Peter Corris: The Reward

We drove back to Broadbeach and brought Bob up to scratch.

So theres no need for you to go chasing hookers in Byron Bay, Max said.

Bob nodded. Pity. I suppose you guys are keen to get back to the big smoke?

Keen wasnt quite the word, but things needed doing. We booked a flight, thanked Bob nd I told him to send a full account.

You havent got a client.

Im going to collect the reward, remember? And if I dont Im going to get something out of somebody.

On the plane Max suddenly said. I never did get to meet my widow.

Pity, I said. Youd have liked her. I did.

At Mascot, Max and I agreed to talk later on the question of our next moves. Max went off to collect his thoughts and impressions and to contact Penny Draper. I got a cab to my office and checked the mail, fax and answering machines. There was nothing from Claudia. I phoned her number at the Connaught and got no reply, not even a machine. It was late in the day and, after the warmth of the Gold Coast, the air had a bite. That suited my mood. Carrying my overnight bag, I walked to the Connaught as quickly as I could, fuelled by anger.

I keyed her number in on the pad and got no answer. I beckoned to the desk attendant who pressed a button to unlock the door. That let me into an area that was still sealed off from the lifts. I could see what Claudia had meant about the security. I asked the attendant if hed seen Ms Vardon recently.

Ms Vardon?

Apartment 809.

He consulted a booklet. That is not the name of the occupier.

I was in there a day ago. Its her apartment. OK, OK. Who is the occupier?

Im afraid I cant tell you that, sir.

I got out my PEA licence and showed it to him. He was very unimpressed. A fifty-dollar note didnt change his attitude and I went out onto the street seething with frustration. I stood on the spot where Id bumped into her and could almost feel the force of her presence. I backed off to the street and stared up at the windows, remembering how shed looked and felt and the hopes Id had. I couldnt trust myself to talk to another human being, not even a cabbie. I slung the bag over my shoulder by its strap and walked home to Glebe.

No messages, no notes. I unpacked the bag, took a long shower and sat down with a large Scotch and my notebook, the one I assumed Claudia had investigated while I was asleep. I made my usual diagram with the broken and unbroken lines but my mind wasnt on the job. I wondered whether any of what shed told me was true. Most wasnt. I put the pen and notebook down and worked on the Scotch. I realised that Id dropped my guard way down. I hadnt even recorded the registration number of her car.

Images of her kept flashing into my mind. Ive been told this happens when someone close to you dies. Well, that was fitting. The images were elusive, though, tangled up with vague memories of her laughter and sharp pictures of her face and movements. I scoured through the house in the hope that Claudia might have left something behind. I told myself I was doing this in the hope of finding some way to track her down, but I knew I was just looking for something to hold on to. I found nothing. I had another drink and, having skipped lunch after a busy morning and a bad afternoon, it hit me. I felt myself getting drunk and knew I should eat something but I had no appetite.

I was on my third drink when the phone rang. Just for a split second I thought it might be Claudia and I tried to marshall my thoughts.

Cliff, this is Penny Draper.

Right.

Are you OK? Max wants to talk to you.

Im not sure I want to talk to Max.

A pause. I could imagine her mouthing my words. The thought irritated me and I slammed down the phone. Fuck the disabled, I thought. As soon as it formed, the thought seemed childish and I poised my hand over the phone waiting for the ring. I snatched it up.

Penny? Im sorry, I…

Another woman already? Thats fast work, Cliff.

It was Claudias voice and I realised why Eve Crown hadnt been able to remember whether a man or a woman had made the call to Andrea. Claudias voice was deep, almost masculine. Half-drunk, I was delighted by it and hated it at the same time.

Arent you going to say anything, Cliff?

Why are you doing this?

You mean ringing you now.

I pressed the cold glass to my forehead. You know what I mean.

I suppose I do. I cant tell you just yet. I want you to know I admire you, though.

To hell with you. You lied to me from the first fucking minute.

Thats right. I had my reasons.

Claudia, if thats your bloody name. One mans dead and another might as well be. Were there reasons for that.

I had nothing to do with that. I swear it.

I wish I could believe it. But how can I believe anything you say?

You want to though, dont you? We were good, Cliff. Werent we good?

Stop it!

All right. Lets keep it businesslike if thats the way you want it. Whats your next move?

Youve got a nerve. Why would I tell you anything? I dont even know who you are.

Thats right, you dont. And thats the way it has to stay for a while. But I can tell you this everything youve done so far in this matter has been orchestrated by me. I sent Barry White to see you. And then I followed up myself. I enjoyed it, too. But you dont want to talk about that. My god, I nearly died when I bumped into you at the Connaught. And then you handed locating Barrys mystery contact right over to me.

That must have given you a laugh.

Not really. It was a lucky break, but if youre smart enough you create your own luck. You must know that.

Despite all the rage inside me, I found myself enjoying talking to her. Whats your interest in all this? Is it the reward?

No. I cant tell you but I will eventually. Right now, I need to know what happened up in Queensland. Did you see the Hawkins woman and Andrea Neville and Colin Sligo?

You take my bloody breath away. Yes, I saw them. But Ill be buggered if Ill tell you anything about it. Why should I?

Youll have to, sooner or later. Who was it, Cliff? Who suppressed the note? Was it Mrs Beckett, Sean, Estelle, Cavendish? Do you know?

No comment.

Thats childish, after all Ive done for you.

She was steering me back in that direction again and I let myself be steered. I couldnt help it. Like what?

Didnt you wonder why the bashing you got was so… gentle?

I wouldnt call it gentle. What dyou mean?

I wanted to test your resolve, Cliff. They went a bit too far, but I made it up to you, didnt I? Tell me you havent thought about it since. Tell me you havent thought about having your cock in my mouth. Tell me youre not thinking about it right now?

Im thinking youre a crazy, manipulative, lying bitch

With a lovely tight cunt.

I was sober now, or close to it, and able to think. I tried to turn this weird contact to my advantage but couldnt see how. I said nothing.

Stony silence. OK. Do whatever you like. You wont get far. Ill call again this time tomorrow and maybe youll be more reasonable.

Claudia, dont

She hung up and I slammed the phone down again. It rang straight off and I let it ring for a long time. When I picked up Penny Draper sounded very peeved.

I thought you mustve left the phone off the hook. You were very rude, before, Cliff.

Im sorry, I said. I really cant talk to Max just now. I have to get some sleep and straighten things out in my head. Ill ring at nine tomorrow. OK?

I hung on while she communicated this to Max. I expected her to speak again but it was Max himself on the line.

Cliff, I understand youve got some problems. OK. Just wanted to tell you that Cavendish has gone to Melbourne for a day. They work late in that game and his secretary told me. Hes our best way into this thing as I see it. Not much we can do till he gets back. Well talk tomorrow. Come in here about ten. Goodnight.