by Bowes, K T
“What happened next?” the woman asked.
“We went towards the gully. It felt wrong and his grip on my arm was painful. At the old shed near the tennis courts, I saw another cop and you.” Hana indicated Lucy with a jerk of her head. “I tried to make you understand I was in trouble but the biology teacher gripped my hand and twisted my sore wrist to stop me screaming. He had a knife and pushed it into my back.” Hana rubbed at the skin on her left arm through her clothing as the memory disturbed her. “He said he’d go back for my baby and hurt her; he didn’t even know her name.” Hana turned towards Logan, her face a mask of horror. “He said he’d hurt her and I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t know if Mark could stop him if he went back to the house for Phoe. I should have thought it through. I can’t believe I fell for his threats.”
“It’s natural,” Lucy reassured her in a soft voice. “What mother wouldn’t protect her child?”
“But it’s not logical!” Hana snapped. “If he went back for Phoe, where would he put me? It’s a bloody gully! He couldn’t keep me and leave me, could he?”
Logan gritted his teeth and wished he’d given the man more than one slap to the head. Lucy widened her eyes in warning and he avoided stating the obvious. The man could’ve tied Hana to a tree and gone back, but the look of rage on her face made him bite his tongue. Instead, Logan took Hana’s hand in his, grounding her in the present.
Lucy shook her head slowly at him. “Leave her to process it,” she whispered. “Don’t interfere.”
Logan felt mercenary doing what was best for the cops in their quest to gather fresh, recollected evidence. He doubted it was best for his wife. She still woke in the night reliving her earlier kidnap, believing blood still spurted from her wrist and squeezing it so tightly she hurt herself again. Logan ignored the cop, stroking Hana’s hand and concentrating on his wife’s words as she focussed her blame on the unfortunate Lucy. “I wanted you to help me but you were busy. The whole thing felt unreal. He was hurting me; why couldn’t you see that?”
Lucy gulped and Hana raged on. Her reaction seemed different to how she behaved after Laval kidnapped her. Then she had hidden from the memories, reluctantly given a police statement and cowered behind Logan’s authority. He hoped her anger would see her through in a better state this time.
“I know it seems stupid that I went with him, but he’s my tenant and I know him from work. I was scared of overreacting but now I feel so foolish.” Hana snatched a tear from her cheek with careless fingers, rambling, going backwards and sideways without progressing. The female officers looked at each other in a well-used formula for dealing with hysterical victims of crime.
“Did Alec Petersen say anything to you as he pulled you along by your arm?” Lucy asked.
Hana and Logan stared in confusion. “Who?” Logan asked and the cops eyed each other warily.
“The man who took your wife into the gully.” Lucy peered at her notes with a furrowed brow. “That’s who we’ve got in custody anyway.” She shot a nervous look at her colleague.
“The biology teacher,” Hana sighed. “It’s ridiculous. The school isn’t huge but we could never remember his name. I should have learned it, not that it would have helped me.” She pressed her hand over the top of her stomach and winced. “Do we have to do this now? I’ve got bad indigestion.”
Logan put his arm around Hana, feeling her agitation as a vibration through his fingers. Pain made her breath catch in her chest. “She’s had enough,” Logan said, his voice a low, warning growl.
The other female cop left the room and returned seconds later, handing a pack of antacids to Hana. “I managed to catch the medic,” she said with a smile. Hana took a tablet, thought for a moment and then took another, twisting the box around and around in her fingers. Logan confiscated it as she reached in for a third.
“I was asking you if the biology teacher said anything to you,” Lucy continued.
Hana nodded. “Yes. He was furious about my rental property. I’m selling it and an agent looked around earlier in the week and let the tenants know I was listing it. He offered them first option, but they declined. The biology teacher was angry because they’re happy there. He said they couldn’t afford to buy the house and wanted to convince me not to sell. He said his wife was terribly upset and it was all my fault.”
It didn’t escape the notice of either cop that Logan Du Rose looked utterly stunned at his wife’s revelation. He looked sideways at Hana with his mouth open and when she caught his eye, her face flooded with pain. “I wanted to surprise you, Logan. Everything you said outside the tennis courts was true. That house is part of the old Hana, Hana Johal. I’m not her anymore and I don’t need her things. It marked part of my clearing out process.” Hana smiled and her face lit up with an inner beauty. “It’s been very releasing.” She directed her words towards Lucy. “My husband’s building the most beautiful house on top of a mountain. I wanted to sell some of my assets and contribute so it’s mine too.” Her face fell. “The biology teacher was furious. He insisted it wasn’t about what I wanted, it was about what his wife wanted.”
Logan looked away and rubbed his hand over his face. Hana sighed and her courage wavered. “He kept saying, ‘I know you know about it.’ He kept saying that over and over again and I didn’t know what he meant. He also said, ‘You saw me.’ But I hadn’t seen him for ages, not since I went to the staffroom to see Loge a week ago, or was it the start of this week?” Hana rubbed her hand across her stomach again asking, “I want to go now. Please could we do this tomorrow?”
Lucy shook her head, deliberately ignoring Logan who looked like he might take his wife and leave if she protested again. “Not much longer now, Hana,” she said. “Tell us how you got that bruising round your waist and the scratches on your arms and neck?”
Hana let out a huge, impatient sigh. “He led me into the gully on the track, then he made me climb up a bank. I couldn’t get up so he hauled me round the waist. It hurt and I cried out. I’d had enough and I knew I needed to get away. I pushed him and he shoved me backwards against a tree, holding me round my neck. It took my breath away and made me feel weak. After that, he shoved me in front of him so I couldn’t turn. Parts of it were steep and I fell a lot. I kept grabbing roots and grass to stop me falling but the ferns were spiky and tore my hands and arms.” Hana looked at her husband. “Did you know ferns were spiky? I didn’t.” She touched her stomach again in the same place and winced. “He produced this sharp knife thing near the shed when we saw the cops and after I pushed him, he dug that in my back a few times as he got angrier and angrier.”
Logan shook his head and struggled to keep control. It explained the short nicks along Hana’s lower back which he saw as he helped her shower. He knew if he reacted the cops would insist he left, leaving his wife vulnerable and alone. Again. He worked at containing his fury, using old techniques to shield his emotions. He’d had years of practice and retreated as far behind the familiar mask as he dared, without detaching from the situation.
Hana continued, her head high as she exuded bravery. “We walked for ages along the gully, miles. I didn’t know the gully was that long. Then we came to a really dense area. He made me go ahead into some bushes where there were loads of punga and other palms. I kept falling over the ground cover. Right in the middle was this electric fence on a battery thing and he turned it off with a key. Then he made me go in front and push through these tall leafy plants, like the ones on James’ plane. He morphed into a biology teacher, telling me how much water the plants need and how often he has to go down there to make sure they’re growing ok. He said he wanted to make enough to buy my house and had almost raised the deposit, but wanted me to wait before listing it and then he would pay full price. ‘How did you find out about me?’ he asked and I kept quiet because I didn’t know what he meant. He asked me again and I told him I didn’t know anything about him, so he slapped me across the face. ‘I saw you playing tennis and you saw me,’
he said. ‘You waved and then you sent the agent round because you knew.’ I remembered seeing someone walking past, but it was dark and the floodlights from the courts blinded me to anything outside. If I waved, it would be out of politeness. I told him that and he called me a liar. He said Larry Collins and he alternated the runs to the furthest plantation and he was fed up of doing it by himself now. The cops found the other one, but they’d never find this one; it was too well hidden and he walked a different way every time.”
“What else did Petersen say about Larry Collins?” Lucy asked.
Hana rubbed her stomach and ribs again. “He said Collins got greedy and harvested too early. They argued over it. He found out Collins sold privately to other buyers outside their agreement. Their regular buyer complained and threaten to cancel future orders if it didn’t stop and said he wouldn’t stop at ruining their business; he’d mess them up too.”
Hana’s breath caught in her chest and she filtered each exhale through pursed lips. “Please,” she begged, “let me go now?”
As Lucy anticipated, Logan stood up to leave, his height intimidating and his body language full of challenge. He helped Hana from the sofa with tender, careful hands, despite his threatening stance.
“One more question,” Lucy begged. Logan’s grey eyes narrowed and his patience looked ready to snap. “You’re sure you didn’t know anything about the marijuana growing the teacher was doing?”
Logan looked incredulous and Lucy held up her hand. “I need her to verify that fact in case it comes up later.”
Hana shook her head. “Of course I didn’t!” Her eyes widened in shock. “I’m sorry; I’ve told you all I can.” She turned to Logan. “Please, Logan, I want to go back to my daughter now.”
Chapter 23
“Reception is through there,” Lucy’s colleague said, indicating a set of double doors. “Thanks for your help, Mrs Du Rose.” She nodded and slipped through the access door disappearing from sight.
“Oh, crap!” Logan exhaled and added another swear word as Hana’s body felt heavy against his, her legs moving mechanically.
“What?” she asked, too tired to panic.
“We came in the cop car. How do they expect us to get home? Fantastic. They’ve had what they wanted and we get dumped outside, surplus to requirements.” Logan left Hana sitting on a grotty seat in the reception while he argued with the desk clerk.
“It’s not my job to call you a taxi, sir. I’m a police officer, not a hotel concierge.”
Logan opened his mouth to unleash a barrage of abuse, his fists balled on the counter.
“It’s ok; I’ve got it,” a familiar voice called to the clerk. Bodie appeared through the security door and Logan’s heart sank. Hana caught Logan’s eye and her look told him she didn’t care how she got back to her baby, as long as she got back. He considered asking the desk clerk for a phone directory and calling his own taxi, realising it would only delay Hana and push her beyond what her fragile coping mechanisms could deal with. There was no room for egotistical pettiness and Logan shrugged at his wife, looking sorry for himself. Offering her his hand, he hauled her out of the seat, noticing plasters on some of the cuts to her hands while others were open to the air. There seemed no logic to the medic’s choices as the open ones bled onto Logan’s fingers and he gritted his teeth, wanting so much better for his wife.
“Take this,” he whispered gently, reaching into his jeans pocket and pulling out the ever-present-clean-handkerchief. Hana looked at his hand in confusion. “You’re bleeding,” he said, jerking his head towards her hands.
“Thanks.” Hana took the handkerchief with a smile of gratitude, using it to mop at her weeping cuts and pulling a face as they stung.
“Car’s just here,” Bodie’s said, pointing to the front of the police station. Hana wondered fleetingly if the traffic wardens dared to ticket cops parked in the sixty-minute slots for too long.
Bodie started the engine and glanced in his rear view mirror. His passengers disconcerted him, having both opted to sit in the back of his smart BMW. He set off for the school site, pushing his way through the rush hour traffic. Nobody spoke. Hana stared through the window at the world passing by and Bodie saw in his rear view mirror how her husband watched her covertly When Hana turned and gave her husband a watery smile, his handsome face channelled a look of such utter love and affection it was as though Bodie saw him naked. Embarrassed, he turned his attention back to the traffic, doubting the comfortable dislike he’d shrouded himself in and wondering if he’d invented reasons to hate Logan Du Rose.
Bodie parked outside the unit and Logan opened Hana’s door for her, ever the gentleman. “Thanks,” he said politely as though in dismissal and Bodie felt a surge of anger that neither of them asked after his son’s broken arm.
“Jas is fine thanks,” he said with an edge of sarcasm and Hana looked back in surprise.
“Yes, I know. I spoke to him last night. Has something else happened?”
Bodie flushed red at his own foolishness, unaware of Hana’s conversation with Jas. She gave her son an odd look and he got the feeling she knew something else too. Logan ushered Hana up the steps and Bodie saw her bend to remove her plimsolls before progressing into the hallway. Logan’s dirty cowboy boots sat on the top step and he kicked another pair off his feet. Bodie watched as his step father turned and raised his eyebrow. “Are you coming or would you rather stand in the street pouting instead?”
Bodie hesitated, seeing himself as the problem in an eye watering moment of awful clarity. The conflict was self-made, deliberately misunderstanding everything so he could continue his one-man-pity-party. “Ok,” he replied. Bodie gritted his teeth and followed Logan into the unit, kicking his shoes off as he closed the door behind him.
Phoenix sat on the rug, her legs splayed to balance herself as she clutched a plastic yellow duck in tiny hands. She swayed precariously as her parents entered the room, bringing with them a bitter winter draught. The child beamed, squeezing her grey eyes shut in pleasure at the sight of her family. Tama sat on the sofa behind her, his feet either side of her bottom to keep her stable. Bodie saw a stranger on the other two seater sofa, dark hair running to grey and a pair of silver-rimmed glasses balanced on his nose. “Hana, sweetheart, how are you?” He rose as Hana emerged from the hallway, greeting her with a warm embrace. Bodie watched Logan with interest, wondering why he didn’t react to type.
“I’m making coffee,” Logan said instead, “anyone else want some?”
Hana pointed to her son, hovering in the doorway and directed her sentence at the stranger. “Mark, this is my son, Bodie.”
Mark stepped forward, letting go of his sister and offering his hand to the young man. Bodie recognised the clear green eyes and the puzzle fell into place. “You’re my uncle,” he said. “Mum’s brother?”
Mark nodded and they shook hands. “Nice to meet you, Bodie.”
Hana rubbed her sore neck and rolled her head around her shoulders as though it ached, an action not wasted on Logan. He went to her aid in seconds, making her sit next to Tama. “I’ll get you some tea now,” he said, showing all the hallmarks of devotion.
“Thanks, babe.” Hana leaned forward and touched Phoenix, who twisted her head around on her shoulders with a smile. The little girl leaned back and played ‘hidey boo’ in Tama’s trousers and the teenager ignored them as though it was usual.
Bodie felt jealousy rise in his chest and fought hard to push it away, battling his inner demons in a bid for peace. Logan poured steaming liquid into mugs on the breakfast bar, adding a jug of milk. “Coffee’s here and tea’s coming,” he said, waving his hand towards Bodie and his uncle. Phoenix slumped down between Tama’s feet and did a fake cry for attention when she saw her daddy bringing Hana a cup of tea.
Logan pulled a face at her and lifted her up. “Aren’t you getting enough love?” he cooed and kissed her downy forehead. She clipped onto his hip and held on using his shirt in one clamped fist. He
cuddled her and the baby rested her head on his shoulder. It was so touching and incongruous against the image Bodie had of Logan, it tested his battle lines.
Logan pottered in the kitchen with his daughter resting her head against his shoulder and watching his every movement. He poked around in the freezer and popped food into a bowl one handed. As the microwave door opened, Bodie and Mark made it to the spare sofa with their drinks and plonked themselves down. Silence reigned horribly.
“Isn’t Dad back today?” Hana asked her brother, sounding exhausted.
“Meant to be,” he replied, eyeing her with astute medical assessment. “But they got caught up at an army museum on the way up and decided to find a motel. They’ll come back to Hamilton tomorrow instead. Mum finds the traveling tiring.”
Hana nodded, relieved they’d missed the drama. “Please can we not tell them what happened? I don’t think Dad needs the added worry at the moment.”
Bodie stirred with curiosity. “What’s wrong with your dad?” he asked Hana, but Mark answered.
“He’s had lung cancer. He finished radiotherapy and came here on holiday. My mother has a congenital heart condition. Her sister, your grandmother also had it.”
Bodie shook his head, confused. “I thought you were my mother’s brother, but you somehow had a different mother?” He raised his hand in the air in an action which looked more dismissive than he intended. “Don’t bother, it makes my head hurt. I need to get back to Amy and Jas.” He finished his coffee and stood, putting his mug on the side. Logan stirred something in a bowl and Phoenix watched him. She had one tiny hand around his back and the other near her face so she could suck her thumb.
Logan looked up as he heard the mug scrape against the surface and smiled, nodding at his stepson. “Thanks for the ride home.”
Bodie smiled back and waved at the room in general. “It’s fine, see you all later.”
“You off, Bo?” Hana asked and tried to get up.