The Road Back (32 page)

Chris was pleased that Georgia had suggested another thread to pursue for his story.

‘You're right. I'll make some more effort to track Norma down and I'll keep trying with Alan Carmichael. I really need to crack that nut. I'll be in touch when I have anything new. Thanks again for making the time to come to Neverend.'

‘It's been a day of riches for me and very enjoyable. Thanks, Chris.'

‘Come back soon. Come for a weekend.' As Georgia climbed into her hire car, Chris leaned over and kissed her cheek. It seemed a very natural thing to do.

As he waved Georgia goodbye, he thought about how much he'd enjoyed the afternoon with her, and he realised that he hadn't spent time with a woman as smart and charming as Georgia in a long time. He suddenly felt lonely.

*

Chris took up Georgia's suggestion and decided to contact the various nursing associations to try to track down Norma. Initially they were unable to find any trace of her, but he pushed them to keep looking.

Once again Chris approached Alan through his PA, who again fobbed him off. So Chris wrote Alan a letter
as he had done for the article, explaining that he was going to expand his original story into a book about the careers of the four men. He hadn't really expected anything to come of it, so he was surprised when Alan called him personally a few days later.

‘So, tell me about this book you're doing,' he said.

Chris explained what he wanted to write.

‘You're not including your mother and the midwife?'

‘I certainly hope to use their experiences to fill in background detail about that time in Indonesia, if I can, but my mother is not at all interested in my telling her story, and I haven't yet been able to track down Norma. To be truthful, I think it's the high-profile names which will garner a publisher's enthusiasm.'

‘Who is going to buy and read this book?' asked Alan crisply.

‘Good question. I think Australians like to read about other Australians, especially successful ones, and you have been very successful. So I'd like to explore your career path. I know, for instance, that you started your company from scratch. I hope your story will give inspiration to other Australians.'

‘Perhaps,' said Alan Carmichael. ‘I'll be in touch.'

Chris felt elated. While Alan's tone had been curt and Chris hadn't had a chance to pin him down for an interview, the billionaire had at least called, so Chris felt hopeful that Alan would agree to further questions.

Chris now started to delve into the background of all his subjects in earnest, their schools, their universities, their old friends. He managed to work out what had become of the Neighbourhood Aid project, and found that it had merged with a couple of other aid organisations, and so he requested information about their Indonesian operation and its volunteers. He received some documents in the mail, but was told any personal files would have to be accessed under Freedom of Information procedures.

Chris was beginning to enjoy himself. He relished the familiar feelings that digging for information brought him; mainly frustration, but also elation as small pieces of a puzzle began to emerge.

But one morning there was a letter in the mail that chilled him. Chris read it twice, absorbing its contents.

Susan noticed the expression on his face and asked, ‘Have you hit a snag? You look concerned.'

‘A snag is putting it mildly. This is a letter from Alan Carmichael's personal lawyers notifying me that if my book defames Alan in anyway, they will be taking legal action. Apparently they're going to be watching me very closely.'

‘What?!' Susan looked stunned. ‘Why would Alan do this?'

‘He's famous for being a private person,' sighed Chris. ‘And he's got his professional reputation to protect. Mum, what does he think I'm going to write about him that would cause him to act in such a heavy-handed way?'

‘Wealthy people are known for being litigious,' said Susan.

Chris's shoulders drooped. ‘How can I fight this? This book is going to be very hard to do without Alan Carmichael's cooperation.'

‘Would it help if I spoke to Alan?' asked Susan, distressed on her son's behalf at this turn of events.

‘I don't know, Mum. Maybe I should speak to Georgia first.'

Georgia was businesslike. ‘These things happen, Chris. Legal wrangling is part and parcel of publishing. I suggest you get a lawyer to respond to Alan's letter on your behalf. Don't worry, though. With some good legal advice, you can work around defamation and still do the book.'

‘I don't know, Georgia. Alan's a billionaire. He's probably got a dozen lawyers. I don't have the sort of money to take on someone like him! Maybe I should drop the whole idea,' said Chris.

‘Well, I don't think that you should give up so
quickly. For the time being my advice is just to get on with researching the other three. They're interesting enough for a book, even without Alan, but I still think that you need to protect yourself by responding to that letter,' replied Georgia. ‘You really should approach a lawyer.'

Chris thought for a moment. ‘My friend Duncan's brother is a solicitor in Coffs Harbour. I could get him to reply to the letter. Maybe he would only charge me mate's rates,' said Chris.

‘That sounds like a plan. I suggest you get on to it right away.'

‘Okay, thanks, Georgia,' said Chris, feeling calmed by Georgia's efficient manner.

But after he'd hung up the phone and stepped outside to take a deep breath, Chris shivered. It was not from the frosty air and curling mist weaving its way across the valley, but from the worry that things were not going the way he had hoped. He needed this book to be a success, and now he was having doubts it was ever going to work.

But then a slow burn began in the pit of his stomach. I'm going to write this book, he thought, no matter what. It might be risky, but I'll be careful. I'm sure that I can pull it off.

Chris walked back inside with a firm tread and a determined expression on his face.

There was a comfortable
silence in the car as Chris drove Megan to the plateau.

They were used to each other now, thought Chris. A few months ago he'd have felt the need to make small talk with his daughter, but these days the awkwardness that had prompted him to constantly engage with her had gone. Megan evidently felt the same way, for while she had her earphones draped around her neck, she wasn't listening to anything but
simply gazing contentedly out the window. She was going to Jazzy's place for the weekend, the first time they'd spent time together since Jazzy had left Neverend to return home.

Chris glanced at Megan's pretty profile, and as she caught the movement she turned and smiled at him.

‘Looking forward to this?' her father asked.

‘Yep. Jazzy and I have been emailing about plans. She's still very cool. It will be fun to spend the weekend with her, and I'm looking forward to seeing her animals. What are you going to do, Dad?'

‘Write. Looking forward to some peace and quiet,' he said.

‘Well, if Bunny goes away too, you can have the house to yourself.'

‘What do you mean? Why's Bunny going away?'

‘Oh. Hasn't she told you? Well, maybe it's not definite, but I think that David was hoping to come down and they're going to some farm place . . . that organic one?'

‘Core Creek Organic Farm? Mum hasn't mentioned it.' Chris felt annoyed that he'd been left out of the loop. Going away with David for the weekend was a big step in their relationship. ‘I think she could have said something to me,' he said crossly.

‘Oh, Dad! C'mon . . .' laughed Megan.

‘No. I'm serious. David seems to be a nice man but, well . . .' Chris stopped, trying to work out how he really felt about it.

‘But what? What's wrong with Bunny having David for a friend? I think it's great . . . she's all sparkly when he's around. You can tell she likes him.'

‘I keep thinking about my dad,' said Chris, quietly.

‘But Poppy died yonks ago!' Megan stared at him in genuine surprise. ‘I can't believe you're sounding like such a grump.'

‘All right, all right,' said Chris, tersely. ‘I was very close to my father and I think he and your grandmother had as near to a perfect marriage as I can think of. Maybe she should stay loyal to that marriage. Anyway, perhaps Bunny and David's relationship doesn't mean anything.'

‘It might not, but so what if it does? Did you get upset when Mum married Trevor?' Megan asked.

‘Of course not. That was different. I was very happy for your mother. If she's happy, then we all are.' Chris grimaced as he realised
how silly that sounded.

‘Then why can't you be pleased for Bunny? Don't you want her to be happy, too?' said Megan, archly. ‘I think you're being a dick.'

‘Watch your language, Megan! That's not a suitable word.'

Megan pulled up her earphones and pushed them into her ears, turning on her music and effectively shutting him out.

Chris spent the rest of the drive to the plateau trying to sort out his feelings about Susan and David. His head told him that Susan was perfectly entitled to make her own decisions
about David, but his heart made it hard for him to accept the relationship. As he had admitted to Georgia, he felt that David was invading the cosiness of their small family and he resented it.

As soon as Chris pulled up at Jazzy's place, Megan dashed out of the car and hugged
Jazzy, who was standing outside her house waiting for them.

‘Hi, Megan. I thought you'd never get here. Come and see the alpacas. There's a baby one and it's so cute.'

‘Hi, Jazzy. Is your mum here?' asked Chris.

‘Yes, Chris, she's inside.'

‘Have a fun weekend, you two. See you Sunday afternoon.' Chris smiled at Megan but she just nodded and linked her arm through Jazzy's, replying with a short, ‘Okay. See ya.' The two girls headed towards the small herd of curious alpacas grazing in a nearby paddock.

Chris ignored the cold shoulder and knocked on the front door. Jazzy's mother, Janelle, welcomed him and they chatted briefly about the girls' plans for the weekend as he dropped in Megan's bag. Janelle asked him to stay for a drink, but Chris declined, explaining that as the evenings were closing in early, he wanted to get straight back to Neverend before it got too dark.

He was heading down the mountain when Susan rang. He answered the call with the hands-free.

‘Hi. I'm on my way home.'

‘Did you get Megan safely delivered?'

‘Yes, I left them admiring a mob of cute alpacas. Janelle told me Jazzy wanted to take Megan to the rainforest tomorrow. Have a bit of an explore.'

‘Are they going down to the waterfall?'

‘I have no idea.'

‘Chris, I've been meaning to chat to you about this weekend. David has decided to go over to Core Creek Farm, so he's asked me to go along. I'm keen to see the place, so I'm going with him. I just wanted to let you know.'

‘This is all a bit sudden, isn't it? Are you comfortable going away with a man for the weekend?' Chris asked tightly.

‘You are joking, aren't you? You make it sound like a dirty weekend,' snapped Susan.

Chris recalled what Georgia had said. ‘Sorry, Mum. I guess I'm just being protective.'

‘Chris, I don't need protecting. I've managed perfectly well all these years on my own, even when you were overseas.' Susan's voice was clearly angry now.

‘I realise that. I suppose I'm thinking of Dad.'

Susan softened. ‘Your father was a loving and big-hearted man, but I have had a life beyond the life I had with him, you know. David is an old friend and it's so nice to have the company of an interesting man who is not part of my life here in Neverend.'

‘Fine. I get it, Mum.' Chris refrained from saying anything more about what he thought of David. He felt suddenly tired. ‘I'll be interested in what you think of Core Creek farm. I'd better go; I'll see you tonight,' he said as evenly as he could.

‘That's why I rang – we'll probably miss each other. David is picking me up at five and we're heading off. You might not get back here before then, so I'll feed Biddi before I go.'

‘Okay, have fun.'

That night Chris had the house to himself, but he found it hard to concentrate on his book as his focus was constantly interrupted by thoughts about his mother and David. He told himself that he was being idiotic and selfish about the whole thing, and that his father would have been nothing but happy for Susan to find another companion, but Chris couldn't shake the thought that he really didn't want anyone else intruding on their little household.

The next morning he decided to press on with the book while there was nothing to disturb him in the quiet house. It was late afternoon when the phone broke the silence with its shrill ring.

When Chris answered it, he could hear a woman's voice, high-pitched and agitated.

‘Chris? It's Janelle here. I think you'd better get back up to the plateau.'

‘What do you mean? What's wrong?' Chris knew at once that whatever Janelle was going to tell him would not be good news and his own voice sounded strained and tense.

Jazzy's mother took a breath, obviously trying to steady her voice. ‘You need to come to the rainforest, to the tourist centre there. The girls have had an accident.'

Chris felt his chest tighten. ‘Are they all right? What's happened to them?'

‘They went exploring around the waterfall and Jazzy hurt her leg. Megan went back up to get help.'

‘Is Jazzy okay?'

Janelle's voice sounded frightened. ‘We don't think anything's broken, but it's Megan. She's missing.'

Chris's heart leaped into his mouth. ‘What do you mean? Didn't she go for help? She always has her phone on her.'

‘Apparently her phone fell into a pool and so Megan went for help. About fifteen minutes later,
Jazzy was found by some bushwalkers and they brought her up to the top but when she got there, Megan hadn't shown up. That was half an hour ago and there is still no sign of her. The staff at the tourist centre have notified the police. Look, I'm sure that they'll find Megan soon, but Chris, you need to be there.'

Chris hung up the phone, found his car keys and was on his way to the rainforest tourist centre in a matter of moments. He drove up the narrow winding road to the plateau like a madman. He swept around a hairpin bend at such speed that the car moved into the middle of the road. Realising then that he was being stupid driving at high speed on such a dangerous road, he slowed down.

It was a drive he'd never forget. All he could do was think about Megan. What if something really terrible had happened to her? He would never forgive himself for the spat they'd had the day before. Megan had been right to point out his overreaction to his mother's relationship with David Moore. He shouldn't have been so childish as to allow them to part on bad terms. He hadn't even kissed Megan goodbye. But maybe, he thought, by the time he got to the tourist centre above the rainforest, she'd be sitting there laughing over her adventure.

When he screeched to a halt in the parking lot of the complex, his heart sank at the sight of all the emergency vehicles: SES vans, ambulance and several police cars as well as police emergency units, even a rescue helicopter. There were numerous people milling about.

He jumped from the car and ran inside the tourist centre. At one end of the centre was a souvenir shop, whilst at the other was a coffee shop where the first thing he saw were a couple of paramedics talking to Jazzy. She was huddled under a blanket, her leg stretched out in front of her, resting on a chair and Janelle was sitting beside her, holding her hand.

Jazzy's mother saw Chris straight away and motioned him over.

‘Jazzy, are you all right?' asked Chris. ‘What happened? How did you get separated from Megan?'

Jazzy lifted a tear-stained face. ‘I'm all right. They say that I only have a badly sprained ankle. Megan and I, we were at the base of the waterfall, climbing around the pools there. Megan was taking a selfie of us
and I slipped on the muddy ground and twisted my ankle. Our phones were out of action so Megan said she'd go for help. She must have got lost trying to find her way back . . .' Fresh tears started to run down her face. ‘I'm sorry, Chris. She thought she was doing the right thing . . . Megs will be all right, won't she?' Jazzy looked desperately at her mother.

‘I can't understand how Megan could get lost. Surely she would have just followed the track back here,' said Chris, his voice rising in panic. As soon as he said that, a young policeman came over to speak with him.

‘Are you Mr Baxter, Megan's father? I'm Constable Bright. You need to speak to the police commander.'

Chris followed the young constable over to another policeman whose authoritative demeanour, and the fact that he was surrounded by all the other emergency service personnel, indicated that he was in charge of the operation.

‘You're the girl's father? I'm Area Commander Watson. I'm in charge of the search. We have a lot of people out looking for your daughter. I'm sorry to say we haven't located her yet, but it's only a matter of time. There are more people on the way to help in the search.'

‘I saw some of them in the car park,' said Chris. He looked around the centre's coffee shop, which seemed to be a hub of activity.

A man who was introduced as the controller of the state emergency services stepped forward and placed his hand sympathetically on Chris's shoulder. ‘We think that Megan may have taken one of the small unmarked tracks in the park that don't go anywhere specific. If she has, then the situation is a little more difficult, especially as night is falling and we have been told that your daughter only has on a light jumper and jeans. I gather that she doesn't even have a jacket. But Mr Baxter, the police rescue squad and SES here on the plateau are very experienced in finding lost bushwalkers and we're doing all we can.'