Chapter 19

A fresh ocean breeze blew in from the suite�s balcony. A few hours had passed since John had collapsed in a state of exhaustion. Now he woke refreshed. He could still smell the faint remainder of Joanne�s perfume on the pillow. It had been a fantastic night, with Joanne�s wonderful company.

He climbed out of bed up and went out onto the balcony. Teams of people crowded the Quay, all rushing to work in their offices. Ferries were arriving with passengers streaming down the gangplanks, through the turnstiles and across the Quay. Everyone was in a rush as the crowds crammed into buses and trains that would take them to their destinations in the inner city or suburbs. Sydney was at it busiest at ten to nine in the morning.

Thousands of people walked, and ran, some late, some not in a rush. He marvelled at what we consider society. With all our modern conveniences you�d think we would slow down, yet the opposite was true. Speed had us in its grip. There was little time to relax and enjoy life. The more time we spent buying real estate and all life�s modern trappings, the less time we had to share it with our families.

After a quick shower and shave John went downstairs for breakfast. He liked to converse with businessmen from other walks of life, who were away from their families.

He took a seat next to another businessman, who was obviously by himself, and went to get some cereal. Sitting down he said "Hi" to he other man. " Hi" the younger male responded.

"What brings you to town?"

"I�m here on business ", John said, laughing.

The younger, sandy haired male smiled. " Aren�t we all. I�m sick of it."

John held out his hand" My name�s Jonathan Alexander."

"Frank Ablesmith." his companion replied. "What are you in radio or something?" he asked picking up on John�s deep refined voice.

"No, not at all." He said smiling, yet a lot of people ask that. I�m lucky to just to have one of those voices. I�ve made a lot of speeches in my time, and my voice has improved over the years. I�m actually in fashion."

"That�s a tough trade isn�t it?" he asked, not recognising John�s name.

"Certainly is. Yet it�s very rewarding also. I�m fortunate to have a world-recognised label. Models line up to parade in my creations. Just lucky I guess."

"You�re very humble." the young guy noted. "My father used to say, the harder you worked, the luckier you get ". He looked at John.

"Your father was a most learned man. You�re spot on son. I worked very hard for my recognition. Yet, after all the work, I still feel fortunate. There are people out there who have worked just as hard as I have, yet they haven�t received as much recognition."

"I suppose that�s just our society. People follow people. No one likes to be different. All it takes is a couple of people to like your designs. Then the rest follow like sheep, I�d imagine."

"I�ll correct my earlier statement. You sound like a very knowledgeable man yourself." John said, looking at him carefully. "So what do you do with yourself?"

"I�m a human resource consultant. I work for a large Melbourne based firm, a growing partnership. I�m up here restructuring the workforce in a very large hamburger company."

He mentioned the company to John, a name synonymous with hamburgers.

"I wouldn�t have thought that they�d need your consultancy. They�re one of the most successful companies I know of. They�re world-wide and employ hundreds of thousands of employees. They�d have their own in house consultants."

"They do indeed. But from time to time they use consultants from outside. We come in and look at the organisation, and suggest changes. They use us to cross check their own consultants. Ninety five percent of the time we agree, and only two percent of the time, do they actually take our advice. Though, even on the ninety five percent agreeance, we add a fresh approach to their ideas."

"That�s very smart. It�s an excellent crosscheck system. It hardly seems monetarily viable though." John was leaning forward in his chair. He had been considering using some human resource consultants.

"Yes, it is. They have such an enormous turnover each year, that if we affect better use their money by even one percent, we�re talking in terms of millions of dollars. For a few thousand dollars outlay it becomes very viable indeed."

"I suppose that�s why they are so successful."

"It�s the same reason that you�re so successful, John. I remember who you are now. Initially the name didn�t register, yet I know, or have heard of a lot of business names in Melbourne. The reason you�re successful is your humility. The very way you approach life makes you succeed. You have every right to accept your success and sit back proudly. Yet no, you accept that you�ve done well but continue trying to improve. Your down to earthness must make you very approachable. I would say you�re very flexible also. Pride, not being approachable, and being inflexible are three factors that will pull a company down faster than anything. Your employees are lucky to have you at the top."

John sat back in his seat perplexed. It took a while for it to sink in. What an accolade, and to think it was a professional opinion. He sat quietly after saying "thank you." After a couple of minutes he asked. " Can I have your card Frank, I�d like to use you in the future.

"Sure," Frank said. He was a little nervous." I wasn�t trying a sales pitch on you John, I was just explaining my job."

" I know that Frank. Yet your honesty and drive have earned you a new account, a very large account at that," he said, getting up to get some hot food. "Take this business

Card to your management in Melbourne and tell them I want you to work with me exclusively. That will keep you in Melbourne for a while. "Are you married?"

"Engaged."

"Well that will make your fiancé happy too won�t it. I admire you son. You�ll get very lucky too one day."

"Thank you John," Frank replied, as John left. Thank you. is all he could say. His heart was pounding with excitement. Now he had found the break he was longing for. Johns account would be all the stability he needed, both in work location and financially. Now, he could marry. He rushed to the phone to ring his girl.

John finished his breakfast, returned to his room and made a phone call to Christine. "Kings Cross police station Andrew speaking "

"Yes Christine�s here. Who can I say is calling?"

"Ah yes, right, I�ll put you through" came the surprised reply from the young constable answering the phone. He�d stayed up late the night before with his girlfriend to watch John�s live release of his new fashion designs and was somewhat taken back at

hearing his voice on the telephone this morning.

"Hello, Detective Christine Wallace?"

"Yes"

"Thanks for your time. Would it be possible to see you while I�m here in Sydney? My name is Jonathan Alexander."

" Well it should be possible, "Christine replied, recognising immediately who it was. "What do you want to talk about in particular."

"I�d like to see about doing something for the street kids of the Cross, and your name as been recommended as someone who is abreast of the situation and who may have some ideas on how I could help financially. "

"That�s interesting. How much time have you got? " Christine asked. " Well, at the moment I�m very busy with my new release and I expect that you�re very busy yourself, so I was going to suggest that we get together initially for an afternoon and throw around a few ideas."

"That sounds Okay. How about Sunday afternoon? I keep Sunday�s fairly free. Say about one o clock, after I get home from church."

"Yes, that�s great with me, but are you sure, it being your day off?"

"Yes, of course."

"Okay, we have the time worked out, where shall we meet?"

"Well Sunday is a family day for me. So, instead of going out to meet you, could you come around to our place for lunch? Afterwards, we can sit down and discuss your ideas."

" That sounds very appealing. Shall I bring anything?"

"How about desert?"

"It�s a deal." So what�s your address?"

Christine gave him her address and hung up the phone. She smiled. She couldn�t believe it. John Alexander coming to her house. She dialled her husband at work in her excitement. " Hi Darling, Guess who�s coming to lunch on Sunday?"

"You tell me!" He replied sensing the excitement in her voice.

"John P Alexander."

"Who�s that? "

"You know that fashion designer that was on T.V last night."

"Oh yeah, I remember. How did he get in contact with you?"

"He said he�d heard from someone that I would be a good person to talk to regarding the street kids "

"You see, people do take notice Honey. What have I been telling you? You stand out Chris. You�re different and people do notice."

"I can�t believe it, I mean, I was feeling so down. I�ve been praying for help, and yet I didn�t expect this in my wildest dreams. I just can�t believe it."

"Well you�d better, because it�s happening " Nathaniel laughed." What are you going to cook? He would be used to the best you know!"

"I might cook something special, what about your favourite, I mean you�re a very important man to me, maybe that would surprise him."

" Thanks Honey that�s a nice thought. Do that." He paused, thinking, and then started again. " What does he want to talk about?"

"Well as far as I could gather he wanted to ask my advice and work with me to use some of the money he had made for the benefit of street kids."

"Do you know how much that is?" John asked, excitement creeping into his voice as it now dawned on him why his wife was so excited.

"He didn�t say, yet if it�s the proceeds from that dress that he released last night that he said he was going to give to the street kids, we could be talking quite a bit."

"I love you Chris," he said." Thanks for the good news. You deserve it "

"Thanks for listening."

Christine put the phone down. As soon as it hit its cradle it sprang to life again. A whole new day had begun, but today Christine approached it with a renewed hope.

 

*******

 

Dave sat in his car. The surf was fantastic today. His wet hair clung to his head and dripped onto his shoulders. He grabbed a towel from the back seat and started to rub it while keeping an eye on the surf. As he watched from the roadside far above the North Narabeen beach, he could see the swell rolling in. It was magnificent. What a passion it was to enjoy the surf, and to have the time to surf each day. He was looking forward to today�s work.

He would be able to spend some time with Mike alone. He would be starting on the job he�d quoted today and they would be working alongside each other. David always assisted the builders and anyone he employed to do work for his clients. It was a saving on labour and enabled him to check the quality of workmanship. It gave him the pleasure of knowing also, that he was involved with every part of each job. He gave the beach one final glance and turned the ignition in his Utility. The engine fired and he set off to drive home.

*******

 

Loran was up early today. She had been up since six-o clock. She�d eaten breakfast and was pouring over the classifieds. She wasn�t looking for anything in particular, but was looking, all the same. Page upon page leapt out at her. She had taken a couple of days off since Mike had proposed. She wanted a little time by herself. Mike had left at seven in the morning, to start on the job with Dave.

She had always wanted to be a mother and a wife. Since early childhood she�d wanted that. Coming from a happy family who loved and appreciated her, she saw this as

her role. Some of her friends would argue strongly against this, yet it didn�t seem to worry her. She would love to be a mother and a housewife and raise her children at home. Her mother had done it, and her Grandmother. She didn�t feel the need to be a big career woman.

*******

 

Sharon stirred. Birds sang a melody from the tree outside her window. She rolled out of bed, careful not to wake Joanne. She poured herself an orange juice. As she swallowed it she switched on a burner. With one hand she prepared some heroin. She began to heat it over a naked flame. She was pulling her blood into the syringe when Tracy appeared. She pushed the heroin home.

"I see you caught up with each other." Sharon smiled.

"Yeah, we did." Tracy�s green eyes dazzled.

"What�d you get up to?" Sharon asked as she buttered a piece of toast that had popped out of the toaster.

"Oh we kissed, and kissed. We had a spa together and you know?

"No" Sharon said. What?"

"We made love."

"That sounds wonderful. It looks like you�re very happy."

"I am," Tracy said biting a corner of toast that Sharon had left. "You know I really love Tony. He�s such a nice guy. We can talk for hours; he�s just so good to be with. I don�t know what I�d do, if anything happened to him."

*******

 

Cyril was watching the television news when Slater arrived. A news reporter had just finished covering the finding of the body in China town. They had worked out the cause of death, and thorough investigations had led the police to believe that he murder wasn�t anything to do with China town. As he sat there another flash came up onto television. It seemed that a woman had disappeared under mysterious circumstances...

As the story came to air he heard a knock on the door. " Come in." he shouted, shifting his large body in his chair. Slater and Colin appeared at the entrance to the loungeroom. Slater looked quite reserved, yet Colin�s eyes darted with fear as he saw the remnants of bloodstains on the floor. Nervously he half stood behind Slater, his protection. " Come in, come in." Cyril beckoned.

"I wasn�t too pleased with the haul yesterday boys. What have you got to say for that Colin?" he probed. The little boy froze as he heard his name.

"We had a bad day" was all he could say, his head bowed." What�s your excuse? " He mocked, pointing to Slater.

"I had a lot on my mind. I was too intense, that�s all. I�ll get better. Slater was nervous.

"Come over here Colin."

Colin etched his way over to Cyril, his legs following his minds directions, though hesitantly. As he did so Slater felt hopeless. He didn�t want anything to happen to Colin, yet to interfere might mean death. So he just stood silently watching, and hoping Cyril wouldn�t hurt the child.

*******

A warm haze fell over the house in Mt. Druitt. There was stillness, as the heat of the maturing day cloaked the Western Suburbs. Peter was sitting in the lounge, from time to time answering the phone. The ad that his wife had placed in the paper certainly was causing some attention. Woman after woman, rang to ask questions, and when satisfied booked appointments. Peter had just had the best nights sleep of his life. Already the news had broadcast a segment on the missing woman. It felt good to fulfil his fantasies, and, after a sound nights sleep, he knew he had to continue. He�d given in to his evil, lurid desires and the act of playing them out gave him satisfaction. No longer would he toy with merely thinking.

" Phones been going crazy Peter, how many appointments have you got so far?"

"Six." he said glancing at his wife. She looked nice this morning, refreshed and happy.

"How was you tennis coach? Did he show you all the right moves?"

"He had me do things, darling, that I didn�t think this body was capable of. His hands, his touch, so controlled, so reassuring," she smiled as she addressed her husband. She knew that he was aware of the affair. He seemed quite happy to let it go on. She was past worrying about what he thought, actually she was almost past caring at all. "Where did you disappear to last night? Your breath smelt of wine when you kissed me getting into bed.

"Who�ve you been wining and dining this time? Her eyes were piercing and her tone fairly harsh. Feeling berated, he confessed.

" I took a girl out last night and we played out our fantasies."

"Oh "

Peter noticed what he thought was hurt, in his wife�s eyes. She looked away. She�d been pretty blunt with him. Why couldn�t he tell her the truth? He knew that if he told her the whole story she would probably faint. She was always telling him that they had a wonderfully open relationship. He wondered why she was so hurt? Was it that she was jealous? Surely not! She was a bitch, and they don�t have feelings!

*******

 

It was ten in the morning when Dave arrived at the building site. He could see Mike hard at work, shirt off and sweat running down his back. He was sawing a couple of pieces of timber and didn�t hear Dave�s greeting as he approached. The saw made a terrible noise, as sawdust flew into the air. When he�d stopped, Mike turned to put the saw down and noticed Dave.

"So you finally made it."

"Yeah, I slept in. By the time I had my surf it was nine o�clock. The traffic was heavy. Dave looked very apologetic. It was funny to see the boss apologising. Mike looked at him with a frown and said. "Don�t do it again or I�ll have to dock your wages." As he finished, both of them burst out laughing. Dave continued to grin.

He was happy to spend time with Mike and was looking forward to the next couple of days.

"So where are you up to?"

"Well, I�ve almost cut all the beams to their respective lengths. I�ve brought all my tools up here, and prepared everything ready to go. Your timing was just right. We�re ready to start.

"Good "

"You can start by boiling the jug over there and making us both a coffee." Mike was aware of the relationship between them. Although Dave was the boss, he was his helper, an offsider. So Mike felt comfortable giving him orders. Dave went over to put the jug on, whilst Mike continued preparing the wood. After a few minutes Dave called out that morning tea was ready. Mike moved a couple more things and then came over and took a seat. " It�s good to have you working with me, Mike," Dave remarked, sipping his coffee, then added. "You�re a pretty fast worker."

"Yeah, well that�s the way I am. It�s no use making a weeks work into two. Most jobs I sub for are on a quote. The faster I do them, the more money I earn an hour." Mike put a biscuit into his mouth and checked the time. Then he ran over the details and plan of attack with Dave. After twenty minutes they finished smoko and went to work.

 

*******

 

Slater collected Colin. Colin had tears in his eyes and moaned as they walked. Slater�s mind was numb with worry. He took Colin with him to their squat and helped him clean himself up. Slater hated Cyril. But he was in a catch twenty-two. Cyril wouldn�t think twice about killing anyone, and Slater didn�t want to be that anyone.

Before he�d left Cyril�s house, Cyril had said something that frightened him. He�d threatened that he was going to get young Tony, for being the one who cost him a couple of workers.

Slater sat with his hands around his knees. He was responsible for Colin being hurt. He was an accessory to murder, and now, because he�d punched Geoff and encouraged Tony to hit Rodney, Tony�s life was in jeopardy. He�d have to warn Tony.

Life on the streets wasn�t all fun. Many times he had wished things hadn�t turned out the way they had. He lived with a continual tightness in his stomach. Everywhere he turned the scenery might be different but the result was the same. He felt more then someone�s dirty washing. He was thrown in the washer headfirst; he knew his cycle was stuck on abuse; and he went round and round, with every wash ending up with a sore arse.

He marvelled at stories of the third world. He saw starvation, hunger and the dying. Somehow he could never relate to these people. He felt he was one of the same, but he knew the people didn�t like to see their own backyards. Yes, he�d heard Australia was a free country and a land of opportunity, but he�d concluded that hope was for another class of people. He didn�t share in that hope. He took it up the arse, repeatably and gave the lawgivers the opportunity to live out all their dreams.

Yesterday he�d taken a shot of heroin. Today that seemed like a good move again.

 

*******

 

" Sharon, have you got Dave�s phone number?" Tony asked, as he spooned the last of his cereal into his mouth. He watched Sharon go to her purse and retrieve an address book.

She opened it and said. "Yes here it is." and passed the address book to him. He saw two numbers, a home number and a mobile. Tony wrote both of them on a piece of paper and dialled the mobile.

"Hello Dave speaking."

"Hi Dave, this is Tony " There was a pause and then Tony continued to fill him in further. " You know, Tony, Sharon�s friend. You met me yesterday."

"Ah yes, Tony boy. Sorry, I know a couple of Tonys and I was trying to place the voice. How are you today?"

"Good Dave. I was wondering if you could take me to church on Sunday?"

"Where has all this come from?"

"I used to go to church when my parents were alive. I think it�s time to go again. If you�d like to take me, that is."

"I�d love to take you. How about I pick you up at Sharon�s, around half past eight on Sunday morning."

"I�ll be ready. I�ll try and talk Sharon into coming along too." As he said it, Sharon looked at him and waved her finger.

Dave was unaware of Sharon�s disapproval. " I think we�ll wait a while before we ask her Tony. She�s a woman. She deserves her space."

Looking at Sharon, Tony replied, "yeah we�ll give her some time for God to work on her."

"I think so, anyway Tony I�ve got a lot of work to do. Give me a ring tonight if you want to talk further. If not I�ll see you on Sunday at eight thirty."

"Okay. See ya later."