Yes, that’s a dig!
Libby nods, her cheeks reddening further. ‘Maybe it’s not you they’re after. Maybe it’s me.’
‘Why would anyone want you?’ That really wasn’t meant to be a bitch-slap. It’s just the way the words fell out of my mouth, but I can see from the look on Libby’s face that that’s how she takes it.
‘You really are a total crapstick,’ she retorts. ‘If I have to be stuck down here in this hellhole, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather share it with.’
Not a compliment. I choose to ignore her snit and ask again, ‘Why would they be after you?’
Libby takes a deep breath. ‘Because of the new Prime Minister.’
‘Tobias Durbridge?’ I say, my voice unintentionally sharp. ‘What about him?’
Libby looks me in the eye and states simply, ‘He’s my dad.’
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Exposed: slain underworld kingpin Daniel Jeavons spun a web that ensnared judges, business CEOs and other pillars of society
Today the Daily Shouter can reveal that the ruthless underworld kingpin, Daniel Jeavons, whose body was found on 7 September, was aided during his reign of terror by pillars of society and prominent members of the establishment. Due to an active injunction against this publication regarding any discussion of Daniel Jeavons’ business empire, we cannot reveal names, but we have proof that at least one circuit judge, a number of MPs and captains of industry were on the payroll of Dan Jeavons.
Then
* * *
WAY BACK WHEN
thirty-five. Tobey
* * *
Friday afternoon and it was the day of Callie’s birthday party. I’d offered to help her set up after school. She’d kept saying no but I insisted. The rain was coming down in a fighting mood. Droplets the size of coins smacked at everything in their path and the blustery wind blew the rain every which way, making my hood and Callie’s umbrella pointless as we made our way to her house. We both went in, laughing and shaking ourselves off like wet dogs.
‘This weather is something else,’ I said.
Callie’s smile came and went.
‘Where’s your mum and Meggie?’ I asked.
‘Nana Meggie is spending some time with her sister, and Mum and Nathan are having a weekend break together by the sea,’ said Callie.
‘Your mum’s trusting you with the house for the whole weekend?’ I asked, surprised.
‘Yep. So I’d better not mess up or it’ll never happen again.’ Callie pulled off her jacket and threw it over the banister.
I pulled off my hoodie and flung it over Callie’s jacket. Dumping my rucksack at the foot of the stairs, I followed her into the kitchen.
‘Most of the tables on the patio have already been set up so hopefully the weather will improve soon. It’s supposed to. The caterers are coming in an hour with the food, so until then could you help me with the decorations and getting the drinks chilled and in buckets?’ said Callie.
Pause.
‘Anything you want.’
Callie looked at me then, a charged silence descending between us. I stood still, drinking her in – the way she looked at me sometimes like I was a puzzle to solve, the sound of her voice when she was humming to herself, the way she laughed with her head tilted back, the way she dipped her chin when she smiled as if she didn’t want anyone to see. I would grow tired of being with her about the time I grew tired of breathing.
This girl was my other half, and because of me she’d been shot and nearly died. She’d been in a coma for days – thanks to me. I still couldn’t let that go. If I’d lost her, I would’ve carried on walking and talking and existing, but a major part of me, the real part of me, would’ve died with her. Looking at her now, it scared me just how much I lo—cared for her. After one brief moment of weakness many months ago, when I’d cried in front of her, I promised myself that Callie would never see me weak again. I’d prove to her – and myself – just how solid I was. I made myself stay away from her, pretending an indifference that was 180 degrees away from how I really felt. And I’ll admit that part of it was to punish myself. It was my fault Callie had got shot in the first place, so I told myself she’d be better off if I stayed away from her. That was my penance, my self-inflicted stopover in purgatory. No, not purgatory. Hell. During our time apart I’d missed her like crazy. My self-imposed punishment didn’t last long. A few weeks at most before Callie’s friend Sammi had taken me to one side and threatened to kick my arse if I didn’t pull my head out of it.
‘I don’t know what you’re playing at, Tobey, but Callie is miserable and you’re the cause and I’m not having it,’ she told me straight. ‘If you don’t want to be with her any more, then have the balls to come right out and tell her so. That way you’ll both know where you stand. Don’t just ignore her and duck out of rooms when she enters them.’
‘I’m trying to do what’s right for Callie,’ I admitted.
‘By deliberately hurting her?’ Sammi said incredulously.
‘That’s not my intention.’
‘Intention or not, that’s what you’re doing,’ she said. ‘Look, do you want to be with her or not?’
I nodded, unable to lie.
‘Then stop acting like a dick.’ And with that Sammi flounced off.
It had the desired effect though. After Crossmas I’d got back with Callie, and now here we were. Callie had never asked me why I’d backed away from her and she didn’t recriminate – not once. Maybe she was waiting for me to volunteer the information. But what we have isn’t the same. Since the new year she’s been … cautious. Wary. I’ve caught her watching me when she doesn’t think I’m looking. Yet when we’re together, she has a hard time meeting my eyes. Is she afraid of what she might see, or what she might reveal?
‘Callie, how’s your mum– I haven’t seen her in a while?’ I asked to break the tension between us.
‘Fine. You know she’s Persephone Ealing now, right?’
My mouth fell open. ‘She married Nathan? Last I heard they were going to wait till summer.’
‘They both changed their minds and got married at Crossmas. She’s full of the joys of spring at the moment. I wanted to invite you to their wedding as my date, but—’ Callie shrugged.
No more words were required. I’d been too busy doing my running-man act to slow down enough to receive the invitation. Callie proceeded to tell me all about the wedding and some of the more amusing moments from the wedding reception. I could’ve been there, but I’d missed it.
‘How d’you feel about your mum and Nathan?’ I asked after her reminiscences.
Callie shrugged again as she retrieved more beer bottles from the fridge. She was doing that far too often. ‘Mum deserves to be happy. She’s found someone who doesn’t ignore her or treat her like shit. That means a lot.’