‘The internet’s a wonderful thing,’ said Rob. ‘It flashed your face all over the globe, and even though I’m sure you’ve made changes to your appearance, it was only a matter of time before you were recognised.’
‘This can’t be true! Joe?’
‘No, Audrey, of course it isn’t true. There’s not a shred of proof I’ve ever done anything criminal.’
‘I’m betting the doctors will turn against you,’ said Tal. ‘And what about the Brownbolt executives and your deal to sell Farront’s research data to them?’
Audrey looked ill. ‘Joe?’
‘These are vicious lies, Audrey.’
Joe checked his comm and nodded to Tal. ‘They’re here.’
Tal sprinted down the hall and opened the front door. ‘Down there,’ he said and gestured back to the living room. ‘He’s about to leave.’
Villabona shot out into the hallway, took one panicked look at the police officers, and turned to run in the other direction. Tal was faster than anyone. He brought Villabona down with a flying tackle outside the kitchen.
The officers hauled Villabona to his feet. ‘Joseph Villabona, we have a warrant for your arrest.’
THIRTY-TWO
After Rick’s rescue, Tal and Frank were web heroes for a few days, but then they were supplanted by the next sensational story.
After two weeks in Dr Stein’s clinic, the doctor agreed that Rick was well enough to go home, although his therapy would continue for some time and he wouldn’t be back at school until next term. Rick was still terribly shaken by the experience, but he was surprised by just how comforted he was to be back in his familiar home.
Three days after Rick’s return, Thelma planned a quiet welcome home dinner for Saturday evening. The guest list was restricted to the Five plus George and Frank.
Meeting up with Tal outside Rick’s place, Petra said, ‘Omigod! How about Audrey Farront’s big apology? Awesome! She was really crawling, promising all that money.’
‘She had to,’ said Tal. ‘There are zillions of people threatening to sue the company.’
David and Jennie joined them. ‘Don’t tell me Audrey didn’t know about Villabona,’ said David. ‘She’s as guilty as he is.’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Tal. ‘Mum said Audrey was totally sucked in, like most people.’
Tal’s mother had told him that Audrey had been shattered, both by Villabona’s duplicity and by her own poor judgement. In an attempt to head off legal action against Farront, she had decided to make an abject public apology and to guarantee generous financial settlements to those who had been disconnected as part of Villabona’s scheme. The Farront Centre would be shut down, although Audrey promised that the company would continue to fund research by supporting studies carried out by reputable organisations.
‘What’s happening with your mum?’ Jennie asked Tal. ‘Last week you weren’t sure if she still had a job.’
‘Audrey’s promoted her to the new position she was angling for, but I don’t think Mum will stay with Farront. She says she doesn’t feel she can ever trust Audrey again.’
‘After all this,’ said David, ‘who can you trust? Even Rick’s grandmother let him down.’
‘He doesn’t blame her,’ said Petra. ‘Dr Stein helped him understand how it happened.’
David gave her a sceptical look. ‘You’re telling me Rick confided in you? I can’t see it.’
Petra glared at him. ‘I asked Rick how he felt about Thelma and he told me. Is that so hard to believe?’
‘Are you lot coming in?’ Rick asked from the front door. ‘George and Frank have been here for ages.’
David bounded up the steps and slapped him on the shoulder. ‘Dude, looking good.’
‘You sure are,’ said Tal, thinking that two weeks in Dr Stein’s care had made a huge difference. Rick was still too thin, but his eyes were clear and he was relaxed and smiling.
Jennie gave him a hug and Petra planted a big kiss on his cheek. ‘David doesn’t believe you told me you didn’t blame Thelma for anything,’ she said.
‘Petra beat it out of me,’ said Rick with a grin. ‘It was useless to resist.’
Inside they were met by Rick’s grandfather, Les, who looked almost his old self. He shook hands with each of them. ‘I haven’t had the chance to thank you properly for all you did for Rick. Thelma and I are so grateful he has true friends like you and the other two boys.’
They trooped down the hall to the kitchen to say hello to Thelma, who was busy cooking, while George and Frank sat at the table scoffing down miniature sausage rolls.
‘Just in time for the show,’ said George. ‘Frank and I have compiled highlights of Villabona, Renfrew and Unwin.’
Jennie sent a doubtful look in Rick’s direction. ‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’
‘No worries,’ said Frank, popping another sausage roll into his mouth. He added indistinctly, ‘Rick cleared it with Dr Stein. He says it’s okay.’
‘Dinner will be a while yet,’ said Thelma, ‘so we can see it now.’
Tal said to George, ‘I’ve got a message for you from Rob Anderson.’
George looked apprehensive. ‘It’s about hacking into the FinagleAlert system, isn’t it?’
‘Rob says that since it was to help Rick, he’s going to act like it never happened. But don’t do it again.’
George gave a relieved grin. ‘I reckon Anderson’s in a good mood because of the wedding. When is it? Next weekend?’
‘Don’t ask.’
Out of habit, Tal sounded unenthusiastic, but he wasn’t really. After the events of the last weeks, Rob marrying his mother didn’t seem such a bad idea after all.
George and Frank’s video was going to be shown on the living room screen. On the way there, Jennie whispered to Tal, ‘I wonder how Thelma’s going to feel, watching the guys who fooled her into having Rick locked away.’
‘Angry, I guess. And maybe a bit embarrassed.’
‘Talk about embarrassed,’ said Petra, ‘have you heard about Dodder’s mother? Was her face red! She had to resign from the cyber bullying committee when she found out Maryann was behind half the attacks.’
‘Dodder’s going around calling herself a cyber goddess and saying she saved Rick,’ said David with disgust. ‘I told you we should never have let her into the group.’
‘It was good we did,’ said Frank. ‘Maryann worked really hard.’
‘Oh, please!’ said David. ‘It’s always about her – she wasn’t there to help Rick.’
‘But she did help Rick,’ said Jennie, ‘so it doesn’t matter why.’
‘Sit anywhere,’ said Les as they entered the room. He added with a chuckle, ‘Except for my chair.’
When everyone was seated, George said to Thelma and Les, ‘No offence, but this setup of yours is pretty primitive. I’d be glad to help you upgrade.’
‘That won’t be necessary, dear,’ said Thelma. ‘We’re quite happy with what we’ve got.’ Rick rolled his eyes.
‘Okay, guys,’ said George, ‘you’re not seeing this at its best, but it’ll have to do.’
The screen announced it was a George Everett production. ‘What happened to my name?’ Frank asked. ‘We’re co-producers, remember?’
‘It’s cool. I’ll fix it later.’
‘There’s a word for you, George,’ said Frank, scowling.
‘And the word is megalomaniac,’ said Petra.
Villabona appeared on the screen. Most of the footage dated from his arrest. Before that, except for Uncle Ian’s close-ups at the barbecue, Villabona had avoided being photographed.
Tal was sure the others shared his feeling of satisfaction at seeing the images of Villabona in custody. When being hustled in and out of cars for his court appearances, he maintained a blank expression, ignoring questions shouted by reporters and jeers from the crowd. In front of the judge, Villabona was stone-faced and silent, leaving his high-powered lawyers to speak for him.
V
illabona was facing multiple charges, including the attempted murder of Victor O’Dell. The driver of the ute had been arrested for another offence, and when his fingerprints matched those found in the abandoned vehicle, he had implicated the small-time criminal who had contacted him to arrange the hit. This second man led the police to Villabona.
No matter how skilled Villabona’s lawyers might be, it seemed highly unlikely that he would ever be a free man again. The web of secrecy he had woven about himself had been destroyed. Almost every day further damning evidence came to light. And even if Villabona served his prison time and was eventually released, there were other countries waiting in line to bring him to trial for crimes he’d committed within their borders.
There was much more material available on the two doctors, particularly for Carter Renfrew, who’d had a higher profile career than the psychiatrist.
Seeing the two doctors on the screen, Thelma exclaimed, ‘How could I have let them pull the wool over my eyes? Rick, I’m so sorry!’
‘You don’t have to keep saying that,’ Rick mumbled, obviously uncomfortable.
After showing Renfrew and Unwin at the height of their success, the most recent footage provided a stark contrast. Now the two men were utterly discredited professionally, and this catastrophic fall was reflected in their grim, unsmiling expressions.
‘I like this next bit,’ said George, ‘where they try to convince everyone they’re good guys.’
‘Not everyone,’ said David. ‘They’ll be aiming to influence potential jurors.’
Dr Unwin, facing the prospect of serious prison time for Rick’s unlawful detention and treatment, announced that he’d found God. He supported this assertion with several tearful appearances on popular evangelists’ shows.
‘What a hypocrite,’ said Petra. No one contradicted her.
For his part, Renfrew claimed to have discovered the importance of good works. He undertook to devote himself to the care of the underprivileged. As proof of this, he was shown working in a homeless shelter, serving hot meals to the poor, and assisting in a free clinic for sick children.
‘Another total hypocrite,’ Petra announced.
‘I’m not so sure,’ said Tal. ‘At the end, he wanted to let Rick go.’
Later, after dinner, Les and Thelma settled down to watch television, while Rick and the others went up to his room.
‘I see you and Allyx are back together again,’ said David from his position on the floor. ‘How’s that working out?’
‘Fine,’ said Tal.
That wasn’t altogether true. Things weren’t quite the same between them. It was as if being a disconnect had subtly changed Tal. He asked more questions and thought more deeply. Allyx had been driven to ask, ‘Can’t you just relax and enjoy things?’
‘I’m trying,’ was all Tal could say.
Sprawled on the bed, Rick said, ‘The other day Dr Stein asked me what I’d learned from the experience I’d gone through.’
‘And?’ said Jennie.
‘I’ll tell you in a minute. Right now I’d like to know what everyone else thinks.’
‘Well,’ said Petra, ‘one thing I know for sure – not having a comm is foul.’
‘Running a cyber war’s a blast,’ said George.
Frank shook his head. ‘That’s nothing next to taking a huge risk and getting away with it, like when Tal and I got Rick out of the centre. That was a real blast.’
‘Jennie?’ said Rick.
She frowned. ‘I’m not sure. Belonging, maybe. Like when we were together at David’s house and the cops were outside. Or even when I was with the Clear Minds people and we pushed our way into the foyer.’ She shrugged. ‘I can’t explain it.’
Tal said, ‘If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s what Rob meant when he warned me that there’s a law of unintended consequences. We never meant to, but we did change people’s lives. And usually not in good ways. Like all the staff at The Farront Centre losing their jobs because it’s closing.’
‘Heavy,’ said David. He added with a grin, ‘What I’ve learned is you’ve got to be connected. Ask Rick. You’re nothing if you aren’t connected.’
‘Okay, Rick,’ said Petra. ‘Your turn.’
‘After I was disconnected, I remember telling Thelma that once I was connected again, I’d be fine. Now I know that being connected is important, but it’s not everything.’
‘So what is?’ Petra asked.
‘Being part of the Five. Having friends like you. Knowing that whatever happens, none of us will let the others down.’
‘Watch it, dude,’ said David, ‘or you’ll have me in tears.’
Petra stared at him. ‘Omigod,’ she said, ‘David really means it!’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With appreciation for their valuable contributions to Gotta B, my deep thanks to my agent and dear friend, Margaret Connolly and to my charmingly indefatigable editor, Kimberley Bennett. Thanks also to Rachelle Matherne and Jeanie Kim for their advice.
Ads R Us
Claire Carmichael
Ads R Us is set in a modern industrialised city in the near future, where advertising is a constant stream of inescapable noise and information, and corporations sponsor everything from music to schools.
Barrett Trent has been raised in total isolation from mainstream society in an eco-cult called Simplicity. After the death of his uncle, he goes to live in the city with his rich and powerful Aunt Cara and Uncle Adrian, and spoiled cousin, Taylor.
But his aunt and uncle have a hidden agenda – there is a lot to gain from uncovering the effects of advertising on an untouched mind. Barrett is the perfect guinea pig for their experiments.
But Barrett may prove harder to crack than they think – and Taylor is certainly not the cousin he expected …
Notable Book for Older Readers in 2007 CBCA Awards
Gotta B Page 24