Rain Music

by Di Morrissey

  After the police left, Bella clutched Ned’s arm.

  ‘You do believe me about Antony, don’t you?’

  ‘Of course I do, Bella.’ Ned was thoughtful. ‘But I don’t understand why your friend Antony would be with the man who abducted you. And I don’t see how we can prove it, since Antony has produced an alibi. I’m just so glad that I found you in time.’

  He hugged her again as Bella trembled. None of it made sense and she felt shaken to her core.

  *

  Curling up on the lounge in her hotel room, Bella tried to make herself comfortable with a blanket and pillows from her bed. Ned hovered nearby.

  ‘Thanks for keeping me company, Ned. I’m fine now,’ Bella said, forcing a note of calm into her voice. She picked up the remote and switched on the TV. ‘I’m just going to watch an escapist movie for a while, just what I need.’

  ‘Are you sure you’re okay now?’ Ned asked, frowning.

  ‘I still feel pretty shaken. I tell you, Ned, I’ll be very pleased to leave. I can’t believe that I’ve had this second traumatic event happen to me, although I know the two things are linked. I just feel that the man in the blue shirt from the river and Ant are getting away with something that they should be punished for, and it’s just not right.’ Her voice rose in frustration.

  ‘Easy now, Bell,’ Ned said gently. ‘There’s nothing you can do right now except rest.’ He tucked the cover around her feet. ‘Listen, I called Roberta earlier and the two of us are meeting for coffee tomorrow. She’s bringing some photos and other things she thinks I might find useful. She says that one of her cousins has some old black and white footage of Attie actually performing. I don’t know if it has sound as well, but wouldn’t it be great to actually see the heroine of my musical? It would be good if you could come along too. I’d love your input, but only if you feel up to it.’

  Bella gave a small smile. ‘Let’s see how I am in the morning. I’m sure I’ll be fine, but I’m locking the door well and truly tonight.’

  When Ned had gone to bed, Bella brushed her teeth and inspected the cut on her head. Thankfully it was hidden by her hair, so no one could tell. As she slipped into bed, her phone rang. She glanced at the number and when she saw it was Brendan’s, she smiled.

  ‘How’s my girl?’ Brendan’s voice was concerned and straight away Bella knew Ned had called him.

  ‘Hi, Bren. I suppose Ned has filled you in on what happened. I didn’t want to worry you. I’m all good, now.’

  ‘Seems I can’t let you out of my sight without some drama happening. You sure you’re okay?’

  ‘I’m fine, though it was somewhat traumatic. Maybe I’m going nuts, but I was so sure I saw that awful man with Antony. Oh, look, I don’t want to go over it again. I’m feeling a bit woozy, but it’s probably from the painkiller I took.’

  ‘I can’t wait for you to come home. You need some special spoiling.’

  ‘That sounds wonderful.’

  ‘I miss you, Bell.’

  ‘You too. Bren, when I get back, there’s something I have to tell you about our family. I hope it won’t make any difference to us, but I don’t believe it’s right for you not to know everything about me.’

  ‘That sounds rather dramatic, but whatever it is, it won’t change my feelings about you. I love you. Sleep tight.’

  ‘I love you too, Bren.’

  Bella snuggled under the coverlet, her eyelids drooping. Then the phone rang again. Sleepily she reached over for it, wondering what Brendan had forgotten.

  ‘It’s me, Bella.’

  Bella was suddenly wide awake. ‘Antony, why are you calling me? What the hell is going on?’

  ‘How are you feeling? What did the coppers have to say?’

  ‘Nothing much.’

  ‘I’m sorry you were hurt. These things happen. I’m sorry I suggested meeting you at the Tiger, when I know they’ve had trouble there before. I’m so sorry that I was late. Time just got away from me.’

  These things happen?! Bella thought, her anger beginning to seethe again. Keeping her voice even, she said, ‘Who was that guy in your car?’

  ‘There was nobody else in my car, Bella. You’re mistaken. I didn’t get to the Tiger until after seven. But it’s easy enough to be confused after what’s happened to you,’ he said in a steady, insistent voice.

  ‘Okay, Antony. I was mistaken,’ said Bella sarcastically, knowing that he was lying but beyond arguing with him.

  ‘So . . . what are your plans? I’m about to head off on a short trip. It’s the rainy season, so not such a good time for tourism, visitor numbers being down at this time of year.’

  ‘Yes, I know. Ned and I are going home.’

  ‘Nice one.’

  ‘Yes.’ She waited.

  ‘You’re a clever girl, Bella. Maybe we can revisit our plans in the future, or maybe travelling in this part of the world isn’t for you, eh?’

  Bella knew that there was no chance she would ever work with Antony, but it was not what he said that disturbed her as much as the tone of his voice. There was no overt threat, but she knew he was giving her a clear message nonetheless. He wanted her gone from the north.

  ‘Yes. You might be right.’

  ‘Ciao, bella Bella.’ He hung up.

  She quickly phoned Ned.

  ‘Antony just called. Ostensibly all very solicitous, but I’m sure he was warning me.’

  ‘So he wants you to back off and say nothing.’

  ‘Yes. I’m sure of it.’

  ‘Well, there’s no way that’s going to happen,’ said Ned firmly.

  ‘Think about it, Ned. It’s his word against mine. I guess the police assume I was the victim of a random bashing in the toilets of a tacky hostel by some crazed man and, with his so-called alibi, I think Antony has convinced them that he had nothing to do with it.’

  Ned was silent for a moment. ‘What else did Antony say?’

  ‘He’s taking a trip.’

  ‘Figures. He wants out of here. Bella, get some sleep. Maybe the police will know something more in the morning.’

  ‘Ned, in my whole life to this point I’ve talked to perhaps one policeman about a speeding ticket. Now on this trip I’ve been abducted, bashed and in and out of police stations as a result. I want my quiet life back.’

  Ned smiled. ‘Tennyson, here we come.’

  *

  They heard nothing from the police the next morning, so they assumed that the CCTV footage had revealed nothing useful. It seemed the police investigation had stalled. Bella felt better after a good night’s sleep and was pleased she and Ned were meeting Roberta for coffee.

  Her friend was aghast at Bella’s story.

  ‘Oh, Bella, that’s just awful for you,’ Roberta said, frowning and peering at Bella’s forehead. ‘That’s a nasty cut on your head. Lucky you don’t have a black eye, as well. And you think that Antony was involved in some way? But he arrived after it was over, didn’t he?’

  ‘I know what I saw,’ said Bella firmly. ‘Antony was talking to the man who attacked me in the loo, and he was the same man who kidnapped me from Carlo’s. Ant can deny it all he wants, but I know it’s true. I just don’t have any proof, so it’s his word against mine.’

  ‘What do you know about Antony?’ Ned asked Roberta.

  ‘He’s been around for a bit. He’s always been very interested in the flora and fauna of the Daintree and came on a lot of my walks to learn what he could for his tours.’

  ‘And that’s where you met him, Bell?’ said Ned.

  ‘Yes,’ said Bella. ‘Roberta is so knowledgeable about the Daintree’s nature and wildlife. Antony watched everything she did and listened to every word. He was like that with those bird photographers, too. I thought we had those interests in common.’

  ‘He was a fast learner and see
med super keen about the wildlife,’ said Roberta. ‘You could see why he was popular with tourists; he’s a silver-tongued charmer.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind having a chat with him again,’ said Ned fiercely. ‘See if I can find out what’s really going on.’

  ‘Ned, I’ve told you, he’s warned me off, I’m sure of it,’ said Bella.

  ‘I don’t think Antony would harm you, surely,’ said Roberta. ‘He’s not like that, even if he’s one of those people who always has an eye to the main chance.’

  ‘Well, I’d like to see if I can break his so-called alibi,’ said Ned in an angry voice.

  ‘I bet he’s left town,’ said Bella. ‘Anyway, if you did find him, what would you say? We can’t prove anything.’

  ‘She’s right,’ said Roberta. ‘Better to let the police deal with it.’ She drained her coffee and changed the subject. ‘Now, I can show you some of these photos I said I’d bring.’ She pulled her handbag into her lap and lifted out a wallet of photos. ‘I’m afraid I have to get back to Mossman, so I can’t stay too much longer. Would you believe I have a couple of tourists who want to see what this part of the world is like in the wet season!’

  ‘Of course, that’s fine, Roberta. It’s kind of you to bring your family photos,’ said Bella, and smiled at the warm-hearted woman. It was good to know there were people in the world who were generous and thoughtful.

  Roberta spread her photos on the table.

  ‘These were taken at my family’s place and these are of some Kanakas working on sugar farms in the late 1880s, and this is a picture of Clare, I mean Attie, when she gave a performance in Cairns.’

  The three of them pored over the photos. Attie was clearly a very lovely woman, with large, dark eyes which stared directly back at them from her picture. Her smile was genuine and lit up her whole face, and if her voice matched her beauty, it was not difficult to see why she had been such a popular performer in Queensland.

  ‘It’s lovely to see the real person,’ said Bella.

  ‘I really appreciate this, Roberta. The more I can find out about Attie, the more I’ll be able to make her the centre of my musical,’ said Ned.

  ‘This’ll be great for background publicity, too,’ said Bella. ‘Would you be able to make copies of these for us?’

  ‘Not a problem and thank you so much, Ned, for wanting to share Attie’s story. It’s so nice to know that her name won’t be forgotten,’ said Roberta warmly. ‘While her story had a happy ending, I can’t help feeling many others weren’t so lucky. There are many ghosts of the past up here, and it would be good if you could tell some of their stories, too.’ She gathered up the photos and placed them back in her bag. Rising, she said goodbye to them both. ‘I’ll keep in touch,’ she said.

  Ned and Bella watched as Roberta crossed the road to her car and drove away.

  ‘She’s special, isn’t she?’ said Bella.

  ‘Yes, I’m so glad I’ve met her,’ said Ned. ‘Now, fancy a walk and some lunch?’

  Bella nodded.

  As they ambled along, Bella mulled over everything that had happened. ‘Ned, I can’t believe I was so stupid as to have contemplated the idea of going into business with Antony, even for a minute.’

  ‘I don’t know about that. He sounds charming and clever and you were looking for something different and challenging,’ said her brother gently.

  ‘Dammit, though, I feel I was conned by him and now he’s got the police fooled too.’ Bella could feel herself growing angry. The injustice of the situation made her furious. ‘They just think I was the victim of a random attack, and they don’t believe me about Ant.’

  ‘Well, he shouldn’t be able to get away with it. There must be some way I can find him again before we go home,’ said Ned, suddenly as angry as his sister. ‘I’d love to get the truth out of him.’

  ‘I’m not sure how,’ said Bella dubiously. Then she stopped. ‘But maybe I do know where he might be, if he hasn’t left town already. For some reason he seems to like sleazy places, so if he’s still around, maybe he’ll turn up at the pub where he took me after we had been to the Atherton Tablelands. I’m sure I can find the place again.’

  Ned nodded. ‘That’s not a bad idea. Listen, if he’s there, I’ll go and have a serious chat with him.’

  ‘Not without me. If you’re going to confront the weasel, then I’m right behind you.’

  The walk to the pub didn’t take long. It was early afternoon, and although the bulk of the lunch crowd had dispersed, there were still some people sitting at tables as well as a few drinkers huddled at the bar. The clinking of billiard balls came from an adjoining room. After a quick glance around, Bella could see no sign of Antony.

  They sat at a small table and Ned went to the bar to order their drinks. Bella looked at the sticky plastic menu card. Yuck, she thought, the food looked really basic. At least there wasn’t any raucous music, but the TV above the bar was showing a football game. There were a lot of big-game fishing posters and ads for deep-sea charters hanging along the walls.

  Ned put a glass of beer and a lemon squash on the table. ‘Have you decided what to order?’ he asked.

  ‘They have a fish pie, so I might try that.’

  ‘I’ll go with the battered fish and chips. Hope it’s fresh.’

  There was no table service, so Ned went to the food counter on the other side of the bar to place their order.

  Suddenly he was back beside her.

  ‘What’s up?’ Bella asked. ‘That was very quick. Has the food bar closed?’

  ‘He’s in there. You were dead right,’ said Ned quietly.

  ‘Ant?’ Bella lowered her voice.

  Ned nodded. ‘But it’s not just him. He’s with one of the men who came to Carlo’s and helped themselves that time I was alone. He was sporting the most ridiculous mullet hairstyle then. The mullet’s gone, but even without it I know it’s the same bloke.’

  Bella stared at her brother. ‘Ned, I saw Ant talking to a guy with a mullet when he brought me here before. Antony can’t know two guys with mullet haircuts, surely? How is Antony involved with both Mullet-head and the man in the blue shirt? It can’t be a coincidence. Can you see what they’re doing?’ she whispered.

  Ned carefully craned his neck. ‘They’re still sitting at a table near the DJ’s sound booth.’

  Bella carefully turned around and looked. ‘Ned, that man with Ant. He’s one of the men who abducted me. I know it for sure.’

  ‘This clinches it, I’m phoning the cops to tell them who we’ve sighted.’

  When he hung up, Bella whispered urgently, ‘Ned, look! They’re leaving. We can’t let them get away.’

  Ned swore softly as he watched the two men heading towards a side exit. Luckily neither of them glanced in his direction. ‘I’m going to see if I can get their car licence plate numbers. If they’re on foot, I’ll follow them. You stay here, and keep your head down.’

  Bella watched the two men leave by a side entrance. After thirty seconds or so, Ned rose and slipped out of the pub the same way. A minute later she thought, I can’t just wait here. Ned could get into trouble, so she got up and followed her brother.

  There were people in the street, although it was not as busy as it had been the last time Bella had been in Cairns, before the wet season. Bella looked around frantically for any sign of her brother. At first she thought she’d lost him, but then she glimpsed him some distance ahead of her, turning a corner, obviously in pursuit of the two men. She hurried after him, trying to stay out of his sight in case Ned spotted her. After a few minutes, she lost him again.

  She was in a street full of old houses, but Ned was nowhere to be seen. Bella looked around and wondered what to do next. She wandered down the street and noticed that one of the houses was set well back from the footpath, surrounded by an overgrown garden. She was about to pass it
when she saw Ned crouching behind a shrub in the yard, just metres from the front door.

  She made a move towards the garden but Ned waved to her, signalling her to get down. Bending low, she ran to his side.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing? I told you to stay put,’ he hissed.

  ‘Following you.’

  ‘Bell, I don’t think either of us should be here, we need to get away. I’ve rung the police again and they said they’d come ASAP, but even so, that could be a while.’

  ‘Is Antony in there?’ Bella whispered, partially standing up to get a better view. ‘Maybe we should leave.’

  ‘Bella, get down!’

  But it was too late. Before Bella could duck, Antony appeared at a window of the house and saw her. Bella heard him yell and then footsteps pounded towards the front door.

  ‘Bella, let’s get out of here!’ Ned pushed Bella to her feet and the two of them took off through the garden. Behind them they heard the front door being flung open, and as Bella glanced around, she saw Antony and two other men leaping down the front steps in pursuit. Bella sprinted on, but Ned tripped on the uneven path.

  ‘Run, Bella, run!’ he shouted.

  Bella screamed and tore out of the garden, with the man she knew as the guy in the blue shirt hot on her heels. He was close behind. Bella pushed herself on, her heart pumping with fear and adrenalin, but she felt herself being grabbed from behind.

  ‘Gotcha,’ snapped the man.

  A police car with flashing lights and siren blaring pulled around the corner and screeched to a halt.

  The man released her and started running in the opposite direction. Her heart thumping in her chest, Bella slumped onto the grass verge as another police car appeared. Suddenly, there seemed to be police everywhere. A policeman yelled at her to stay clear, and she nodded as he rushed past her.

  Slowly she made her way up the street to where she could see Ned talking to a police officer outside the house. Another had handcuffed Antony and was loading him into a police car. As the car slowly backed out of the driveway and passed her, she gave him a sardonic wave.

  *

  In the late afternoon, Bella and Ned went to the police station to give yet more statements. The police were pleased with what they had told them and thanked them for their actions.