sure it was Mark from his lean and tall build. The other man stormed to the elevator; anger etched in the face she knew so well. It was Paul.

  “You found that call I got on my phone?” Dennis tapped on the table in the interview room. “I can go?”

  Ben settled into the chair opposite, while Andy preferred to stand near the door, arms crossed. No matter how many times he told his partner there was no ‘good cop, bad cop’, Andy still approached every interrogation the same way.

  “You can’t go.”

  “Detective, my client is entitled to apply for bail immediately. We’re talking about a simple DUI.” Lawyer Brian Landing sat beside Dennis.

  “Actually, we are talking about murder, intent to cause bodily harm, illegal use of a firearm, and enquiries relating to the disappearance of Jack Bannerman.”

  Dennis swung to his lawyer. “What the hell?”

  “Indeed. Please explain yourself, Detective Rossi.”

  “Homicide will be along shortly, and they will have a lot more to say than I do about the death of Frank Barlow. The bullet that killed him has been identified as originating from the gun I found on Sea Angel during a legal search. A gun licensed to you.”

  “But…I—”

  “You don’t need to respond, Dennis.”

  “It will help him if he does, Mr Landing. My interest is around Jack. Evidence points toward your client for the unlawful death of an innocent fisherman, so the next step is determining any connection between this, and Jack’s disappearance.” Ben turned his attention back to Dennis. “You are the person he was meeting that day, on the same pier where Frank was killed.”

  The colour drained from Dennis face and his mouth opened and closed.

  “You can do as Mr Landing says or help me to help you.”

  “I’ll talk to you.”

  “Dennis—”

  “No, I said I’ll talk to him, Brian.”

  The lawyer grunted and began taking notes on a writing pad.

  “Dennis, what do you know about Jack’s disappearance?”

  “I don’t know where his body is.”

  Ben drew in a breath. “So, are you admitting to killing Jack Bannerman?”

  Dennis burst into laughter.

  Are you quite insane?

  Even Brian Landing moved his chair further from Dennis.

  Serious again, Dennis leaned forward. “You’ve got it so wrong, Rossi. I had nothing to do with Jack’s disappearance and I can prove it. Jack killed himself.”

  “And you know this—how?” Andy spoke when Ben remained silent.

  “He left a note. And I know where it is.”

  47

  Small Good Things

  Ellie waited for Paul outside his office, not wanting to start their conversation off by defending being inside it.

  You’re the damned CEO. Say what you need to!

  But no, it was best to give him the benefit of the doubt. If there was a problem with Mark, let him feel he could talk to her.

  “Mrs Connor?” Joni ran down the hallway. “You need to see this!”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Joni turned and took off in the opposite direction and Ellie followed at a sprint. She caught up in the lunchroom, where a group of people sat around a television.

  “They’re about to show the lady you helped.” Joni beamed.

  Confused, Ellie stared at the screen as an advertisement ended. A local current affairs show flicked on and there sat Mrs Blackwell. As she was interviewed about her missing grandson, the same image Ellie had seen of Adam was shown, and a banner along the bottom advised the numbers to ring with any information on his whereabouts. As Mrs Blackwell pleaded for her grandson to get in touch, a warm glow tiptoed into Ellie’s heart.

  As one, the staff turned and clapped at Ellie. She grinned. “Wow, after all the crap with Teresa Scarcella, I didn’t believe this other show would help out. But look at it!”

  “We don’t watch Ms Scarcella, do we?” Joni put her hands on her hips and there was another round of applause.

  Ellie blinked back a tear or two. This support, this moment, reminded her why she loved her job. The feeling was the same as every time she ran an event or sent a huge donation to one of the charities the Bannerman Foundation cared for.

  On the way back to Paul’s office, she tried to hold onto the feeling. If Adam Blackwell saw his grandmother on television, surely, he’d at least let someone know he was fine? If he’s fine. So young and at the beginning of his life.

  Paul was in his office, door open, arms crossed as he glared at the monitors.

  “What’s wrong with them?” Ellie stood in the doorway. “May I come in?”

  “Sure. Take a seat.” He dropped into his chair on the opposite side. “They are effed up, that’s what’s wrong. I’ve been downstairs in the control room trying to see what the hell happened to Campbell, but after you left last night, the cameras went down again.”

  “There’s nothing?”

  “Not a thing.”

  “This can’t continue.”

  “Well, don’t blame me. I’ve asked for an upgrade and Jack wouldn’t do it.”

  “Talk me through that. Why wouldn’t he?”

  Paul ran a hand over his chin. “No time even for a shave. I’m not having a go at your father, Ellie, promise. He had a lot of other stuff going on. For one, he said the cost of caring for Michael went up suddenly and he had to dip into business funds out of the blue.”

  The funds for Michael don’t come from the business!

  “Anything else he had going on?” Ellie was impressed with the calmness in her voice.

  “Yeah. Meredith. She gambled a ton of money away and left him with some shady characters to deal with. He cleaned out his cash reserves and then some.”

  “I had no idea she gambled!”

  Paul nodded. “She learnt her lesson because he threatened to divorce her if she ever did it again.”

  “Wow. You never really know someone, do you?”

  Oblivious to her sarcasm, he pointed at the top row of monitors. “The issue is more than this, El. I had the head technician from the place I order from come in and he had concerns even last year about the failing equipment.”

  “How much will it cost to do what needs doing?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Campbell was going to sign off on it but now…who knows what will happen. I’ll fix it up as best I can. As usual.”

  “As of an hour ago, I’m acting CEO. Campbell may take a long time to heal. I have no idea where Dad is. And Dennis is unlikely to return to his position.”

  Paul’s eyes shot to Ellie’s. “Dennis is out?”

  She shrugged. “Not my call, but a conviction for drink driving would put him in a poor light, don’t you agree?”

  He glanced at his watch. “Too early for a congratulatory drink for your new position?”


  “A little. And I’m not sure how I feel about this. CEO has never been my goal and certainly not under these circumstances.”

  “You’ll change this company for the better.”

  “Except, the minute Dad returns, he gets it back.”

  “But you can make decisions. You can approve the purchase order for the new security system.”

  “I can. Send it to me and I’ll go through it.”

  “Even better, let me take you to dinner and we can talk it through then. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.” Paul stared at Ellie.

  Are you hiding something?

  “Happy to have a drink. As long as it is early and local.”

  “Sure. Anywhere in particular?” he asked.

  “The wine bar down from my apartment.”

  “Seven?”

  “Six. I have so much to do. And please, send the purchase order to me first to look at.” Ellie got to her feet. At the door, she turned. “I meant to ask if you’ve seen Mark lately.”

  “Mark? Isn’t he with Joni in finance?”

  “No. Maybe he left for the day.”

  “Why do you need him?” Paul came around the desk.

  “I’m trying to update all the executive staff on the changes. See you tonight, Paul.”

  Before he got any closer, she hurried away, heart thumping. A text message buzzed and once in the elevator, she read it.

  Ellie, can you meet me at Jack’s house? Ben.

  Now? She replied.

  As soon as you can.

  With a sigh, she tapped the down button on the lift.

  48

  The Weight Of Happiness

  Ellie stepped out of the taxi she’d grabbed rather than drive with so much on her mind. Ben’s car was parked in the driveway along with a Crime Scene Services vehicle.

  The front door was open. “Hello? It’s Ellie.”

  Nobody replied.

  She went inside. Meredith was asleep on the sofa in the living room, snoring. An almost empty brandy decanter was on the side table. If Paul had told her Meredith drank her way into debt, she might have believed him.

  Brenda stood in the kitchen, staring out of the window. She jumped when Ellie spoke.

  “Brenda?”

  “Oh! Um, I think the detective is in the library, Mrs Connor.”

  The hallway was long and she wanted to turn and ran away. Ellie had worked herself up on the way over, expecting Ben to be here breaking the news of something bad happening to Dad. Or arresting Meredith.

  This house once rang with laughter. And sometimes loud words. But mostly the happiness of a small family. Dad, Gabi, and Michael. And Ellie, always wanting to be the centre of attention. Except Michael took the role with his career. And then his notoriety.

  At the library door, she hesitated. This room was a sanctuary for Dad. And for Ellie. Their escape from the outside world when things got tough.

  The door opened. Ben held out a hand and she took it, biting her bottom lips as tears threatened.

  “I’m sorry to message you. I couldn’t call.”

  “You found Dad?” she whispered.

  “No. But Dennis told me some things and I need you to help me figure it out.”

  “What things.”

  He led her to Dad’s desk. “I need to tell you what he said first.”

  As she sank onto the chair, he squatted at her side, still holding her hand. “This is going to be upsetting. But we don’t know if anything he said is true. And even if he thinks it is, there’s no proof.”

  “Ben, tell me!”

  “Dennis denies harming Jack. But he did steal something.”

  Ellie wrinkled her brow. “Stole? From Dad?”

  “And from you. The night you and I looked for the rum bottle, Dennis was in here.”

  Her mouth dropped.

  “Apparently he hid in the corner when he heard us approaching. I believe him because he repeated some things we said.”

  Ellie’s mind raced back. There’d been a moment. Something about Ben not wanting to arrest her. She’d understood what he meant. Not two people from one family. He couldn’t lose another person who he cared about.

  “Oh.”

  “Yes. Not that he’s bright enough to understand.”

  She almost smiled.

  His hand tightened. “He had been going through the drawers of both desks and he found something.”

  “The rum bottle? Oh, Ben.”

  “And he removed a note from it.”

  “What did it say?” she whispered.

  “He said he put it back. In here.”

  Ellie freed her hand and reached for the bottom drawer. Behind the files, there it was. The old rum bottle. She picked it up. “Did Dennis say what is in the note?”

  Ben straightened, then perched on the corner of the desk, his eyes intense. “He did. But I don’t know if he is lying.”

  Then it must be bad. Ellie removed the lid and turned the bottle upside down. The corner of an envelope emerged, and she carefully slid it out. “This is the one he carried from his office. The one on the surveillance footage.”

  “Or one like it.”

  She tried twice to remove the note, her hands shaking so much Ben took over. He opened the one page and held it out. Lines ran through it, criss-crossed as if screwed into a ball and then flattened. But then came the words.

  My darling Ellie,

  No matter what anyone says, remember I love you. You are brave and strong, loving and beautiful.

  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.

  I’ve stuffed things up. I agreed to sell the business and now I can’t get out of it. Your Foundation will go as well as my life’s work. It seemed the right time. You see, I have some tumour growing in my brain and there’s nothing to be done about it. And I’m not good at illness. Just look how I’ve treated your brother all these years.

  With me gone, there’s a chance of getting out of the agreement. I’m leaving everything to you, so do with it what you want. Just make sure Michael knows I never stopped loving him.

  Sorry you had to find me this way.

  Dad.

  Ellie had no words. Somewhere deep inside, a heaviness dragged her down. It was over. He’d gone away to die and left behind a mess for someone else to fix. Not any someone. No, he’d chosen the one person he relied on the most. The person he kept on a tight leash. The child he knew would do his bidding because she always had.

  He couldn’t just wait until she was home and work through everything with her and the board. Even to the grave, he wanted to control her. The heaviness turned into a fire, burning its way from her stomach to her lungs. He loved Michael. But never told him.

  My job to tell him? You self-centred, narcissist.

  He’d stuffed up all right. Not a word of warning he wanted to sell, or more important than that, about his illness. Did Gabi know? Of course not, it was something little Ellie would handle. After all, she had nothing better to do now he’d guilted her out of being a chef, given her job to a man who might be a killer, and torn her away from her one true love.

  “Ellie, please. Take a sip.”

  Ben’s face was near hers and she jumped, spilling water over them both.

  “Sorry…” When had he got water?

  He handed her a glass. “Drink.” From a pocket he pulled a handkerchief and dabbed it on the wet spots on her legs, then dried himself.

  She took a sip, then gulped through dry lips. Her gaze returned to the note, which Ben must have taken from her and put on the desk.

  “I think I’m done looking for him. And running his business. Whatever game he’s playing, I’m not buying anymore.”

  “This reads like a suicide note.” Ben finally read it, his eyes flicking to Ellie’s as he reached the end. “But this bit… Sorry you had to find me this way?”

  “In the phone mes
sage he left after he disappeared he said to look for the note. If he put the note here, presumably he meant to…end things here. So, either he did, and someone removed his body with no trace, or—”

  “Or he changed his mind. But maybe just about the where.” Ben interrupted.

  “Do you think the note looks like someone scrunched it up? Even threw it away? What if he changed his mind and wrote another note but this one ended up in here?” Ellie said. “Dad is alive somewhere.”

  “Have you considered a career as an investigator?” Ben smiled. “Are you okay, though?

  Was she? All the earlier sensations were gone, leaving only a kind of numbness. She longed to see Michael.

  “I’m okay. What now?” She stood, brushing a few remaining drops of water from her dress. “Do we tell Meredith?”

  “No, we let her sleep. Much quieter that way.”

  “You didn’t hear her snoring.”

  “Still quieter than her screeching. There is something else. I spoke to Brenda earlier and she had a bit more about the day Jack disappeared.” Ben gestured to the desk. “She remembers he carried the bag he usually takes sailing. Change of clothes etcetera. But she is also convinced he took a bottle of gin with him.”

  Ellie looked at the desk. “How did I miss this? Michael gave him six bottles which were custom made for Dad. When Michael went to prison, Dad threw just about everything out which reminded him of his only son.” She heard bitterness flood her tone. “I saved what I could, and years later, gave Dad the one bottle of gin I’d rescued. It was always here, unopened.”

  “Any idea why he’d take it?”

  Nothing makes sense anymore. Nothing.

  “I have to go, unless you need me for anything else?”

  Something in Ben’s eyes told her he had more to say, but he shook his head. “Where are you going? I’ll give you a lift.”

  “Home. I’d like to go home.”

  49

  Deceptions And Lies

  As Ben navigated through peak hour traffic, Ellie read the documentation attached to Paul’s purchase order on her phone.