Leaving Bondi

by Robert G. Barrett

  ‘And that’s about it, Roxy,’ said Les. ‘Like I told you. It wasn’t pretty.’

  ‘Oh my God,’ she gasped. ‘It’s all coming back to me now. Those horrible old men and women. And that man with the … Oh God!’ Roxy started to hyperventilate.

  Les read her mind, took her by the arm and steered her towards the bathroom. ‘Why don’t you have a shower and that while you’re in there,’ he said. ‘There’s plenty of towels. And there’s a hair dryer next to the mirror.’

  ‘Thanks,’ mumbled Roxy.

  Les closed the door behind her and settled back on the bed. Everything had turned out fine. Apart from being very shaken up, Roxy wasn’t too bad. She didn’t start screaming and she didn’t faint. Considering what she’d been through, she showed a lot of heart. Les switched on the TV and got Sunday with Jim Waley. He watched it till Roxy eventually came out of the shower. She’d taken off the bodice and let her hair down and the colour had returned to her face.

  ‘How do you feel now?’ asked Les, switching off the TV.

  ‘A lot better thanks,’ answered Roxy. She gave Les a coy smile. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I borrowed your swimmers.’

  ‘That’s okay,’ said Les. ‘Would you like a coffee or something?’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind another bottle of soda water, if that’s all right. I’m so dry.’

  ‘Sure,’ said Les. He got a bottle of mineral water from the mini-bar and handed it to her. ‘Are you hungry?’

  Roxy took a healthy swig on the bottle of mineral water and belched quietly into her hand. ‘I’m absolutely starving.’

  ‘Good. So am I. And they do a continental breakfast here, make you jump fences.’

  ‘All right.’ Roxy finished the bottle of mineral water, closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. ‘God, I’m still …’

  ‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Les easily. ‘Come on. Let’s go and eat, and we’ll have a talk over breakfast.’

  They caught the lift and Les escorted Roxy into the Regency Club. The May Queen got a few second looks from the other guests before Les settled her down at a nice table by the fountain. He told her to stay there and be his guest then got a tray and loaded it up with Bircher Muesli, fruit, coffee, toast and OJ and they both ripped in. They followed up with smoked salmon on toast and ham and finished nibbling croissants and sipping more coffee.

  ‘Well, how was that?’ asked Les.

  ‘It was delicious,’ replied Roxy, patting her stomach. ‘Thank you very much, Les.’

  ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it.’ Les sipped his coffee and smiled at the May Queen. She definitely looked more relaxed after a good meal, but Les sensed she was still nervous. He decided to try a little light conversation. ‘So tell us a bit about yourself, Roxy. Are you from round here? Or …?’

  Roxy flicked some long blonde hair across one eye. ‘Tell you a bit about myself. There’s not really that much to tell, Les.’

  Roxy was twenty-nine. She grew up in Adelaide but she’d lived in Victor Harbor with her mother for the last ten years since her parents were divorced. She had an older brother in Adelaide who owned a computer shop. He was married with two children. She worked in an office in Victor Harbor for her uncle who had a car dealership there. Roxy wasn’t seeing anyone in particular at the moment. She had a boyfriend, a musician. But he moved to Melbourne and he was too into drugs for her liking anyway. She liked Victor Harbor. It was quiet and it suited her because she was trying to write a book. She’d done a writing course and had a couple of short stories published in women’s magazines. She didn’t go out that much. If she did, she’d go to Adelaide and stay at her brother’s house in West Beach.

  ‘And that’s about it, Les,’ said Roxy. ‘I’m just a battling little Crow Eater doing her best.’

  ‘You’re writing a book,’ said Les. ‘Unreal. What’s it about?’

  Roxy shrugged a little self consciously. ‘It’s about a girl who joins a rock band and gets involved in murder and drugs and … has to sort it out.’

  ‘Yeah? What are you going to call it?’

  ‘I was thinking, While My Guitar Gently Screams.’

  ‘Hey. I like it,’ smiled Les. ‘I reckon you could be on a winner.’

  ‘I hope so. I’d love to be a writer.’

  ‘Well, I hope you get there, Roxy.’

  ‘Thanks, Les.’

  Les got two fresh coffees and another croissant between them. Roxy had opened up, but Les sensed she still had something bottled up inside her. He decided it was time to uncork the bottle.

  ‘So how come you finished up with those ratbags in the old farmhouse?’ he asked.

  ‘How come?’ Roxy took a deep breath and stared into her coffee for a moment. ‘I was out having a walk. I walk for an hour nearly every day. I was near some bush not far from home when this old couple in a campervan pulled up and asked me how to get to Hindmarsh Island. When I told them, they asked me to come closer to the car because they were a bit deaf. I went over and the next thing I knew, someone had come from behind and put a cloth over my mouth with something on it. I went all giddy and they bundled me into the back of the campervan. I didn’t have time to yell out or anything.’

  ‘What time was this?’ asked Les.

  ‘About six. It had just turned dark and I was on my way home.’ Roxy sipped some more coffee. ‘They tied me up. Gagged me and blindfolded me. I came to a couple of times, but they put that cloth back over my nose. I remember coming to and I was in these clothes. Then I woke up in that farmhouse tied to an altar or whatever it was out in the open. There was a huge full moon for a few moments. Then I saw all those horrible old people standing around me beating drums. And that man with the knife and that other man with the … ram’s horn. Then they took the gag out and I started screaming.’

  ‘That’s about when I arrived,’ said Les. ‘I heard you half a kilometre away.’

  ‘Thank God you did.’

  ‘Yeah,’ conceded Les.

  ‘After that it was a nightmare. That man waving the knife around. The other man with that … that thing. Then I heard one say something about drink my blood. And the other said … something else. And I just flipped out. I went crazy. Then that woman stuck a needle in my arm and that was it. Next thing I remember waking up in bed and you offering me soda water. I didn’t know where I was.’

  ‘I’m sorry I had to put my hand over your mouth. But I thought you were going to start screaming again,’ said Les. ‘You’ve sure got a good set of lungs on you, Roxy. I mean … noisewise,’ added Les. ‘But you didn’t, you were cool. You’re a brave girl.’

  Roxy shook her head. ‘I don’t know about that. I was absolutely terrified.’

  ‘Who wouldn’t be?’

  Roxy gave Les the same coy look she gave him when she borrowed his Speedos. ‘Les,’ she said, a touch of colour in her cheeks, ‘there’s something I have to ask you.’

  ‘Sure,’ replied Les. ‘What is it?’

  ‘That man in the bird mask holding the ram’s horn. Did he …?’

  Les nodded slowly. ‘Yes, I’m afraid he did, Roxy. I just didn’t quite get there in time to stop that. I’m sorry.’

  ‘That’s okay,’ said Roxy quietly.

  ‘But it was only for a few seconds or so. It wasn’t long. What makes you ask, anyway?’

  ‘Oh. It’s just that I’m a little sore down there. That’s all.’

  Les sipped some coffee. ‘Yeah, well. At least I got there before that other nutter got in the act with the knife. Or … well, we won’t go into that.’

  Roxy reached over the table and took Norton’s hand and squeezed it. ‘You’re very reassuring, Les. You know that. And you’re very understanding too.’

  ‘Whatever,’ shrugged Les. ‘But I know how you feel, Roxy. You’ve been through hell. And now you’ve got to try and put it behind you.’

  Roxy let go of Norton’s hand sat back against her chair, taking him in. She seemed a lot brighter now that she’d faced up to wha
t happened and got certain things off her chest.

  ‘Anyway, what about you? Mr Les Norton from Sydney,’ she smiled. ‘What brings you to Adelaide? I suppose you’re on some sort of business trip?’

  Les threw back his head and laughed. ‘A business trip? Yeah. That’d be right.’ He smiled at Roxy for a second or two. ‘All right, Roxy. I’ll give you the whole deal. Shit! I got nothing to lose.’ Les took another sip of coffee. ‘Was there anything on the news down here about a film set getting blown up in Bondi?’

  ‘Yes,’ answered Roxy. ‘I saw something on TV. And there was a photo in the paper.’ She gave Les a double blink. ‘Wait a minute. Norton. That wasn’t you, was it?’

  Les nodded. ‘It sure was.’

  Les gave her pretty much the whole story. Where he lived. Where he worked and what he did. What happened on Tuesday. How he was trying to clear his name. And how he finished up in Victor Harbor looking for a boat called the Trough Queen and the crew. He didn’t say he killed the bloke’s dog. But he did tell her how he broke into the house at Medlow Bath.

  ‘So that’s it, Roxy,’ shrugged Les. ‘It was a waste of time coming down here. But I was desperate. Now I’ll get bundled off to the nick on Monday. Probably when I get home tonight. It’s not much to look forward to.’

  Roxy was both surprised and sympathetic. ‘Golly. That’s tough,’ she said. ‘And it wasn’t even your fault. That’s awful.’

  ‘Try telling that to the two cops who nicked me,’ said Les.

  Roxy shook her head. ‘So what do you intend to do now?’

  ‘What do I intend to do now?’ Les looked at his watch. ‘Well, I intend driving you back to Victor Harbor, for starters.’

  ‘Oh. Thanks very much.’

  ‘Then you’re going to have to go to the police. You’ve got to report those nutters before they do the same thing to somebody else. And you can bet you’re not the only one they’ve abducted.’

  ‘Yes. They’ve probably been watching me walking for a while,’ agreed Roxy.

  ‘But we’ll discuss that on the way to Victor Harbor. Anyway, I have to go back to my room and get a couple of things. We’ve got plenty of time. But I have to fill the tank and all that.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Roxy. ‘Let’s go. And thanks again for the lovely breakfast.’

  ‘My pleasure, Roxy,’ replied Les. ‘And I’d like to rephrase something too.’

  ‘Oh? What’s that?’

  ‘Well, when I said it was a waste of time me coming down here, it wasn’t. It was one of the best things I ever did.’

  ‘Thank you, Les,’ replied Roxy. ‘In fact I don’t even know how to thank you.’

  They walked round and caught the lift. On the way up Roxy started giving Les some odd looks. Les couldn’t quite pick up on the vibe. But he had a feeling Roxy suspected he’d been doing a bit of heavy tampering through the night. Les smiled at her and said nothing. Back in his room, Les started sorting a few things out. Roxy had to use the bathroom and Les offered her a T-shirt to put on under her dress if she wanted it. Les was staring out the window when he felt Roxy come up behind him and slip her arms around his waist.

  ‘You know what, Les,’ she said.

  Les turned around. ‘No, Roxy. What?’

  ‘How did you sleep with me last night without … you know?’

  Les looked at Roxy as if he had no idea what she was talking about. ‘I was tired. I crashed out. Besides, what sort of a cad do you take me for, Roxy?’

  ‘You’re a decent sort of man, aren’t you, Les,’ said Roxy.

  ‘Ohh, I don’t know,’ said Les. ‘Maybe if I’d taken my Viagra things might have been different.’

  ‘Are you tired now?’

  ‘No. I had a terrific night’s sleep,’ replied Les. ‘Why?’

  Roxy went a little coy again. ‘Well, I was thinking. You going to gaol. And me living down here and all that. We might not get the chance to see each other again.’

  ‘Yeah,’ agreed Les. ‘It’s a bit of a bummer.’

  ‘Well. And don’t get me wrong about this, Les, because I don’t do it very often. But seeing as I owe you my life, why don’t we make love before you drive me home? I owe you one.’

  ‘You don’t owe me anything, Roxy,’ smiled Les. ‘I just did what any half decent, red-blooded Australian man would have done. That’s all.’

  ‘All right,’ conceded Roxy. ‘I don’t owe you anything. But shit! I don’t know. For some reason I’m as horny as buggery this morning.’

  ‘You sure it wasn’t the Bircher Muesli, Roxy? It’s full of vitamins, you know.’

  Roxy shook her head. ‘No, Les. It wasn’t the Bircher Muesli.’

  ‘Well, in that case.’

  Les put his arms around Roxy’s waist, bent his head a little and kissed her. That’s what was missing last night. The kissing. And Roxy’s lips were soft, warm and horribly inviting. And when she slipped her delicate little tongue in, Les felt like putting his foot straight through the hotel window. He ran his hands up Roxy’s ribs and lifted her dress up over her head. Roxy stood at the end of the bed with Norton’s Speedos tied round her waist and her huge boobs sticking out.

  ‘Jesus Christ, Roxy,’ said Les. ‘You’ve sure got one hell of a good body.’

  ‘Don’t say things like that, Mr Norton,’ replied Roxy. ‘You’ll only make me hold it against you.’

  Les got out of his tracksuit, slid the Speedos off Roxy and eased her back onto the bed. He spread her legs then pushed his face in and gave Roxy’s blonde ted a monster eat. Roxy oohed and ahhed and wriggled on the bed while she jammed Norton’s head into her. Les came up for air and Roxy reached under and gave his knob a polish that sent Norton somewhere into the fifth dimension. Just when Les thought he was going to stay permanently cross-eyed she stopped and he got between her legs. Roxy gave a howl of joy as Les slipped Mr Wobbly in and started going for his life. They made love on the bed from all angles. Les got Roxy’s ankles behind her head, sat a pillow under her behind. She got on top. They had a doggy. A sixty-niner. It seemed to last forever till Les finally pulled the plug and emptied out, with much moaning and groaning from him, and plenty of wailing and flailing from Roxy. On a scale of one to ten, Les gave it a nine point nine. He reluctantly deducted a percentage of a point because she had been wearing his old Speedos. In a pair of knickers, Roxy would have romped in a ten.

  They got cleaned up a little, pulled the sheets back over them and lay on the bed getting their breath back. Les had one arm around Roxy. Roxy had her head on Norton’s chest.

  ‘Well, I have to say one thing Mr Norton,’ said Roxy, running a finger around Norton’s chest.

  ‘Yes. What’s that, Ms Boswell,’ answered Les.

  ‘You certainly don’t need Viagra.’

  ‘Oh? What makes you say that?’

  ‘You’re there for the long haul, aren’t you? You don’t just squeeze the trigger and empty the magazine in one burst.’

  ‘Yes, Roxy,’ admitted Les modestly. ‘I am a bad mamma jamma, a couple of metres out from the fence and the track’s good.’

  ‘Between that and the Bircher Muesli,’ replied Roxy.

  Yeah. And having a couple earlier in the piece slows things down a bit. ‘Bad luck I’ve got to get you home, Roxy,’ kidded Les. ‘Or I’d be very tempted to pounce on you again.’

  ‘Sounds good to me,’ smiled Roxy. ‘But how about when we get back to my place?’

  ‘Whatever you say.’ Les gave Roxy a cuddle and a big sloppy kiss on the forehead and they got dressed.

  Les gave Roxy his address and phone number. He probably wouldn’t be there, but she’d get his friend Warren and he’d tell her what was going on. Roxy gave Les her home details and said she’d be in touch and for Les to at least write to her. Les promised he would. They finished dressing. Roxy put Norton’s Lee Kernaghan T-shirt on. Bad luck his shoes didn’t fit. But it would be warm once they got in the car. He tossed a couple of bottles of mineral water in his backpack and t
hey caught the lift downstairs. It was a different concierge from the night before, but he knew who Les was.

  ‘Good morning, Mr Ullrich,’ he said brightly.

  ‘G’day mate. How’s things,’ replied Les.

  ‘Good morning, ma’am.’

  The concierge opened the car door for Roxy, getting a good look through the gown at her boobs and black Speedos, as he closed the door.

  ‘I got to get some petrol,’ said Les, as they turned right at the front of the hotel. ‘Do you want anything while I’m there?’

  ‘No. I’m all right thanks, Mr Ullrich,’ replied Roxy.

  ‘Roxy. Please,’ said Les. ‘After what went on upstairs. Call me Conrad.’

  Roxy gave Les a clip under the ear. ‘Keep that sort of talk up and they’ll be calling you an ambulance.’

  ‘Hey Roxy. What do you call a woman with no clitoris?’

  ‘I don’t know. What?’

  ‘Call her what you like. But she won’t come.’

  ‘Right. That’s it.’

  Les stopped at the first garage he came to, filled up and they proceeded on their way to Victor Harbor. He didn’t put the Avis Navigator on. But he pointed it out to Roxy and told her again that was what saved her life. Roxy went a little quiet so Les thought this was the time to get serious.

  ‘Okay Roxy,’ he said. ‘I’ve told you all about me. And this is what I’d like you to do.’

  ‘Sure Les. What?’ answered Roxy.

  Les suggested she didn’t go to the police till around six. Say she was still in shock. This would give him time to be on the plane back to Sydney. But tell the police the truth and give them all his details, then they’d extradite him back to Adelaide to give evidence. In the meantime, tell the cops to check round the local panel beaters and find out who was getting new windscreens put in their cars and if there were any signs of shotgun pellets. Also check the hospitals for an old lady with a busted mouth, an old man with a lacerated face and some tall bloke with dark hair who could have a broken jaw. Les wasn’t sure where the farm was. It was pitch black. But it was a turn-off to the right coming back from Victor Harbor. There wouldn’t be too many abandoned farmhouses out there. A helicopter would find it in five minutes. And tell the cops to make copies of any tyre prints in the mud and match them up with the cars getting new windscreens. The coven had to be stopped before they killed someone else. They might even come back looking for her. This sent a chill up Roxy’s spine. But on the plus side, if they got rounded up and the police found out who they’d murdered in the past, there would probably be a reward. Which she could claim. Roxy agreed this all made sense and she’d do what Les asked.