She hitched at the neck of her top. 'And I don't normally dress like this. I'm usually in pants and T-shirts, and Billie can't stand to see it. She reckons I'm just proving I've got some qualifications and a real job and that all she's ever been any good at was screwing. So I bought the fags and tarted up, went blonde again even, to try to get her approval and get her away from that place. Didn't work.'
I was finding her impressive and credible, but that alone put me on the defensive. I couldn't count the number of times people, women in particular, had presented one face to me only for me to find that they had quite another. And she'd presented two quite convincing faces already.
'Look, Sharon, why don't I drive you home and you can get some coffee inside you and straighten up. I'll call my client and talk a few things over with her. I think there's a way forward from all this.'
She nodded and looped her bag onto her shoulder. 'And you'll want to see some of the books so you can see I'm not lying.'
I grinned at her. 'Wouldn't hurt.'
'Suspicious bastard.'
I reached for the cigarettes.
'Leave 'em,' she said.
Sharon went to her car and retrieved a few folders and a cloth bag, locked the Golf and got into my Falcon.
'Don't spend up big on maintenance, do you?'
'It's what's under the bonnet that matters. You wash 'em, they just get dirty again.'
We buckled up. 'Where to?' I said.
'Keep going and I'll tell you. I'm out of town a bit, in the hills.'
A bit turned out to be the best part of ten kilometres with a good deal of it on a narrow, climbing, twisting dirt road. I wouldn't have fancied her chances of staying on it unless she could carry her liquor a lot better than it seemed. The hill country had a soothing effect on her and she gradually looked more comfortable, less strained. I'm a coast man myself, trees don't do a lot for me unless they're Norfolk Island pines fringing a beach, but I had to admit the quiet had an appeal. I wound down the window a bit further and sniffed the scents of an Australian bush summer in the making.
As if she was reading my mind she said, still slurring a little, 'Where d' you live?'
'Glebe.'
'Jesus, I lived there a while back. Couldn't hack the pace and the stink now.'
'Where did you grow up?'
'Liverpool-worse.'
'I spent some time there when I worked for an insurance company.'
'Your lungs must be lead coated. Righto, round here and you'll see a track leading off to the right. Careful now, it's narrow and there's a sort of ditch you have to creep over.'
I slowed down and made the turn. The ditch gave my suspension a workout and then we were climbing steadily again with the trees and scrub close on both sides, almost brushing the car.
'I found this old miner's shack a few years ago. I'm leasing it now but hoping to-Oh, Jesus!'
The shack was in view in the middle of a small clearing, but so was a 4WD, parked right by the dwelling. Massive John Manuma was standing with his back to the car and arms folded, looking straight at us.
9
I hit the brake hard. 'What the hell does he want?'
Sharon had sobered at the sight of him. 'The same as you-Sam, to put pressure on Billie.'
Manuma must have recognised my car because he came forward, bent to pick up a solid bit of tree branch and snapped it to a handy length over his knee.
'Oh, God,' Sharon said. 'Back up! Go!'
'No chance.' The track was narrow and trees grew close in on both sides. There was enough space, just, but not the time to do a three-point turn and I didn't fancy reversing at pace on the loose dirt. I left the car in neutral with the motor running, reached into the glove box and unshipped the. 38.
'What're you doing?'
'Sit still. It'll be all right.'
I got out and let Manuma see the gun. He was about twenty metres away, swinging his waddy. I raised the gun and sighted on his huge chest.
'Stop there!'
He did, but he was poised to come on. 'You won't shoot me.'
I lowered my aim. 'I won't shoot you in the chest, you're right. But I'll put a couple in your legs and what if I miss, go a bit high? I mean it… Johnny. Put down the fucking stick, take out your car keys and drop them on the ground or I swear I'll cripple you. I've done it before.'
'I just want to talk to her.'
'Sure you do. Well, we might arrange that, but not here, not now.' I moved the pistol a fraction. 'Do it… Johnny.'
He hated me addressing him that way, but he reached into his pants pocket, took out the keys and dropped them without taking his eyes off me. This guy had been in tight situations before and knew how to behave. Me too, but his size and composure were impressive and I knew I couldn't control him without shooting for much longer. Praying she could drive a manual, I gestured at Sharon to turn the Falcon around: my waving fingers said do it slowly.
'Big mistake, you making.'
'Shut up!'
I heard the wheels on the dirt, a slight bump, the grind of gears, and then two sharp beeps on the horn.
I backed a few steps and saw he was preparing to rush me.
'I'm good with this at thirty metres,' I said, 'bit erratic after that. I'd advise you to keep your distance.'
I retreated. Give him his due, he came after me, closing a little, probably hoping I'd trip over. I didn't. I reached the car, got in and Sharon gave it the gas, slewing back down the track.
'D'you think he'll follow us?' she said as she got the car under full control and slowed down a touch.
'Would in an American movie.'
She giggled. 'I hate to admit it, but that was sort of exciting. Would you really have shot him?'
'I don't know.'
'You want to drive?'
'No, you're doing fine.' I looked back when we hit a straight stretch but there was no sign of pursuit. 'I took a punt you'd be able to drive a manual.'
'Are you kidding? We started off in old bomb Holdens and Vdubs. I still like the Vdubs.'
'Yeah, they're good.' I realised I'd kept the pistol in my hand and shoved it back in the glove box.
'How many people have you shot, Cliff?'
'Not many lately and I'm not anxious to add to the tally. The paperwork's horrendous.'
'You're trying to impress me with your toughness.'
'Right. And myself.'
We drove on in silence for a while and reached the main road. She made the turn and pulled over. 'Now what?' she said.
'My guess is he'll hang around and then probably send someone to keep an eye on the place. You can't go back for a bit.'
'Great. I've got a living to earn. I've got jobs on hand and a class on Tuesday.'
'Well, that gives us a couple of days. I think you ought to meet up with Lou Kramer and talk a few things through.'
'Like where Sam is?'
