by Bowes, K T
“Yeah, it is,” Logan whispered, his words hidden in a sigh. “Because otherwise he’d be in custody right now. He totally lost it when they found the plane and that display of anger alone would set him up for motive. Pete said he was out of control.”
“Is this my fault?” Hana asked, hanging her head. “I should’ve warned you he was upset enough about it to ditch class and look for me.”
Logan shook his head, distracted by the arrival of another group of police officers who collected in the foyer. “No, I knew he was anxious and should’ve done more to help.” His eyes fixed on the uniformed men. “What’re they doing now? Why can’t they wait outside? This is a boarding house, not a bloody police social club!”
“You could ask them to leave,” Hana suggested and Logan snorted.
“Yeah. Because they listen to me.” The sarcasm in his voice made Hana wince and she turned back to James.
“I need to go home now, James,” she said, her voice gentle. “But Mr Du Rose will look after you.”
“Hang on,” Logan hissed and Hana stood, watching as the knot of cops parted. Through the mirrored glass, Hana watched her son stride towards them and her breath caught in her chest. Almost the image of Vikram Johan, it seemed there was nothing of the young, frightened Hana McIntyre in him; he seemed like a stranger.
Bodie opened the door without knocking, unsurprised to find Hana standing next to James in Logan’s office. He ignored his mother, grinding his teeth at the incongruous sight of his step father cradling the baby in his arms. There was a tenderness in the way the hard man held Bodie’s half-sister and it came again, that feeling of being left out and excluded.
Hana got her brightest smile ready for her son, noticing the cut beneath his left eye. She held her arms out for Phoenix, standing on tip-toe to kiss her husband. “You want my statement now?” she asked Bodie, keeping her voice light.
He nodded, his face maintaining a professional blankness. Logan stepped away from the wall. “Can James to go back to class, officer?” he asked. “I’ll walk him over and you can use my office.”
Bodie nodded once with a sharp, jerky movement and Logan squatted next to James. “Come on mate,” he said gently, “let’s get you to class. What do you have now? I’ll walk you there and explain.” Logan held his hand out towards James and touched him on the upper arm. “Come on, man, let’s go.”
The young man collapsed as though shot, crumpling to the floor. His eyes looked black with terror, his pupils massive. “No, no. Enough, enough. I go home, can’t do this. It’s too hard, too hard. I want my family. I am failure. They pay for me to be success and I am failure.”
Hana closed her eyes and looked away in misery at the boy’s anguish. He was the family protégé, the flagship sent away to gain an education which would repay his family’s toil and faith in him for years to come. Logan shook his head and looked up at him. “You’re nearly there, James. A few more months and it’s all over; you can arrive home with qualifications and go to university, get a good job and help them.” He balanced himself with one forearm across James’s knees, ruffling the boy’s poker straight dark hair with the other hand. “Mate,” he whispered, “we’ve talked about this. You’re top James in every subject. You’re in the running to be school Dux if you keep going – that’s an honour. You’ll go home a hero. You’re not a failure so stop telling yourself that. Seeing your dreams just over the horizon’s always the worst part. But it’s not as bad as never seeing them at all. Come on James. Get a grip, man!”
James misunderstood the colloquial phrase and reached out for Logan’s forearm, squeezing it in a firm grip. “Get grip,” he repeated, nodding and drawing strength from the physical contact. He rallied, pushing the emotional strain from his face and bowing in his seat.
Logan stood up and took a step back while James wrestled himself from the chair. “Come on,” Logan said with authority, sounding like a teacher again. “Let’s go.”
At the doorway, Bodie stood back to let them pass and Logan ignored him as though he wasn’t there. James bowed regally in front of him. “I very sorry for upset and smack round head. You keep plane; my gift to you for reparation.”
With an encouraging jerk of Logan’s head they left, striding along the corridor and stepping between the police bodies. Logan’s head and shoulders rose above most of the police officers and Hana sighed. “The first time I met James he was lost in a downstairs hallway, frantically searching for his math’s class. He’s highly intelligent and will do something ground breaking in engineering or computers one day. The other boys make fun of him and he pretends he doesn’t understand but sometimes I think he knows very well what they’re saying.” Hana’s eyes flicked to her son, finding cold brown eyes and an impassive expression staring back. She gulped and swallowed. “Angus took him under his wing and tutored him for the whole of Year 9. He can write English better than me but struggles to speak it sometimes.”
“Mum?” Bodie’s voice held a spiteful edge and Hana’s brow furrowed. “I don’t care about some kid I don’t know. Let’s just get on with this.”
“How can you be like that?” Hana asked. “He’s a nice kid.” She stared at the stranger in front of her.
“That’s right,” her son retorted, touching the cut beneath his eye and wincing. “You’re always thinking of someone else.”
Hana reacted as though stung by her son’s accusation. Her face registered shock and sadness before receding to complacency. “What’s happened to you?” she asked, her voice hushed. “I gave you everything I had and you’ve turned into a complete arse hole. I’m tired of this, Bodie Johal. I’m tired of a needy, selfish, grown man feeding off my emotions like a little boy. I’m so sorry that a terrified international student who’s used to police making people disappear in the night, tried to defend himself against his perception of you.” Hana clutched her daughter to her breast. “You’ve become a bitter, twisted little man,” she snapped. “Vik would be disgusted because although he was an adulterer, he was still a man of courtesy and compassion. I’m disappointed in you, Bodie and the man you’ve become.”
Phoenix began to grizzle and Hana shook her head. “You know what? I’d like someone else to take my statement, please. You can tell them where to find me.”
Hana strode from St Bart’s and arrived at the unit in distress. She asked Odering to take her statement and he obliged, not asking her reasons for rejecting his Sergeant. She told him everything detail she could remember about her tennis opponent, realising the nice young man had become a murder suspect.
“So, you played tennis with him twice at night?” Odering asked, his voice level.
Hana nodded. “I know it was stupid. He knew me from the tennis club years ago and seemed harmless. I’m certain he didn’t kill Larry Collins but I know you have an investigation to complete.” She sighed and accepted the mug of tea Tama pressed into her cold fingers.
“What did he look like?” Odering asked. “Could you pick him out from a line up or a set of photos?”
Hana shook her head and wrinkled her nose. “He’s tall, very blonde and good looking. But he looked like a lot of other tall, blonde, handsome men. I don’t remember any distinguishing features apart from his very fair hair. I’m sorry.” She sipped her tea. “Lachlan, I think his name was Lachlan; it was written on the case of the racquet I borrowed.” Looking down, Hana saw Phoenix laying perfectly still across her thighs, studying her mother with an intense gaze. Her grey eyes were knowing and filled with unshared wisdom, uncanny for a baby.
The child volunteered a beautiful smile, her eyes crinkling like Logan’s. “You’re divine,” Hana whispered.
“She looks like your husband’s sister,” Odering commented and Hana glanced at him in surprise.
“You know Liza?”
Odering sniffed. “She’s tried some of my cases. The woman’s got nerves of steel but she’s stunning to look at.”
Hana nodded. “None of my children look like me. Bo and Izz
ie look like their father, his Indian heritage screamed louder than mine. But sometimes I catch a face expression or a look that’s mine and it’s just enough to satisfy me.”
“You’re very beautiful,” Odering whispered, his eyes sparkling in a way which affected the pit of Hana’s stomach.
She shook her head. “No, my auburn hair and pale English skin can’t compete with the Māori lineage of the Du Roses. They’re beautiful.”
Hana’s heart cried out to the child of her middle age and received an answer. She smiled at her baby and the little mouth beamed wider, all innocent infant again. Hana sighed. “Are we done now? I feel quite tired.”
Odering nodded and Hana hid in her bedroom for a while, enjoying a precious, quiet moment with her daughter. Phoenix rewarded her with little noises which were her attempt at speech, pursing up her delightful rosebud lips and blowing bubbles.
“They’ve found something,” Tama said, bursting into the bedroom. “They all ran over to St Bart’s. What do you think it is?”
“I don’t know,” Hana replied, rocking her daughter.
“Logan thinks there’s a marijuana farm in the gully.”
“There can’t be. The cops would’ve found it weeks ago because they checked down there.”
“They checked for clues in a murder case, not a drugs operation.” Tama’s eyes were wide with excitement.
Hana shook her head. “This is terrible. Larry Collins must have been involved with it and James saw him. What if someone saw James? Whoever killed Collins could intend to silence James. That means an innocent boy’s in danger.”
Chapter 21
Hana fed Phoenix mushed up casserole which she devoured before putting away a jar of apple crumble baby food. The effort of eating left the baby exhausted and after a short play with Tama and a change of nappy, she looked pleased to be in her cot.
“You eating, Ma?” Tama asked, making himself a sandwich.
Hana shook her head. “No, thanks. Everything gives me indigestion at the moment.” She rubbed a hand over her chest and winced.
“See the doctor,” Tama replied and Hana nodded.
“Yeah. I keep meaning to make an appointment.”
“Do it now,” he suggested and Hana frowned.
“I will,” she said, making no effort to reach for her phone. “Have you ever seen a crop of marijuana?”
“Nope,” Tama replied with his mouth filled with bread. “The growers set traps and stuff. Not safe places to be.”
Hana paced the floor. “I wonder where it is; I know the gully reasonably well through helping with the gully restoration. It doesn’t make sense; the boys go down there all the time. Whatever Collins hid must be outside the school site and closer to town. I thought it needed heat lamps and poly-tunnels.”
“Don’t even think about it.” Tama eyed her nervously, reading the danger signs.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hana lied. “I’m going for a lie down.”
After five minutes, Tama crept along the hallway and discovered Hana searching in the shoe cupboard. She had a gum boot in one hand and a guilty look on her face. “I wondered where these were,” she said, a picture of innocence. “They’re my favourite ones.”
“Yeah,” Tama muttered, snatching it from her and shoving it on the top shelf. “And it’s staying in here. Don’t make me call Uncle Logan to sort you out!”
“Sort me out!” Hana scoffed. When Tama opened his mouth she put a finger to her lips. “Don’t wake the baby.” She flounced into her bedroom and closed the door and Tama hid the other boot in the pantry and phoned his uncle.
Logan appeared to find Hana in the laundry, fitting trainers on her feet. “Oh no, you don’t!” he snapped from behind her. He sounded angry and Hana cringed, not hearing him creep up on her. “You go down there and the cops will arrest you. If they don’t charge you for obstruction, you’ll still make it look like you have a vested interest. They might start wondering if Collins had a female business partner.”
“But I’ve never seen a patch of marijuana,” Hana whined, “it sounds really technical and hard to grow. I thought I’d have a wander down and see.”
“Do you think they’re handing out tickets or something? Gold coin donation for a look at the hash stash!”
“Now you’re being silly,” Hana replied, pouting and folding her arms across her chest.
“No, you’re the one being silly!” Logan retorted. He stalked into the bedroom and laid backwards on the bed. Dark circles ringed his eyes.
“How’s James?” Hana asked climbing next to him and Logan shrugged.
“Weird. Not like James-weird but much, much weirder!”
Hana tutted. “You see that’s the whole point,” she said. “All this wanting to go home when he’s so near finishing Year 13; it doesn’t make sense. He’s been homesick for almost five years so what’s different now? I think he’s scared of somebody. He knows something and feels unsafe staying here. Whoever frightened him must be more terrifying than turning up in Korea empty handed because every adult in his immediate family contributes to his education. James needs university entrance or he might as well not go home at all. Who could be more frightening to him than all those family members put together?”
Logan said nothing and his eyes remained shut, making Hana assume he’d fallen asleep. She smirked and lifted her bottom off the bed, taking her weight in her knees so as not to rock the mattress as she stood. The lure of the gully called and she smelled success. The mattress stayed level as she stood up straight, a smile of victory on her face. Almost there, she felt Logan’s strong legs close around her thighs like a clamp. As hard as she wriggled, he wouldn’t let go, laying on the bed with his arms above his head, smirking and watching her wrestle. As Hana grunted with exertion and temper, he sat up and lurched forwards, catching her and pulling her backwards on top of him. His arms wound around her middle, keeping hers firmly pinned by her sides so she couldn’t get away. “Do you ever listen to anything I say?” he asked next to her ear, half amused, half cross.
“Yes!” she responded crossly. “I listen to you all the time! It doesn’t mean I have to do what you say though.” Logan tutted and didn’t let her go.
“Hana Du Rose, you’re a real pain sometimes.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Hana grumbled as her husband nuzzled at the back of her neck.
“Yep, and I’m here.” Logan manoeuvred his wife off him by sliding her across his front and letting her fall to his right side. It was mean because he knew the skin on her left wrist was still tender and she wouldn’t risk hurting it by resisting. It gave him the advantage as he tucked her under his arm and kept her pinned. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said firmly. “So nor am I!”
“I only wanted to look!” Hana bit. “I thought I might understand what happened when James went down there. It doesn’t to add.”
“That’s what Odering and your son are for. You know them don’t you? The cops!”
Hana still argued. “You know what I’m talking about; I can see it in your face. James is scared and I want to know why.”
Logan kept hold of his wife. “I know what you mean but there’s nothing we can do about it. James wouldn’t talk to Bodie, not before or after he thumped him in the face. I sat with James while he gave his statement the other day and all he wanted to talk about was the damn plane.” Logan’s eyes narrowed and the idea presented itself, a brainwave which wasn’t of such epic proportions really. It was just logical.
Logan wouldn’t let his wife go and found a way to keep her in the bed with him. “Stop!” she complained as he teased her blouse from her jeans. “Tama can hear.”
“No, he’s gone out,” Logan breathed, pressing his lips to the soft skin above Hana’s breasts.
“He texted you, didn’t he?” Hana’s voice sounded flat. “I’ll kill him.”
“Well, don’t bury him in the compost heap.” Logan’s fingers worked their way into her jeans. H
is eyes had a sparkly quality and Hana knew it was useless resisting him, besides which, she didn’t want to.
“You’re a very bad boy,” she sighed as he settled his lips over hers.
“Really?” Logan asked, his voice soft as he found the clasp at the back of her bra and popped it. Mischief lit his eyes and Hana laughed and shook her head.
Tama returned home absolutely filthy and thought he might have broken his finger. “They might look weedy but those Year 9s are pretty violent,” he complained. He took one look at the lovebirds cuddled up on the sofa and felt glad he’d slunk out. Logan sat up, his legs clad in old tracksuit pants and his chest bare. Hana laid sideways with her legs over his and her husband massaged her feet through her socks.
Tama pulled a face. “Sometimes old people are really embarrassing,” he grumbled.
“You’d know,” Logan yawned. “You’ve bedded enough of them.”
“Ha ha,” Tama commented in a squeaky voice and Logan smirked. “At least you stopped your wife making a big mistake,” he muttered, staring into the fridge.
Hana leaned backwards and glared at him. “Traitor!”
Tama shrugged. “I never appreciated how hard it was keeping a woman. They’re more objectionable than stroppy heifers. Maybe I’m better off single.”
“Hey buddy,” Logan said to Tama over the top of Hana’s head. “I’ve taken tomorrow off and wondered if you wanted company on the drive up to Auckland. If you’re nervous, it might help to have someone else drive you.”
“Naw, you big softie,” Hana whispered to her husband, cuffing him round the back of the head and then ruffling his hair.
Tama’s emotions moved through feeling thrilled to worried. Logan watched him with narrowed eyes. “Hey, it’s fine,” he soothed. “I don’t mind if you’d rather go alone.”
Tama put his head down and gazed at the floor. “It’s not that. It’s just you guys are both amazing. Tomorrow’s interview is in a different place to the fitness stuff and I’d love you to come with me. I’m worrying about getting lost and being late.”