‘How do you know that?’ demanded Hugh. ‘You could have lost the key yourself.’
‘He called me.’ She looked at Oliver. ‘That’s why I wasn’t down here to meet you. Sorry.’
‘What else did he say?’ Oliver asked, relief that she hadn’t deliberately avoided him moving through his body like sweet honey.
‘He’s flying out of the country, I think. He’d be in the air now. He called from the airport and I heard an announcement in the background about Auckland so it must have been the international terminal.’
‘Where’s he going? It wouldn’t be Auckland.’ Hugh’s voice grated with fury.
‘He wouldn’t tell me. He said he’s posting my keys to me.’ She bit at her lower lip. ‘You have to pay Moran off, Hugh.’
‘I do not. I’ll tell him Angus has left the country.’
‘Why aren’t you worried about what he’ll do?’ Oliver asked slowly. The man was angry but it was directed at Angus and it wasn’t fear driven, as far as he could tell.
‘He wouldn’t dare do anything.’
‘Why?’
‘That’s none of your business. If you’ll excuse me, I have guests to attend to, and your mother is giving me the evil eye, Krista. As usual.’
He strode away.
‘Christ! Where does that leave us?’ Oliver exhaled in exasperation. ‘What a total crock.’
Krista touched his arm. ‘I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault you got involved.’ Her voice wobbled.
He moderated his tone. ‘Hey, it’s not your fault at all. The police called me to the accident, not you, and your brother started the whole thing and wouldn’t lift a finger to sort it out.’
‘You’re being very kind but you know that’s not strictly true. You stuck up for me when those men came.’
He gave a little snort of derision. ‘And look how that worked out. Fat help I was. It made things way worse.’
‘Not really. You were in the right, and I still have my horse.’
Oliver smiled. ‘Thanks. You should leave here, you know.’
‘I have to stay until my keys turn up.’
‘No, you don’t. You have your car, you can go anywhere. Hide out in Cairns or somewhere. Rod can send the keys on or keep them here until this thing is sorted.’
‘And leave you to face them?’
‘They’re not interested in me, not really. They’d know Hugh wouldn’t give a damn what happens to the local vet so I’m not much of a lever for them. Not like you are. If they come around again I can always tell Rupe what’s going on.’
She sighed. A waiter wandered by with drinks and she flagged him down and took champagne. Oliver replaced his beer.
‘I wonder what your stepfather meant when he said Moran wouldn’t dare touch him.’
‘He said earlier when I met him that Moran was a business associate.’
‘What sort of business?’
‘No idea but Hugh’s involved in lots of things. All sorts.’
‘Illegal things?’
She hesitated. ‘I’m not sure. He probably has some close calls but straight-out illegal? I think it’d be too risky.’
‘But he’s an associate of Moran and he’s clearly a crook—or has a very weird way of doing business.’
‘He has legitimate businesses as well. His casinos, for example.’
‘And what else, I wonder? Do you think he imports drugs or something?’ How much did she know?
‘Maybe. Indirectly. It’d be at arm’s length if he did.’
‘So Hugh might know some choice details.’
‘Possibly, but Moran didn’t sound to me as though he was treading carefully around Hugh.’
‘Could have been a front. And he is owed money.’ Oliver glanced at the assembled guests. ‘I wonder if any of these people are involved as well.’
‘I wouldn’t trust Felix Schwartz as far I could kick him.’ She almost snarled.
He looked at her, surprised by the vehemence. ‘Who’s he?’
‘My mother’s best friend Gwen’s husband. He’s a total sleaze.’ She surveyed the garden. ‘He’s over there. Cream pants, green shirt. Bald, big nose. Can’t keep his hands to himself.’
Oliver looked where she indicated. The man appeared harmless enough, but then he himself wasn’t an attractive young woman and highly unlikely to be a target. He changed the subject.
‘I’ve met your friend Lola. She likes my shoes. Interesting smells.’
Krista smiled, as he’d hoped. ‘I’m looking after her while they’re away.’
‘Will you stay here?’
‘Yes, I think so. I don’t fancy being on the run and I don’t see why I should be. It might be the safest thing.’
‘So you trust Hugh’s word?’
‘He must have some sort of business arrangement that Moran relies on. Hugh has a lot of influence both financially and politically.’
‘You mean he could organise a boycott, or get a government investigation or something into Moran’s affairs?’
Krista shrugged. ‘He’s done it before with business rivals. He has a controlling share in one of the main media outlets and plenty of friends in radio and TV, not to mention politician mates.’
Oliver shook his head. ‘Way beyond me.’
‘Me too, but like him or not, Hugh does know what he’s doing and he’s as ruthless as Moran. You have to be to survive at that level.’
Oliver studied the woman standing beside him. She came from that same world but she spoke as if she were an outsider, even though she was a beneficiary of the ruthless pursuit of money and power, of her mother’s single-mindedness as much as Hugh’s.
‘What do you do, Krista? Do you work?’ He almost added, ‘Do you need to?’ but that would be a jibe too far, considering she was already upset.
‘Not at the moment. I’m between jobs.’ Something about her tone and the way her gaze slipped away as she answered made him doubt her. Was she embarrassed about saying she didn’t have to lift a finger to support herself?
‘What did you do before?’
‘I was a PA but I …’ She drained her glass, ran her tongue over her lips. Nervous, not seductive.
‘Didn’t like it? Quit?’
‘Got fired.’
‘Really? Why?’ Why would anyone fire her? She was intelligent, articulate, probably spoke a few languages and he imagined would do her best in whatever work she did. ‘I thought it was quite difficult to fire people these days. Without a very good reason, I mean, like doing something criminal.’
‘Not if you’ve only been hired as a favour to your mother.’ She glared at him. ‘I wouldn’t sleep with the guy I worked for. He’s here tonight with his wife. Shall I introduce you?’
‘No thank you. Unless you want me to cause a scene.’
She held a breath for a moment then exhaled slowly. ‘It’s not the first job I’ve lost, although I quit the one before.’
‘Same reason?’
She nodded, then smiled. ‘Would you cause a scene?’
‘No. I wouldn’t want to embarrass his poor wife. How can these blokes still do that? Haven’t they heard of Me Too?’
‘They’re rich and they’re the boss. Rules don’t apply to them.’ She pushed a strand of hair from her brow. ‘They think because I look the way I do I’m fair game, and I’m also expendable. My jobs are always a favour to my mother.’ Her lip curled. ‘Why are men like that?’
Oliver quailed under her bitter focus. ‘I’m not and I know plenty of other men who aren’t.’ Was his father the type of man she despised? He had no idea. Their paths rarely crossed now he was an adult.
‘That’s what Brenda said.’ The set of her mouth indicated she was doubtful about the judgement.
‘She’s right.’
In the silence that followed, Oliver digested the other piece of information she’d let loose. A favour to her mother? Didn’t Krista have any ambitions of her own?
‘Maybe you need to look for a different type of job,’ he said.
‘I can’t do anything else.’ She gave a little snuffle of laughter which sounded perilously close to a sob. ‘I’m apparently not even very good at what I do. That was the official reason I was sacked. I wasn’t efficient and made too many mistakes.’
‘What did you have to do? I mean, what does a PA do?’
‘I arranged travel—flights, hotels and things like that. Booked restaurants. Made appointments, organised his diary. Collected dry-cleaning. Made coffee. Sent flowers to his girlfriends. Bought gifts. Looked decorative for clients at social functions. Other people did more important things.’
‘I’m sure you’d be very good at all of that.’
‘I thought I was until he added in the extracurricular activities.’
‘Did you report any of this?’
‘Who to? His wife?’
‘Surely there was someone or some department in the business …’
‘Maybe, but it was easier to leave. I’m never the most popular person in the office. It would have been very … messy.’ She glanced over to where her mother had begun chatting to the slimeball in question. ‘I didn’t want to work there anymore.’
‘You should tell your mother.’
‘She thinks that’s what women have to do if they want any sort of security.’
Oliver had no response to that. He’d thought his family was bad but he had no sisters for comparison and his older brother, Julian, although very charming and popular, remained unmarried by choice after a disastrous affair. Unencumbered by a permanent woman—as he put it—he was a fast-rising star in the criminal law courts.
‘Why were you here earlier?’ she asked when the silence had stretched almost to discomfort. ‘When Moran saw you.’
‘Rod called me. Firebrand has a cold.’
She nodded. ‘He and Amy do all the work around here. They love the place.’
‘And no-one else does?’
‘It was a whim for Hugh. He’ll sell it soon, I think. Angus hates it. Mama hates it.’
‘And you?’
‘This is my third visit and the longest.’
‘You’ve only been here three days.’
She smiled. ‘I might stay longer this time.’ Her mouth drooped. ‘Actually, I have to. I can’t go home until my keys turn up. If they ever do.’
‘Won’t Angus have sent them?’
‘Who knows? He said he had but that would involve thinking, and acting on behalf of someone else.’
‘You can always call a locksmith.’
‘I suppose so. I haven’t ever had to do anything like that,’ she said.
No doubt Mama or Hugh took care of life’s little inconveniences such as finding a job, buying an apartment and a car, replacing lost keys … How could she stand it? She wasn’t a child but sometimes she acted like one.
‘Krista, you’re an intelligent adult. Have you ever thought of running your own life?’ His exasperation made the words sound sharper than he intended.
‘I do.’ She didn’t miss the edge.
‘Do you?’ He looked over to where her mother had moved on to another group of guests, laughing and smiling, intent on being the gracious hostess and perfect wife. At what cost?
‘You don’t know anything about me,’ she said tartly. ‘Not really.’
‘You’ve just told me your mother got you your last job and presumably the others, you don’t know how to get into your apartment and you have no direction in life. I assume you don’t actually have to work to survive but I think you want to be independent. Trouble is you’re too scared of breaking away from your mother even though you resent her interference and control.’
She stared at him, her breath coming heavily, lips jammed together and cheeks a deep pink unrelated to the stifling heat of the evening.
‘Thank you for coming. I hope you enjoy yourself,’ she said in a tight voice and turned away.
Lola appeared from the rosebed and trotted after her. Oliver finished his beer. He might as well leave now. There was nothing left for him here, having insulted the only person he was remotely interested in talking to. He hadn’t meant to do that but her acceptance of the situation and seeming lack of will to do anything constructive about it was infuriating. If she had to work for a living she’d see the world differently. If she had to struggle to pursue her goal—if she ever had one—she’d appreciate what she’d been handed on a platter and do her best to forge her own way. As it was, her helpless ‘poor me’ attitude made him grind his teeth.
He handed his empty glass to a waiter and began working his way through the crowd to the gate. Was it his imagination or was that a hint of smoke in the heavy air? A few cigarettes smouldered between fingers in the crowd but this was a different smell, one with the tang of eucalyptus. No breeze stirred the surrounding trees so the fire was a considerable distance away and probably not a threat, but the locals would be listening intently to the radio for updates and checking the online Fire Service site for news. Grassfires were common at this time of year but so far the Bend had escaped a major onslaught. Oliver looked up at the evening sky. Still clear and the sunset was golden without the telltale reddish tinge of a smoke-filled filter.
A microphone crackled and someone announced that guests should take their seats at the tables. Oliver hesitated. He should leave but he was hungry and the food was sure to be good—better than the leftover cold chicken in his fridge. Guests were moving about looking at place tags. He had no idea if there was one for him. The cold chicken might be the safer option, to avoid embarrassment.
He threaded through the guests, heading for the gate, but Brenda bustled up and said, ‘I forgot to tell you, Oliver, I’m sorry. I’ve made a place for you on Table 2. Next to Krista.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I’m at the same table.’ She smiled happily and hurried away. Oliver followed the chattering women in front of him and kept an eye out for Table 2 and a cranky blonde in a silver dress.
Krista took her place at the empty table after quickly scanning the other names. Gwen and Felix were seated two along, then a couple she hardly knew from one of her mother’s charity committees, someone called Bunny Bancroft was next, Jack, an old golfing friend of Hugh’s, Brenda, and next to her, unsurprisingly, Oliver.
He hadn’t reappeared and she wasn’t craning her neck to find him. He’d probably gone home. She eyed the hastily prepared name tag next to her and considered swapping it with Jack the golfer, but before she could act, Jack pulled out his chair and boomed, ‘Krista, how beautiful you are. A silver goddess.’
‘Hello, Jack. Thank you very much. Where’s Wendy? Is she well?’
‘Couldn’t come. She’s on a cultural cruise on the Mediterranean. Climbing about Greek and Roman ruins.’
‘Sounds fun.’
‘She enjoys it. How have you been?’ He leaned his elbows on the table and studied her from under bushy grey eyebrows, like a benevolent koala.
‘I’m fine. You’re looking well.’ He was. Unlike Hugh’s usual friends Jack kept himself fit, loved his wife and children and was unfailingly polite and decent. No wonder Brenda had placed herself between him and Oliver.
A waiter appeared and poured iced water into their glasses, distracting Jack from replying.
Krista had her mother’s charity friends on her other side. Calvin and Vanessa True. At least Gwen and the despicable Felix were safely across the table. He’d have to have octopus tentacles to grope her knee from there. Would Oliver make a scene if Felix did? Jack would, if he knew. He had three daughters not much older than she was. Brenda was right. There were some good men around.
The Trues appeared next. Vanessa was all sharp angles, in contrast to her husband whose shirt buttons were in serious danger of being propelled across the table like bullets when the stitching gave way under the strain. She flagged down the waiter and demanded red wine in a voice like gravel.
‘I only drink red,’ she announced.
‘She does,’ said Calvin. ‘Whereas I drink anything.’
Krista nodded and smiled.
‘You’re Viivi’s daughter, aren’t you?’ Vanessa asked, full glass in hand. ‘You’re exactly alike. Isn’t she, Cal? She’s the spitting image of her mother.’
‘She is. The spitting image.’
‘How long have they been married? Hugh and Viivi?’ she asked next.
‘Fifteen years.’
‘Fifteen?’ Pencilled eyebrows rose dramatically.
‘Yes.’
‘What do you do, Krista?’ asked Cal. ‘Are you involved in the charity thing?’
‘No. I don’t have a job at the moment.’
‘I thought you were with Charles Petrovic,’ said Vanessa. ‘Viivi said you were.’
‘I was until last week.’
‘You weren’t there very long, were you?’
‘No. We had a disagreement.’
‘Young people change jobs at the drop of a hat nowadays,’ said Cal. ‘No sense of loyalty at all.’
‘It’s all about themselves,’ said Vanessa. ‘As soon as something doesn’t go how they want, they quit. It’s so hard to keep staff these days. We’ve had three housekeepers in eighteen months. Nothing but complaints. You’d think they’d be glad of a job but no, they just don’t want to work at all.’
‘Brenda has been with my mother for years,’ said Krista. ‘They get on very well.’
‘But Viivi is a delight, so undemanding,’ said Vanessa. ‘Who wouldn’t want to work for her? I’m much fussier.’
‘She is, she’s very fussy,’ said Cal.
Fortunately the other guests arrived at the table all at the same time, including Oliver. He slid onto the chair beside her while she was greeting Brenda and being introduced to Bunny, an attractive, auburn-haired woman in peacock blue whose connection to Viivi and Hugh wasn’t made clear. No-one else at the table apart from Gwen seemed to know her either.
‘I wasn’t sure you’d stay,’ Krista said to Oliver when the others were busy meeting each other. Her heart beat just a little bit faster as he turned to reply. Was he angry with her? He had every right to be—but here he was and he didn’t look upset. He had the same calm expression he usually wore.
‘Neither was I but Brenda caught me as I was making up my mind.’
Did that mean he was coerced?
‘Is there a fire nearby?’ boomed Jack. ‘I’m sure I smell smoke.’
‘There is but it’s a fair distance away. No danger so far,’ said Oliver.
‘Rod said he was monitoring it,’ added Krista.
‘My goodness. A bushfire? How close is it?’ shrilled Gwen. ‘Are we safe?’
‘Rod said if the wind picks up and blows our way we might be in trouble.’
‘Who’d want to live out here?’ said Cal.
‘I do,’ said Oliver.
‘Why?’ asked Gwen.
‘Oliver is the local vet,’ said Brenda.
‘But you must have chosen to come here. Nobody forced you, did they?’ Gwen said.
‘I did choose Taylor’s Bend and I love it. Five years ago now.’
He didn’t sound the least bit defensive. If anything, he sounded amused by their horror. The way he and the two police officers had quietly laughed at her that first day. Hearing these remarks, she had an inkling as to why. And squirmed.
‘Do you have a family?’ was Gwen’s next query.
‘I’m not married if that’s what you’re asking.’
‘Oliver is Krista’s friend,’ said Brenda helpfully.
‘Oh, I see.’ Gwen smirked at Krista. ‘You kept that quiet.’
‘That’s because I met Oliver three days ago when he looked after one of our horses.’ And she certainly wouldn’t be telling Gwen the details of a budding relationship if there was one.
‘Hugh invited me today, not Krista,’ said Oliver. ‘I’ve been treating the stallion here as well.’
‘Firebrand is very valuable,’ said Krista. ‘So Hugh was pleased Oliver could come out quickly to see him.’
‘What happened to that young man we met you with at the Christmas lunch?’ Felix asked, eyeing her through partly closed eyes, which he would assume gave him a sexy, cool look but didn’t. It made him look as though he needed glasses. ‘Johann, was it? You seemed very cosy together.’
‘Nothing happened to him as far as I know. I haven’t seen him since.’ One of her mother’s set-ups. Johann from Germany, son of some friend of hers holidaying in Australia.
‘That’s a shame. He was very good looking and so cultured,’ said Gwen. ‘Viivi had high hopes for you two. She’s very keen you should find someone and settle down, Krista.’
Luckily, Jack and Bunny had struck up a conversation so Gwen’s remarks weren’t broadcast to the whole table. Oliver, however, was well within earshot and the Trues’ faces were alight with interest.
‘Why should Krista settle down?’ Oliver asked. The urge to kick him under the table was almost irresistible. He should ignore Gwen, the way she’d learned to do, not give her space to air her views on Krista’s life.
‘A girl needs a husband.’
‘Why?’ A spark of irritation was in his voice now.
Krista sucked in a breath and firmed her lips. This was heading for disaster. Oliver was already annoyed by her behaviour and Gwen was always annoying.
Now Vanessa True shoved her oar in. ‘Security. She needs a man to look after her. The world’s a tough place for a single woman.’
‘That’s right.’ Gwen nodded vigorously. ‘Security and protection.’
‘Excuse me, seeing as this is me you’re all discussing,’ said Krista loudly before Oliver could start. ‘Can I say, I would like to marry one day, but I’m not settling for some man because Mama wants me to.’
‘I should hope not.’ Oliver swigged a mouthful of wine.
‘Viivi only has your best interests at heart. She wants you to marry well.’
‘What does that mean?’ asked Oliver. ‘Marry well?’
‘It means she would be happiest with someone from her own social circle who is financially secure and can provide her with the lifestyle she’s used to.’
‘Ah, I see.’ He nodded. ‘You mean not someone like a country vet who should know his place and not have any ideas above his station.’ He laughed and shook his head and murmured what sounded like, ‘Unbelievable.’
‘Oliver …’ Krista began, but he said, ‘Don’t worry, Gwen. Krista and I are barely acquaintances. We have nothing in common and probably won’t meet again after this evening.’ He chuckled again. ‘But I can assure you that when and if I do meet the right woman, I will take my vows seriously. I will love her, respect her and I will always be faithful, which is more than can be said for some married men.’ He raised his eyebrows and his glass at Felix. ‘I’m sure you, as a married man, will agree.’
On his other side Brenda caught Krista’s eye and barely smothered a laugh.
Krista smiled but his words hurt on a level she hadn’t expected in spite of what he’d said earlier. He thought they had nothing in common and that was true, apart from the Moran problem, but it didn’t mean …
A waitress placed the melon and avocado entree in front of her. She stared at the artful arrangement as though it was plastic. She could no more swallow food than ride Calypso in the Melbourne Cup.
What didn’t it mean? Just because she found him attractive and he was kind … He’d made his opinion clear to her earlier, to Gwen and everyone within earshot with that statement a moment ago. Why did it matter so much? Why did it feel as though her future had become as bleak as the dry, dusty paddocks surrounding them?