“Richard, be quiet. You don’t know everything that goes on.” Joanna quashed her son’s shock, while casting Jessie a haughty smile. BJ squeezed Jessie’s hand tighter under the table, and with a little shake signalled all was well.
“So, Brad will be staying for this meeting. As I was saying, you currently owe us one hundred thousand dollars as per this loan agreement. I would like to know when I may expect to receive it in our bank account. Considering this debt is well overdue, it is disappointing I need to bring up this matter on the day of your brother’s funeral.”
BJ leaned back in his chair, wondering why Joanna even needed him there. She was an assassin, in the nicest possible way. Everyone waited as the tea turned cold. Dumbfounded, Hilda and Tom leaned forward, blinking at the head of their family.
By this public inquiry, Joanna had cornered Frank as surely as a mouse in a maze. With no other alternative, he changed his approach, fawning over his sister-in-law. “Joanna, please. It slipped my mind. I’m sorry. I forgot all about it, and Ken never reminded me.”
“Don’t take me for a fool, Frank Hilton. I have no doubt Ken has been asking for this money for years. When will you be depositing the money into our account?”
Bellowing like a wounded bear, he launched from his chair. “How dare you question me? What right do you have to insist on anything? You are nothing more than…”
Pushing to his feet, BJ rose swift and sure. With muscles flinching and jaw set, he glowered.
Beside him, Jessie leaped to her feet. “How dare you speak to my mother like that?” She wagged a scolding finger at her uncle.
“Be quiet,” Frank barked. “You wretched girl.”
Jessie staggered into her chair as if she’d been punched.
Gritting his teeth, BJ snarled and turned to check she was okay. With a vein throbbing in his neck, he swept his gaze back to Frank, whose pompous demeanour looked almost comical. Leaning forward, he rested his clenched fists on the table. “You’re not the one giving orders here, Frank. Answer Joanna’s question. When can she expect to receive the one hundred thousand dollars in her bank account?” If only Frank would make a move. Just one. A cool touch on BJ’s hand broke his focus, and he stood down.
“Thank you, Brad,” said Joanna. Stowing his rage, he folded back into his chair, leaving Frank brushing himself off in deliberate strokes. Again, Joanna quizzed her brother-in-law. “Well, Frank?”
After more bluster, Frank resumed his seat. “I don’t have that sort of money available in one lump sum, Joanna. What if I deposit ten thousand dollars each month for the next ten months?”
“How about you go away and come back with a better plan, Frank.” Her smile was as distasteful as Frank’s offer. Turning to Hilda, she softened. “Hilda, this should have been finalised years ago. There are so many things I need to reassess now Ken is gone, and I can’t afford to have the strain of this on my shoulders as well. Please. You must come up with this money, somehow.”
“Really, Frank, it’s bad enough that poor Joanna has just lost her husband, without having to worry over this money business.” Hilda directed a withering scowl at her husband and snapped to her feet. “We will get this sorted out, Joanna. I promise.” She turned and marched out of the room. Fidgeting in his chair, Tom delayed, obviously uneasy with his mother’s fierce and uncharacteristic reprimand of his father.
“Very well, Joanna. I will see what I can do.” As Frank rose like royalty, Tom scampered to his feet, like the court jester. Without another word, they departed.
When the door closed behind them, Richard expelled a long exhale. “When are you two getting married?”
“It was a ruse, Richard, so that Brad could stay for the family meeting.” Smirking, Joanna stuffed the loan document back into her folder.
“Oh, you’re cleverer than I thought, Mum.”
“Mothers usually are.”
“Jessie, are you okay?” BJ stroked her trembling arm.
Blotches of red flashed up her neck and warmed cheeks. “He makes me so mad. How dare he treat us like that?”
“Don’t worry, Jessica. Hilda is a good woman, and I’m counting on her to apply the right pressure on Frank to repay the money as soon as possible. Now, I’m going to lie down.” She rose, as did everyone else. “It’s been a horrible day. I’ll see you all later.”
“I think I’ll do the same.” A tired frown creased Jessie’s brow. “I still can’t believe we just buried Dad.”
“Neither can I.” Richard put his arm around his sister’s waist, and they hugged each other a few moments longer.
“Give it time. Once the shock settles, that’s when reality sets in. An afternoon sleep is a good idea for both of you. See you later, Richard.” BJ guided Jessie out of the dining room, away from the miserable realism of the day.
Holding hands, they strolled back to the Garden Wing with Whiskey dancing happy circles around them. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, he faced her. “Get some rest, and we’ll watch the sunset together.”
“That’s sounds lovely. See you then.” She touched his cheek. “Thanks for being with me today and for standing up to Uncle Frank.”
“Not a problem. Later…” Clasping her shoulders, he spun her around and sent her on her way.
As she padded up the stairs and along the veranda, he admired how even after another emotionally gruelling day, her inherent poise remained unruffled. Tilting his head, he smiled at her departing image. I’m a lucky man. I can’t wait to put all this behind us and get back to Melbourne to start our new life.
His Border collie’s expectant face nudged him. “Okay, Whiskey. Your turn, girl.” Winging the ball she dropped at his feet, he focused his attention on the other female in his life.
Chapter 41
Check it out. I made the front page of the Yass Tribune. Melbourne man Skip Norton, has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of local woman, Jessie Hilton. Miss Hilton is a soloist in the Australian Ballet Company and grew up at Coodravale in Yass. She began her career…What the fuck! The story is all about her. What about me? I did all the planning, preparation and execution. Blah, blah, blah… Miss Hilton was rescued by her brother, Richard and a family friend Brad Jordan and his dog, Whiskey. I can’t bloody believe. There he is again. The interfering hero and his dog. Brad bloody Jordan is his name. That guy really pisses me off. I hate dogs.
“Hey, when is my lawyer going to get here? Is there any bastard out there who can hear me?” That’ll get the serg’ in here quick smart. I can hear him lumbering along now.
“Listen here, Norton. There’ll be none of that language in my lock-up. What is it you want, now?”
“Did you see this? The bloody Yass Tribune only mentioned me once. Once!”“You do realize that this is not a competition to see who gets their name in the paper the most times. You’ve been arrested on some serious charges. Do you understand that?”
“All I know is that I’m stuck in this hell hole while I wait for a lawyer.”
“Well, you won’t have to wait too long. He’s on his way.”
“He? I was hoping it would be a woman.”
“I bet you were. The court has appointed you a Mr Stephenson.”
“Is he any good?”
“I’ve got no idea. He should be here soon so I suggest you think about what you’re going to discuss with him so he can represent you in the best possible way.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Serg’.”
Shit! None of this has worked out the way I wanted. I lost my precious dancer, the cops nabbed me and now I get a male lawyer. There’s no way I’m going to jail. No way. All those men cooped up together, touching each other, sucking each other’s cocks. Freaks, the lot of them. My mother made me do that to her boyfriends when she brought them home. She said that if I did it, they’d stay and look after us. But they didn’t. They all ended up leaving no matter what I did. Mum’s men were bastards. Them and their fucking dogs, laughing and barking at me. I’m not going to jai
l. I’m not going to suck cock in jail. I’ve got to find another way…
Chapter 42
Without the in-laws, Joanna, Jessie, BJ and Richard breakfasted alone, which suited Jessie just fine. Uncle Frank’s presence upset her more the longer he stayed at Coodravale. She wondered how poor Aunt Hilda put up with him all these years. As far as Jessie was concerned, if she never saw Uncle Frank again, it would be too soon.
Clearing away the last of the dishes, she shot a serious look at her mother. “Have you heard anything more about the money Uncle Frank owes us, Mum?”
“No. I expect he’s trying to explain to Hilda what the money was for in the first place and how he’s going to repay the one hundred thousand dollars still outstanding.” She flicked a lace doily on the table under an arrangement of white lilies that Richard held aloft. The dining room looked so festive with all the scented sympathy flowers, yet their beauty only added to Jessie’s melancholy. Cheerful flowers for a miserable occasion.
“So when will you speak with him again about it?” asked Richard, busying himself by twisting and turning vases.
“I can’t let this drag on, so it will have to be sometime today.” Joanna pushed the chairs into the table so their backs lined up evenly.
“Do you need anything from us?” asked BJ, staying out of everyone’s way.
“Thank you, Brad. I think I might speak to Frank alone this time. See if I can’t get a better response. In the end, he has the leverage in the matter. I need him to repay me as soon as possible. All I can do is push a little and hope it works.”
“Well, let us know if you need anything, Mum.” Jessie reassured her mother with a hug.
Joanna motioned for Richard to join them. Clutching their hands in a one-for-all grip, she held them steadfast. With her cool, grey eyes drifting between her children and in a voice ragged with emotion, she said, “I am so proud of you both. You have given me much joy, love and support. I know I don’t say it enough, but I’m saying it now. Without you both, I don’t know how I would have got through all of this. If your father was still here, he’d be so proud of the considerate young adults you’ve become. And you, Jessica, after everything you’ve been through with that terrible Norton fellow, you’re still unflustered and in control. I don’t know how you do it…really I don’t. And my dear boy Richard, you’ve been a rock to me. I know you dislike still being here at Coodravale, but soon you will go off to start your own life and be successful in your career. I love you both dearly. Know that Coodravale will always be your home.” Embracing in a group hug and pledging their love for each other, they formed the new Hilton family of three that Jessie had hoped for.
“Now off you go. I think I might make some tea and take it to Frank, Hilda and Tom. Then have my chat with Frank.” Joanna turned on her heel towards the kitchen.
“I’m off for a ciggie out the front. I’ll see you later.” Richard kissed Jessie on the cheek.
“Okay. We’ll be down by the river, so join us once you’ve finished if you like.”
“Thanks, Jess, but I have a couple of things I need to take care of first.” With his cigarette pack already in his hands, he marched towards the front door.
“Just you and me, kid,” teased BJ with a wink.
“And Whiskey,” she reminded him.
“And Whiskey.” He took her hand, and they sauntered outside in the direction of the river.
Unlike the previous days, today bore the threat of the rainy season. Across the Brindabella Ranges, foreboding clouds gathered as if in consultation of where to unleash the first downpour. Even the birds sounded muted. Like the end of a holiday when happy campers pack up before the storm, the energy thrummed with the panic of a swift departure.
“What a great life Whiskey has.” With a wistful smile, Jessie envied the dog’s happy mood. “Every day is as wonderful as the day before or the day following. She lives in a perpetually happy state.”
“I guess so. But that doesn’t mean she has no feelings. Whiskey feels everything we do, love, happiness, sadness, anger, loneliness. It’s just that when she has a choice, she always chooses to be happy. Dogs are smart. She was the best thing that happened to me after Rachael and Tiffany died. Whiskey helped bring me back from the brink. She loved and trusted me…”
“And she saved me…” Jessie flashed a grateful grin at the Border collie.
“That she did. She’s a damn fine friend and protector.” Pulling the ball from his pocket, he threw it along the riverbank. “Whiskey. Fetch.” Bounding after her reward, Whiskey played the game repeatedly until she lay panting, worn out and contented.
“She’s like a dog with two tails,” joked BJ, rubbing Whiskey’s belly.
“What do you mean?”
“It means she couldn’t be any happier if she tried.”
Gazing down at the dog’s blissfully happy face, Jessie longed for two tails herself. An unexpected temperature drop sent a shiver up Jessie’s arms. “It’s getting cold.”
“I’ll run up and get your coat if you like?”
“Thanks. I’ll wait here with Whiskey.” She watched BJ’s brow crease. “Go on. No one’s going to kidnap me. Skip’s locked up, remember? Off you go.”
Chapter 43
As BJ walked out the French doors after getting Jessie’s coat, a noise to his left alerted him of someone’s presence. He stopped and retreated from view as Frank rounded the corner, heading towards the main house. The pompous look on his face told BJ that something was afoot. He waited until Frank passed and then followed him. Striding through the side veranda doors, Frank disappeared into the main living room of the house. The curtains fluttered closed, but the doors remained opened. BJ considered his options. Eavesdropping was not something he usually condoned, but he convinced himself that if this was the meeting Joanna alluded to having with Frank, she probably wouldn’t mind. He hoped not. Deciding to take advantage of the situation, he slipped up to the open doors and listened.
“Very well, Joanna. Let’s see if we can’t come to some arrangement.”
“As I said Frank, you owe us one hundred thousand dollars, and I would appreciate it if you could pay it back as soon as possible.”
Through a crack in the curtains, BJ glimpsed her sitting in a red velvet armchair, hands clutched in her lap.
“I understand, but I don’t have that sort of cash lying around. I did offer to pay it back over ten months.”
Men like Frank irked BJ. They knew they had the upper hand, and they metaphorically waved it around as a weapon. Frank clearly enjoyed this game.
“Yes, Frank. But Ken loaned you this money years ago. He took out a higher mortgage on Coodravale to help you. Why don’t you take a second mortgage on your house? That way you could repay me and be responsible for your own debt?” BJ glimpsed Joanna lift her chin to match the rising indignation in her voice.
“Did you know that if it wasn’t for me, you and Ken would never have been able to afford to buy Coodravale in the first place?” Frank’s tone turned ominous. “Because Ken had a low credit rating, I went guarantor on the property all those years ago. It was me who secured this property for you, your husband and your family. So I suggest you show a little more respect and appreciation for our family ties.”
BJ flinched.
“And we appreciate your help Frank, but that’s all in the past. There is a current debt of one hundred thousand dollars which you owe. Can’t you repay it faster than over ten months?”
Frank’s leering face came into view as he leaned closer to Joanna. “Perhaps we could come to another arrangement? A more private and personal one?” His hand trailed over Joanna’s shoulder.
Bastard. BJ’s fingers flexed and balled into fists, as he prepared to use them on Frank if he went any further.
Joanna sprang to her feet and glowered. “How dare you, Frank. I’m offended by your lewd suggestion. Paying the debt off over the next ten months will be suitable. I’ll write up a short letter regarding our agreement and shoul
d you renege, I will instigate legal proceedings. Now if you, Hilda and Tom are ready, I think it best if you leave today.” She snapped a turn and left the room.
BJ light-footed it off the veranda and headed toward the lower paddock. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Skip Norton had threatened and kidnapped Jessie with plans to inflict all sorts of sexual horrors upon her, he’d just overheard Frank’s galling sexual advances towards Joanna. What the fuck is wrong with these men? By the time he crested the knoll, he knew one thing for sure. Like Norton, Frank’s primary rule of engagement was to belittle and victimise women.
Chapter 44
Perched on a log, Jessie tugged her coat tighter as she and BJ flapped their feet in the icy water of the Goodradigbee River. Nearby, Whiskey slept off her game of fetch. As the day approached noon, the sky darkened with voluminous grey clouds like a portent of doom.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I must be an ice maiden.” Jessie snorted. “I’m as cold as these Snowy Mountain waters.” Staring at her chilling feet, she felt confused as to why, since her father’s funeral, she’d not shed one tear. Despite an average night’s sleep and the loving moment she’d shared with her mother and Richard after breakfast, she still felt exhausted and unsettled. Plus, Uncle Frank’s attitude over the money had stoked her bad mood. Why he wouldn’t just pay it back angered her. Although she loved Aunt Hilda, she wanted her relatives to leave. I just want to go back to Melbourne. Get back to my ballet.
“Stop beating yourself up. Funerals are strange events, and everyone responds differently.” BJ grabbed her hand. “Why don’t you tell me happy stories about growing up here in Coodravale?”
Dredging up a stiff smile, she thumbed back through snippets of memories. “One of the happiest times was when I got my cat, Penny. She was the runt of a litter that the Robinson’s barn cat produced. Everyone thought she’d die because she was so small. But I knew she’d make it. Penny was a ball of tortoise shell fur, the tiniest squeak of a meow, and I loved her. She was my shadow. No matter where I went she was there. She’d sleep on my bed, sit on the bathmat while I had a shower and curl on my lap when I watched TV or did my homework. God, I loved my little moggie. Come on, I’ll show you something.”
Retribution: Who would you kill to escape your past? Page 23