by Bob Goodwin
The Changs lived 50 kilometres away on the north side of Brisbane but they had no intentions of leaving the Sunshine Coast while there was even the slightest chance of finding their daughter.
Tien had just finished preparing breakfast in the kitchen. He carried two bowls of his mixed bean congee to the dining table then returned to collect a plateful of glistening brown yu za kuei (deep-fried devils). He set the long strips of deep- fried dough down then opened the glass sliding doors and stepped out onto the verandah. Taking hold of the rail, he looked up and down the stretch of beautiful golden sand. Many people were out walking and jogging. There were individuals, couples and family groups all enjoying their Christmas morning. There were also men. Fit-looking young men and men with long dark hair. Tien wondered if he was seeing the man who took his daughter from him. He felt an arm drop around his shoulder and a soft kiss on his cheek.
‘She is out there somewhere,’ said Mary softly. ‘And we will see her again.’ Tien turned to his wife and they embraced, squeezing each other tightly. Their eyes watered and quiet tears ran down their cheeks. Mary wiped his away with her thumb.
‘Let’s eat now,’ she announced as brightly as she could. ‘Deep-fried devils. My favourite.’
* * *
It was 11am. Tien and Mary had tidied up, and were now dressed, ready to walk the beach once more and hand out leaflets about Jessica. Aaron was still in bed and likely to be there for a while yet after a late night on his PS3. They had just slipped on their shoulder bags and moved to the front door when there was a knock. They looked at each other with surprise. Tien opened the door.
‘Good morning, my name is Ying Changtai,’ announced the young Asian lady. ‘I believe you are Tien and Mary Chang?’
‘Yes,’ said Tien. He looked again at his wife then took her hand. Ying was very slightly built like she might just blow away in a strong breeze. Tien’s instant impression of her was one of honesty and sincerity. ‘How can we help you?’
‘I’m sorry to trouble you on Christmas day.’
‘It is no celebration for us,’ said Mary.
‘I realise that. I’m sorry. But I think this is important. It’s about Jessica. I need to come in.’
‘Please,’ replied Tien immediately. The couple stepped aside, welcomed her in and closed the door behind her. In less than a minute, the three were seated around the dining table, all looking a little apprehensive.
‘Tell me, where is Jessica?’ begged Mary, reaching across the table and taking the young lady’s hand in her own.
‘I’m very sorry. I do not know that. I just have some information,’ replied Ying.
‘It okay, Mary. We listen,’ said Tien.
‘This may turn out to be nothing, so please don’t get your hopes up. I am here because a good friend of mine asked me to see you. My friend works in the hospital. In the mental ward. There was this guy in there who was like, super crazy, and kept talking about Jessica.’
‘A lot of people talk about Jessica,’ said Tien.
‘This guy is very fit and strong,’ continued Ying. ‘He has long black hair. He is 25 years old.’
‘Oh, my God,’ gasped Mary. She covered her mouth and sat back in her chair.
‘Okay, we proceed slowly now,’ said Tien thoughtfully. ‘First, how you know we live here?’
Ying removed a Jessica leaflet from her jeans. ‘I got this from you yesterday afternoon on the beach. I followed you home.’
‘So, you not talk to us then?’
‘I had to wait for more details from my friend first.’
‘Your friend think this the man who steal my daughter?’
‘It’s just a theory. May be worth looking into.’
‘She tell police?’
‘No. She suggested you could tell them. She could lose her job for breach of confidentiality. Please, keep this part of the story to yourself. You must promise me before I tell you more.’
‘I promise,’ said Tien. He took Mary’s hand. ‘We promise.’
‘Mrs Chang?’
‘Yes, we promise. Tell us everything you know, please.’
‘My friend knows this man through her work and, strangely, I have met him through my work also. I am a waitress at the Blue Orchid Thai restaurant in Caloundra. This man is a regular customer. The other evening, he was dining there with his mother...’
Ying detailed the story of the tom yum soup and the prawns plus the conversation she had overheard from the table. Then she went on to describe the incident with the police as passed on to her by her boss, Michael. She told of the threat with the knife, how he was tasered by the police, and how she was frightened when Michael told her he was looking for a waitress called Chang.
‘My name is Changtai. It was me he wanted for some reason. He had a fixation on Chinese people; I don’t think he knew I was Thai. And the letters C and H were driving him crazy. It’s very scary, especially now he has gone home. Admitted on the 20th and sent home on the 24th.’
‘You very sure?’ asked Tien.
‘One hundred percent sure. He lives with his mother right here in Maroochydore. Apparently, he goes jogging on the beach almost every morning.’ Tien thought back to his survey of the beach before breakfast and decided his thoughts were not so fanciful after all.
‘He should still be in hospital ward,’ said Tien. ‘Locked up!’
‘I agree and my friend agrees too. So, here goes a major breach of confidentiality. His name is James Champion. He lives with his mother at unit 28, 35 Second Avenue. That’s on the eighth floor. I have it all written down here, including his mobile phone number.’ Ying passed over a folded piece of paper. ‘Whatever you do, don’t confront him yourself. Quite clearly this man is dangerous and unpredictable. Please take this to the police. I’m sure they’ll be interested.’
‘I speak to police again. I think I like see him back in hospital. There he do no harm. He go nowhere while we check things.’
‘There’s no doubt he’d still be very fragile. It wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge,’ said Ying.
Tien looked up to the ceiling, lost in thought.
Chapter 19
Chicken Chop Suey
James was dressed in his gym gear. He pushed a towel into his already bulging backpack.
‘Where do you think you are going?’ asked Carmel.
‘I have to go to the gym. I need to clean it.’ He went to the fridge and grabbed a water bottle, not paying too much attention to his mother.
‘It’s Christmas Day. Surely that’s not necessary.’
‘It’s open 24/7 and I haven’t cleaned it for several days. I can’t afford to lose my job.’ He slid the water bottle into the side pocket of the backpack.
‘Raelene is very understanding,’ added Carmel as she watched her son scoot around the unit checking this and that. ‘And I thought she said to take as long as you need to get better.’
‘That’s not the point. The gym needs cleaning. It’s my job and I’m more than capable of doing it.’ He lifted some magazines lying on the coffee table. ‘Have you seen my swipe card?’
‘That’s for me to decide. You seem to forget that you are here under my supervision. I call the shots, James. And I think it’s more than fair that you spend Christmas with your mother,’ she said firmly.
‘But I will be,’ he insisted. ‘I just need to do this then I’ll be back. Where’s that card?’
‘On top of the fish tank.’
‘Ah yes.’ He grabbed the card and looped the lanyard around his neck. ‘You haven’t forgotten about our agreement, have you?’ James continued moving around.
‘What agreement was that then?’ replied Carmel.
‘I give you Boxing Day and you give me the rest, remember?’ He patted his pockets, checking he had everything.
‘I don’t believe we were talking about Christmas Day.’
‘Don’t do this, Mother. I’ve taken my meds. I’ve bee
n a good boy.’ The car keys were on a hook near the pantry. He snatched them up.
‘You were up too late last night. Sleep is important for your recovery.’
‘Look, I’ll have an early one tonight then.’ He moved a little closer to her face than was necessary.
‘How long will you be gone?’ She took half a step backwards.
‘Cleaning then a workout. I should be back within two to three hours.’
‘Okay then,’ agreed Carmel. She looked at her watch. ‘It’s 11.30, if you’re not back here by 2.30 I’m calling Dr Jeffries, Christmas or not. Not even a minute late. Am I clear?’
‘Crystal, Mother,’ replied James. ‘Thanks.’ He pecked her on the cheek and was out the door. A second later, he reopened the door and stuck his head in.
‘Hey, Merry Christmas, Mother!’ Then he was gone again.
‘That remains to be seen,’ said Carmel to the closed door.
* * *
James had been gone barely ten minutes when there was a quiet knocking on the front door of the unit. Carmel moved her eye to the security peephole and was a little surprised to see a smiling Chinese man dressed in a dark suit with a black bow tie and bowler hat.
‘Huh!’ she exclaimed. ‘There’s something.’ She stepped back for a moment then took a second look. He was still smiling. Seems harmless enough, I guess. She opened the door but with the security chain attached. Carmel peered through the gap. ‘Can I help you?’
‘Gleetings to you.’ He bowed twice. ‘And a vely Melly Clistmas. I look for James.’
‘James is out. Was he expecting you?’
‘Yes, we meet in hospital. He say to visit. He give me addless.’
Carmel looked at the man, unsure how to respond.
‘Maybe I just leave message. You wollied I see. I not mean to flighten.’
‘He be home later,’ said Carmel automatically before correcting herself. ‘He will be home later. I can tell him you called by.’
‘Ah, tank you, tank you.’ The man bowed repeatedly.
‘What is your name then?’
‘I am Challie Chan,’ lied Tien.
‘You mean like the TV detective Charlie Chan?’
‘Oh yes, like that Challie Chan. He velly, velly clever,’ said Tien continuing to exaggerate his accent.
‘What is your message then, Mr Chan?’
‘You say we meet for chicken chop suey at Charlie house. Seventy-Seven Chandon Chase at Chancellor Park. Mr Champion he very charming man. Tank you velly, velly much.’ Tien bowed repeatedly then backed away and disappeared. Carmel slowly closed the door.
Chapter 20
The Oracle
She had been counting the scraping sound. For some reason, every fifth sound had a slight squeak with it, but every so often, maybe after two or three hundred scrapes, that expected squeak was absent. Sometimes she wondered if this was a test to see if she was paying attention, but for the most part, she had accepted that she knew more about the nature of the scraping sound than anyone else in the world. She knew it generally sped up ever so slightly about two hours before total darkness, and she knew it slowed down just before a hint of morning light revealed itself in the roof. She was both the oracle and the guru of the scraping sound.
Jessica was up to one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, a personal record for a sustained count, when a loud metal clunking sound broke her concentration. A giant creaking sound followed and suddenly her dark prison was flooded with blinding light.
She covered her eyes, pushed her grimy body into the corner and huddled down, partly to shield her nakedness, but also as an act of self-preservation. There were heavy steps, and through a narrow gap between her fingers, she saw her empty plastic water container get replaced by a new full one. She edged along the wall, dragging the heavy chain despite her ankle being raw and inflamed. When close enough, she reached for the tap and flicked the lever upwards. It was no time to worry about dignity. She needed a drink, and she scooped and drank frantically from the running tap.
‘Don’t waste it.’ It was a man’s voice that sounded like a loud whisper. It was a firm command but not a threatening one. Jessica drank a little more then flicked the lever back down.
‘Don’t waste it,’ she repeated without looking at the man.
The man turned and walked away. He removed the two toilet buckets and disappeared for a moment.
‘Oh, come back, man,’ she croaked. ‘Come ba...’ her speech turned into a long bubbly cough. She coughed up a mouthful of sputum and, with no choice, spat it into the corner then started all over again. The man returned with two empty buckets. He put them back in position and studied the girl. She stopped coughing, but it had drained her and she had dropped down to her hands and knees, with her head down and her cheek touching the cold metal floor. She looked in the direction of the man but with the continued intensity of the light, all she could make out was a tall black figure and a pair of heavy black boots.
‘You are the youngest one,’ he breathed. ‘Take these.’ He reached into his clothing then threw a plastic bag of apples and oranges onto the soiled mattress. ‘There you are. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.’
Jessica desperately wanted the food but still needed a moment of recovery. Her eyes adjusted a little and she could see a little more of her captor.
‘You will need to be more careful with your toileting,’ he added. ‘This place stinks.’
Black boots, overalls, long hair, thought Jessica. She stayed with her cheek against the metal, quite liking the cool sensation. ‘I am sick,’ she said.
‘Yes, you are. Physically and spiritually.’
‘I need an ambulance. I must leave now. Please.’ Without the mucus at the back of her throat, her voice was clearer.
‘No, you must stay.’
‘I don’t want to die,’ cried Jessica.
‘No one does, yet they all do.’
‘What do you want from me?’
‘Salvation.’ He moved out of the container. The brightness decreased. The door creaked then banged shut. A bolt rattled. Then silence. Jessica crawled onto the mattress and grabbed an apple. She looked at the glimmer of light filtering down from the vent. She started counting.
Chapter 21
The 1st Confession
A tall man with heavy black boots, wearing a hoodie, marched between the pews and towards the front of the church. As he arrived at the confessional, he made the sign of the cross.
‘In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’
He entered the booth.
‘Bless me Father for I have sinned. It is many months since my last confession.’
‘May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow.’
‘I have been weak and allowed others to manipulate me into offending God. I have caused physical harm to others under the mistaken belief that I was carrying out God’s work by delivering punishment to possessed souls.’
‘My son, have you found yourself under the influence of a cult?’
‘A cult? Yes, possibly, they made be believe things I now know to be untrue. For a time, I placed my trust in false teachings, but I now see they are the ones who are the real sinners, blasphemers and haters. They do not act, as they claim, on behalf of God. Instead they test and make demands of Him.’
‘You believe you are now free from these people?’
‘Yes, Father. I now see my sins. I now see their sins. However, I feel I should try and save them from themselves.’
‘I would urge caution. If you wish to proceed along this path, I would strongly urge you seek assistance.’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘Groups such as these are not readily dissuaded from their views.’
‘Yes, Father. I understand completely.’
‘I would be happy to discuss this matter more formally if you choose to do so at some time.’
�
�Thank you, Father. I will remember that.’
‘Are there other sins you wish to confess?’
‘I have been disrespectful towards my mother.’
‘Yes.’
‘I have had revengeful thoughts.’
‘Yes.’
‘I have had sexual thoughts towards an older female to whom I am not married. That is all, Father.’
‘So, you are genuinely repentant and seek God’s forgiveness?’
‘O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all, I am sorry because I have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.’
‘God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’
‘Amen.’
Chapter 22
Christmas Party
James checked his watch, conscious of his deadline. There was still an hour. He pulled his van into the curb of a newly built low-set home in the Brightwater estate, just ten minutes from his Maroochydore apartment. There were other vehicles in the driveway and parked on the front lawn. He grabbed a carry bag from the front seat, darted to the front door and pressed the doorbell. The chime set off the dogs and within a moment James could hear them scratching and jumping furiously. “Away in a Manger” was playing inside. The door opened.
‘Wow, hello James,’ said a surprised Raelene. ‘Happy Christmas! Are you okay?’ The two small dogs kept yapping. Rae opened the screen door and the two black and white critters were all over James. He crouched down.
‘Hey Sherlock. Hey Watson.’ He gave them both a scratch around the ears then pulled two dog biscuits from his pocket. They both sat down immediately. ‘You’ve missed me by the looks.’ He gave them the treat then stood back up. ‘Yeah Rae, I’m doing pretty well. Sorry to intrude on your party.’ He tilted his head to the side of Raelene and sniffed. ‘Wow, it smells great here.’