The Innimincka Affair

by Robert Chalmers

  "It does seem rather odd for James to be asking questions about Cooper. It wasn't even his brief, so he had no involvement at all. I'll see if I can find out tomorrow." Kali smiled. She was very good at ferreting out such information.

  They ordered a light meal from the menu, and finished the champagne about the same time as the meal. The place was getting a little overcrowded now, so they decided to leave. It was another work day tomorrow in any case. Rebecca wanted to stop by a chemist, and had to swear to Kali that she would phone and tell her the results as soon as she found out the result of the pregnancy test. Rebecca was sure that it would be negative but she couldn't help feeling apprehensive, remembering that she had been so foolish as to have sex with Cooper without protection. She hurried home, having the taxi wait outside the chemist and then taking her on to her door step. She lived close to the city, and usually caught the tube train. Tonight though, she wanted to be home and indoors with her thoughts. Cooper figured large in those thoughts. Was she prepared to share any news with him? She didn't know. She did know that she just wasn't prepared herself.

  She sat for a long time on the edge of the little foot stool she kept in the bathroom, staring at the tell tale read out on the plastic holder. She wasn't particularly focused on it, just staring in the general direction. Her thoughts were on the other side of the world. What was Cooper doing now, it must be day time there now. Was he out working on his property? In town on business? Should she phone and let him know? Or was it really nothing at all to do with him now? He seemed to have made his position perfectly clear by not contacting her at all. He had practically carried her onto her departure flight from Australia, and she didn't think his reasons for having her leave really held water. He must have realised that she would never leave her position in the firm to move out and live in that remote wilderness. He must have known equally well, that he would not consider moving to London - or even England, because of his deep attachment to his home. So why did he seem so intent on distancing himself from her so absolutely, when even knowing all that, didn't really stop them from forming some sort of close relationship. So the positive result on the little card strip held its own set of concerns. Some hugely emotional issues, some purely practical. She pushed herself to her feet and walked back out into the unit. She felt a little aimless, and couldn't seem to think of what to do next. This was most unlike her, and she was very aware of it, but couldn't help herself. Kali would be of some comfort she knew, and picked up the phone and dialled her number.

  "Kali?" The phone trembled slightly in her hand. "Can you come over for a bit please?" She stood looking at her feet. She looked at her flat stomach. She was proud of her looks, her shape, her fitness. Was it all going to change. Kali was silent for a bit then said.

  "I'll be there in ten minutes." She hung up.

  In no time she was ringing to be let in to the unit lobby, and on her way up. They stood in the door hugging for a long time, then with a sniff and a wipe of her eyes, she stepped back into the unit and Kali followed.

  She looked at Kali and smiled weakly.

  "Well, it looks like my life is about to change rather radically." She showed Kali the test kit result strip. "I'll get a doctor's opinion of course but it looks pretty positive to me."

  "What will you do?" Kali asked. "I mean, I know you only just found out and haven't had a moment to think about it at all. I just wondered really what you might have thought about Cooper and his position in this situation."

  "I haven't had a moment to think really. I seem to be unable to focus at the moment. I'm not going to be able to come into work in the morning., that much I know. As for Cooper... do I tell him? Can I tell him? I just don't know. Perhaps he does have certain rights in this. Well I know that he has - did have - some involvement in this." She smiled. "Some very nice involvement actually."

  Kali smiled.

  "That's better. It's nice to see you smiling again." Kali was very pleased. If Rebecca was able to smile about even some part of this, then she would be alright. Kali was not about to offer any solution one way or the other. She would however support her friend in what ever decision she made for herself.

  What Rebecca couldn't possibly know was that Cooper had not forgotten her at all. He had been very busy with the repairs and updates to his house and yards, and not a day had passed when he hadn't been thinking about her. The work had progressed well, and he had thrown money at the problems like he had never done before in his life. He wanted his place sparkling again. The number of aircraft coming and going with supplies and building materials, furniture, white goods, machinery and so on had made headlines in the Toowoomba daily paper, and was the talk of the social group behind the cattle industry of the entire region. It hadn't taken all of his time though. He was going to change his entire outlook and primary career. He had been sent to boarding school and then to university by his parents, and his father had been happy to leave him there until he finished. Cooper had not given it a second thought. All of the children of the station owners of the outback went to university. Most never went back to the land, and inevitably the properties went in to decline and were taken over by multinationals and put under managers. His place was one of the few left in private hands. Which made it extremely valuable. But his time at university had not been wasted. It was that degree that was now going to be his life. He felt he had discharged any filial duty to his father now, and it was time to map out his own life before it was too late.

  Chapter 14

  How often had he passed the telephone in the hall? How often had he reached for the phone on his office desk? He couldn't count, but each time he had stopped himself. Rebecca was there just a phone call away, but he still hesitated. What was it. Distrust of her? or himself? He was not really sure about her, even though he was about as sure of himself as it was possible to be. Determined, resolute, and perhaps even stubborn to a degree, when it came to women he had actually had very little experience of them. His mother had died when he was very young, and although he had enjoyed his time at university, the study had generally kept everyone busy, and the social activities had seen little chance to form deep relationships anyway. In the remote parts of the country where he lived, the nearest neighbour was an hour away by plane, and there were no daughters in any case. The country dances of his father’s day were a thing of the past now, and so he had been feeling increasingly isolated on the place for some time.

  Cooper reached over and picked up the phone. It was time to get back in control of his emotions. He was behaving worse than a teenage boy worried about making a mistake. He had to go to London anyway. If he was to finish this mission, then he had no choice. He had decided to find out what Agent Mitterrand had wanted him in London for, and it was an idea that caught his interest. More importantly, he could see Rebecca again. Cooper put the phone to his ear and dialled Rebecca's office number. He realised he didn't have her private number, nor even her mobile number. So London was ten hours behind. He checked his watch. The call tone sounded for what seemed an interminable time. It should be about eight in the morning there. Maybe too early, but then an office like that would surely have early starters. Suddenly there was a voice on the line.

  "Rebecca here."

  Cooper nearly fell off his chair. He was momentarily lost for words, and blurted out.

  "Rebecca, it's Cooper. Can you talk, do you have a minute?" He smacked his forehead. What a goose. Calling out of the blue and then saying something as banal as that.

  "I mean; do you have time to talk given that it's your work day there?" Cooper realised that he still wasn't making a lot of sense. He started again. Rebecca still hadn't said a word, but he knew she was there, he could hear her breathing.

  "Rebecca, have you heard anything from New World? Have you heard anything from MI5 or whoever your contacts were? I've heard nothing, seen no one. In fact, I haven't heard or seen anything from Billy or his people here either. They seem to have disappeared." Cooper waited for Rebecca to respond. O
ne way or another.

  Finally, she replied.

  "No Cooper, not really. I've not actually heard from anyone at all. New World paid their account some weeks back and that's that." She paused and Cooper could hear her draw a breath.

  "This is the first time I've heard from you too. I thought..." She stopped mid-sentence. "Never mind, it's not important now."

  Cooper had the definite feeling that something was wrong. Her voice had a resigned note in it, as though she was tired from thinking about things. It was not like her at all. She had a naturally upbeat look on life. A glass half full kind of girl. Her feisty nature usually kept her in charge. This rather quiet, almost submissive sound was something new. Something was wrong. Cooper realised he had no way of finding out.

  "Rebecca." Cooper began again. "Is something wrong? Are you unwell?" He asked.

  "No, not unwell." She replied. "Cooper, I have to go. Please don't call again." The phone line clicked in his ear and she was gone. Just the hiss of static on the line.

  He held the phone in his hand as though it was a snake about to bite him. What the hell was going on. He had behaved rather badly when she was here, he knew that. Packing her off on the plane like some discarded girlfriend. Making matters worse by not calling her at all in the ensuing weeks. He shook his head. He was not a man about to take being hung up on.

  He hit the redial button. He would apologise to her whether she wanted to hear from him or not.

  The phone rang for some minutes then with a click there she was again.

  "Yes?" Was all she said. Very unusual. Cooper frowned.

  "Rebecca, please let me apologise to you."

  Rebecca interrupted with, "Cooper, you are about to be a father." Then the phone went dead. She had hung up again. Cooper had dropped the handset as though it truly had bitten him. He stepped back from the desk, staring at the handset laying on the floor of his office. He couldn't think straight. He had a reputation for being Mr Unflappable, but this had hit him right between the eyes. It was impossible. Well no, he realised it was eminently possible, he had not taken any precautions, and it seemed that neither had Rebecca. Indeed, it had not even crossed his mind. He bent and picked up the handset and hung it on the cradle. This was something he had not counted on and the news had momentarily caused him to be unable to think. He flopped down into his office chair and stared out of the window. He had not planned on children entering his life at any point. Of course he had thought that being married to Rebecca would be wonderful, but at this early stage his thoughts had not extended past that possibility to the natural outcome of such a union. Now it seemed that having a child was coming first. Did he even want a child? Well, this couldn't be attended to long distance so the only thing to do was fly to London and talk to Rebecca face to face. Anything happening here on the property would just have to wait for his return, or carry on with out him. What ever was going on here he didn't seem to have any control over anymore anyway, and the rebuilding work was almost complete on all the outbuildings, and the builders were now starting on the main house. Maybe it would be a good thing to get out of the place for a few months. The decision made, Cooper started packing a few things right there and then. He was a man of action, needing no long decision period. He had to go to London, and the subject was very important, so with nothing really holding him, the best time was right now. While packing, he carried the phone with him, and within minutes had his flight booked, and accommodation arranged through a travel agency. He could be in Brisbane, and off to London on the evening flight day after tomorrow. He didn't need to rush, there was an aircraft on the runway near the house. He carried his suitcase through to the lounge room. He had decided on only one case. It was easier. A carry on holdall for his immediate needs, and a suitcase. Travel light and fast. He was a frequent flyer with Singapore Airlines, and travelling first class ensured him walk on check-in with a very minimum of fuss. Being Australian, he needed no visa for England, just the current passport. Ready to go.

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  Cooper looked at the cityscape far below. He'd only been to London once before, and that had been many years ago, in his gap year he supposed. there was nothing familiar, and although he recognised some of the landmarks, that was only from seeing them in movies, the local TV news, and documentaries and the like. How would Rebecca react to him just turning up on the door step?

  He found his way to his hotel by cab. He didn't see the sense in trying to rent a car and find his way around, because of the traffic if nothing else. It was just after midday, and he needed to relax and let the tension of the trip ebb away. As tough as he was, that journey took it out of anyone so he did little else but put his suitcase in the room, thank the porter and head down stairs to the nearest bar. Cooper needed a drink, and he needed to collect his thoughts. Now that he was here, what was the plan? He couldn't just bowl up to Rebecca's office could he? Could he? No, if she was in any sort of state, and he could imagine she was, that was the last thing he wanted to do. He was still not sure of his own feelings on the subject, other than he had to know what Rebecca's plans were. He realised that he was faced with the prospect of having an heir to his father’s property. It was something else that had never crossed his mind. That he would marry, have children, and they would become the heirs to the Anders cattle empire. Now here was exactly that situation right in front of him. Well, tomorrow he would try and see her. He still only had her place of work to go to. He had no other address, so bright and early he would go to her office and find out once and for all what her plans were. He raised a hand to the barman to order a whisky, and just leant against the bar waiting for it to be mixed. Whisky and dry, and he didn't care if it was the house special. Cooper raised his eyes to catch his reflection in the mirrors behind the bar, and slicked his long hair back over his head. He looked a bit of a sight he realised, and determined to go back to his room and have a shower and change as soon as he had finished his drink. It was getting on to late afternoon now, and he wanted to make contact with Rebecca today if he could.

  Suddenly, in the corner of his eye he caught sight of two men who had just come into the bar. He nearly dropped his drink as the barman handed it to him. It was the same two men he had seen in the hotel in Brisbane, he was sure of it. He almost turned around, but instead steeled himself to follow their progress in the mirror. They must have known he would see them, but seemed oblivious of his presence. He didn't look his usual cool well dressed self he admitted, and he had let his hair grow longer over the past weeks, and sported what was probably a fashionable two or three-day growth of stubble on his normally smoothly shaven face. In fact, he thought, he looked positively disreputable. Which may explain the rather tart response of the barman to him. He looked somewhat out of place in this very swish hotel drinks bar.

  'Good, perhaps they haven't actually recognised me.' Cooper thought. 'So what are they doing here? It's too much of a coincidence.' He sipped at his drink and kept his eyes down as one of them came to the bar to order.

  The barman was there instantly. 'So...' Thought Cooper. Sure enough, when the man ordered two mineral waters, he put them on his room. "4162 room please." He said, and there it was, that sibilant East European accent. There was no mistaking him now. Cooper was a hard man to hide, but his presence there was unexpected it seemed, so no one was looking out for him. His current slightly dishevelled state must have been just enough for the pair to subconsciously place him beneath their notice. All thought of cleaning up in his room disappeared as he sipped his whiskey and carefully watched the pair. They in turn weren't trying to be inconspicuous, but occupied a large table near one of the window walls in the bar. The busy cityscape seen through the glass was a fantastic sight to Cooper, used as he was to horizons so far away that you could see the curve of the world. 'Perhaps I could get used to this view.' He mused. The barman was looking sideways at him from along the bar. Cooper didn't want to raise any undue attention so he kept his head and shoulders slightly slumped
forward, resting his arms on his elbows and signalled to the barman. The man carefully finished polishing the glass he had in his hand, placed it in the rack and rather casually came along the bar to stand in front of Cooper.

  In a manner that shouted slight disapproval, without being overtly rude - a skill any good experienced barman mastered early in his career, he said to Cooper.

  "Would sir like another whisky?"

  Cooper looked at him from under his lowered eyebrows, and placed his room key-card on the bar. The barman didn't flicker an eyelid, but the next whisky appeared in front of Cooper as though by magic it came so quickly. The key-card was gold, and only four of them existed. This one was number one. There was one for each of the apartments that took up each of the four quarters of the buildings uppermost guest floor. Cooper meantime kept a careful eye on the two thugs who sat over by the wall talking quietly between themselves. Cooper wanted to make a call, but didn't want to use his mobile. He had an idea that Agent Mitterrand had it tracked, and probably bugged, so although he actually didn't mind him knowing where he was, he didn't want him listening to his calls. The barman was still close by, and Cooper only had to look his way and he was there.

  "How can I be of service sir."

  'That's better.' Thought Cooper, and said.

  "Can I use your house phone to make an outside call please?"

  "Of course sir. Just press 0 first for an outside line." The man placed the phone on the bar next to Coopers right arm. 'Good, perfect.' He thought as he turned slightly away from the men. He desperately tried to recall Rebecca's office number. He looked at the barman.

  "Do you happen to have a phone book. I need the office number of the firm of lawyers Willet, Barber, Links and Boucher."

  "I can do better than that sir," he reached behind him and plucked a card from a little card holder. "Which partner sir." The man smiled. Cooper was surprised, and his face showed it.