Peter Corris - The Reward

We were locked together, sweating and panting in the perfumed garden. I pressed her up against the trellis with a forearm under her chin and a knee in her groin. My bruised ribs were shrieking and I knew I couldnt hold her there for long.

Our faces were close together and the sour, tobacco odour of her breath was strong in my nostrils.

One answer to one question, Andrea, and you can walk away from all this.

Whats that, arsehole?

Who tipped you off in Sydney? Who sent you running up here to Peg and the money?

Thats two fucking questions and I dont know the fucking answers.

You got a phone call. Eve told us.

I felt the strength go out of her but I held on tight in case she was faking. Eve, she said. Poor old Eve.

Who?

I dont know. Some woman.

A woman?

Thats right. Another surprise for you is it, arsehole? You think only men can fuck people around?

No, I said. I dont think that.

Bet your arse. This woman said the Ramona Beckett thing was being investigated and that my name had come up. She said these hard types… ease up, youre fucking choking me.

I relaxed the pressure, a little.

… were coming to see me and Id better get out of it and grab everything I could lay my hands on before it all turned to shit. Let go!

I released her, she spat in my face and ran away. I leaned back against the trellis, wiped my face with the back of my hand and closed my eyes for a second. When I opened them Peg Hawkins was standing by the open grille. She had a white handtowel pressed against her cut arm and the blood was just beginning to seep through it. Her dress was stained and spotted. She was pale but she was fighting for control.

What now? she said.

I shook my head and stood straight, looking back at her. Do you know who killed Ramona Beckett?

I dont know and I dont care.

Why did Beckett go on paying after Johnno died? Why wasnt he off the hook then?

Johnno was a sadistic, twisted creep, but he was smart. He had Beckett on tape.

Wheres the tape now?

Wouldnt you like to know!

Yeah, I would, but I do know something. Peg. I reckon that moneys going to stop coming.

Why?

I reached into my jacket pocket and took out the miniature tape recorder Id activated just before Id pressed the Satisfaction buzzer. The red light was showing and the tape was still running.

Ive got a tape of my own, I said. Does that make me smart, too?

Whatre you going to do with it?

Play it to Colin Sligo for one thing.

She sagged against the grille. Oh, Jesus, she said. Dont do that. Please dont do that. I can get along without the money from Sydney, but Colin can put me out of business here.

Youd better get that arm looked at. Ill do a deal with you, Peg. I wont play the tape to Sligoor only an edited version. Ill do everything I can to keep you out of it.

What do I have to do in return?

One, dont contact Sligo today. Two, tell me where Andrea Craigs likely to have gone.

Peggy Hawkins was a woman of spirit. Despite her distress and her wound she managed a harsh, genuine laugh. Fuck me, she said. Ill have to trust you.

Thats right.

Sure I cant interest you in Amanda or Chantelle? I can scrub up pretty well myself too.

I dont doubt it, but no.

Not queer, are you, Cliff?

What do you think?

She sighed. The breasts heaved. She was almost back in business. No, I understand men better than anything else. Ive watched you. Youre a hair, eyes, mouth, tit and leg man. Johnno was much the same before he got old and fat. Dont get old and fat, Cliff.

Ill be careful about fat.

Youve got a deal. In fact I think Ill take myself off somewhere for a while.

Good idea.

Andreas got a girlfriend in Byron Bay. Name of Jackie. Shes a hooker who works out of a duplex opposite the main beach. I think her name might be Jackson, Im not sure. Anyway, thats the name she uses. Things should be quiet there about now. I dont know the address, but Andrea doesnt know that I know.

Thanks, Peg.

She pressed the buzzer and the message began: This is Satisfaction, an escort service and…

I used the mobile to call Bob and Max who were heading back towards Broadbeach.

Howd it go? Bob said. Hope I didnt call back too soon.

No, the timing was about right. It worked pretty well. I think weve got what we need. A couple of loose ends. I need a drink, mate. I can see something called the Honolulu Bar dead ahead. Thats where Ill be.

You all right?

Yeah, fine. Its lucky I like beating up women.

I was on my second vodka and tonic (the first was a silent toast to Peggy Hawkins and after that I couldnt see any reason to change drinks), when Max and Bob came into the bar. It wasnt quite as bad as it soundedthere was less bamboo than youd expect, fewer fake leis, and only one poster of Elvis as he appeared in Blue Hawaii.

They took stools on either side of me. Bob ordered a beer and Max a mineral water with lemon. I downed my drink and ordered another. This is no good, I said. Ill have to swivel my head so Max can see what Im saying.

Whats wrong with you? Bob said. Youre on the way to getting pissed. I thought you said everything went well?

We moved to a table overlooking the street and not far from Satisfaction. I was beginning to tell them what had happened when Peggy Hawkins came from behind the trellis and got into a taxi. She was wearing a tight blue dress and a black jacket and I saw the driver miss his grip on the door after she slid inside.

I lifted my glass. Cheers, Peg.

Hes flipped, Bob said. Must be the climate.

I played the tape for them, stopping and starting, repeating certain sections until they had the whole picture. They said nothing until Max drained his second mineral water. I think Ill have a beer. What about you?

Bob and I ordered and when Max came back with the drinks he said, I feel like Bogart in Casablanca. Play it again, Cliff.

I knew what he meant. Id made a mental note of the counter on the tape at the spot. I ran through to it and hit the button. First my voice, Who? Then Andrea: I dont know. Some woman. Me again: A woman?

The only woman in Sydney who knows anything about this is Penny Draper, Max said. And Im absolutely positive shes straight.

Shes not the only woman. I told them about Claudia Vardon, how shed turned up and that she lived in the Connaught.

You say you didnt mention names, but, Bob said.

Yeah, but that time I was in her place, after wed fucked, I went to sleep for a while. I had my notebook on me and I had Andrea Nevilles name in it.

Shit, Max said. That looks like it, but whats her angle?

I was feeling too miserable and confused to think about it. Like anyone else, Id been aroused and tempted by what was on display at Satisfaction, but at the back of my mind was the thought and prospect of Claudia. Now all that looked like turning into something very ugly. I forced myself to consider the ins and outs of it. If Claudia was Barry Whites backer, was she also his killer? And had she made the attempt on Leo Grogan? All very unpleasant to contemplate but, as I faced it, the old curiosity began to take hold. And something more.

I dont know what her angle could be, I said quietly. But Im going to find out.

Bob saw my expression and tried for the light note. Its lucky you like beating up women, he said.

This one used me and made a fool of me. I dont like that one bit.

Max coughed. When youre through being tough, weve got a couple of things to settle up here. We should see Sligo and we should try to get that note.

My thoughts had gone straight back to Sydney, but I knew he was right. I wonder if he really is sick, or if hes got wind of things?

I called his office, Bob said. They say hes got the flu. Had it a fair while. That tee times a regular booking but apparently he hasnt played for weeks. Answering machine at his home number. The voice sounds a bit fluey you could say.