The Debt Collector

by Chris Taylor

  “No reason, it’s just the doctor I went to the other day said something about a life insurance policy. I didn’t know what it was.”

  Hannah frowned. She had no idea why Toby’s doctor had talked to him about life insurance. As far as she knew, Max had sent Toby for a medical for the purposes of ensuring he was healthy and free from disease. There should have been no reason to mention life insurance. She’d believed the appointment had been a purely precautionary measure and an act of kindness. Perhaps Toby had misheard?

  “There! How does it look?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts.

  She glanced up and was pleased to see Toby had done a good job of styling the man’s hair in the same manner he’d worn it prior to his death. It was important to her to get it right, and that was the reason she always asked the relatives for a recent photograph of the deceased. It helped when applying the makeup, too. Some women wore very little makeup in life and others had it caked on thick. It could be an unpleasant shock to the relatives if the embalmer didn’t get it right.

  She smiled at Toby. “He looks just like he did when he was still alive. You’ve done a marvellous job.”

  Toby blushed beneath her praise. “Thank you, Hannah. It’s very kind of you to say so.”

  “It’s not kind at all,” she protested. “I’m merely stating the truth. You’re a quick learner and you listen well. What’s more, you care about these people as much as I do. I can see it in the respectful way you handle them and in the care you put into your work. I’m so pleased you decided to come and work here. It’s a real pleasure to have you around.”

  His blush got redder and spread right across his cheeks, but a shy smile of pride and satisfaction filled his face. “Do you really think so?” he asked, hope shining in his eyes.

  “I know so,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument.

  “I can’t wait to tell Jacob. I haven’t spoken to him since I started. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it here or if you’d like having me here. I didn’t want to have to tell him the job hadn’t worked out. He was so happy for me when I got it. Now that I know I’m going to be allowed to stay, I want to tell him how well things have worked out.”

  At the mention of Jacob’s name, Hannah’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him and having daily reminders of him with his twin less than a few feet away for most of the day and night had only made it more difficult.

  “Do you know how to reach him?” she asked, keeping her tone casual.

  “I guess I can call the Sydney Harbour Hospital. He works in the emergency department.”

  She smiled faintly. “Yes, he told me.”

  Toby looked at her, his expression filled with curiosity. “You’ve been talking to him?”

  “No, not since he dropped you off here the other day. We… We met at the hospital ball the weekend before.”

  “That’s when he told you he was a doctor,” Toby guessed, smiling.

  “Yes. We were seated at the same table. We managed to catch up. I hadn’t seen him since…high school.”

  Toby’s expression sobered and the light in his eyes dimmed. “Yeah, I remember.” When he looked at her again, his eyes were tortured. “I’m so sorry, Hannah. I’m so sorry about Luke.”

  “Don’t be, Toby. It’s all right. Please don’t get upset again. It wasn’t your fault.”

  Tears glinted in his eyes. “But it wasn’t Jacob’s fault, either. He—”

  “Toby,” she gently interrupted. “I get that you feel bad for Jacob and that, as his brother, you feel the need to come to his defense. I admire your love and your loyalty. It’s a rare thing, these days. But if you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it, okay?”

  He stared at her a moment longer and looked like he might say something further, but finally he swiped at his tears with the back of his hand and slowly nodded. “Okay.”

  “Now, if you like, you can borrow my cell phone to call Jacob. I’ll find the hospital number for you.”

  “Thank you, Hannah. That would be great.”

  The genuine gratitude that shone in his eyes touched her heart. “No problem,” she managed, her voice husky with emotion.

  Heading into the small kitchen at the back of the house, she found her handbag and pulled out her phone. Doing a quick online search, she found the number for the emergency department of the hospital where Jacob worked. She returned to the embalming room and handed Toby her phone.

  “Thank you,” he said. “I promise, I won’t be long.”

  “It’s fine. Talk as long as you want.”

  A look of panic suddenly passed across his face. “What if he’s not at work?”

  “Then we’ll find some other way to reach him. He’s friends with some of my friends. I’m sure we can track him down.”

  Relief filled his expression and his shoulders slumped on a sigh. “Okay, I’ll try the hospital and we’ll see what happens.”

  He began to dial the number and Hannah turned away to give him a little privacy. She heard him ask for Doctor Jacob Black and was pleased when he said he’d be happy to wait. It was a good sign. A moment later, it was obvious Jacob had come to the phone.

  The simple pleasure on Toby’s face as he spoke with his brother pulled at Hannah’s heartstrings. Not only were they flesh and blood, but they were identical twins. It was well documented that identical twins had a special bond and it appeared the one between Toby and his brother was no different. She was saddened by the thought that for a whole decade, they’d been out of touch.

  Choosing to give Toby a little more privacy, she pulled open the door that led out of the embalming room and wandered into Max’s office. Her boss sat in his usual spot behind his large, cluttered desk. His white hair was slightly mussed and a frown creased his forehead. He looked up at her in surprise.

  “Hannah! What is it, my dear? Is everything all right?”

  She smiled. “Yes, of course. Toby’s speaking on the phone with his brother. I thought I’d give him some privacy.”

  Max’s eyes widened. “He has a brother? Why on earth was the boy living on the streets? I assumed he had no family.”

  “Three brothers, in fact. They’ve been apart for ten years. They’ve only recently reconnected.”

  “I see. I guess that explains it.”

  Hannah suddenly recalled the conversation she’d had with Toby about his appointment with the doctor. Max had arranged for the medical. He was the perfect person to ask about it.

  “Toby told me the doctor he saw the other day said something about a life insurance policy. It struck me as odd. Do you know what he’s talking about?”

  Max frowned. “Life insurance? Are you sure?”

  “Well, not really. Toby thought that’s what the doctor said.”

  Max lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. “I don’t know why. I sent him there to undergo a full medical, but it was only because I was concerned for his overall health. I’m not sure how long he’s been living on the streets, but it’s obvious it’s been quite awhile. I just wanted to make sure he was…okay.”

  Hannah nodded. It was as she’d expected. Toby must have simply misunderstood. She told Max as much.

  “Yes, well, I guess it’s easy enough to get confused about things like that, especially someone like Toby. He’s a lovely boy, but he does seem a little limited in his understanding of things.”

  “You’re right and it was very kind of you to get him medically assessed. Not many bosses would have bothered.”

  Max’s cheeks turned pink with pleasure, but he waved her praise away. “You don’t need to say things like that, Missy. I like you well enough already. Now, get out of here and get back to work.”

  Hannah shot him a fond smile and turned and left the room. Easing open the door to the embalming room, she found Toby cleaning the counter. He handed back her phone.

  “How did you do?” she asked, tossing it back into her handbag.

  His face lit up with a smile. �
��Great. He was there. I told him about my job, how much I was enjoying it, working here with you. He told me to say hi.”

  Hannah started in surprise. She hadn’t expected Jacob to offer such a courtesy. They hadn’t exactly parted on friendly terms at the ball and she hadn’t been overly affable when he’d arrived at the funeral parlor that first afternoon to collect Toby. No matter how much time had passed since high school, she hadn’t forgotten and she wasn’t ready to forgive.

  “He wants to take us to dinner,” Toby added.

  Hannah blinked, not sure she’d heard right. “Excuse me?”

  “He invited us to dinner. He asked me if you’d like to come along. He has a couple of days off, starting tomorrow. He’s happy to do it whichever night suits.”

  Panic took hold in Hannah’s stomach and her hands clenched. She didn’t want to spend time with Toby’s brother. He was dangerous to her equilibrium. For so long, she’d borne a grudge against him—she’d sometimes even dreamed of getting revenge and now he was here, back in her life and doing his best to prove she was being churlish and petty to hold on to her rage.

  Was it possible he wasn’t the devil incarnate who’d gotten away with murder? Maybe he was just a guy who’d made a mistake and had taken his punishment. At least, that’s what he probably wanted her to think.

  “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea, Toby.”

  Toby’s face fell. “But it would be fun, Hannah! Just like old times! Don’t you remember how we used to hang out together—you and Luke and me and Jacob? We spent most afternoons together, down by the river, eating sandwiches and cake we brought from home… Don’t you remember?”

  At her continued silence, his voice drifted off. Looking bewildered, he slowly turned away and picked up his cleaning cloth. His movements were slower, heavier, as if the job had suddenly become harder. Anguish burned inside her.

  She didn’t want to spend time with Jacob. She didn’t want to forget what he’d done and how she felt about it. But she couldn’t stand the thought of disappointing his brother and removing the smile from his innocent face. With every bath and shower, he became more like the Toby she’d once known and the similarity to his gorgeous twin was heartbreaking.

  She’d told Toby earlier, it wasn’t his fault Luke had lost his life and if her words were sincere, Toby shouldn’t be punished for someone else’s deeds.

  “All right. I’ll come,” she said quietly and was rewarded with a loud whoop and a cheer. Toby spun around to face her.

  “You mean it? You really mean it? You’ll come?”

  The excitement on his face was contagious. “Yes,” she laughed. “I’ll come.”

  “Can I borrow your cell phone again? I want to call Jacob and tell him right away.”

  She laughed again. “He’s at work, Toby. He probably won’t be able to come to the phone again. Surely, it can wait. The day’s only half over; it’s not like we’re ready to leave.”

  His face fell. “Please, Hannah? I’ve got to at least try.”

  She looked at him and found herself relenting. What did it matter if he tried to call Jacob again? If his brother was busy, Toby would be advised accordingly. Surely there was no harm done, either way. She tugged her phone out of her bag again and handed it to him.

  “Be my guest.”

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Jacob gave me his cell number. I saved it to your phone.” He grinned. I put it under ‘Jacob.’”

  Hannah’s belly did a flip flop, but she remained silent. It wasn’t Toby’s fault that she disliked his brother—and Toby probably remembered when it hadn’t been like that. There was a time when they’d enjoyed each other’s company. Toby was no doubt oblivious to how things had soured between her and his brother.

  Once again, Toby dialed a number and listened as it rang out. This time, she heard Jacob’s voice tell the caller to leave a message. Toby happily confirmed Hannah was able to join them for dinner. He finished by asking Jacob to call him back on Hannah’s phone to confirm the arrangements.

  For the rest of the day, Hannah felt unsettled. Every time she thought of the pending meal, her stomach twisted with nerves. Her thoughts flitted from the moments of pleasantness at the ball, to the kiss that had ended their night—and underpinning it all was the knowledge that he’d as good as gotten away with killing her boyfriend.

  He’d been sentenced to two years. What was that compared to the loss of someone’s life? The sentence had been a pittance, a farce and it annoyed her every time she thought about it. Not exactly the best frame of mind to be in as their dinner companion.

  She sighed heavily. The continuous burn of anger and resentment low in her belly was doing her no good. She’d give herself an ulcer if she kept it up. There was nothing for it. She’d do the best she could to keep her animosity in check for Toby’s sake, and for her own.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Dear Diary,

  I find myself facing an interesting dilemma, one I haven’t come across before. I located my next victim and did the usual things. All was going well. But this time, I seem to have miscalculated. Unlike the others, this one isn’t alone.

  I’ve made some discreet enquires. He has a family and at least one friend. He’s not a nameless, faceless drifter living on the streets. Someone might miss this one if he were to disappear. I’ll have to ponder it further before making a decision…

  * * *

  Jacob ran a comb through his thick dark hair and then set the comb down on the vanity. Staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, he checked that there was nothing caught in his teeth and then gargled a second time. He glanced at his watch and noted the time. He still had thirty minutes before he was due to meet Hannah and his brother for dinner.

  He’d offered to collect them, but Hannah had politely declined and told him they’d meet him at the restaurant. He couldn’t help but wonder if she wanted to be able to escape him if things went pear-shaped. Again.

  Still, he was willing to take his chances. He’d been given the opportunity to spend some more time with her—and for that, he was grateful.

  * * *

  Hannah knocked gently on the door of Toby’s room and waited for him to answer.

  “Come in.”

  She pushed open the door and found him smoothing out the wrinkles on his recently laundered clothes. With Max’s permission, he’d added to his meager wardrobe by bringing a couple of sets of scrubs home. One set had been put to use as pajamas.

  “I have a present,” she said, handing him the shopping bag.

  He smiled lopsidedly. “It’s not my birthday until next week.”

  “Really?” she replied in surprise. “What date?”

  “May sixteenth.”

  She made a mental note and then urged him to open the bag. He frowned at the clothes in his hand.

  “What’s this?”

  “I stopped by the menswear department during my lunch break. I bought you some new clothes.” She watched him—a little on edge—uncertain how he would react to her gift.

  A smile slowly grew on his face. When he looked back at her, tears glinted in his eyes. “You bought me new clothes?”

  She smiled tentatively. “Yes. I hope it’s all right?”

  “Of course it is!” He grinned and strode over to her and enveloped her in an enthusiastic hug. Lifting her off her feet, he swung her around.

  “Nobody’s ever bought me new clothes before, except, maybe my mom. But she’s my mom. It was her job to buy me clothes.”

  Hannah laughed, pleased that he’d accepted her gift in the manner it was intended. “There are a few new shirts and pants and a couple of pairs of jeans. And there are a pair of boots in a box on the kitchen counter. I kind of guessed at the size. I’m sorry, I didn’t think about a suit, but you should be okay. The restaurant doesn’t stand on formality. Pants and a shirt will be fine. We’ll leave in fifteen minutes.”

  Toby’s grin widened. “I’d better hurry, then. I’ll need to change.”

>   She closed the door behind her and headed down the hall. Her heart felt lighter than it had all week and suddenly she looked forward to the night ahead.

  * * *

  Jacob spied them the moment they entered the restaurant, although his brother’s appearance almost made him do a double take. Toby was smartly dressed in a long-sleeved, white shirt that was tucked neatly into a pair of navy-blue pants. The last time Jacob had seen him, his feet had been filthy and bare. Now he wore shoes that shone as if recently polished—either that, or they were new. Hannah must have gone shopping. The knowledge that she cared enough about his twin to do something like that warmed him through, although it still irritated him a little that she hadn’t accepted his offer to pay for it.

  He stood and motioned them over. Hannah acknowledged him with a nod and a quick smile. His heart somersaulted. She wove through the other tables, Toby following close behind. The eyes of every other man in the room followed her progress. She was dressed simply in a white dress with a fitted bodice that flared out gently over her hips and ended just below her knees. She wore open black sandals, with at least three-inch heels. Her thick blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, the simplicity of it making her look younger than her twenty-nine years.

  The hairstyle might have appeared severe on some women, but not on Hannah. It emphasized her perfect bone structure and the luminescence of her skin. He wondered vaguely how she appeared so healthy and wholesome when she spent most of her time inside, away from natural light… But then she was beside him and her light perfume filled the air. His thoughts scattered like dandelion seeds on the wind.

  She held her hand out in greeting. “It’s nice to see you again, Jacob. Thank you for inviting me along.”

  Jacob took her hand in his. Her skin was soft and her bones felt small and delicate, even though her handshake was sure and firm and exuded confidence.

  “It’s good to see you, too, Hannah. I’m pleased you were able to join us.”

  “Hey, Jake,” Toby said and gave Jacob a quick hug.

  Taking their seats, Jacob ordered a round of drinks. Hannah picked up the menu. “The food is so good, here. It’s always tough to make a decision.”