Conscious Revenge

by L. J. Greatrex

  Later on, I decided to run the thought past Paul. “Maybe,” I began, “Brandon West had another motive for doing away with me that had nothing to do with the money I stole from him.”

  Quick as a flash, Paul touched the side of his nose with two fingers. “Perhaps you had something else he was more interested in than in the money.” His jest then turned to a worried look and as if by instinct we both said together, “Lorna.”

  “No, no, no, don’t even go there,” I said. We sat in silence for what seemed like forever. “He wouldn’t, would he?” I finally replied. “What if,” I said, “we’ve been going down the wrong road all along?”

  “It’s a possibility,” Paul replied, trying to make light of an unfolding worse-case scenario. “Man wants girl, man makes husband disappear, man moves in for the chase.”

  He was now getting inside my head. “How come that never occurred to me?” I asked, feeling more stupid by the minute. “I have never considered that for one moment.”

  “Think about it,” Paul said. “If you hadn’t been stealing his dollars, it may have dawned on you sooner.”

  “But… but…” I stuttered, “they only met a few times when we had the customer banquets for G&F,” I said in dismay.

  “Well, love at first sight is not unheard of or even lust,” he said.

  “Never!” I cried out loud. “No, not on Lorna’s part,” I protested.

  “I wasn’t suggesting that at all,” Paul tried to comfort me, “but it’s possible for a man that is used to getting everything, he wants to stoop very low indeed.”

  As hard as I tried I could think of no situation that came to mind that involved Lorna and that bastard other than at G&F. “Twenty-five years won’t be enough to satisfy my anger,” I said. “The electric chair would be too good for him.”

  We arrived back at the condo with some good results, some bad. “Well, we can’t win them all,” Paul said. I was mostly thinking of Lorna and how to win her back. The rest seemed to be taking care of itself, at least we had that to be grateful for. The fact was that most of our scams were now going to plan but even better was that we would not have to notify anyone, some extra benefits such as the drug bust, people trafficking, prostitution using underage girls, these even Paul and I could not have dreamt up. “Once a baddy, always a baddy,” Paul smiled a knowing smile.

  In the background, I heard my computer calendar ring. I knew straight away what it was about, John Lattimar from my house was expecting me, so without stopping to sit down, I called out to Paul, “Will you make a sandwich? I have to go to my house. We have the Conservationists arriving this evening to check us out. I need the certificate before we can complete, so I must make haste and drive up tonight.”

  ‘Never a dull moment,’ I thought, but I wanted this part of the plan to come together sooner rather than later if I am to get Lorna and the children back. I still had no idea how I would achieve that little gem. Maybe when I have time to sit and think something will dawn on me. I showered and dressed for the occasion and jumped into the car. As I was driving away, Paul shouted, “Come to the bar on your way back. I will be there celebrating and commiserating at the same time and I will need some help to drink the bar dry.” Forever the joker, our Paul.

  On the way up, I was thinking of how much I had to lose if all of this backfired, looking at the lush island’s waters stretching for miles fringed with white sandy beaches. How could any woman not want to spend the rest of her life here with everything I now had to offer, the mansion, wealth and me? At that, I began to laugh. I could just imagine what Paul would have to say about that, ‘Who would want to spend time with you most of the time you look like a scarecrow, you chicken counter you’. I had to laugh to myself. He would be dead right as always, that’s something else I have to put right before I make any attempt to get Lorna back again. I could hear Paul say ‘you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, old boy’ and he was right about that as well, but try I must.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  John and the men that had come to check the restoration were already there and had made some progress. John called me over and he introduced me. “Bill, this is Marcus, Marcus, Bill,” he said as we shook hands.

  “Hope all is going well?” I asked and was greeted with a knowing nod from John.

  “Just a few little things to sort out,” Marcus said as he moved around with his tape measure and pencil behind his ear. We will soon have it ship shape and Bristol fashion,” John quoted.

  “Great,” I added and continued to look at the pool area which was now almost completed. “I love the tiles,” I said to John.

  “Yes they have turned out well,” he said. “It will not be too long before we can fill her up.”

  “Sounds good to me,” I smiled.

  “You have a great team,” Marcus said. I whole-heartedly agreed with him, it was looking spectacular. I couldn’t wait for the final go ahead to move in. I must ask Paul if he would like to move in temporarily, until he can find a place of his own to buy. I was taking a lot for granted as I had never asked what his plans would be when everything was back to normal. ‘Did I just say normal?’ I must be losing it.

  One good thing, we would have a kitchen we could both walk around without turning sideways to pass each other. Now I only have to learn how to cook. On the other hand, I could probably afford a cook. I laughed to myself, thinking about that idea made me even more anxious to move in. That just reminded me, I must check how our bank account is doing. Must be many more million dollars now with the high interest account I had set up. ‘60/40’ I could hear Paul saying and he was worth every penny.

  I travelled back feeling more confident about life than I had for some time. I would contact Julia and make the last payment on the house, speak to Paul about moving into the mansion and sort out the finances with him, but most of all, think of a plan to get Lorna and the children back as soon as possible.

  I walked from where I had parked the car to the bar. Before I arrived, I could hear the sound of the steel band, as I turned the corner the whole place was alive with dancers all singing along to the music obviously worse for wear on the house rum. On seeing me, Paul waved enthusiastically. “Come on, old boy, you have a lot of catching up to do,” he laughed.

  ‘Back to the real world,’ I thought, being patted on the back by a wonderful set of people. Life here is wonderful. Lorna surely could not resist the call of the Caribbean could she, once I have introduced her to this wonderful part of my new life.

  Joining in with the dancing and drinking, I couldn’t help notice the absence of Tamsin. “Where’s Tamsin?” I asked Joseph.

  “It’s serious,” he said, “she’s in ‘looove’,” he joked.

  “What about me?” Paul laughed, “I thought I was the one?”

  “No chance,” Joseph replied, “got herself a rich one.”

  Paul turned to me. “Serves her right,” he said, as he preened himself. “She could have had me - wealth and good looks!”

  I shouted after him, “You wish on both counts.” I laughed as he began to dance with another good-looking girl. I didn’t want Joseph getting the wrong idea of Paul’s financial status.

  Paul left me ‘in charge’ as he put it as if I was unable to get through next week without him. “Fat chance,” I called after him as he was boarding the flight home. “I’m very happy being in charge of myself,” I laughed. “Just you make sure you look after Lorna for me and don’t forget to e-mail me when you can.”

  “Bye, old boy,” he yelled back. I must remember to slap him when he gets back, I’ll give him ‘old’.

  Back at the condo, I was beginning to settle down. I would have to be in work early in the morning as Andy had some inspectors coming and we all have to be at our desks ready for any questions they have regarding the work we carry out. “Just be yourself,” Andy was saying to us. I wonder if he actually knows what my real self is, as I have a job with knowing that one. I’m sure I will be able to giv
e them my impression of a competent egg and chicken counter.

  Sleep was uneasy as the last few days wouldn’t clear from my head long enough for me to fall into the deep sleep I craved. It must be my conscience troubling me, not for the revenge thing but the people caught up in the aftermath. I decided to walk down to the beach. That always has that very calming effect just watching the last of the sunset and listening to the waves. The sun was rising when I finally awoke. I was still on the beach, good job the sea doesn’t come in too far. I would have drifted out to sea I was so tired. I had to run back to the condo as I was unsure of the time. I pulled on my working clothes and began the journey to work without stopping to make breakfast. ‘Nothing new there, then,’ I thought. When I’m a millionaire, I will have breakfast served on the veranda every day without fail, I promised myself.

  The day got off to a good start I made it in just in time for the arrival of the inspectors. I got an under the eyes look from Andy who was just beginning to panic thinking I was not going to make it in time. “Good job you got here,” he said, “I would have fed you to the chickens.”

  “Don’t worry, I would have thrown myself into the pens if I had missed this one,” I said, trying to make light of the obvious tricky situation I was in.

  I walked into the village to check the newspapers not too hopeful of getting much information regarding the latest on the West’s demise. To my surprise, there had been a turn of events even Paul and I could not have envisaged. On the front of the local paper was a picture of the casino cruise ship with the caption ‘SHIP FOR SALE’. I couldn’t wait to get into the shop to buy a copy.

  Sitting on the bench outside of the shop, I began to read: ‘Following the recent arrests of the West family, a decision was made to put up for sale one of their most valuable assets, due to their inability to continue to operate the many arms of their business because of the unforeseen difficulties they find themselves in. At the shareholders meeting yesterday, there was a vote to dispose of several assets to help contain the spiralling workload created by their absence.’ A statement was put out by the newly appointed Chairman in which he asked for any interested parties who wished to discuss the details to please contact the agent below.

  I ran back to the condo despite my body and mind still being tired from my sleep on the beach, but I couldn’t wait to e-mail Paul with this little gem. I almost forgot the golden rule we had devised. I would e-mail a cryptic mail so that he could be in a secure position to read without prying eyes. He came back almost immediately wondering why I was e-mailing so soon after he arrived home.

  After I had given him chapter and verse of the unfolding scenario, he e-mailed back “WOW, that’s one thing we didn’t anticipate. I wonder who will take that on after the mess they got it into.”

  ‘I’ll keep you up-to-date if anything else transpires,’ I wrote. I wanted to say much more but had to keep the content a little more formal than I would normally, not wanting to show my obvious delight just in case there were prying eyes at his end.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  The next few weeks passed with a semblance of normality. Paul had to stay at work for longer than he had anticipated. Not that I was unhappy with that, as he was able to look out for Lorna and the children at the same time. Lorna was staying with her Mom and Dad and would be for the foreseeable future. Based on Paul’s last e-mail, there had been some interest in buying our house which was welcomed as Lorna has told Paul she will be glad to move on after the ordeals she has had.

  My routine has been pretty much work in the week and at weekends, going to the house to help with the finishing touches inside. John has hired a very good interior designer who has been advising on the furniture and helping keep the original features in place. The gardens, patios and orchards are almost completed and two of the gardeners have agreed to stay on. I have asked one of the ladies to be housekeeper giving her ‘carte blanche’ on the running of the house. Also, two of the staff agreed to help her. I explained that for the time being, she will be in charge until my wife and children arrive. I had my fingers crossed behind by back as I said it.

  Andy and I have been working hard and seem to be reaping the benefits of my newfound concentration levels. The visits to the bar after work have also resumed. I informed Paul yesterday that there had been very little to report on the West’s front other than the date for the hearing being early next year. We will have to be patient a little while longer before we can get the full picture of what has been happening. I can imagine there has been much posturing by the overpaid lawyers trying to minimise the effect of the avalanche of misfortune that has befallen the family, shame!

  The newspaper reports have been sketchy, but it looks like the cruise ship has been sold to an Arab and will be shortly back in operation. I hope whoever he is, he has learned a lesson from what has happen to the previous owners and deals a straight hand from now on. I wouldn’t mind a flutter when Paul gets back. Paul tells me that Hollingsworth had a field day sucking up to the bosses in our absence and is in for a promotion. Hope they work his balls off, it would serve him right.

  Julia has just rung to let me know that the Conservation Certificate has just arrived duly signed with an enclosed document from the Planning Officer confirming their satisfaction so it’s all systems go. I will travel to Grand Cayman for the final exchange of documents in two weeks’ time. I have to confess to feeling proud of everything that has been done. This is one experience that I would not change for the world. I can’t believe that with everything that has happened. I have so many positive things to look back on. The main thing on the agenda is still the same no matter what. I intend to have Lorna and the children here with me to share the good times that I am now sure are up ahead.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Paul

  I haven’t been able to let Bill know just how bad it has been for Lorna. Just as she was picking herself up with a good job, paying her own way, going out and about with new friends to back her up as well as the old ones that still remind her very much of her time with him, to being back with her Mom and Dad, no job to keep her mind busy, not feeling able to contact her new friends for fear they will think she knew all about what has happened and to top it all the house sale is going through. Although she tries not to show her despair to the children, I can feel the tension every time we meet up.

  I have been able in some ways to be a shoulder to cry on but this makes me feel guilty as I know that William is still alive, but unable to comfort her with that fact as there is no knowing what the backlash of that would be even now with the Wests in custody, I fear the arms of the Wests are very long and I am not sure what reaction divulging William’s whereabouts too soon would be. I will have to wait until the time is right and only then when William is safe and secure and back together with Lorna and the children, I fear even then they may have to start a new life with only her family knowing where they are, not forgetting me, of course.

  I will try to return as soon as everything is sorted out at work and Lorna is feeling a bit better as there is still plenty to do on the island. I will hopefully be looking for somewhere to live over there as I have made up my mind to stay. The life I have here will not fit in with my new found wealth and I have other fish to fry which doesn’t include G&F. I can’t wait to give in my notice. I will probably use my fictitious aunt as an excuse, only my nearest and dearest need know where I am. Anyway, I can’t wait to get back to the girl at the bar.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Lorna

  I am so glad Paul was able to stay a little longer. He has been a tower of strength for me over the past weeks. I am not sure how I would have got through without him. I will come out of this more positive, if only for the children and Mom and Dad. They have been wonderful, what would I have done without them? I have been sad on the one hand, but relieved on the other that the house has been sold. I miss my old life so much, but can’t bring myself to carry on my own in the house. I will take the childr
en and start looking for a smaller house with a nice garden. I must also find a new job. The sooner I cut the ties with the West’s job, the better.

  I wish I didn’t need the money as I would give my notice in right now. I know it’s silly as I only knew Brandon a short time, but I still feel humiliated by him. I thought I was more streetwise and should have seen through him sooner. I think I was still vulnerable due to William’s disappearance. Even now, I am unable to think of him as gone for good, which makes me feel even more gullible to have been taken in by Brandon.

  I was shocked to learn that the West’s cruise ship had been sold. According to the newspapers, a deal had already been done and work to change it slightly is almost completed. After everything that happened there, I am still curious to see how things turn out. It can only be for the better no matter who owns it now.

  Following my last meeting with the school, the teachers seem to agree that despite the disruption, no lasting effects have been noted. I am so relieved as I was concerned that I would let them see how unhappy I was and that it may rub off on them. Mom and Dad have been brilliant with the children as usual. I have to remind myself that they are also sad by what has happened and I must try harder to think of them in future, although they say I must look after myself everyone that knew William has been affected in some way.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  The final touches up at the house are now completed. It looks wonderful. I have included a bonus for everyone in the last payment. I explained to John that I will give him a letter of recommendation when the time comes for us to say goodbye.

  He laughed, “Not goodbye, just au revoir. I will be back from time to time to check how you are getting on. Perhaps when your wife is here, we could make a night of it.”