Believe

by Natalie Gayle

  “Mum why was the bad man, here?” My stomach turned and I felt sick at his words. It pulled at my heart to have my son refer to his father as the bad man. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a more apt description for Marcel.

  I turned to Isaac, “Hey Isaac, why don’t you go play with your iPad for a bit?”

  Isaac ignored me and looked at Dane. “Did you make him go away? You made him go away in the carpark. I don’t want him to hit mum like he did before.” My son’s face screwed up and he was close to tears.

  It was one of the biggest regrets of my life—my son seeing me battered and bruised at the hands of his father.

  No child should have to see that.

  Dane’s eyes travelled from Isaac to me and I could see he was silently asking me how I wanted to handle this. What could I say?

  When I gave him no verbal answer other than a bit of a shrug and I’m sure what looked like a pained expression, he took it upon himself to cover it off.

  “I spoke to the man, and told him he wasn’t to come around,” Dane said simply.

  “Will that stop him?” Isaac came back no sooner than Dane finished.

  “I don’t know, little mate. We can only hope.”

  “Isaac, go play with your iPad for a bit.” I said firmly. This time he turned and headed into the house. Hopefully he was satisfied with Dane’s answer for now.

  As if by mutual agreement we both waited for Isaac to go into the house and for the front door to shut.

  I opened the proceedings. “Did he say what he wanted?”

  Dane shook his head. “No, just that he wasn’t happy me being around.”

  That made my blood boil. “That slimy no good son of a bitch. How dare he judge me! He was the one that had a wife and baby at home, whom he treated abominably, while he was off whoring around with every two-bit slut that would spread her legs.” I clenched my fists tight until my nails bit into my palms.

  Dane’s eyes danced with amusement and his mouth turned up in a little grin. “The pussycat is really a lioness!” he chuckled.

  “Don’t make the mistake of assuming that just because I try to have good manners ninety-nine percent of the time that I don’t feel things deeply or get pissed off. There is no better way to get me red hot mad than anything to do with Marcel.”

  “I’m quickly figuring that.” Dane nodded in agreement with a playful smile.

  I had a slightly tighter rein on my temper. “He really didn’t say what he wanted?”

  “Maybe if I hadn’t been here…” Dane shrugged and shook his head. “But there’s no way I’d want you or Isaac to be anywhere near him given the little snippets you’ve shared.”

  “Exactly. Besides, he’s not supposed to be anywhere near us. I have a restraining order.”

  Dane took out his phone. “I’m going to call a mate of mine who’s a cop. This needs to be sorted out before it gets out of hand. I don’t want him hanging around here. He obviously knows where you live now.”

  That sent a shiver down my spine as I watched Dane dial his friend. Over the next couple of minutes I listened to Dane relay my story, well as much as he knew anyway.

  I was torn between embarrassment and gratitude.

  How had my life disintegrated to this? I often asked myself. I already knew the answer to that question.

  Finally, he finished his call and turned to me. “Mark wants you to come in and see him in about an hour. He wants to get the details of what’s happened in the past. Do you have a problem with that?”

  I sighed and shook my head resignedly. “No, I don’t have a problem with it. I’m embarrassed to be honest, but I need to make sure Isaac is protected by doing everything I can.”

  Dane’s fingers were tapping at his phone again obviously sending off a text. “Just confirming you’ll be there,” he said before gesturing for me to sit down beside him on the edge of the front porch.

  Then he shocked me by taking my hand in his. Dane turned to look me in the eye and his expression was so deep and sincere.

  “Don’t be embarrassed, Ari. You shouldn’t feel the need to apologise or be embarrassed by him. You were strong enough to get yourself and your son away. I get the impression that wasn’t an easy feat. Hold your head up high and remember what you’ve achieved. Not every woman has the guts to walk away. Focus on the positives.”

  My throat tightened and I felt tears prick behind my eyes. I hadn’t expected that! He’d seen all that! It was true but I also felt stupid for ever getting mixed up with Marcel in the first place.

  “Thank you,” I said in a small voice. There was silence between us for a few moments. “I’m going to need to organise Loretta to look after Isaac.”

  “Who’s Loretta?”

  “She’s the woman that looks after him when I’m at work,” I told him and reached into my handbag for my phone.

  “I can keep an eye on him if you like,” Dane offered.

  “No, I need Loretta to,” I said absently dialling her number while working out what I needed to do in my head.

  A few moments later, I’d organised to drop him around to her place in about forty minutes time. I ended the call and tossed my phone back into the Tardis. It was only then that I noticed Dane looked a little hurt and perhaps withdrawn.

  “Umm…I’ll just text you Mark’s details then and get out of your hair.”

  “But I thought you were coming with me?” At that he sat up straight and this time he looked surprised.

  “I thought you were wanting to go by yourself, when you organised a sitter for Isaac?”

  I shook my head, no. “The opposite actually. I’d like you to come with me if you wouldn’t mind.” My voice cracked a little and I hoped it didn’t sound too sheepish.

  He placed his hand on my shoulder, stood up and smiled as if everything was right with the world again.

  “Happy to. I witnessed both times he approached you, after all.”

  “That you did.” I agreed nodding.

  A cheeky grin came over his face and I’m sure I saw a hint of dimples. He really was so effortlessly sexy. Well, at least I thought so, and I couldn’t believe the rest of the female population had missed it.

  There had to be someone in his life surely?

  Then the cheeky grin morphed into what I could only describe as mischievous. He reminded me of a little boy up to no good. I’d had a little experience with those.

  “What?” I asked curiously.

  “You mentioned before you were red hot mad. I was just wondering what it takes to get you red hot in other ways?”

  He winked at me before taking the three steps up the porch in one long legged stride.

  “Isaac my man how about you show me that Lego castle you were talking about…Neu…something or other?” Dane called to Isaac as he left me sitting on the porch like a stunned mullet.

  That was him flirting with me, wasn’t it?

  * * *

  Dane’s friend Mark was a big guy. He had the look of a rugby player. Big burly shoulders and short cropped hair. He was okay looking but nothing like Dane, well in my opinion anyway.

  Mark met us in the reception area a couple of minutes after we arrived. After a friendly introduction he’d shown us through to a room that was sterile and devoid of much except a table and four chairs. It wasn’t an interrogation room perse, but it wasn’t much warmer in furnishings.

  We took our seats around the table and Mark had a note pad in front of him. He looked at me and smiled. “Relax Arianne, it might be a cop shop but we’re here to help you.”

  I nodded and appreciated his attempt to make me feel better. I still felt stupid for ever getting in a situation that gave me cause to need police help. It wasn’t as if I’d been burgled or something. I’d willing attached my life to this arsehole.

  What an idiot I was.

  “So what’s been happening?”

  Dane looked over at me and seemed to recognise my unease. He raised his eyebrows as if to ask if I wanted him to go first.
I nodded for him to do so.

  “Well mate, that’s actually how I met Arianne for the first time…” My mind trailed off and started to wonder as he recounted the story of our carpark encounter to Mark.

  Not for the first time over the last week or so did I thank my lucky stars that Dane happened to come along.

  Marcel was one hell of a sadistic prick.

  A few minutes later Dane got to the end of his recount of the story. “Yeah, so the plate was 032-TOK and it was a late model Mercedes Benz, black, CLS AMG 63. Stuck out like dog’s balls at Logan Central.”

  Mark chuckled. “Yep…I’d reckon it would. It’d look real classy there alongside the beaten up Commodores, Falcons and the bevan-mobiles. I’ll pull a few strings and get a Query Vehicle Check done. That should tell us what the story is with the vehicle. Might be something or nothing.” He shrugged.

  “Marcel has always been about appearance,” I offered, surprising myself. So far I’d remained silent.

  “From what Dane’s re-counted you did a great job of letting him know what was going on with your ex. Is there anything else you want to add?”

  I thought for a second and shook my head no. “Dane has covered it really well. I shouldn’t be surprised. I just can’t believe the audacity of him. I’ve moved two thousand kilometres away to start a new life. I have a restraining order and full custody of Isaac. I don’t even care if he does or doesn’t pay child support. I just want him out of our lives for good. He’s violent, unpredictable and downright mean.”

  Mark nodded his understanding and Dane reached over and took my hand in his. To have him here for support made such a difference.

  “Where was the restraining order taken out and what were the conditions?” Mark asked. I pulled my hand away from Dane’s gently and fossicked around in the Tardis until I found the envelope with the documents I’d brought along.

  I passed them across the table and Dane took my hand again and gave me a reassuring smile as Mark quickly read through the details.

  A few moments later he looked back at us. “Have you applied to have the restraining order extended to cover Queensland?”

  That sat me back a bit. What?

  “I don’t understand?”

  “This order was issued in Victoria and applies within that state. You need to apply to have the order duplicated here.” He must have seen the look of you’ve got to be shitting me on my face. “I know its total and utter bureaucratic bullshit, but that’s the way these federated state systems work.”

  I shook my head in disbelief and sighed. “Typical. What do I need to do?”

  “I can organise for this to be submitted before a magistrate to get a duplicate order put in place here with the same conditions. This one’s fairly comprehensive. It covers all the usual no contact stuff and not to be within fifty metres. If you’re comfortable, I’ll get this sorted first up on Monday. That way you won’t need to appear in Court to get it put in place.”

  “That would be great, thank you.” I nodded my appreciation.

  “What else should we be doing to keep this arsehole off her case, mate?” Dane asked. There was an edge to his voice. He was no happier about Marcel than I was it seemed and he’d only had the misfortune to meet the man twice. Marcel just had that effect on people.

  “Well, it’s not going to hurt Marcel to know that you’re in the picture man.” He looked between the two of us and nodded at our joined hands. “I’m not sure what the deal is with your relationship.” Dane went to speak and I was very keen to hear what he had to say but Mark raised his hand to cut him off. “But it doesn’t really matter. It’s what it appears like to Marcel and I’d say he thinks you’re in the picture. Maybe if you can swing it, let her keep driving your truck or switch it up. You’ve always got access to vehicles through the garage. Swap them around a bit.”

  Dane nodded. “That’s easy enough. I’ll hang out at Arianne’s a little more as well. It’s just down by the school so not far from Onigashima.”

  Mark nodded. “I also suggest you make sure the school is absolutely aware that Marcel is not to pick up your son under any circumstances.”

  “He’s not on the list, but I will remind them that Loretta or me are the only ones to pick him up.”

  There was a tense silence and I could tell Mark had to say something that he wasn’t all too comfortable saying. “If he approaches you again, or touches you in any way, I need you to document and photograph what happens and let me know immediately.”

  The thought of Marcel coming close again, sent shivers of terror down my spine. I’d never forget the last time he cornered me.

  “That fucker isn’t going to get anywhere near her!” Dane snapped at Mark.

  Mark motioned his hands up and down in a calming way. “I know, Mate. But it’s not easy to protect someone 24x7. Everyone still needs to live their life and earn a living.” Dane simmered down, but obviously wasn’t happy with that thought. “If anything does happen we need it documented and photographed.”

  I was surprised at the venom in Dane’s voice. What Mark said made perfect sense. Regardless of the threat Marcel posed, I still had to get on with my life.

  As for Dane, we’d only met and spent next to no time together, but he was reacting like I was someone really important to him.

  That was confusing, or was it?

  “You didn’t mention what you did for work Arianne?” Mark looked at me directly and for the first time I felt as if I was under the spotlights. Or was it my over active imagination?

  “I do relief Maths teaching at the local high schools,” I stated flatly and chanced a look at Dane from the corner of my eye.

  He raised an eyebrow at me as if to say and… I wasn’t about to admit my situation with Leo unless I absolutely had to. It was another one of those things in my life that I wasn’t very proud of.

  “Okay.” He made a note of that on his pad. “I didn’t ask you before, but do you have any idea what Marcel wants with you?”

  My ears started to ring and I felt pressure building in my chest. My stomach was doing crazy flips. I had a very good idea what Marcel wanted but it would also mean I’d have to come clean on what I did for Leo. Then Dane would know and what would he think?

  It also annoyed me that I actually cared.

  He’s a violent man…I needed to remind myself of that.

  The pause in the conversation was very telling. I was a master at these little cues. That was a big part of the work I did. However, presenting a persona for the tables was one thing, presenting or trying to deceive the police a very different thing.

  “I’d say he wants me to go back and work for him.” Mark gave me a look to encourage me to go on. He was obviously very interested in this. “I heard from a colleague of Marcel’s that since I left his business hasn’t been doing so well.”

  My eyes dipped and I studied the laminate of the table top. It was cream with a tiny speckle. If you studied it really hard you could see a pattern in the material, but only if you really looked.

  “What sort of industry, Arianne?” There was a definite edge to Mark’s voice and I knew immediately that I was going to have to come clean or I could expect zero help. If I didn’t tell him the truth and he found out later it would be worse. I was generally good at reading people. Pity I completely screwed up when it came to Marcel.

  “Gambling. Marcel and his family are professional gamblers,” I said emotionlessly. Dane nodded a little, then I noticed what almost looked like relief settle onto his face.

  “What did you do for them?” Mark asked.

  I looked up briefly and saw the cynicism in his eyes. “Well, I’m good with numbers, I figured the odds and all kinds of metrics around bets, totes etc.” I dropped my head again, unable to stand it.

  “Do you have an arrest record?” Mark asked me point blank. I could see Dane shifting in his seat uncomfortably and he looked a bit annoyed at Mark for asking. He also looked at me with an expression that I read as accusin
g.

  I shook my head. “No I don’t.”

  “Your ex-husband?”

  “Yes. He’s been arrested a couple of times,” I said and dropped my eyes again in shame.

  “Are you working in the industry again, Arianne?” It was another blunt, direct question and I didn’t know how to answer.

  “Umm I’ve been doing some work for a competitor of Marcel’s.”

  Mark looked at me. “Anything illegal?”

  It was my turn to squirm in my chair. “Well, there’s a fine line between legal and illegal in the gambling arena.”

  Mark gave me a knowing smirk. “There surely is. Am I going to know this competitor of Marcel’s?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Give me a name Arianne.”

  “Leo Goldstone.”

  The corner of Mark’s mouth turned up a little. “I know of him. He generally keeps his nose clean, make sure you do, too.”

  It felt like I was being warned and chastised all at once. Well I was but it wasn’t as if I did this for any other reason than I needed the cash to support us. I hated this aspect of my life and the corner I was shoved into.

  “Do you really think I want to do this stuff?” Mark and Dane both looked a little surprised at how aggressive my voice sounded. It was years of pent up frustration. “Associate with these people? I hate gambling. I just happen to be really good at it. I just want to teach Maths. But circumstances with my son mean I can’t get a full-time job teaching.”

  I felt tears of frustration jabbing at the back of my eyeballs and my throat was constricting and starting to burn from suppressing the tears that wanted to flow freely. I wasn’t prone to outbursts, particularly about this. It all felt like too much, and the thought of having to deal with Marcel again was well—overwhelming.

  “And it’s unlikely you ever will, if you get arrested,” he pointed out. Dane sat back quickly as if he’d been slapped. It was the truth, but it wasn’t something I could dwell on. I knew every time I stepped into the casino, I walked a very fine line between what was legal and illegal.