9.00 am Friday
Makowa Lodge
Gina tried David’s number for the fourth time that morning. She’d given up on sending texts after she’d filled her iPhone screen with texts that he didn’t answer.
‘Miss U.’
‘Love U.’
‘Where ARE U?’ He must be in committee or he’d forgotten to take his phone off mute – again.
‘David pls TXT me.’
She hadn’t spoken to him since Wednesday night, and she wanted to check he was safe. Not only that, it was unlike David not to call her here before he left for work, no matter how early it was. There’d been no sign of Ellie since they’d had lunch together on Wednesday. Gina tucked her phone into her bag, hoping David would get back to her soon. A persistent ache had dragged at her lower back since she’d lifted Binny up this morning and she was worried that she’d pulled a muscle.
Gina held the children’s hands as she waddled over to the crèche at the back of the office building. Yes – waddled. She was getting bigger and more ungainly by the day. One of the women around the pool had even asked her yesterday if she was having twins.
Heather, the pretty Aboriginal girl who had been on reception the day she’d checked them in, welcomed them. She had dark shadows under her eyes.
‘Hi, Ms Perini. Hi, kids. Have you come to play?’ She came over to the gate and crouched down to greet the children.
‘My day spa appointment has been changed.’ Gina glanced down at her watch. ‘Can the children stay here this morning instead of this afternoon?’
‘Of course. The day spa is closing at noon today.’ Heather stared at her before she turned to the children. ‘Come on, kidlets. Come and play with Heather.’
Binny and Andrew ran inside to the playdough table.
‘I’ll come back and collect them as soon as I’m finished.’ Gina blew a kiss to the children. As much as the time here was restful, she was beginning to wish they could just go home to normality. She hated the days here without David. It was as though they were waiting for something to happen.
The technician showed her into the treatment room and before Gina slipped her clothes off and stepped into the pale pink, fluffy robe, she grabbed her phone from her bag in case David called.
‘Is this the biggest size you have?’ she asked with a smile. The tie only just went around her pregnant bump.
Gina lowered herself carefully into the soft leather chair and fought the usual vertigo as it tipped back. The girl positioned the chair so she could sit behind Gina and begin her facial. She grabbed for her phone as it slipped off Gina’s lap and threatened to slide to the floor.
‘I’ll just put your phone over here, okay? Snazzy case.’
‘Thank you.’ Gina nodded and closed her eyes. The soothing music played soft and low and she let her thoughts drift as the technician’s skilful fingers moved gently over her skin. Warm cloths alternated with cool liquid, and then her face was covered with soft gauze. The light was muted to a hazy grey through the gauze pads that pressed lightly on her eyelids. The sharp smell of a fruity cream drifted up as the girl worked her magic.
‘I’ll leave you to rest for fifteen minutes. All okay?’
Gina heard the sound of the door closing gently. For five minutes, she lay there alone and dozed lightly, aware of the low hum of voices in the next room. The music turned up louder as the door opened. Gina’s chair tipped back a little more as someone adjusted it. A muffled conversation buzzed around her. ‘Needed in the office . . . I’ll finish off here . . .’
She frowned. It sounded like Heather’s voice.
‘Okay, thanks. Just the facial to come off.’
‘Is everything okay with the children?’ she asked but there was no reply.
The door closed with a soft click. There was the sound of someone moving quietly around the room and Gina tried to open her eyes, but the gauze was stuck to her eyelashes. She tried to sit up but firm hands pushed her shoulders back gently.
‘Just relax. Everything’s fine.’
Dread filled Gina as a sharp sting pricked the skin of her inner wrist. Grabbing for her arm with her other hand, she ran her fingers over the spot as an icy cold travelled up her arm.
‘What was . . . –’ Gina opened her mouth to protest but a wave of nausea and giddiness overwhelmed her. Cold sweat ran down her neck and her mouth suddenly felt as though it was full of cotton wool. Her panic increased and her heart began to race as a strong cramp seized her belly. She wrapped her arms around her chest and shivered as weakness stole through her limbs.
‘I’m sorry.’ The woman sounded as though she was crying. ‘So, so sorry. But it’ll all be okay . . . I’m so sorry.’
Gina tried to call for help but no sound would come out. David was right. Someone was trying to hurt her. This was what he had warned her about. Oh God, will I ever see him again?
And my babies. She lifted one arm and managed to reach out; silver lights were clouding her vision.
Her hand was lifted gently between smooth, soft fingers as the husky voice faded in and out. ‘It won’t be for long and I promise I’ll take good care of Binny and Andrew.’
Gina shook as a final shiver wracked her and the soft grey light turned to black.
*
Parliament House, Darwin
David glanced down at his phone: four missed calls from Gina as well as a string of texts. He pressed her number on speed dial and held the phone to his ear, waiting for her to pick up as he flicked through the emails on his computer.
Gina’s phone switched to voicemail but he hung up without leaving a message. Knowing his wife, she would call back shortly. A day didn’t pass without them having at least one conversation – often three or more. Last night had been horrendous, back-to-back meetings until midnight. He’d intended calling Gina after they’d finished but it had been too late when he’d got back to his office and he knew she’d be asleep. He missed them so much; the house was as quiet as a morgue. David crossed the room and leaned on the doorframe, looking out into the adjacent office to where his media advisor usually sat. His desk was clear and his computer was switched off. He needed him now; they had a lot of work to do before Monday’s meeting.
‘Helen?’
His secretary looked up from her computer screen. ‘Yes, David?’
‘Do you know where Sean is?’
‘He’s been doing some work over in the technology unit.’
‘Can you get hold of him for me, please?’
‘Sure.’ Helen nodded and picked up the phone and David flashed her a brief smile and went back into his office. The media release prior to Monday’s meeting was going to be a key factor in ensuring that the right outcome was achieved.
But it would all be a waste if Fairweather had gotten to anyone else on this committee. Some of his colleagues were acting strangely; eyes downcast and unwilling to stop for a friendly chat as they passed in the corridors. If only he could get someone to confirm it, he’d have Fairweather up before a corruption hearing as soon as the vote was over. But he was too careful to take him on without hard proof. A throwaway line to him with no witnesses was not going to stand up in a court of law.
David crossed to the window and stared across the expanse of water in front of him. A breeze had whipped the waves into white caps on the harbour. The flag at the front of Government House snapped in the stiff breeze. The white gables reflected the strong morning sun, and tourists were wandering along the path that skirted the harbour. They didn’t have a worry in the world.
His shoulders sagged for a moment; it had all became too hard. The more time he spent fighting for what he believed was best, the more he became disillusioned by the power of people like Fairweather. No longer was it for the good of the Territory or Territorians. A parliament free of political corruption, where decisions could be made based on integrity and a balanced consideration of the risk for the environment, was never going to be the reality. He’d been idealistic and naive.
To the detriment of my family, and my life.
Despite his uncertainty, David had still prepared thoroughly for the meeting on Monday. He hoped Russell Fairweather would be very disappointed with the outcome of the vote.
There was a light tap on the door and it opened before he could speak. His media advisor strode in, a smile plastered on his face.
‘Dave. The dragon lady –’ he inclined his head towards the outer office ‘– told me to get my butt in here.’ He turned the chair opposite David’s desk around and straddled it.
‘We’ve got some work to do, Sean. Thanks for coming over. I need your expertise.’
Before Sean could respond, the door opened and Helen walked in slowly. Her face was ashen and her hands shook as she put them up to her face.
David stood and hurried across the room. In the four years, he had worked with Helen, he had never seen her show any emotion. By the time he reached her, tears were running down her face. Cold fingers of premonition settled in David’s gut.
‘What is it? Helen, what’s wrong?’ She was shaking and turning her head from side to side. ‘Is it Gina?’
‘Oh David, I’m so sorry. It’s dreadful, dreadful news.’