by Leanne Wood
Whack!
The boat heaved. Bridget was tossed to the right and stumbled to maintain her footing. The chain stopped moving. All was silent. While her focus had been on Pierre, the swell had gained momentum. She feared the powerful waves might be enough to capsize her boat. Clouds swirled above. The air became thick with salt. The wind carried pelting rain that lashed her face. Angry waves soaked the deck. Control. Stay in control.
“Ha! I got you,” she laughed.
Pierre burst into tears. He was bleeding, terrified and gasping for breath. “You bitch! You fucken crazy bitch! You’re going to go to gaol,” he yelled.
His words infuriated her. She launched her left foot into his chest; she wanted nothing more than for him to be silenced. “No, I’m not. The way I see it, you have two choices and I have one pair of bolt cutters.” The smile she gave him was cold. “You can continue to threaten me and I will cut the link that holds you to the boat or you WILL keep your mouth shut and I may let you live.” She shrugged. “Your choice. You see I know where you live. I know what you eat. I know where you drink and what you drink. I know where your parents live. I know who your partner is. Judy is having a great time in Newcastle.” She crouched, smiled again. “It would be horrible if any of them had an accident. I know you would feel terrible, maybe even responsible if something were to happen.” He flinched at that. “You see I know everything about you and I can get to you or anyone that you know, wherever and whenever I like.” She tilted her head as she stared at him. “And if you do make me come back, I will make your loved ones a stepping stone. I will make them bleed and cry and scream out your name. I will make you watch, then I will make them watch as I kill you. But that’s not the best part…” She chuckled. “If you think you’re in pain now, you are sadly mistaken… one wrong move from you and I will send you straight to hell.”
“Please, not my family… Please, I won’t say anything. You have my word, I promise,” he cried.
“I know you won’t… you see I know more than you think. I know you’ve been screwing around behind Judy’s back. I know you’ve been taking money from the work-betting club and that’s just the start. I’ve been watching you, and like I said I can get you whenever I like.” She smirked. “I got you before and I will do it again. And even if you were to dare open your mouth and say something then it will be my word against yours, except this time I have an alibi and you have nothing. You see, this time I have the power and I have nothing to lose.”
“I won’t tell a soul. You have my word… I promise you,” he croaked, as he shook his head. His voice was hoarse and quavering. He was defeated. He was broken.
Bridget nodded. “Take this as your warning and thank your lucky stars I’m in a good mood.”
Walking to the front of the boat Bridget grabbed the side rail. Large waves surged towards them. Strong howling winds delivered more pelting rain. Pierre watched her every move. His loud panting danced in the breeze and disappeared into the dark sky. The temperature had dropped. Bridget knew she had to get out of there before waves tipped them over. She picked up her bolt cutters. Pierre pleaded to be freed. He begged for a drink. His voice was cracked. He was beaten.
Bridget started the engine. She turned on the winch to retrieve the anchor. She placed the bolt cutters on her seat and shut her eyes relishing her power, then took a deep breath and let it out. Opening her eyes, she picked up a bottle of water, and cracked the seal. Pierre watched her every move. “This water?” she asked. She smiled then placed the bottle to her mouth.
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
Planting her elbow on the steering wheel, she stretched her arm down, pulled her hand back, and flicked her wrist. Water poured from the bottle until it was empty. Bridget laughed.
“Oh no, seems I’ve had an accident. Isn’t that what you used to call them? Accidents.”
Pierre glared without comment. Bridget refused to look away. Silence. Moments passed. Finally, he blinked and looked at her with sheepish eyes. She threw him a bottle. He opened the lid with his mouth and sculled the contents. Bridget stared. Smiled. She pulled back the throttle and headed parallel to the coastline. The bow of the boat crashed through the waves. Her body jolted as she gripped the wheel. She would have to zigzag her way back to the heads so the swell wouldn’t tip them over and swallow them. She needed to focus on her safety. Pierre would soon be asleep. What a fool. The Mogadon-spiked water would have him sleeping by the time she made her way back to the boat ramp. She would cover his body beneath a tarp. She would take him back to his home. She would dump his body on his back lawn. No one would see him there. When he woke he would be battered and bruised. He would be fearful. He would remember what she had done, but he would have no proof. He’d been outplayed, outsmarted, and he would know she could strike at any moment. She was a crazy bitch, capable of anything – that’s what he’d said. He would remain silent. He would fear her reprisals. How could he admit to being overpowered by a woman? He was a man. He would be considered a joke.
Bridget hoped beyond hope he would keep his mouth shut.
CHAPTER TWENTY
B
ridget dashed into Daniel’s office at 10am without responding to his greetings. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her face flushed. It was clear she had been crying. She looked like a nervous wreck. Her clothes were crumpled. Her hair was a mess. Daniel locked the door behind her then turned on both his desk lamp and the tripod lamp. He pulled the curtains closed as she took her familiar corner chair. He retrieved some tissues and lent against his desk.
“What’s happened?” he asked, as he passed her the tissues. “You haven’t had another run in with Zack have you?”
Bridget shook her head. She closed her eyes and lowered her face.
“Bridget… talk to me, that’s why I am here. You need to talk to me.”
“Listen,” she suddenly blurted. “There’s something I need to tell you.” She took a shaky breath. “Something’s happened.”
“You can tell me anything,” he said, as he lent forward and grabbed her hand.
“I did it!” she said, tears now streaming down her face. Her body shook, as she struggled to catch her breath. Daniel’s eyebrows furrowed as he squeezed her hand.
“What have you done?” he asked, his voice raised.
“I got Pierre Rainer… I got him.”
“Oh no, please tell me you didn’t take it too far.”
“Too far? What’s too far for that bastard,” Bridget snapped. “I used some of those Mogadon tablets from your cabin. I drugged him, I beat him and I took him to the ocean. I scared the crap out of him.” She released a nervous laugh, as more tears streamed down her face.
“Please tell me you didn’t kill him,” Daniel begged.
Bridget shook her head, “No I didn’t kill him, but now I’m starting to doubt what I did. This revenge thing has left a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m struggling, Daniel. Don’t get me wrong… I loved paying them back. They got everything they deserved. But I’m scared of retaliation. What happens if they talk? What happens if Samuel Easton and Arthur Fuller believe I was behind what happened to them?” Fear shook her voice and started to cascade through her body, and he squeezed her hand. “All it takes is for Pierre to open his big mouth and… that’s it. Every day I wonder what they’re doing. Have they put two and two together? Every day I pray they’ll just leave me in peace.” Those dark eyes of hers peered up into his. “What they did has haunted me for years. It would be so wonderful to hear they’d been wiped from existence. Every day I hope Pierre will keep his promise to remain silent. But can I trust him? Why should I trust him?” She shook her head. “I’m consumed by doubt. Maybe I should have just pushed him overboard. His body was chained. The concrete block would have sent him to a watery grave. Watery grave.” Bridget repeated then laughed. “Makes him sound like he’s the fucken Titanic.” Daniel watched as Bridget picked at her nails, it was a nervous habit she was trying to break. “Maybe that
’s where he belongs, at the bottom of the ocean. He’d never have been found. Oh shit what have I done?”
She placed her hands over her face, “Oh fuck, maybe I should have killed him. I could have lived with that. It’s the unknown that’s killing me.” She sobbed, as she rose from her chair and began pacing around the room.
Daniel stepped towards her, grabbed her and pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she burst into tears. “Shhh… it’s going to okay.” Daniel paused, his voice softening. “I hear what you’re saying but you don’t have to worry. You’re not alone. I’m here for you now. We’re going to get through this together. They won’t hurt you. I won’t let them hurt you.” He held her back a little, making her look into his eyes when he spoke, so she could see the truth in his words. “I’ll protect you. I promise.”
He reached up and wiped away her tears. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel helpless or isolated. Her tear-stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes, made his heart ache. She wrapped her arms around him, and she embraced his warmth. She cherished his words. She wanted to believe he was right Daniel could feel her heart breaking as she clung to him. He held her tight and let the torrent of her tears soak his shirt. She needed to release her pain and frustration. She needed to know he would remain by her side, that he’d never abandon her.
She finally stepped back and gazed into his eyes. Her brow furrowed as she attempted to smile. She nodded. “I need to get out of here. I need to get away. I have to go away. You didn’t see the fire in his eyes. I know he said he wouldn’t tell, but I can’t stop thinking about his eyes.” Her trembling started again; he wasn’t sure she was aware of it. “The hate was so piercing. I feel like I’m suffocating, Daniel. I want it all to stop. I need it to stop. I need to get away, to breathe without restriction, to live without constantly looking over my shoulder.” She sniffed, wiped at her eyes. “Maybe I could to go to the police… if I confess to what I’ve done, explain why I did it, then maybe just maybe they will understand. They will…”
“They will what?” He shook his head at her. “I’m not going to let you destroy your life. No way. You’re worth so much more than that. You’ve come so far and I won’t let you do it. I won’t let them destroy you.” He took a breath; it was time to admit what he’d been denying for so long. “I love you Bridget, I love you…” Daniel pulled her close.
“Go away if you feel you need to, but wait until next week,” he whispered against her ear. “Come to my cabin for the weekend first. We need to talk, Bridget. I need to spend time with you. I want to say things I can’t say here. Hilary likes to eavesdrop sometimes. Please…”
Bridget looked deep into Daniel’s eyes. She looked like she was calculating the depths of something inside, making sure the pieces fit.
“I will,” she said. “I’ll come away with you for the weekend but then I am out of here.”
“Okay…” he said with a smile. “We’ll spend time together. We’ll talk where no one will overhear, and then you’ll go away,” he said, nodding in agreement with her plan. “Now I want you to go home. I want you to run yourself a nice bath and soak in the warm water and relax. Try not to worry, just think of your breath and the warm water. Inhale the stillness; listen to your breath. Remember my mindfulness instructions.” He tilted her chin towards him. “It’s going to be okay. It’s all going to work out. Relax for the week. They can’t harm you, and I’m a phone call away.” He smiled at her. “I’ll pick you up Friday afternoon. It’s all going to work out okay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
S
amuel Easton, Arthur Fuller, and Pierre Rainer were spooked. They needed to regroup. Their annual camping trip booked for the following week couldn’t have arrived at a better time. For the past eleven years they had escaped for one week of total seclusion. It was a time for camping, fishing, eating and drinking. Partners were not permitted, and what happened during their time together remained between the three.
Pierre had turned up to work Monday morning sporting a broken nose. His right eye was a black slit that sat out like a golf ball. He told his co-workers he had stumbled in his garden while building a new rockery. No one questioned him, but Samuel and Arthur knew better. Their suspicions were confirmed by the glaring look in his eyes when they confronted him.
Bridget would pay.
“One lone bitch won’t stand a chance against a three pronged attacked,” Pierre snarled. “We got rid of her before. This time we will do it permanently.”
“She made me a laughingstock,” Samuel hissed. “My daughter found it amusing. How will I ever live it down? I had to top soil my complete lawn to hide her nasty work.”
“What about me?” Arthur said, “Jill won’t even talk to me. I’m a few years away from retirement and I’m going to end up with nothing. Adolf Titler must pay. That bitch has ruined my life.”
“Oh, she’ll pay,” Pierre snarled. “She thinks she’s so smart. Says she can get us whenever or wherever she likes. By the time I’m finished with her, she’ll wish she never lived. Look at my face,” Pierre said then pulled up the sleeves of his jacket. “Look at my bloody wrists, the bitch had me bound and gagged. She had me drugged and shackled.” He balled his hands into fists. “She took me out into the middle of the bloody ocean and was going to kill me. She threatened my family. She has no regard for anyone. She’s a crazy cunt. Oh, she’ll pay all right. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make her pay.” His face reddened with rage. “We’ll take next week to plan, and we’ll strike as soon as we come back. Bridget Tilner will be no more.”
“Why wait?” Samuel asked. “We could hit her tonight. We could drive around and smash her windows with rocks. We could egg her car. Put prawns in her exhaust pipe. We could pour sugar in her fuel tank – that would stuff her up.”
“No, no… I have a better idea,” said Arthur. “We could pour brake fluid over her car and watch the paint strip away. Remember we did that to Andie Longmore? Remember how he cried?” Arthur laughed, as the others chuckled and smiled.
“No… I want this bitch gone,” Pierre snapped, “I want her gone for good. We need to wait. We need to plan. We need to get this right. But for now, we need to go about our business as if nothing’s happening. No one must suspect a thing, at least not her. We have to take her seriously. She may be watching us. We need to continue with our lives, work as we would normally work and when we’re away next week, we’ll have the time and space, the privacy to organise how we can get rid of her once and for all.”
Samuel and Arthur nodded in agreement. Pierre always had the final say. Arguing would get them nowhere. The three shook hands. Their word was their bond.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
A
rriving at the cabin, Bridget felt the weight of the world release from her shoulders. She would spend the next two days with Daniel. On Monday, she was booked to fly to Melbourne. Daniel had offered to drive her to the airport. Sitting in the sun she stared off into nothingness. She appeared deep in thought.
Daniel smiled and waved his hand in front of her face. “Earth to Bridget, Earth to Bridget, come in Bridget,” he laughed. “What are you thinking?”
“Have you ever thought about the small things in life? How the most minuscule thing could change everything? Maybe it already has,” she said. “That delay you may have experienced in traffic, the person who pushed in front of a queue. Were their actions of rushing past only making death arrive sooner?”
Daniel laughed, “Oh my, you are such a worry wart. Death comes to everyone. Thinking about it won’t make it arrive any sooner or later. You need to focus on the positives, Bridget.”
“I know, I know,” she said with a sigh. “I just can’t help thinking about things. You have to believe me when I say I am trying. I just keep on worrying about those three. What if they put two and two together? What I if they come after me. What if they find the clothes I was wearing?”
“You kept the clothe
s? Why didn’t you throw them away?” Daniel asked, concern etching his features.
“I just hid them. I didn’t have time. I stashed them under my house where I put the lawn mower. I didn’t think anyone would find them there. But now that I’m going away… What happens if someone goes there and finds them?”
“They won’t. Tell me, has anyone ever been where you store your lawn mower?”
“No, well only Zack,” Bridget said. “Oh shit, what happens if Zack goes snooping while I’m away? What happens if he finds the clothes?”
“He won’t. You have to stop torturing yourself with all these wild thoughts,” Daniel said, closing his hand over hers.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have done any of it,” she said then chuckled. “But I have to say it felt so good.”
Daniel laughed with her. “I love it when you smile, you don’t do it enough.”
Bridget could tell he was glad she’d agreed to come to the cabin with him. It was clear he wanted to get closer to her – he’d said he loved her.
She thought about the passing looks he had given her over the years. She had caught his staring eyes while in therapy. The way he leant forward when she spoke. His words teased. Their innocent conversations turned naughty. Daniel had a far-away look in his eyes, but a soft smile played about his lips. Was he thinking about them taking another step in their relationship? Was he as nervous as she? His fingers gently touched her face, and he leaned forward until his lips met hers.
“I want you,” she murmured.
Her hands moved lightly around his nape.
Daniel stroked her hair; gently brushed at the stray strands that covered her face as he gently kissed her. He pulled back gently and scanned her face, back and forth like he was reading a book.