The Reward ch-21

by Peter Corris

  Max noticed of course and he grinned at me. Its a bastard working with the disabled, isnt it? Theyre so fucking stubborn and it takes just that much more effort. I sometimes get that way with Penny and she gets the same with meIts lots of fun.

  It was late in the morning and the interior of the car was hot. My torn ear was throbbing and my battered ribs were aching. I wanted to be between Claudias silk sheets and feel her cool hands on my body. Max was right. I felt irritated by his deafness and guilty about feeling like that. I need a drink and some pain-killers, I said. I suggest we find a pub and make a plan.

  You dont think its worthwhile looking in on Leo Grogan?

  I was thinking ahead, selfishly. Thinking about an afternoon with Claudia before a flight to the Gold Coast. Everything heals up faster in a warm climate. I dont, and the chances are that whoever tried to kill him would be looking out for us. Why make it easy?

  Max nodded. A beer and a ploughmans lunchd go down well.

  Half an hour later we were sitting in an Oxford Street pub with two middies and plates of cheese, bread and pickled onions. I had three Panadols inside me and was feeling less pain. Id rung Qantas and booked us on a 6.30 p.m. flight to Coolangatta, loading up the American Express card. Max waited until the video clip on the giant TV at the end of the bar finished blasting and hed swallowed a lump of bread and cheese before speaking.

  My guess is that its Sligo. Hes got someone down here checking on things that might jump up and grab him. When I got appointed hed have heard of it and taken steps. He was as crooked as they come, and the Beckett thing was probably only one of his earners.

  I drank some beer and nibbled on the cheese. Opening my mouth wide enough to get my teeth into the bread hurt. Could be. Trouble is, if hes monitoring the whole thing he mightve done something about Peggy Hawkins.

  Max crunched a pickled onion enthusiastically. Presumably he didnt have to worry about the state of his breath through the afternoon. From what Ive heard of Peggy, he said, shed make dirty old Colin look like a boy scout.

  We agreed to meet at the Qantas terminal at five-thirty.

  I phoned Claudia and got her answering machine. Somehow Id expected her to be there but there was no reason she should be. It looked as if my chances of a soothing afternoon were slim. Disappointed, I drove back to Glebe. I decided that Bob Lowenstein was the man to help me on the Gold Coast, but my mind kept flicking back to Claudia. I turned into my street and saw the green Laser parked outside the house. I could feel the smile forming on my face as I pulled up behind it. She was at the front door, just straightening up. Theres something very pleasing about the shape of a womans behind in that position, especially when its enclosed in a tight skirt.

  I got out of the car quietly and stood at the front gate. She straightened up, turned around and saw me.

  Wanna buy a house, lady? I said.

  Oh god, Ive just written you a note.

  I flipped open the letterbox. Good, theres nothing here worth reading.

  She came down the path. Youll think Im pushy.

  Push all you like. I phoned, you went one better.

  I opened the gate and reached for her. She put her arms around me and the pain made me gasp, drop my keys and clutch at the fence.

  Cliff, whats the matter? Whats happened to you?

  Tell you inside. Will you pick up the keys, please. I cant bend.

  She pampered me, made me coffee, gave me a sponge bath and packed my overnight bag for me. I told her where I was going and, in a general way, why. She said I should be careful and that she wished she could go with me and I said next time for sure. Ian Sangster was right, the missionary position wasnt on, but there are other ways.

  15

  Bob Lowenstein runs a private detective agency in Broadbeach, close to Surfers Paradise. He used to work in Sydney until an arthritic hip got so bad he had to move to a warmer climate. I advised him to have a hip replacement and stay in civilisation, but he was a Christian Scientist of sorts and didnt believe in arthritis or surgery. He went north, tried natural remedies and hydrotherapy and the hip got a bit better, thus proving, to him, that modern medicine was all gimcrackery and that Mary Baker Eddy had it right all along. Despite this, he was an intelligent and amusing guy who had taken to the computer like a plumber to PVC. He made a good living running credit checks on people for the hotels and the casino, locating missing kids courtesy of the CES computer and checking insurance claims. Lots of dodgy insurance claims on the Gold Coast. Bob was one of the very few people I corresponded with. His letters came to me immaculately from the word processor and I scrawled a few lines on postcards in reply. Hed bought a small apartment block and had often invited me to come and stay. I rang him from the airport while Max arranged the car hire.

  Bob, Cliff Hardy, hows the other hip?

  Both hips doing fine, no thanks to you. Where are you?

  Almost on your doorstep. Can you put me and a mate up for a few days? We sort of dont need to sign hotel registers or use credit cards. Might need a bit of help from your computer as well. You can bill me.

  Sure, got a flat vacant. Be glad to see you, Cliff. Bill your client, dont you mean?

  Thereby hangs a tale. Well be along soon, Bob. And thanks.

  The air carried just a touch of that tropical tang as we walked through the car park to pick up the Laser Max had hired while I was talking to Bob. Good choice, I thought. I wore my old linen. jacket, a denim shirt and newish jeans. Max was in the mood with cotton slacks and a Hawaiian shirt.

  Its a funny thing, he said as we got into the car. But the traffic authority doesnt seem to think hearing is relevant to driving. No endorsement on the licence. I nearly had a half a dozen prangs before I got used to looking hard and really reading the traffic

  Im glad of that, I said. Because this is a manual with a floor shift and driving it would be tricky for me with these ribs. Youre in charge, mate. Were going to the Florida Apartments in Broadbeach.

  Max reached into the glove compartment, consulted the local street directory briefly and started the car. Normally, Im a nervous passenger, but he drove extremely well, decisively with good judgment. I relaxed and told him a bit about Bob Lowenstein as I looked out on the sun-faded strip development of used-car lots and fast-food joints with the Surfers Paradise high-rise in the distance.

  Sounds like a good man. A Christian Scientist, eh? They must be a dying breed. Whatre you, Cliff?

  A pagan.

  Max overtook a Kombi van with a roof-rack that held at least three surfboards and cruised up behind a white BMW. He shot a quick glance sideways to get my reply. Me, too, he said. Me, too.

  The Florida Apartments was a white stucco block comprising four self-contained flats just back from the highway. No view of the water, good view of the casino. Bob Lowenstein had lost hair and gained weight since shifting to Queensland, but I have to admit that he was moving better. He shook our hands, admired Maxs shirt, settled us into the vacant flat, phoned for a pizza and opened two bottles of red wine.

  Tell me, tell me, he said. Im fucking dying to hear what you big-city detectives are up to these days.

  We were sitting in Bobs downstairs flat, the biggest of the four. Ours was directly above. Bobs housekeeping was basic; we ate the pizza straight from the box and he produced a toilet roll for us to wipe our hands on. The wine we drank from the kind of glasses you can bounce on a cement slab. It was good wine, though. I gave him the gist over a couple of glasses and answered his questions in between slices of pizza. Bob had grown a thick moustache to compensate for the loss on top and this made it difficult for Max to lip-read him. I could feel his irritation and didnt blame him for getting stuck solidly into the red.

  I wouldnt give shit for your chances, Bob said when I wound up.

  Thanks, Bob. Wouldnt you say a million bucks is worth playing a long shot?

  Bob shook his head. The bloody lawyerll chisel you out of it somehow even if you do get a sniff. Sounds to me like the lawyer put the
heavies onto you.

  I recalled Cavendish on the mobile as I left the Beckett house. Maybe. I turned to face Max who was pouring himself another glass. Bob does this, knocks everything on the head then hops in and shows you how it should be done.

  Good, Max said. Lets see you hop, Bob.

  Bob wiped his hands and his moustache, slid the few bits of crust and droppings into the box and dumped it into a bin in the kitchen. He came back with a notebook computer and another bottle. I looked at Max and he shook his head.

  Coffee, Bob.

  Pikers, its on. This is for me. He turned the computer on and started tapping. Right, now, first up, Colin fucking Sligo. I take it you want dirt on him? Some leverage?

  Wouldnt hurt. And his current circumstances, how he stands with the powers-that-be, retirement date, health, you know.

  I know, I know, Bob said. Plus you need an address and info on Peggy Hawkins. Shouldnt be too hard. Whats her line, bowls, golf, gambling, booze…?

  Sex, I said. Our information is that shes most likely to be working in the sex industry, in one capacity or another.

  You didnt tell me that, Max said.

  You never asked.

  Easy, that should be. Bob said. Now about Andrea Craig. Is she likely to link up with Peggy?

  They were both screwing Johnno Hawkins. Who knows?

  Bob tapped the keys. Hawkins, Craig, Neville… ages, any descriptions?

  Not sure, I said. Peggy could be forty plus, Andrea a bit younger, maybe. Peggy was thin and dark with big tits fifteen years ago.

  Bobs balding head was bent over the keyboard. He made a Roy Orbison growl. Sounds good but women change.

  Yeah. Tired and a bit drunk, I tried to recall the trashed photograph. Neville or Craig is or was blonde. Big eyes.

  Lesbian, Max said. Very small mouth.

  No disadvantage, Bob said.

  Max had adjusted to the moustache and was following. We were three men without women, all a bit pissed. We all laughed.

  There was no food in our flat so in the morning Max and I went down to Bobs. We found him reading the paper and eating crumpets with honey, accounting for the expanding waistline.

  No challenge, Bob said when we appeared. Or not much of a one.

  I put the rest of last nights coffee on to reheat and dropped four slices into the toaster. Max looked seedy. Hows that? I said.

  Youll like this. Peg Hawkins runs a brothel in Surfers by the name of Satisfaction. High-class place apparently. She lives on the premises and runs a tight ship. In good standing with the council and with the constabulary andwait for it menone senior member in particular.

  No, I said. The toast popped and the coffee got hot.

  Thats right. Deputy Commissioner Sligo is a devoted customer. Word is, Peg services him personally. I got this from a journo of absolute unreliability, mind. Needed confirmation and I got it. Silly fucker uses his credit card but not, Im happy to say, his departmental one.

  I poured two mugs of coffee, buttered the toast and brought the lot over to the table where Max sat with his head in his hands. I should never drink red wine, he said.

  Balls, Bob said. Its good for your heart.

  Max groaned. Its my head Im worried about. Got any pain-killers?

  Panadol. Top drawer. Cols pretty dirty by all accounts, but hes got less than a year to run on his contract and the general view is that everyones happy to let him go quietly.

  I got the Panadol from the drawer and put the packet in front of Max. Thats useful, Bob. He might be open to some persuasion.

  Yup. He doesnt do much these days. Plays a lot of golf at Robina. Easy to get a quiet word with him. Ive got the licence photos of all three for you. Cols the ugliest, needless to say. Peg still looks pretty well-preserved. Cant tell about the tits of course. Craig was booked for speeding yesterday in Kempsey. Driving a yellow Subaru coupe. Ive got the registration number. Going north obviously, but whether shes come up here or not I cant say until she buys something with a credit card, checks into a hotel or breaks the fucking law.

  I looked at Max who had taken a couple of capsules with his coffee and was nibbling on a piece of toast. This is the sort of thing thats putting blokes like me out of business.

  Dinosaurs, Bob said. Dyou want to know when Sligos teeing off next at Robina?

  Come on, I said.

  I kid you not. They put the tee-off times on the computer and the computers hooked to a modem. If you know the password to the system youre in like Flynn.

  Passwords are secret by definition.

  Hah, Bob said. Theyre a tradeable commodity, like everything else. I know bloody hundreds and I can trade with the best of them.

  I drank some coffee and ate some toast. Id managed to sleep on the undamaged ear and the ribs werent hurting much. And I was more practised at drinking red wine than Max. I felt pretty-good and optimistic, although I was still worried that finding out whod paid off Hawkins might not lead any further. Im impressed, I said.

  You should be, Bob said smugly. Colin tees off at eleven this very day. Theyre playing a four-person Ambrose, whatever that is. Apparently they take a rest after the first nine holes. Thatll be around twelve-thirty.

  Wheres Robina? I said.

  Bob pointed out of the window. Just down the way.

  I turned to Max who was looking better by the minute. He tackled a second piece of toast. You getting all this, Max?

  Enough.

  Would you rather tackle Peggy or Colin? Im easy.

  I think the fresh aird do me good.

  OK.

  I wish we could round up Craig, Max said. She could be very useful to use against one or both of them.

  Bob ripped off a metre of toilet paper and wiped his fingers. You dont know anything about her Queensland connections?

  Just that she made a lot of phone calls to the Gold Coast, Max said.

  Shit, why didnt you tell me that? What number did she call from?

  Max consulted his notebook and gave Bob the number of the gallery. Leave it with me, Bob said. Ill be able to give you the Queensland contact in a couple of hours. I gotta admit it, this is more fun than repossessing cars.

  I thought about Maxs concern for Penny Draper and realised that wed told Bob almost everything there was to know and, unlike my sketchy account to Claudia, wed included names and details. Bob had never been a man of action and as I looked at him now, balding and soft around the middle, a key-tapper, I felt guilty.

  Look, Bob, I said. Somebody bumped Barry White and had a good go at Leo Grogan. Somebodys playing for keeps in this thing and we dont have a clue who it is. He or they seem to have been keeping tabs on me and might know were here.

  So? Bob said.

  So you should be careful.

  Bob smiled. Fuck you, Cliff. You think this computer work is cosy and safe. Two weeks ago a guy took a sledge to that front door there and wanted to do the same thing to my head.

  What happened?

  I shot the fucker, Bob said.

  16

  We took a swim in the apartment block pool which was barely long enough to get a few decent strokes in, but helped to start the day fresh. Id taken off the rib-wrapping and confined myself to a gentle breaststroke. The aches and bruises were fading. Max surprised me; he had a powerful stroke that cut neatly through the water. He was carrying some flesh around his waist like me but was in pretty good shape for a man pushing sixty. He kept at it longer than I did and looked as if he could have done a good bit more.

  That was good, he said when he flopped out of the pool. Id come carefully up the metal ladder. Good antidote to the wine. Think Ill stick to beer.

  Nothing wrong with Fourex, I said. Youre happy about taking Sligo on your own?

  Itll be a pleasure.

  Id towelled off and was stretched out on the tiles enjoying the morning sun. If Sligos the one keeping an eye on things in Sydney he could have some pretty handy help up here.

  Max had brought a small toilet bag down w
ith him. He dried his hair and shook water from his ears. Then he cleaned them with a cotton bud before putting in the hearing aids. The hangover frown had lifted and when he slicked back his hair with a comb he looked younger and more lively than Id seen him before. Ive been thinking about that, he said. Ive changed my mind. I reckon these Queenslanders are bit players in all this. Important for the information they might have, but… remittance men and women as it were, if you see what I mean. Sligo included. The real energys in Sydney.

  Cavendish and whoever suppressed the note?

  I think so.

  But that someone has a handle on what youve been doing.

  Or on what youve been doing, Cliff. Think about how Bob can sneak into things. You use a mobile phone, and a fax machine, dont you?

  Yeah, but…

  Max shifted as a ray of sunlight hit us, dazzled him, and prevented him from seeing what I was saying.

  Whats that?

  Nothing, I said. Its confusing the way it always is for me.

  Good. Youre in familiar territory. Ive had a word with Bob. Hes got some more information and some good ideas. I think you should listen to him.

  I was conscious that I didnt have any very good ideas myself about how to question Peg Hawkins and Sligo beyond a vague notion of divide and rule. Bob was busy at his computer in a room off the kitchen. He shook one fist in the air while the other hand still worked at the keyboard.

  What? I said.

  Your Andrea Craig not infrequently called Peg Hawkins unlisted number.

  Youre amazing, Bob.

  I know, I know. Look, Ive dug up a couple of mobiles for you blokes to use.

  Max cant use a phone.

  Thats why Im going with him. One of the reasons. The other is to see Colin Sligo eating shit. Now this is what I reckon you should do.

  Bob and Max set off in the Laser for Robina and I got a cab to The Esplanade where Satisfaction was located, along with Satin amp; Silk, Fun Girls and Good for You. It was a little early to go calling on a lady of the night but that can be the best time to catch one, before the hard shell slides into place and time becomes money in the most direct way. Prostitution is illegal in Queensland, but the authorities seemed to be turning a blind eye. Like any well-conducted brothel, Satisfaction put a couple of barriers up between it and people on the street. A small garden in front of the two-storey, white-painted building was screened off by latticework and when you were behind that you still had a security grille to get through before you got to the front door.