Shadow over edmund stree.., p.22
Shadow Over Edmund Street, page 22
‘Classic, my dear. I couldn’t believe it. My kids had just left home, my youngest had been gone less than a month, when my husband packed for a week’s trip to Perth. “Business,” he said. ’
‘What happened?’ asked Rose, intrigued.
‘He rang after a couple of days and gave it to me straight. Marriage over, moved in with Diana. Across the other side of town. Done and dusted. All those business trips to Perth turned out to be rubbish. So calculated, don’t you think? Just to make it easy for himself.’
Catherine stopped talking and tickled her dog on the side of his face. Barney was a small white thing with brown splotches, short hair and an inability to stand still. ‘Knocked me for six. Didn’t see it coming. And then,’ she turned to Rose, ‘the kids gave it to me.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t mind now, I let it wash over me, but at the time it cut deep. They said, “No wonder Mum, have you seen how much you’ve let yourself go?” Kids huh.’
Rose saw the straw hair and homely body, the hand-knitted purple jumper, checked blue pants, and felt a rush of pity. They had become firm friends and now they met most
afternoons.
*
Katie was packed, all winter woollies and puffer coats. Scotland in mid-winter. Tonight, the two of them were going out for dinner, the little Thai place up the road, to celebrate the end of exams and the trip to come. Then, for Rose, the summer would start
in earnest.
She had to be cheerful for Katie—anything else would be selfish. But the empty nest syndrome had snuck up on her, and she felt panic rising when she thought of her own mother’s spiral into hell after her father died. Knew she would have to work hard not to fall into a state of lethargy. Annoyed with herself, she strode down to the beach, saw the tide was low and wandered over to the rocks. She scrambled up and was examining the rock pools when she heard the furious yapping of Barney telling the world he and Catherine were on the beach. Rose slid back down and hugged Catherine.
‘It’s so good to see you. Here I am feeling sorry for myself. Katie’s leaving tomorrow,’ she blurted out, her eyes filling with tears.
‘So soon? Tomorrow? Amazing the way these young people fly about these days. Come on now, Rose, it’s for a few weeks. I tell you what, dinner at my place tomorrow night. I’ll cook up one of my famous veggie pies.’ She squeezed Rose’s hand.
Rose nodded, took a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her tears. ‘Just what I need. Thank you. I’ll bring a dessert and some wine.’
‘Oh, just the wine. I make the most divine desserts. I’ve always loved making them. My darling children tell me all those desserts have made me fat. Probably right too.’ She grinned. ‘Oh Barney, stop it!’ He had started barking at another dog picking its way over the rocks—the little Westie with the wagging tail.
‘Barney come here! I wish you were as well-behaved as that darling dog.’ Catherine grabbed him and picked him up, but Barney refused to settle. He wiggled and yapped and spilled out of her hands. The man following behind the Westie smiled and nodded at them, then whistled to his dog. It turned and clambered back up the rocks. He scooped it into his arms and, with a nod at Catherine and Rose, turned back the way he’d come.
‘Oh, Barney, I think I’m going to have to take you back to dog school. He’s been, but it’s the Jack Russell in him. They love a good bark. God, the little Westie is well behaved though, isn’t she?’
Rose nodded. ‘Cute as a button, too.’
‘Have you talked to the owner?’ Catherine whispered. ‘Where does he live, I wonder?’
‘No idea. I’ve seen him around, but just nodded to him. All I know is he always wears sunglasses and a hat. Oh, and those Birkenstocks. I loathe them.’
‘The shoes, you mean? Oh my, you wait till you grow old and have sore feet. They’re wonderful.’
Rose wrinkled her nose and Catherine laughed. ‘Ah, the arrogance of youth,’ she said. ‘Just wait, is all I can say.’
*
The judge stood behind the rocks, listening to the women. Knowing it was meant to be. Katie’s leaving tomorrow, Rose had said. Katie’s leaving tomorrow. A life of its own. That’s what this plan had. If Katie was away, then he wondered about the boy. Sam. It’d been easy to find out information like names and ages. But he needed to know whether the boy was away too. He probably was, but the judge never left anything to chance. If he could help fate along,
he would.
He put his dog down and watched it meandering back and forth along the water’s edge. He smiled and thought about what he must do tomorrow. It really was simple. A visit to the library before his first court session should solve the problem.
*
The librarian leapt to attention as the judge walked in. Having a judge walk into the university law library wasn’t a rare occurrence, but the librarians always showed due deference. He smiled at her, Miss Egan, at least seventy if he remembered
correctly.
‘Can I help you with anything, Sir?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘No, thank you. I want to check a few points. Need to feel the pages between my fingers, every now
and again.’
‘Of course.’ As a librarian, she understood. He thanked her and continued to the back of the library, pulled out some books and found a desk, one with a view of the front counter and the librarian.
He didn’t have to wait long. A few minutes, at most, until he saw her disappear with a flustered barrister. He knew they’d be hunting the shelves for a while—not everything was on the computer. The librarian earned her money.
He walked to the front desk and picked up her phone. He knew the number to call. He had memorised it earlier in the day.
‘Hello,’ Rose said.
‘Good morning, I’m trying to contact Samuel Jones.’
He heard her hesitate. ‘In relation to what?’
‘Ah, yes,’ he said, keeping his voice affable. ‘I’m calling from the university library. I need to check a couple of details with Samuel. His database entry is incomplete. We’re taking this opportunity to sort out our records.’
‘Oh. He’s away at the moment.’ Her voice was hesitant.
The judge sighed. ‘Holidays. Yes. I’ve been hearing about holidays all morning.’
‘I’m sure. But can I help?’
‘Well, strictly speaking, no. Privacy legislation.’
‘Oh,’ said Rose. ‘That makes it awkward.’
‘Indeed. When will he be back? It’ll wait until then.’
‘Best to leave it till after Christmas. January? Or you could try him on his mobile.’
‘No,’ said the judge, with a laugh in his voice. ‘He’ll need to check some ID numbers with me. I’ll make a note to try again in January. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’
The judge returned to his desk and studied a book. It wouldn’t matter if he’d been seen using the phone. If he’d asked, the librarian would have given it to him on a silver platter, but he’d always believed in discretion.
Sitting at the desk with a book in front of him, his body tingled. It took all his concentration to sit still, to reign in the enormous surge of energy pulsing through his body. Soon the time
must come.
He sat for another five minutes before returning the books to the shelves and making his way out into the open air. Any day now the judge knew it would happen. Both children were gone. Rose was on her own. When the time was right, there would be a sign. He was ready. He had laid the groundwork.
*
The constant sense of dread Alex carried with him had deepened. The judge’s wife had been gone for nearly three weeks. Three weeks of walking a tightrope. He tried to tell himself he was miserable because his girls had finished university for the year and had gone back to their mother for the holidays. He missed them. He missed the noise and the chatter. He almost believed it too, but when he woke up the next morning and looked into Dog’s eyes he knew it was rubbish. It was time to act.
He wandered onto the balcony, felt the cool morning air jerk him awake and breathed in the city spread beneath him. It didn’t matter if Mac said they must not move against the judge. Mac was wrong. He, Alex Cameron, knew he was right.
He reached for his mobile and called Marion and Jerry.
*
It was a fine evening, no wind, and the city was crowded with people spilling out of pubs and restaurants onto the streets. Marion and Jerry were sitting at a table at a waterfront cafe, each holding a beer. Alex was drinking mineral water, gazing at the scene in front of him. Two thousand yachts rocking at their marina berths. A steady stream of people arriving after work, happy that summer had made an appearance, their city suits replaced with jeans and T-shirts as they worked on their boats. Throwing open hatches, letting the heat dry out the winter damp. He could hear laughter, music.
‘We need to talk,’ Alex said. ‘I can’t take it anymore, just waiting.’
Jerry didn’t speak. Neither did Marion. They didn’t know how to comfort Alex. How to help him.
‘We have to move. We have to.’
‘How?’ said Jerry. ‘We’ve got nothing.’
‘True. But we’ve got to show our hand. Just a little bit.’
Jerry took a swig of beer from the stubbie. ‘What have you got in mind, Boss?’
‘I’ve decided we have to somehow signal to the judge that we know, but with the most delicate touch, one the judge could never complain about. We are going to make our first move into the open.’
‘How?’ Jerry said. ‘How is that going to be possible?’
‘First off, I’m going to start running at Pierce’s Park. At six, every morning.’
Jerry frowned. ‘Crazy or what?’
‘It’s a public park, Jerry. I’m a runner, always have been. After a few days, I’ll introduce myself to the judge. He’s there with his dog every day.’
Jerry whistled.
‘And then we’re going to use Jessica, and your friend. The one who’s a barrister. The front row forward.’
Jerry looked confused. ‘Jessica? Who do you mean? Not Jessica Chan?’
Alex nodded.
‘How? Jesus. Jessica Chan.’ Jerry whistled. ‘Wow, she is so hot. Oh, sorry, Mar.’ He patted her hand, seeing her pained expression.
‘How are you going to use Jessica and Jerry’s barrister mate?’ Marion said ignoring Jerry.
‘This Saturday, Jessica is going to take her new best friend Ms Rose Jones, accompanied by Rose’s friends—that’s me, you Marion and you Jerry, along with your barrister friend—to check out the house Jessica would love to buy. The house the judge is renovating. What do you think?’
‘God. Out in the open, then,’ said Jerry.
‘Out in the open and firing on all cylinders. Think it will work?’
‘I love it, Alex,’ said Marion. ‘Fabulous idea. Straight into the lion’s den. Crowd him a little. Throw him off course.’
‘Well,’ said Jerry, ‘going to be interesting. But there’s no way the judge will sell it to Jessica.’
‘What does it matter?’ He gazed at Jerry and Marion. ‘Let’s face it. It’s all we can do.’
*
‘I think you’re right, Alex,’ Mr Chan said. He was sitting on the couch, with Dog by his side. For once neither of them was eating. ‘There comes a time when you have to show your hand. Just a glimpse. Let your opponent know he’s not heading towards a runaway goal. Make him swerve. Make the judge change
direction. If, as you think, Rose is in his sights, then you must do this.’
‘It involves Jessica, though, Mr Chan. Which is why I’ve come to you.’
‘Yes, it does,’ mused the old man. ‘And I must take Jessica’s wellbeing into consideration. But even if she wasn’t there, say you and your friends met this man on the beach by accident, he would very soon figure it out. Our judge is more than capable of putting two and two together.’ He stopped talking, smiled and played with the dog’s ear.
‘Look how much pleasure this animal has given us, Alex. Who would have thought?’ He sighed. ‘I have made my decision. It is a good plan. Now it is time I showed my hand as well.’
Alex straightened in his chair, his eyes fixed on the old man. He could be anyone’s grandfather—thinning hair, a tiny beard, small frame bent from years of hard work. However, Alex had always suspected there was more to him. More than the restaurants and the real estate holdings. He watched and waited.
‘Your plan will go ahead. With one additional person. Jessica will have a guard. I have already in my mind chosen the person. You will approve of him, I’m sure. He has degrees from Auckland and Yale, quite a modern young man.’
Alex listened, fascinated.
‘He also has other attributes I think your judge will pick up on. Yes, I feel confident he will understand.’
Alex nodded, adding a small smile. There was a lot he wanted to say to Mr Chan, so much he wanted to ask, but he didn’t. ‘It’s a go, then.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘As Jerry would say, let’s kick this bastard into touch.’
*
Rose could sense a change in Alex. He had rung several times during the week, planning their Friday night meal—a special something he wanted to cook at her place. An Italian recipe. One of his mother’s favourites. There was something new in his voice, something which hadn’t been there before. A hint of openness, a hint of more to come. And on Saturday morning, he was bringing Mr Chan’s granddaughter over to meet her. Jessica Chan. The perfect Jessica Chan with her shining hair, sparkling eyes and flawless skin. She was thinking of buying a house nearby and he wanted them to meet. He’d sounded mysterious over the phone and for a moment Rose wondered if he and Jessica were an item. It made her realise what an idiot she’d been. It jolted her out of her lethargy.
In a flurry of activity she had cleaned the house from top to bottom, attacked her wardrobe with vigour, spent an afternoon buying some new clothes and organised a morning in her local beauty parlour. A facial, nails, eyebrows, eyelashes. It was time to start living again. She could never compete with the likes of Jessica Chan, but in her heart, she believed Alex wasn’t interested in Jessica. Alex Cameron was interested in her.
It was a wonderful experience to wake up on Friday morning energized and excited about what the day would bring. For the first time in years, Rose felt a lightness, and it took her by surprise. She didn’t recognise the feeling at first, a sense of eagerness. The piercing sadness, her constant companion, was dulled.
She bounded out of bed, hugged the startled cat and sang her way through the shower as she planned her morning. She would go to the gym, have coffee, pop in to see Juliana and buy the vegetables Alex needed for tonight. Alex. It was Alex who had her singing in the shower, Alex who made her realise she was a woman ready for love.
She gave herself a mental shake. For God’s sake, Rose, she told herself. Act your age. But as she slipped into a new pair of jeans and top, that seemed like a silly idea.
*
The judge was an excellent sleeper. He’d been gifted the sleep of the untroubled. But he had woken at three in the morning and been drawn to the sheer glass window with its panoramic view of the sea and the sky—to the constellation of Orion back in the southern sky. The millions of neurons in his body stood to attention, like soldiers. Orion. His constellation. The greatest hunter of them all. Tonight the sky was so black and the stars so sharp, he felt he could reach up and pluck Orion’s sword, take for himself the magic and might it possessed. Energy coursed through his body. He bowed towards Orion and paid homage, one hunter to another. With the constellation dominating the southern sky, watching over him, the time must be close.
His day started as usual. A run with the dog, followed by a shower and breakfast. He listened to the news on the drive to work as he reviewed the day ahead, an annoying continuation of a particularly frustrating trial. A rich man’s son, accused of murdering his girlfriend in a drugged rage, who was benefiting from the legal acumen of the city’s top barristers and QCs. The young man was a thug, should be locked away for life as far as the judge was concerned, but his gaggle of lawyers was beginning to muddy the waters.
It came as a surprise when fifteen minutes into the morning session, the defence team requested an adjournment. One of the witnesses was unable to be located. There were no other witnesses ready to take the stand. The judge called the lawyers into his chambers, like a group of naughty schoolchildren. Normally he would have let them feel the full force of his wrath, but today was different. Today the judge recognised bigger wheels were in motion. The endgame was about to begin. He kept his face set and his questions and answers brief. He granted the defence a stay until Monday with barely a quibble.
The lawyers couldn’t believe their luck. They left as fast as they could. As one of them said, ‘let’s get the hell out of Dodge City, before the real Judge Nyss returns.’
The courtroom cleared in a matter of minutes and the judge retired to his chambers to change out of his robes. The tingling started as he checked himself in the mirror. A tall man, neat hair, nothing out of the ordinary except the eyes. The pale-blue eyes which reflected the light, glowing with an unnatural intensity. He put on his glasses. By the time he reached the car, the tingling in his hands and feet had become a vibration. His body was pulsing with anticipation. He hummed to himself as he hopped into the Jaguar and drove home to change into his beach wear and collect the dog. He would have to return to pick up the Honda, but that would only add a few minutes to his journey.
