CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Hank met the band at JFK Airport for the start of what was to be a difficult but successful month. They started as a support for a major American act that dropped them after a week for grabbing too much response from crowds. This alone caused a lot of publicity and they completed the tour with another Australian act drawing well and boosting their album into the top twenty in the States. A few songs from the album were used on a movie soundtrack; this also helped. In Australia they were considered an up tempo R’n’B band, in America they were branded heavy metal. The band couldn’t understand it, but the story was the same wherever they went. Hank pushed cocaine at the band all the time, but all but Brad managed to avoid the temptation. By the time they left New York for Sydney again Brad was feeling the effects of his acquired habit. Jason, Vic and Tom couldn’t wait to get him back to Australia to dry him out. It was Wednesday and the band was due back in Adelaide Friday. Brad’s performance had not been affected by the habit, but any longer would have been a problem. The rest of the band searched Brad’s gear before it was loaded on the plane and the cocaine they found they returned to Hank with a complaint that there was a time and place for everything and this wasn’t it. Brad flipped a groove when on the way back he found he had no coke. He gradually lost all energy and went to sleep, physically and mentally drained by the habit.
Zup was waiting at Adelaide Airport terminal car park the Thursday morning before the band was due back. He was with three of his friends from the Pagans Motorcycle Club. They awaited the expected showing of a rival club member from interstate and they intended to show him he wasn’t welcome. Zup scanned the terminal with his binoculars from the window of their seventy four Ford Falcon GT. A figure caught his eye but it wasn’t who he was looking for.
“Check this guy out heading for the hire cars. I’m sure it’s Sly Morgan. I haven’t seen him over here for more than five years,” said Zup.
His companion sitting next to him in the front seat took the binoculars and focused them on the figure. “Yeah that’s him all right. Must be a big deal on over here. How come we don’t know about it?”
Zup started the big V8. “Let’s find out.” Zup waited until Morgan had climbed in his yellow Falcon hire car then parked behind him so he was unable to reverse from his parking spot. Zup walked casually to the passenger side door and climbed in.
Morgan turned towards the passenger and raised his voice, “What do you think! Zup ! What the hell are you doing here”?
“Thought it was you, Morgan. I was going to ask you the same thing. Wouldn’t be dealing on our turf would you?”
“No, no, just here on a casual visit.”
“You won’t mind if we have a look in your case then Sly?”
“You’re not looking in anything, now get out,” growled Morgan.
Zup waved out the window. “I suggest you cooperate Sly or we may have to take you for a ride from which you may not return.” Two of Zup’s friends climbed in the rear doors.
“Okay, okay, look in the case,” said Morgan handing Zup a key. Zup’s friends handed Zup the case from the back seat. Zup opened it.
“Well well, must be four kilo here. Getting desperate carrying it yourself aren’t you Sly?” Zup handed one of the clear bags containing white powder to his friends in the back, one of them broke the bag and tasted the powder.
“Pure heroin, highest grade,” quipped Zup’s friend.
Zup shook his head. “As you’re dealing on our turf, we have to take our cut.” Zup waved his hand at his friends who climbed out with the bag. Zup opened a false compartment in Morgan’s case revealing a forty four magnum hand gun. “Lead lined compartment. Every trick in the book, eh, Sly!” Zup stuffed the gun in his jacket. “If I ever see you dealing here again without letting us in on it, you may fall over and hurt yourself.”
“I’m not dealing here; I’m just paying someone back.”
“Four kilo of smack, that’s some debt Sly.”
Morgan realised his slip of the tongue. “Yeah look I’m sorry. If I deal here again I’ll be sure to call you.”
“That’s nice Sly.” Zup patted Morgan on the head. “Catch you around Sly.” Zup climbed out and joined his friends and Morgan made a hasty exit.
Steven met the band at Sydney Airport on the Friday morning at eight am with a deluge of newspaper and television reporters. The band was really big. Brad continued feeling the effects of his coke trip, looking tired and drawn out. They had a connecting domestic flight to Adelaide so when the fuss was over they waited in the lounge for departure at eleven am with Steven telling them of future commitments; a couple of weeks rest, then a big headlining Australian tour. He also wanted a second album as quickly as possible. This didn’t fit in with Jason’s plans but he said nothing, wanting to discuss things with the band quietly back in Adelaide. A few minutes before boarding, Jason went to a rest room. A man who had just entered the rest room walked past as Jason was leaving and Jason stopped in his tracks. As the man passed him he could smell Malinda’s perfume. He had never smelt it anywhere else other than with Malinda before and it drew his attention for a few seconds, then he continued on. The man had just got off a flight from Adelaide.
Jason waded through the newspaper and television reporters at Adelaide airport looking for Malinda. She was nowhere to be found. The rest of the band left in a taxi after the usual confusion with the reporters, while Jason waited a few more minutes. He checked the terminal one more time finding nothing. Jason rang home, but no answer. He tried Malinda’s mobile which responded but no answer. His worry turned to panic and he took a cab from the rank. He constantly pushed the cab driver to go faster and eventually pulled up in the driveway of the cottage. He threw fifty dollars at the driver and ran to the door. The door was slightly open. He went to the lounge and turned down the radio, which was playing loudly, so he could be heard.
“Malinda!” he called as he searched the house. “Malinda,” he kept calling as he searched on. The last room he checked was the bedroom and there he could see her head above the quilt on a pillow. He lay down beside her. “Malinda,” he whispered as he pulled back the quilt revealing the back of her head and shoulder. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Mali…” he stopped part way through her name. Malinda’s body was cold. He rolled her towards him showing her pale white face. He started shaking and held her close. Malinda was dead. A feeling of numbness crept through his body and he rose to his knees on the mattress still holding her against him, and screamed at the top of his voice, “No!! Why?” He collapsed back onto the mattress holding her body close and burst into tears. Jason, suffering severe shock lay holding Malinda for what seemed an eternity to him. The phone rang and he answered it in a trance. It was Tammy’s teacher inquiring why Tammy had not been picked up from school. Jason looked at the time; four-thirty.
“Sorry, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” said Jason slowly in a slur and hung up. He sat on the edge of the bed. The depth of the shock was setting in and Jason threw up on the floor. He wiped his mouth, picked up Malinda’s mobile phone by the bed and rang his father at work. His father had left and was on his way home. Jason fumbled the buttons with his father’s mobile number, but got through on the second attempt.
“Bob Brinkly speaking.”
Jason mumbled into the phone. “Dad, my wife’s dead.”
“Jason, is that you?”
There was a few seconds silence before Jason replied, “Yes.”
“What’s the matter boy, what’s going on?”
Jason spoke slowly with a bad slur. “I just got back from America. Malinda, she’s dead, I found her, Tammy’s still at the school. I need help.”
“Where are you son?”
“I’m home dad.” The line went dead as Bob Brinkly’s Rolls Royce entered the overtaking lane on the freeway, gathering speed as he held the accelerator to the floor. He rang the police and ambulance. It took him only minutes to reach Jason as he was so close. He found Jason still holding Malinda’s li
mp body. He led Jason to the lounge room, laying him on the couch and checked Malinda. She was dead. He felt a cold shiver pass through him and covered Malinda’s body with the quilt and returned to Jason’s side. He tried to talk to Jason but Jason wouldn’t respond and stared quietly into space. Bob could hear the distant sirens as an ambulance and police car approached together the phone rang. Bob answered it, it was the school again.
“This is Tammy’s grandfather, Bob Brinkly, I’m afraid something terrible has happened. I’ll be there within half an hour if you could just wait that long, yes thank you,” was his conversation.
A police officer entered the cottage with an ambulance officer. Bob explained all he knew, and then left to pick up Tammy. He rang his housekeeper, on the car phone. She lived close; she had a little girl the same age as Tammy and he left her there for safe keeping then returned to Jason.
A doctor had been called and Jason was in Tammy’s room under sedation. The doctor pronounced Malinda dead. He was sure it was due to natural causes and could find no evidence of foul play. He thought Malinda had suddenly felt unwell and gone to bed to rest, dying in her sleep. The police officers had endorsed the doctor’s view of no foul play and Malinda’s body was taken to the morgue. The police were finishing their report when one of them was casually looking in the draw of a bedside cabinet and found a large quantity of white powder in a clear plastic bag. The police officer tasted it; it was heroin. Bob sat by his son’s side in Tammy’s room, unaware of the mounting developments around him. A nervous investigating police officer rang headquarters.
“We’ll be there shortly,” said chief inspector Sloan of the city drug squad, grabbing his jacket as he put the phone down. He headed down the corridor from his office yelling as he went, “Trout! Trout!” Inspector Trout appeared in the corridor from an office close by.
“Yes sir,” replied Trout.
Sloan continued on towards the car park followed by Trout. “Come on Trout, you know that Mc Donald woman who had teamed up with the musician Jason Brinkly that you tailed a while back?”
“Yes, it was only a few weeks ago.”
“She’s just been found dead accompanied by a couple of kilo of pure heroin. You drive, you know where they live.” When Sloan and Trout arrived the attending officers had searched the premises but found nothing. Sloan ordered a dog search straight away. He entered the bedroom.
“So where is she?” asked Sloan.
An attending uniformed officer looked concerned as he answered, “Everything looked fine, no sign of forced entry or a struggle. The doctor said probably natural causes and it wasn’t till after the body had gone that we found the heroin.”
Sloan put his hands over his face hiding his eyes. “You idiots! Trout get down to the morgue. I want an immediate autopsy on her body! I don’t care who you upset, now move! Anybody else know what went on here Constable?”
“The woman’s husband is in severe shock in another room, under sedation, accompanied by his father whom he evidently rang after finding her when he got home at about three this afternoon. His father knows nothing of what went on here, but said she must have been alive at nine this morning as she took her daughter to school,” replied the Constable.
“Door knock the area straight away. Find out if anyone saw anything between nine and three,” commanded Sloan.
The Constable looked puzzled and frowned, “You think there’s something wrong here sir!”
“I don’t know Constable, but I’m finding out. It’s called police work.”
Jason’s father stayed with Jason until he woke late next morning. Tammy was apparently happy for now, playing with the housekeeper’s daughter. The housekeeper had called round for a few of Tammy’s things as it may be a couple of days before Jason could look after her. Jason’s father volunteered to tell Malinda’s parents but Jason made the call himself. Her parents were shattered and left for Adelaide straight away. Jason rang Vic with the news and asked him to tell the rest of the band and to give him a couple of days before visiting. Sloan and Trout arrived at the cottage to see Jason at midday. Sloan introduced himself to Jason and explained the situation.
“Jason, I’ll try to make this as short as I can, I know how you must feel. We found two kilo of the highest grade heroin in a drawer next to your wife’s body in your bedroom; I now think this was planted there by a person or persons unknown. An autopsy has been carried out on your wife. She died of a massive overdose of heroin, but shows no sign of long term use of the drug. Only that of the dose that killed her. She died at about nine-thirty yesterday morning an hour after she took her daughter to school. The drug was administered under her left arm in an effort to hide the mark. A syringe was found by sniffer dogs in the front garden, with traces of the same heroin as in the drawer. The finger prints on it are not hers. She was rendered unconscious before she died, probably with ether judging by deposits of tissue around her mouth and nose, with residue in her nasal tissue. A neighbour saw a yellow car, probably a Falcon, in the driveway of the cottage at nine yesterday morning when she went to the shop. It was gone when she returned thirty minutes later and loud music was coming from the house. We don’t know why the drug was in the drawer and the syringe outside, but it may be because whoever was here was disturbed and unable to finish their cover up. Jason, your wife was murdered and we think whoever was driving the yellow Falcon can help us with our enquiries. Do you know who may have been driving that car?”
Jason sat motionless with his arms by his side staring into space. “Malinda’s father will be here this afternoon. She had some trouble with her last husband; he may be able to help.”
Sloan stood and handed Jason his card. “I’ll leave you for now. Please call me when your wife’s father arrives.” Trout had gone out the front of the cottage to have a cigarette, when Sloan came out he was talking to the driver of a courier van parked in the street.
“This is inspector Sloan. Could you please tell him what you just told me,” said Trout.
The courier turned to Sloan. “Like I was saying to your friend here, I tried to deliver this box of cosmetics to a Mrs Brinkly yesterday morning. She often has deliveries and I sort of got to know her a bit. She’s a beautiful lady. She recently married that Jason Brinkly from that rock band. They’re always playing his songs on the radio. Anyway, when I came yesterday morning about twenty-five past nine, some bloke was running up the path towards his car in the driveway. He said nobody was home, got in his car and roared off like he was late for his next appointment or something, I thought it was strange because Mrs Brinkly’s car was in the drive as well. I didn’t want to leave the stuff laying around so I thought I’d try again today.”
“This man was driving a green Holden, right?” asked Sloan.
“No, he was driving a yellow Falcon. New one with a Qantas sticker in the back window. I’m sure of that, the bastard nearly ran me over as he reversed out,” replied the courier.
“At about the time you were here yesterday Mrs Brinkly was murdered. We believe the man you saw could help us with our enquiries. Could you come and make a full statement at police headquarters?” asked Sloan.
“Oh my God, that’s terrible, of course if it will help,” replied the courier.
“Trout, get down to the airport. Find out how many yellow Falcons were hired out of there in the last forty-eight hours and who hired them. I’ll take this gentleman to the yard, take a statement and see if we can put a face to this person.”
Jason told his father that he had married Malinda a few weeks before and was explaining why nobody knew, when Malinda’s parents arrived from the airport in a hired limousine. Jason’s father greeted them at the door.
“John, Glenda, this is hardly the circumstances that anyone would want, but here we are,” said Bob in soft remorse. Malinda’s mother showed signs of endless crying and burst into tears as they sat down in the lounge opposite Jason. Bob comforted her. John McDonald asked Jason what had happened. Jason explained as best he could
, suggesting it could be something to do with Malinda’s ex-husband Sly Morgan. John didn’t think so, as he was sure that Morgan was still in Colombia and had made no contact with his operations in Australia.
There was a loud roar of a Harley Davidson in the driveway. Jason rose to his feet and he walked to the door to find Zup filling the doorway.
“I hear somebody took your lady away. I figured you need someone to talk to,” said Zup. Jason hugged Zup hard and walked outside with him.
“Is there anything I can do bros?” asked Zup.
“There’s nothing anyone can do, she’s gone. Nothing can bring her back. I don’t know if I can live with this Zup.”
“Do you know why, or who?”
“I’ve always been worried about her past. Ever since she came back I wanted to ask about it, but it seemed to be such a sore point to her. I thought it may have been her last husband, some guy called Sly Morgan, he was.”
Zup immediately interrupted. “You said Sly Morgan?”
“Yes.”
“Sly Morgan from Sydney? Malinda was married to him at some time?”
“Yes, he did live in Sydney, as far as I know.”
“Sly Morgan is one of the country’s biggest drug dealers. Me and three of my mates roughed him up at the airport on Thursday. We haven’t seen him over this way for years. He usually gets his monkeys to do his dirty work, but he had four kilo of smack with him. We left him with two and he disappeared into town.”
Jason’s mind started to work again. He went and got Malinda’s father and introduced him to Zup. John McDonald shook Zup’s hand unwillingly. Jason got Zup to tell John what he had seen.
“You’re sure it was Sly Morgan, you could have been mistaken?" asked John.
Zup shook his head. “No, I’ve known him for years, he was a chopper pilot in Vietnam.”
“Yes that’s him. I still can’t see how he got here without me knowing. Please come inside, I’ll have to think about this,” said John. John McDonald was six feet tall, with thick, jet black hair. He commanded attention wherever he was, but today he was only part of himself. As they walked into the lounge the phone rang Jason answered it.
“Jason, it’s inspector Sloan, we’ve had a bit of a breakthrough. Further inquiries have come up with a name of the driver of the yellow Falcon. A Mr Wayne Webster hired it from the airport Thursday morning and returned it ten-thirty Friday. Do you know this man?”
Jason shook his head. “Wayne Webster, no doesn’t ring a bell at all.” John McDonald looked up when he heard the name. “Look Jason, we have to do a press release on this in a few minutes, so you can expect a deluge of reporters. Sorry but we have to find this man.”
“Yes I understand, thank you,” replied Jason and hung up. “The police are looking for a guy called Wayne Webster; they are doing a press release now as well. John took Zup and Jason outside, leaving Bob talking to Malinda’s mother inside the cottage.
“Jason, I’ve made a terrible mistake. Wayne Webster is one of Morgan’s alias names. I forgot to give my contacts, who were attempting to track him, Morgan’s aliases. With all I’ve heard, I’m sure it was him now. He must have told no one and come to kill Malinda himself to keep it quiet, but made a couple of silly mistakes. Tell the police nothing; Morgan has probably left the country again. How much do you trust this man?” said John pointing to Zup.
“I’d trust Zup with my life,” replied Jason.
“Would you like to help? You obviously think a lot of my daughter and Jason or you wouldn’t be here now.” asked John.
“Depends what you want done, I’m a bit high profile with the police round here,” replied Zup.
“I think you should stay with Jason for a few days for now. As soon as I find out where Morgan is I’ll contact you. You should arm yourself, while Morgan is alive Jason and Tammy are in great danger,” said John.
“I’m already armed,” replied Zup.
“I must make a few phone calls,” said John as he walked towards the house.
“What does Malinda’s father do for a crust man, he seems awful sure of himself?” asked Zup.
“He has an international legal company. He’s also a state senator,” replied Jason.
“Oh, is that all. I thought he was important,” said Zup. They tried to smile, but neither of them succeeded.
The cottage became like a fortress. Jason left the answering service on the phones as they rang constantly. The media descended on the premises but Zup held them at bay. The police patrolled the street at regular intervals but the practice stopped after a complaint from John McDonald. Malinda’s parents stayed with Jason’s father for the funeral on Monday. Jason quickly hired a nanny for Tammy who lived in at the cottage, a local girl who had sometimes looked after Tammy when Malinda was busy.
Jason planned to tell Tammy about their loss after the funeral, an incredible mental telepathy became present between Jason and Tammy, he could tell when she was crying, he didn't question it. Jason had told Tammy that her mother was away in Sydney for a while. On the morning of the funeral Jason waited frozen to his seat in the lounge after returning from taking Tammy to school. It was time to leave for the church service. Zup stood in front of Jason.
“Come on Jason, it’s time to go,” said Zup.
“I can’t do it Zup, I won’t make it.”
“Do it for Malinda; she’s waiting to rest in peace; probably be easier for her if she knows you’re okay.” Jason stood and walked outside to the limousine waiting for him.
“I don’t want to go in this thing. I want to go in the Toyota station wagon, she’d like that.”
“I think you’re right.” Zup spoke briefly to the driver of the limousine and it ambled down the street. They climbed in the Toyota and Zup drove them to the church.
The church was full. The congregation overflowed out the doors, filling the large car park as well. A flurry of newspaper and television reporters surrounded the car when they realised who was inside. A big gap appeared through the centre of the crowd around the car and someone opened the door for Jason. It was Miller. Zup jumped out to assist him. They stood either side of Jason as he walked towards the church doors. They walked through a throng of solemn, silent faces, taking a seat at the front of the congregation with his family. Seconds turned into minutes for Jason as the service went on. Miller and Zup carried the coffin themselves at their request. Jason felt an uncanny presence as he walked behind the coffin into the yard to the waiting hole next to Savanna’s headstone. He touched the casket as it was lowered into the ground. He could feel her presence go through him. He spoke to her in his mind, ‘Goodbye my love, until we meet again.’
When Malinda’s parents returned to Sydney on Tuesday, the day after the funeral, Jason had learnt much from talking with them. Malinda’s parents also learnt that they had a son-in-law and Tammy’s name was now Brinkly. Malinda had married Morgan as a rebellious move against her parents who objected to their relationship when it first began. Malinda’s father tried to open her eyes to him, but by the time she realised what she had done it was too late. Morgan was a tremendously wealthy, powerful gangster when Malinda had first met him and laundered his drug money through operating a rival law firm to Malinda’s fathers. It was only when Malinda’s father found Miller that he was able to exercise some control over Morgan’s behaviour; attempts through government channels failed to bring Morgan under control due to corruption in certain areas. Malinda’s father had learnt to use the same kind of tactics and was sure he could now eradicate Morgan. He told Jason that he was going to help Miller and Zup into Colombia to find Morgan. Miller and Zup were like peas in a pod, neither had been able to come to grips with their indirect involvements in Malinda’s death. They had no families and still had nightmares of their experience in Vietnam. Malinda’s father had not forced their hands; they asked him to help them get to Morgan.
Three days passed. Friday and Jason had still not told Tammy about her mother. He was getting a lot of visitors
; Brad, Vic, Tom, Jason’s father all came every day, playing with Tammy and keeping Jason’s mind working. That Friday afternoon Zup received a call from Miller, who had returned to Sydney with Malinda’s father. When he hung up he found Jason sitting by the pool.
“I’m away Jason. John has got everything ready for us, passports, visas and a contact to supply us with what we need when we get there. After that me and Miller are alone.”
“If you find this guy, before you do anything, tell him I hate him will you? Strange thing is I hated him from the point Malinda first told me of him, a feeling I have never had before, but I knew.”
“I’ll be telling him more than that bros.” They walked to the driveway, Zup mounted his bike and kicked the engine into life. He grabbed Jason’s left hand with his, palm against palm squeezing tight as he shook. “You and the Pagans are the only family I ever had, I’ll be back.” Jason watched his dear friend disappear over the rise in the road and spoke quietly at him.
“Come back soon, I’ll miss you brother.”
Saturday morning Jason took Tammy to the cemetery, buying some flowers on the way. He laid the flowers beneath the new headstone amongst a multitude of others. He looked solemnly at the inscription on the stone.
MALINDA JADE BRINKLY
Loved wife of Jason
Loved mother of Tammy
Loved by all she touched
Taken from us but in our hearts forever
“Is aunty Savanna here daddy, mummy showed me?” asked Tammy.
“Yes she’s here, now mummy is with her.”
“When is she coming back home, I want to see her?”
“Mummy has gone for a long time Tammy.”
“Can I call her on the phone daddy?”
Jason held Tammy close, kneeling beside her. “I wish more than anything that we could Tammy, but…” Jason’s voice broke with emotion. “We have to go on without her love, until we can join her.” Tammy didn’t understand, but she cried because she couldn’t see her mother. Jason carried her away shedding more tears himself. Tammy conversed with her father, but they had not uttered a word, they looked at each other, they clasped hands harder, forced a slight smile and carried on.
Everywhere Jason went in the cottage he saw Malinda. Tammy had the same experience, referring to mummy’s office or mummy’s bedroom. Jason couldn’t stand the pain so he moved back to his father’s house taking Tammy’s live in nanny with them. Jason’s father was pleased to have his son home but regretted the circumstances.
It had taken only a couple of days to move. It was Wednesday when Jason’s father dropped Jason off at the cottage to leave the keys and bring home the last remaining thing there, Malinda’s Ferrari. He climbed into the driver’s seat; the tang of Malinda’s perfume was embedded deep inside the car. A strange feeling of well being came over him, the same feeling he had when he was close to Tammy. The car had not been started for weeks, but coughed into life with a few pumps on the accelerator. Jason drove to the cemetery. He found a note book and pen in the driver’s door glove compartment, walked to Malinda’s grave, sat beside her and started to write.
Written on a headstone, the name of the girl below
I loved her so, but now she’s gone
She was such a sweet girl, she had no cause for fear
Her father called out to her, but she couldn’t hear
The needle took the lady and put her in the ground
A life with me, was where she was bound
She had the body of a centrefold and an angels face as well
Her whole life lay ahead of her, but she never lived to tell
Someone took a needle and put poison in her veins
Why would anyone do that, he must have been insane
A life that had such meaning and was going all so well
My one love is in heaven, I want the man in hell
The needle took the lady and put her in the ground
The more I think about it, the more it brings me down
He again felt as if he were being carried; the pen glided across the paper revealing his inner self. He felt the familiar hand on his shoulder and looked round, but no one was there. A voice echoed in his mind, deep and clear. “Now is not the time for you to know, be patient.”