by A Kelly
‘What happened before I came?’ Scipio asked Summer.
‘He snuck in behind me when I came home from the supermarket. I couldn’t do anything but let Scoot loose. I guess she found you.’
‘She did.’
Summer bent down and patted Scooter. ‘Good girl, Scoot, good girl.’ The dog’s tail wagged briskly.
‘We need to have your bruises checked out.’
She shook her head. ‘For once Bobby was right, you don’t look well.’
He took a deep breath. ‘I’ll sort this out. I promise.’
‘Why? Why did you offer him the money? How are you going to get it?’
‘I know who you gave your money to. I’ll talk to Mary.’
‘That’s not the point! The point is he doesn’t deserve it!’ Summer said.
‘Summer! You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? This cat-and-mouse game with Bobby?’
‘Scipio, no!’
‘You don’t want to pay him because you don’t want it to be over!’
‘No!’
‘Did he turn you on? He was strangling you… you’ve wanted me to do it to you.’
‘He didn’t turn me on. Not this time,’ she said. ‘Let me handle Bobby. I know him, Scipio. He was my husband.’
‘Exactly, he was,’ Scipio said. ‘I’m in your life now, you’re not the wife that he adores anymore. He’s here for revenge!’
‘For you, I won’t stop you; I’ll help you get the money back from the shelter.’
‘We’ll never be free if we don’t give him what he wants. The animals can wait,’ Scipio said. As unfair as it might sound (a thug over suffering animals?), Summer was his priority.
With Scipio watching her closely (he’d been dropping her off at work and picking her up since Bobby’s text message that day), the only time she could think clearly was at her lunch break, and just like the previous days, she was using the hour at the Devonport Library scouring their databases, CrimeNet, court cases, police reports, Ancestry.com, and immigration records.
Bobby’s eyes held intent when he’d said genius, Caymans, take the money somewhere. The same way as he’d said I’m not a threat. She couldn’t get over her hunch that his lawyer and Cesario might’ve been the same ‘genius’ that Bobby had referred to (Bobby admired his mobile hacker friend Mo, but had never called Mo a genius) and she wasn’t wrong.
Summer looked at the time. She’d called Bernard to come today. He’d be here soon and she’d excuse herself from work, and then sort it out with Mary Bellamy at the shelter. Then she hoped Bernard would be ready for what was to come. But there was one more call she had to make.
With her mobile turned off, she went to a payphone near the library, which she had searched for the night before.
‘Sofia… it’s Summer…’
Mary Bellamy’s office was small but organised. Inside the room, Scipio felt big, but in front of Mary he felt he was shrinking.
‘So…’ Mary said, tapping her fingers on her laminated desk. ‘You’re saying you want 200k from the shelter.’
‘I meant… Summer donated the money,’ Scipio said slowly, ‘and she needs it back.’
‘What?’
‘Summer donated it.’
‘She did?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Wow…’ she said. ‘Wow…’ she repeated in a softer voice and paused. For once the snappy shelter co-owner was lost for words. She looked at Scipio. ‘Where is she?’
‘At work,’ he said. ‘We… we discussed this yesterday, but she doesn’t know I’m here with you now having this conversation.’
‘Anyone else would’ve said you’re full of shit,’ she said regretfully. ‘Come on, what you told me is as bizarre as anything a non-profit organisation accountant could hear. But, I like you, Russo. A lot. And I’m no ordinary accountant. I believe you. Trust me, I believe you. And I’d love to give it all back, but we’ve committed the money to so many things, I can’t just give it back.’
‘I know…’
‘What kind of trouble are you in? I know it’s not for your wedding.’
‘Not the kind of trouble that you might think. Not drugs or gambling or terrorism – if you even suspected that.’
‘Okay…’ Mary said. ‘I’m a woman of facts and figures and I can tell you straight, I don’t have 200K. 50K, that’s all. I need to speak to Summer’s lawyer, the one who sent us the money and protected his client’s identity.’
‘Mary, Summer is stressing at the moment. I want to involve her as minimally as possible…’
‘Russo, figure: 50K, fact: I need to speak to the lawyer.’
And right then Scipio’s phone beeped. A text message from Summer: Scipio, I’m with Bernard. Wait for me.
He breathed out loudly. ‘They’ll be here.’
‘Was that Summer?’
He nodded.
About fifteen minutes later, Summer and Bernard joined them in Mary’s office. Summer gave him a little glare and Mary tried to hide her smile. Scipio knew the boss was saying: you should’ve told her.
‘Bernard MacMillan.’
‘We spoke on the phone several times, Mr MacMillan,’ Mary said. ‘Let’s cut to the chase. I told Russo I only had 50K to give back to you, Summer. I’m so sorry.’
It was a tone of steel, but Mary had never said sorry before.
Summer’s head dropped and she pondered hard. ‘We’ll take however much you can give back. I’m so sorry, Mary. Believe me, I feel like a thief. But we’ll pay it back. I promise.’
‘It’s your money. I would’ve given it all back if I could, but we’ve committed it to other resources and organisations, we can’t reverse that.’
‘I understand,’ Summer said. ‘Thank you.’
‘All right,’ Mary said. ‘I’ll sort out the paperwork with Mr MacMillan. You’ll get the money in 48 hours.’
‘Thank you, Mary,’ Scipio said.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ whispered Summer to her lawyer. She took Scipio’s hand and gestured him to leave with her.
‘Oh, I feel awful!’ she said and covered her face.
‘Summer, I can sell everything and we can pay him the 400K. You trust him to leave us alone?’
‘Don’t!’ she threatened. ‘I won’t forgive you. We’ll give him 50K. He has a drug habit to fund – and he may be desperate to get out of the country. He’ll take it.’
30
Stay
Loading on Summer’s mobile screen was a picture of Scipio hugging her at the beach, with Scooter looking up at them. A drop of poison away.
Bobby had not just sent these messages for fun. She could see him do it – to Scipio’s lunch, to Scooter’s snacks. For a while she closed her eyes and without realising, her face drooped towards the phone – practically kissing the picture. Soon she turned her phone off and headed to Heybridge, the town next to Penguin.
Using the only payphone in the town, she called Bernard.
‘Did the police get Cesario?’
‘Yes they did. And I took all the credit. I’m not feeling good about it.’
‘You’re doing me a favour.’
‘Listen, the police have a credible lead that Bobby’s already in Tassie. And they know about his dealing with Cesario. They’re heading your way.’
‘Good.’
Scipio’s head was killing him, but he couldn’t let Summer know. She would find another reason for him not to deliver the money to Bobby. Six paracetamols later, despite his burning eyes, nausea and fatigue, he drove to Sergeant Scipio.
‘Good morning, boss!’ said Chris. ‘Or not…’
Scipio waved at him and slumped onto his chair. He covered his face with his hands and moaned.
‘Why are you here?’
‘Summer can’t know.’
‘She knows you have migraine regularly.’
‘Yeah… but not today. And don’t ask why.’
Chris sighed. ‘You need a nap. I could lay the six extra-large doggie beds side by side i
n the backroom. Remember we have those doggie blankets too. Might help you get comfy.’
Scipio chuckled. ‘Feed me Purina One chicken and rice, would you?’
‘Do you want to have a snooze at my place? Shelley’s at her mum’s.’
Perhaps Chris thought he’d had a fight with Summer.
Just in time, Scipio’s phone beeped.
‘Uh oh… someone’s in trouble!’ said Chris. ‘Oh, wait… that’s not Summer. How could I forget that Love Changes Everything ringtone.’
The second part of Chris’ statement became muffled as Scipio escaped to the backroom.
Coordinates from Bobby. He punched it into the map and stared at the location. So, perhaps he was going to die in Styx Forest tomorrow.
And now he had to tell Summer.
Summer scratched at the satin sheet, clenching her teeth. How could she still climax with Scipio only a few hours away from departing to hell? She tried to stop herself from soaring but the pleasure defeated her. She threw her head backwards and panted. Soon Scipio released and bellowed. Had he enjoyed it as much as she had? From his panting, depending on how she’d read him, he might’ve – or he might’ve released his fear of what was to come in eight hours or so when he headed to Styx Forest.
She stopped Scipio from rolling over, saying: ‘Stay in me for a little longer…’
Still catching his breath, he placed his arms next to Summer’s shoulders to give himself support. His pelvis still pressed on hers, just like when she’d had her climax. And they stared at each other. She lifted her head to kiss him. He closed his eyes and let out a few teardrops.
She lost sense of time, despite mentally counting down the hours, the minutes, the seconds. Finally Scipio whispered, ‘Sorry, I need to pull out.’
Summer nodded and gave him another kiss.
Scipio lifted himself up, while doing so he grabbed Summer’s arm, as if he didn’t want to be apart from her. He still hung on to her even after he rolled over.
‘I’ll go tomorrow, Scipio,’ Summer said. Why did she feel this was the last time she’d ever make love to him? Bobby needed the money, he had a plan to leave his life behind – her behind. He might be civil.
Still, no matter how much she felt she knew Bobby, that man might surprise her.
‘I can’t live without you, Summer. But I can’t go with you if Bobby kills you. Please be selfless once in your life.’
‘Scipio?’
‘You have a suicidal mentality. But I want to live, with you.’
Selfish – was that her? All she’d ever wanted to do was to protect him.
‘And what did you buy from the pharmacy this afternoon? You’ve got some secret prescriptions? You want to be the next Emily? You want to prepare for your death?’
‘Scipio, stop there! If I had wanted to buy drugs to kill myself, I wouldn’t have gone to a pharmacy on the same street as your shop!’ said Summer. ‘And I never want to be Emily. She was selfish!’
Scipio let out a long breath. ‘I’m sorry, Summer. I didn’t mean any of it. I’m scared. Gosh, you don’t know how scared I am. You’re probably in pain right now? This time of month?’
He remembered. But Summer didn’t answer. In fact, she felt no pain, except in her heart. ‘Let me go, Scipio, he won’t hurt me,’ she said. ‘I mean, he will hurt me, but not in a way that he will hurt you.’
‘You’re saying I’m no match for him?’
Summer shook her head but then she said, ‘Yes. You’re no match for him.’
‘And you are?’
‘I am, Scipio.’
‘So I’m no match for him. Am I worse than him?’
‘Scipio you’re more of a man than Bobby, than any man I’ve known. But the fact remains, you won’t beat Bobby while I’m still in the frame.’
‘Summer, please do this for me. Let me face him.’
Summer closed her eyes. She sat up, thought, and looked at Scipio. Then with determination she said, ‘Let’s not do this at all.’
‘What?’
‘Leave him wondering where we are.’
‘Let’s call Varro.’
‘We will, but not now.’ Summer pondered, then nodded to herself. ‘Scipio, let’s cancel tomorrow and get him to come to us. He needs the money to pay for a new identity and escape overseas. Bobby ordered a fake passport. I don’t think he’s paid for it yet, but he’s got a plan to flee. He might just come to us. Only then will we call Varro. He can’t run forever.’
‘And how the hell do you know all this?’
‘I’ve studied Bobby since I was 22. I learned his body language, I learned his expressions. There was a name, I thought it was a nickname, Cesario. He mentioned it with such admiration, and I recently noticed he had the same expression when he talked about his lawyer. So, I did my research. I found out that his lawyer was the same man as a corrupt immigration officer who then became a corrupt passport officer. And he was born with the name Cesario. The Department had been looking for this “Officer X” for a few years. Now they know.’
‘You reported him?’
‘Bernard did. But before that, someone I know in the Department helped me dig into Cesario, and she found his dealings with Bobby including the fake passport order. So Bobby’s plan is in jeopardy but I doubt he knows. It just happened today.’
‘Okay,’ Scipio too sat up this time. He turned to Summer and squeezed her hand. ‘So we stay put?’
Summer nodded.
Scipio sighed and hugged her tight. ‘Don’t make me lose you, Summer. Promise me.’
‘I won’t make you lose me.’
They could feel each other’s heart. She hoped he wouldn’t translate her furious heartbeats to anything other than the residue of her anxiety. ‘I need tea.’ Slowly she got up. ‘Would you like one?’
‘Green tea?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Sure.’
Summer watched the kettle boil as she clutched a couple of the sleeping pills she’d bought from the pharmacy this afternoon. She didn’t want to be Emily. She just wanted Scipio safe.
At her feet, Scooter sat and looked at her. Her tail wagging. Tea or coffee always made the mutt beg for marshmallows. So she tossed her a couple, which Scooter snatched with enthusiasm.
‘You be a good girl, okay? Take care of Scipio?’
Scooter chewed hard, and at the same time gave her paw to Summer.
Summer and Scipio enjoyed their tea as if the world was theirs again. She cried as she watched him sleep. The beautiful man would be asleep for a while. She couldn’t let him face Bobby. It wasn’t his physicality that would let him down. It was his love for her. Just like her love for him had made her ‘weak and stupid’ – as Bobby said.
She kissed him. A smile curved on his restful face. She dipped her finger into his right dimple. She was selfish, he’d said. Maybe. But she simply couldn’t live without that smile. She couldn’t live without his reassuring hugs, and his breakfasts, and his hand on her tummy when the cramping got so bad.
Fate had brought them together. Had it not been for Bobby she wouldn’t have found Scipio – her shore as Tim said.
No, Scipio wasn’t her shore, he was paradise, he was love.
She whispered to him in tears, ‘Forgive me. I can’t let Bobby come to us, to you. I love you. My husband.’
And the real countdown began.
At 4 a.m., when Scooter started to paw the gap under their bedroom door, Summer wrote a note: Call Varro. Meet us at Styx. By then I will have finished what I started.
Summer could’ve driven straight to the Bass Highway but she diverted to the Penguin Road instead and stopped at the spot where Scipio had followed her the night she’d tried to leave him. She’d torn his shirt then, saying his heart would stop beating one day, and she didn’t want to be responsible for it. Now she was walking the talk.
‘It’s just between you and me now, Bobby,’ she said out loud over the railway track, to the battering Bass Strait.
She repea
ted it in her head for hours until she arrived at the rim of Styx Forest, a few kilometres from the coordinates Bobby had sent to Scipio. Then the real off-road drive started. The satellite navigation spat out different routes every five hundred metres or so. Eventually she followed her gut and arrived at a cottage. A beat-up Ford Territory was parked in front of it. She scanned the inside and caught something out of place: a shoe, red, a ballerina type, exactly like Cornelia wore. Cornelia had been in Hobart, easily within Bobby’s reach. How could Summer not have thought of her!
‘Bloody hell…’ Bobby greeted her. ‘I was sure your man was going to come. Where is the money?’
‘Let’s go inside,’ Summer said and got herself in. There she found Cornelia lying on the floor. ‘Fuck you, Bobby!’ She stooped to check Cornelia’s pulse. The girl moaned, but her eyes remained shut.
‘I really thought Joseph was going to turn up. That’s why I have his lovely daughter here. Just in case he tried to do something stupid, at least I’ve got leverage.’
‘What did you do?’
‘Mild dose. Just like I gave you that night.’
‘This is low even by your standards.’
‘Trust me, Summer. I haven’t touched her, and I won’t harm her unless you or your man does something silly. What did you say to him that he agreed to stay behind? Or is there a twist? Is he here already?’
Summer didn’t respond. She cradled Cornelia’s head as the girl tried to spit something out. Summer tapped her cheek, hard. ‘Cornelia… Cornelia wake up!’
‘No. I supposed not. Otherwise surely I would’ve seen him by now, knowing his daughter is here, being slapped by his fiancée.’
Had he been here, Scipio would’ve charged at Bobby, and Bobby would laugh and punch her man, push him down and strangle him – with a piece of rope, or with his bare hands. Likely with his bare hands. Then he would tie Scipio up, hit him until he was no longer human. And Scipio would beg him to let Cornelia go as he readied himself to die.