Whitsunday Dawn

by Annie Seaton

  ‘So. What’s next?’ Greg closed the computer and ejected the flash drive.

  ‘What you have here is enough to put some of them in jail.’ Greg shook his head as he stared at the flash drive. ‘Even the breach of the new legislation in relation to the regional council alone will take any approval process back to the beginning for them. Not to mention the bribery with the rail line relocation.’

  ‘I still don’t understand how this all went wrong for them. Why was Liv set up? Until we know that, I won’t feel as though she’s safe.’ Fynn squeezed her hand.

  ‘Until we know that, I won’t reveal any of this publicly.’ Greg turned to Liv. ‘Why do you think you were given the wrong presentation, Liv?’

  ‘I wasn’t. I was given a link to the folder and it was my mistake. I downloaded the one I thought I was supposed to present.’

  ‘Tell me about Rod.’ His voice was sympathetic. Fynn had told him of the phone call with her father yesterday. ‘Do you think it was deliberate? Was he trying to get the information out there? What did he say in the email he sent?’

  ‘That’s it!’ Liv jumped to her feet. ‘That’s what I picked up yesterday and couldn’t remember. My father said something strange about Rod’s email and I wondered what he meant.’

  ‘What did he say when he emailed you the folder?’

  Liv had crossed to the door. ‘That’s just it. I didn’t read what he said. I was in such a hurry, all I did was click on the link. I didn’t ever go back to the email and read the message.’

  ‘What did your father say about it?’ Fynn had followed her to the door.

  ‘He said Rod was very foolish to tell me what he did.’

  Fynn slammed his fist against the doorframe. ‘And we can’t check it because you left the computer and phone at the police station for his henchmen.’

  ‘I didn’t.’ Liv’s voice was quiet and Fynn stared at her.

  ‘I saw you do it.’

  ‘I left the computer, but the phone case I took in was empty. The phone is safely in my room. I kept it because if I ever need to go to court, I wanted to keep the texts he sent me after the meeting.’

  ‘Can you access the email if they’ve disabled your access to the network. I’m sure they’ve done that by now.’ Greg’s brow was furrowed.

  Liv smiled. ‘I had my email set up so that my company emails were automatically forwarded to my Gmail account. I can read it anywhere.’

  CHAPTER

  35

  Liv paced slowly up the walkway from the jet to the terminal. She was a very different woman to the one who had boarded a plane for Hamilton Island in her corporate uniform six weeks before. Smiling, she stood near the entry and watched as her mother’s eyes passed straight over her. She waited for the double-take, and sure enough seconds later, Mum turned her head back and stared. Her mouth dropped open and she hurried across to Liv, her arms wide.

  ‘Well, look at you!’

  ‘Hi, Mum.’ Liv put her bag down and hugged her mother.

  The usual fragrance of Chanel surrounded her as Mum held her close. ‘It’s been ages, Liv.’

  ‘Too long, Mum. But the new Liv won’t let that happen again.’

  Her mother stepped back but kept hold of her hands. ‘I like the look of the new Liv. You look so … so well. And happy. And tanned.’

  ‘There’s a lot to catch up on, but let’s wait till we get to Gran’s. Then I’ll only have to tell it all once. What time’s our flight to Mudgee?’

  ‘We’ll go straight over to the regional airline now. I booked us on the early flight so we didn’t have to wait too long at the airport.’

  ‘Good thinking.’ Liv picked up her bag and looped her arm through her mother’s and laughed as Mum shook her head.

  ‘I think someone is impersonating my daughter.’ Her smile was wide. ‘But I like her.’

  The flight to Mudgee was only forty minutes, and as the small plane crossed the Blue Mountains, Liv put her head back and closed her eyes.

  She was missing Fynn already. For over three weeks, they’d sailed around the islands and he’d introduced her to the beauty of the reef and the coral. She’d walked on the pure white sands of Whitehaven Beach, and explored the outer islands.

  Greg and Jill had spent three days at Aunty Tat’s house. Greg was an intense and quick-thinking man who knew a great deal about the intricacies of Sheridan Corp and hidden companies, and Fynn had relaxed as the evidence mounted against the company. The email from Rod had simply said that he couldn’t condone the corruption anymore and that Liv might be interested in the content of the folders. He’d also included the password to access the protected folders.

  As they’d discussed the situation over endless cups of coffee, Greg had concluded that the way the information had got out with Liv showing the incorrect PowerPoint had been the best way.

  ‘What would you have done if you’d simply read the email?’ he’d asked Liv.

  ‘I suppose I would have confronted my father.’

  ‘And that would have been the end of it.’ Greg had nodded.

  Fynn had his arm around her. ‘Another reason you came to the islands, Liv. Remember Bec’s philosophy.’

  Once the investigation into the loss of his beloved yacht was underway, Fynn had accepted that his lady was gone.

  ‘I have a new girl now,’ he said one night as they moored in Tongue Bay around from Whitehaven Beach in the smaller yacht that he owned.

  ‘This boat?’ she’d asked with surprise. It was a small boat without the beauty of the yacht that had been destroyed in the explosion.

  ‘No, a flesh and blood lady. And you know what? I love her more than I loved my Footprint.’

  Liv had turned in his arms that night and held his face in her hands. ‘Do you really mean that? So soon?’

  ‘I do,’ Fynn had said softly.

  Happy tears had filled her eyes. ‘It’s been a long time since anyone told me they loved me.’

  Their nights had been spent up on deck, watching the sunset over the mainland and early mornings watching the first rosy flush of a Whitsunday dawn tinge the eastern sky. Laughing together as they’d worked side-by-side in the galley, Liv had fallen in love with Fynn more each day.

  On the last night before she left to visit her mother and Gran, they moored at Sawmill Bay next to the jetty ruins, not far from Hamilton Island for her flight the next morning.

  Liv put her head back as the engine of the plane droned around her. Last night after dinner, Fynn had smiled that cute smile when his dimple appeared and held out his hand. Liv took it and followed him along the short corridor, up to the galley and saloon and down the steps to the main cabin.

  She opened her mouth to speak but he’d shaken his head and opened the door to the cabin and stepped inside, smiling.

  ‘Oh wow! Where on earth did you find them?’

  Two jars were filled with roses; yellow, red, and white. She put her hand to her chest as she looked at the bed. Red rose petals covered the plain white bed cover, and a bottle of wine and two glasses sat beside the bed.

  ‘There’s an old, overgrown rose garden where the Ellis family lived. Aunty Tat talks about it and I went exploring. I’ve been waiting for them to flower. I picked them and left them in the tender and then brought them inside while you were in the shower.’ He put one hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her closer. ‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’ His lips were a whisper away from hers.

  Happiness, excitement and anticipation ran through Liv.

  ‘I wanted you to be sure when I asked you to stay with me. I didn’t want it to be when you were vulnerable. I want you to be as sure of me as I am of you. From the first time I saw you, Liv, you had me in your heart. That feisty woman who wanted her jacket back held me in her thrall from that moment.’

  Liv had held her breath as his lips touched hers in the lightest kiss, and then he’d pulled back.

  ‘I want to know that you’ll come back to me after you visit your family.
Am I asking too much?’

  For the first time since she’d met the smelly fisherman, Fynn’s confidence was missing. She raised her arms and put them around his neck.

  ‘Will I come back?’ She’d lifted her lips to his and murmured against his mouth. ‘Nothing would keep me away.’

  ‘Liv?’ Her mother’s voice intruded into her thoughts. ‘We’re about to land. I thought you were asleep.’

  ‘No, just thinking.’ She couldn’t stop smiling.

  Gran was waiting in the small terminal at Mudgee airport. Despite her age, she was still tall, her shoulders were always straight, and she held herself with a regal bearing.

  ‘Livi.’ Gran held her tight and Liv blinked back tears at the special name that Gran had always had for her.

  Why have I left it so long?

  ‘Oh, Livi, it’s so good to see you.’

  ‘And you too, Gran.’

  Mum stood on the other side of Gran, holding her elbow as they waited for their bags to come in from the small plane.

  ‘I’ve decided we’re going into town for coffee before we go out to the farm. I haven’t done any baking for a while, so we can treat ourselves at the bakery.’

  Liv caught her mother’s eye and raised her eyebrows.

  ‘And don’t go jumping to conclusions,’ Gran said in a waspish voice. ‘I’m quite well but there’s no point baking if no one comes to visit.’

  ‘Consider ourselves suitably chastised, Livi.’

  ‘Your daughter has an excuse, Rhoda. She has a career to worry about. You could easily drive up and visit more than you do.’ Gran pursed her lips and for a moment her expression reminded Liv of someone. She grinned; it was herself. Gran reminded her of herself when she was cross.

  ‘That’s a whole new story, Gran. I’ve got a lot to tell you over coffee. Both of you.’

  An hour later, their bags had been collected, coffee and cake consumed, and Liv had brought them up to speed with the events in the company.

  Except for the things that couldn’t be proved, like Rod’s death.

  ‘Hallelujah,’ Gran exclaimed when Liv told her that she had resigned from Sheridan Corp. ‘About time you saw some sense, young lady. I bet the conniving bastard was furious.’

  ‘You could say that,’ Liv said quietly.

  As they drove towards Cooyal, Gran glanced over her shoulder to Liv in the back seat. ‘So, what are you going to do now?’

  ‘Mum! Watch the road!’ Her mother was nervous enough about Gran driving but Gran wouldn’t hear of either her daughter or granddaughter taking the wheel.

  ‘I’m perfectly capable of listening and driving at the same time, Rhoda.’

  Liv leaned forward and rested her arms on the back of Gran’s seat. ‘I’m going to help Mum organise your birthday party, and then I’m going back to Airlie Beach.’

  ‘What beach?’ Gran slowed the car as it rattled over the cattle grid.

  ‘Airlie Beach.’ Liv smiled as she saw the colourful roses at the end of the drive. ‘The Whitsundays.’

  Gran pulled up at the front of the house, got out of the car and marched towards the front door.

  ‘She never changes, does she?’ Her mother shook her head as they took their bags from the back of the SUV.

  Liv followed Mum up the steps. ‘But we love her just the way she is. Acerbic, a tongue like vinegar sometimes, but with a heart of gold. I wouldn’t change her for the world.’

  They walked into the long cool hallway but there was no sign of Gran. They both turned to the rooms that they knew would be ready for them, and then walked into the kitchen together.

  Gran was standing at the sink looking out the window. Her fingers were white where she was gripping the benchtop.

  ‘Mum, are you okay?’

  A nod. ‘I’m just waiting for the kettle to boil.’ Liv and Mum looked at each other. Gran’s voice was thick and full of emotion.

  Rhoda went over to her and put her arms around her mother. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I won’t leave it more than a few weeks before my next visit.’

  Gran shook her head. ‘It’s all right. You do what you have to do, both of you.’ Her voice quavered. ‘Livi, can you feed Boycat please. He’ll be asleep in the living room. He’s so old, he forgets to eat.’

  ‘Of course. Are you sure you’re okay, Gran?’

  ‘I’m fine. I was just being a silly old woman for a moment. Heaven knows I’m almost old enough to be entitled to do that.’

  ‘Almost,’ Mum and Liv said at the same time.

  Liv went to the fridge and took out the small bag of topside mince in the tray that had been on the bottom shelf of the fridge for as long as she could remember.

  Nothing but the best for Gran’s cats. Boycat was the last of a long line. She walked into the living room. Gran’s walls were covered with small sketches and paintings that Gran had done over the years. Liv looked around, letting the memories of her happy childhood days come back. She’d spent a lot of time here when Mum and her father had divorced.

  ‘Where are you, Boyc—’ A gasp escaped her lips and the bag of mince slid from her fingers. She stepped closer to the wall in front of Gran’s chair and looked at the paintings.

  A perfect representation of the two flat-topped hills with the lacy-leaved trees sat in the middle of the wall. As Liv let her eyes roam to the other paintings around it, she stared at a jetty tucked at the side of a bay, a rose garden surrounded by a white picket fence, and last of all, a timber house with a small stone shed at the back corner.

  Liv put her hand to her lips as her mind whirled.

  No. It wasn’t possible.

  She backed away and by the time she got to the kitchen, tears filled her eyes. No.

  ‘Gran?’

  As soon as she met her grandmother’s eyes, she knew the truth. Her grandmother’s resemblance to Aunty Tat confirmed what the painting told her.

  ‘Gran?’ Liv’s voice was shaking. ‘Tell me your name. Your real name. It’s not Amelia, is it?’

  ‘What?’ Mum stood still in the centre of the kitchen watching them both, her lips open. ‘Liv, what’s wrong?’

  Gran stood straight but her hands were trembling as she reached out first to Rhoda, and then to Liv.

  ‘No, Amelia was my friend. I took her name when I left.’

  ‘Mum?’ Rhoda’s voice shook. ‘Sit down. You’ve lost all your colour. Are you all right?’

  Gran stared at Liv. ‘I took her name so my parents would never find me. The shame would have killed Mama.’

  Rhoda led Gran to the chair and Liv sat next to her. Her legs were shaking as she tried to process what was going on.

  Gran’s bottom lip was shaking ‘You’re Liliana, aren’t you?’ Liv held her hand and stared at the faded blue eyes that were so like Aunty Tat’s.

  Gran nodded, and a tear rolled down her face. ‘I never told Jack’s parents my real name. I told them I met Jack in Townsville. I didn’t want Mama and Daddy to find me. I didn’t want Mama to know what I’d done. Richard was the only one who ever knew the truth, and he kept my secret until he took it to his grave.’

  * * *

  South Peleliu Island

  26 December, 1943

  Gunfire and shouting woke Jack the day after Christmas Day. He lay there waiting. The men knew better than to leave the hut until they were summoned to the quadrangle by the guards.

  ‘Maybe the Yanks have arrived?’ Megsy sat up and his eyes were bright for a change. ‘I’m going to see.’

  ‘No. Wait. Don’t go out there.’ Jack stood and walked over to Megsy. He was pulling on the tattered boots that had been given to them.

  ‘Today’s the day, mate. It’s now or never. If it’s not the Yanks out there, I’m taking off today. If I can find a Cat in the water, I can be home in time to see the boys tonight.’

  As Jack got closer, he realised it was fever in Megsy’s eyes and delirium in his words. His jaw was slack and his eyes were two black holes.

  An unearthly s
cream came from outside as he sat beside Megsy. Jack dropped his head to his knees and blocked out the sound. Most of the time he could cope but he was worried about what Megsy would do. The older man had lain back down and was muttering as he tossed restlessly on the grass mat.

  Jack knew he had to stay strong but for the first time since they had been captured, he began to doubt the future. He opened his eyes as Megsy made a sudden movement beside him. Before Jack could get to his feet, Megsy had jumped up and run across to the door of the tin hut and pushed it open.

  ‘Jesus Christ.’ Fear settled in Jack’s gut as he took off after him. He followed Megsy to the quadrangle, but the attention of the guards was on the scene in front of them. One of the sergeants from the work crew that Jack had been assigned to was kneeling in the middle of the square. A narrow rope confined his arms against his body and a white edged blindfold covered his eyes. A Japanese officer stood poised with a sword raised above his head. Jack stopped dead and watched in horror as the sword sliced down.

  In that moment, he knew Megsy was right. The only way they would survive was to make an escape. He stepped back slowly towards the hut, looking around to see where Megsy had gone. A chill consumed him when a movement flashed to his left as Megsy took off running across the open yard. A soldier raised his rifle and the shot rang out. Megsy fell to the ground. Jack could see he wasn’t dead, as he slowly dragged himself to his hands and knees.

  Jack knew he had to help him, and he took off running. As he kneeled beside his stricken mate, the officer strode to where Megsy lay, blood staining the ground around him. Jack froze as the sword came down, the sunlight playing on the steel. The sword flashed again and Megsy was gone.

  Sick with disbelief, rage flooded through Jack. If only he had a weapon he would kill the bastards. He lunged at the Jap, trying to wrestle the weapon from him, however months of starvation, infection and the brutal work had left him weak. Several soldiers ran across and grabbed him, and he was thrown to the dusty ground.

  ‘You escape? You die too.’

  Jack fought with every ounce of energy left in his weakened body as he was dragged to the middle of the quadrangle and forced to kneel. He looked away from Megsy’s body and lifted his eyes for a final glimpse of the blue sky, as blue as the skies over Liliana’s island. The blindfold shut out the light as it was pushed roughly over his head.