CHAPTER 1
MARCH 29
Beth suddenly had a mental picture of the last time she had seen Simon. It had been just three days after what had become known as the ‘outback murders’ and the memory of him was now once again clear in her mind.
The picture of his gaunt frame and fatigued features as he’d entered her office was testimony to the pressure that he’d been under. His secret dealings had culminated in his discovery of the mutilated bodies of his close friend Ray Davis, and his intimate friend Sarah Richardson.
Beth, like her secretary Lynette, had been unable to find the right words to say to Simon, and she’d been secretly glad when he’d quickly got down to business. She’d made welcome his request to form a foundation named the Sarah Ray Foundation on his behalf, and had asked for more information on that occasion. Simon had asked her to trust him this one last time before he explained that everything would become clearer to her in the near future.
The near future has arrived she wondered, as she hoped the contents of this post pack would reveal to her the understanding he’d promised.
Beth thought about the conversation they’d had that day many times, although of late she’d been successful to some extent at putting the whole affair to the back of her mind. Now suddenly it all descended on her again as she held the envelope she’d received from Simon in the mail. She noticed the Brisbane post mark and the date March 25 as she removed three letters from the envelope along with a small cardboard box.
Her curiosity caused her to give the small box a shake, and she’d stopped immediately when a rattle proved loosely packed contents. She placed the small box carefully onto her desk top, and picked up the letter which stated in print, READ FIRST.
She opened it.
My Dear Beth,
I’m writing to you from the deck of the Patricia Anne. It is good to be with her again, and hopefully I will be able to put to sea before the month is out.
There are a few things I must finalize before that can come about though, and most of them have to do with you.
I will be named as a senior director of the Sarah Ray Foundation, and I would like to see you take on the position of secretary. This position will give you most of the work I’m sorry, but I think the position will suit you. I believe that you have the qualities the Foundation can depend upon.
The reason I name myself senior director is, if at any time in the future something should happen to tarnish the name of the Foundation, then I as senior director must take all responsibility. Which will leave you, and any that you see fit to employ free of any cause for concern.
The money which is to be used to form the Foundations economy amounts to around thirty million dollars American. It is at this moment in a bank in Liechtenstein.
If you accept the position of Secretary, I will make available to you the name of the bank and the numbers necessary to gain access to the account. My lawyer in that country will assist you to move the funds into Australia in which ever legal way that you find necessary.
The money is to be invested in Australia. Profits from these investments are to be donated through charitable institutions which carry out work in Sierra Leone, where the money originally came from.
If, for some reason, you feel you’d prefer not to be involved with the Foundation I will understand, and will find another way to trickle it back to the people who own it. Those who now, as you would agree need the funds most.
I have enclosed two other letters. One of these is marked Simon. It is a letter that you must keep in a safe place, as it is the documentation of my role in the acquisition of the money. It should clear the way for you, and accept for myself all responsibility if unforeseen circumstances arise.
The second letter is for you. It is the notification of the success of your employment application for your position in the foundation. I advertised it in the newspaper last week, and have enclosed with the letter a copy of the advertisement for your files.
This I think will also protect you if a problem arises.
I have also enclosed a package of opal, and a business card of an opal dealer you can depend on for a fair price. I have spoken to him and he expects your call. I might suggest to you that it may be a good idea to let him know when to expect you, so he can be sure to have enough cash on hand.
I’m providing this money to you to cover any initial expenses in the setting up of the Foundation. If you find it necessary to relocate, then I have no doubt it will come in handy.
Thank you for your love and your tender care. I shall hold you in a special place in my heart until my time is over. If not for you then I might still be lost.
You helped me to find my way and I thank you.
I will contact you by phone for your decision.
After that I must set the sails and head for the open sea. I hear its call, and it is there that I must try to come to terms with the reason I sail alone.
My best to you,
Simon.
Beth had sat back in her chair, completely overwhelmed by the faith Simon had in her, and the amount of money he’d put at her disposal.
Unsure of her feelings about Simon and the decision he’d left her with, she stood, and then had walked to the door of her office.
“Lynette. Who is my next appointment?” Lynette looked at the diary and said the name of the person.
“Will you try to get him on the phone and ask him if he would mind postponing his appointment until later this afternoon? Then reorganize my schedule so that I have the next couple of hours free please.”
Lynette looked at Beth.
“Are you alright, you look a little pale?”
“Yes, I’m alright. I’ve just been offered a chance of a lifetime and I’m not quite sure where to start. I may move to Sydney. I wonder if you’d be interested in coming with me as my personal secretary.”
“Have I got time to pack a bag?”
Beth smiled at her. Understanding the young woman’s need to escape the small country town and see at least some of the outside world.
“Yes, plenty of time. Don’t worry. We’ll be there as soon as possible I can assure you. Oh. You might want to keep our plans under your hat for the time being. The rumour mill can operate just as efficiently in our absence.”
Beth walked back to her office where she re-read Simon’s letter. Finally, glad to have a firmer understanding of the past month’s events.
Simon had kept his promise.
U.S $30m she decided, if wisely invested, could return over $4m a year. At that rate it would take 7-8 years to trickle the funds back into Africa.
After that, the African people would be realizing more than they had lost in the first place. In effect, they should be better off for Simon acquiring the huge amount of money.
She’d smiled at the thought of Simon giving it all away. Maybe that had been his idea all along. The ending of the letter about Simon sailing alone had struck her.
Beth had not even known of the existence of Sarah, until she had read of her death in the newspapers, and then she’d wondered of the woman and the cost to her and Ray. She sighed as she considered the sadness of the story, as its tragic consequences once again highlighted her understanding. She now had a part to play, so the price that others had paid would not have been made in vain.
APRIL 8
Simon left the coastal town behind him and headed for open sea.
His original intention to set a course north was put aside for the moment, and instead he tacked due east until his depth sounder registered deep water. Under lowered sail, Der boat bobbed gently as some dolphin swam in close. Their seemingly smiling faces apparently accepting the good day Simon waved to them as they glided through the clear water.
He unleashed a long bag from its stowage place and removed webbing, a sail and a metal frame from it. He didn’t fit the webbing and the sail to the metal frame, instead he folded them carefully, before he pushed them bac
k into the long bag.
They would have to stay on board he thought.
When he’d finished the assembly of the craft, he tied a ribbon to it. One that had belonged to his lost love Sarah, and with little effort he lowered the shiny frame over the side of the der boat and into the sea.
Its wet shape sparkled in the sun as he controlled his feelings. Then his breath escaped as a sigh, while the hang glider slid down and out of sight to the ocean floor. He hoisted sail again, and not looking back set course for north.
APRIL 29
Three weeks after Simon had given her the account numbers and the lawyer’s name, Beth read a short article in the newspaper.
Brisbane: Tuesday. Sources in the Australian Customs Service report that wreckage from a sailboat has been found by coastal fishing trawlers. It is believed the sail craft was sunk as the result of an explosion. Trawler crew members in the immediate vicinity at the time of the explosion report that a smaller motorized vessel was seen to leave the area. Wreckage from the sailboat suggests its name was the Patricia Anne. Coastal Police are investigating and believe the craft was sunk in suspicious circumstances. It is believed the owner is the same man who survived a frenzied attack which left two people dead on an outback property in Western New South Wales. It became known as the ‘outback murders’. Police are still seeking a man in connection with that attack. The victim’s body has, as yet, not been recovered and his name has not yet been released.”
Beth put down the newspaper and wondered if Simon had finally found his peace, or is it that his story might not yet be over. Until they found his body she couldn’t know for sure.
It seemed that everyone who had come in contact with the money was dead or probably dead. Her own connection with it concerned her.
She gazed for a moment out of the window of her new North Sydney office. Suddenly she startled as one of the furniture removalists dropped something onto the floor in the next room.
She would never be sure that it was over.
CHAPTER 2