The Mission (23 page)

‘You’ll have to show me, I’ve never been to a gallery before. My folks have boring office jobs.’

Marcus laughed. ‘There’s nothing boring about what your dad does. Computers are where the future’s at.’ He tilted his head. ‘What’s that face for?’

‘I was just wondering what my real father did for work. Mum has never said. Guess it’s no point if he’s dead.’ The noise of the coffee machine drowned out any more conversation, but Jaz was somewhat relieved. It gave her time to her thoughts. She was nearly eighteen. She had a right to know more about her father, even if it was bad. Right? Jaz felt for the medallion around her neck, hidden under her shirt. She’d gone searching for her birth certificate once, even requested a copy, but there was nothing of her real father. Just ‘unknown’ and Paul listed as her adopted dad. Without anything else, Jaz had given up. The medallion was all she had left. All the rest was locked away in her mum’s head and she wasn’t going to give them up anytime soon. But Jaz was hoping when she turned eighteen that her mum would change her mind. She had to.

After their coffee they headed to the cemetery; a few gardeners were out raking as they made their way to Becky first. Jaz carried the flower, rolling it through her fingers as she thought of her coded message inside. It was short and simple.

Target met with another known target.

Other than that, she didn’t know what else to tell them. She’d decided that the rest she should tell to Ryan in person. He was dealing with Nicko and Salvatore, so in a way she was cutting out the middleman. But none the less, she left her message, as it was protocol. She knew they’d understand it.

‘Here she is. I’ll just put this down,’ she said, stepping towards Becky’s grave and lifting up the vase. Inside was tiny slip of paper wrapped in gladwrap, which she slipped out and hid in her pocket before putting the flower in and setting it back against the headstone.

She had her first reply message. Her fingers itched to pull it out and read it, but she knew it would be in code and now was not the time. But her body was tingling with excitement. She had to try hard to hold herself together as Marcus took her to his sister’s grave.

‘I haven’t been here in a while. Sorry, Rach,’ he said as he faced the headstone.

The sun dipped behind a cloud and Jaz’s skin prickled; not just from the sudden drop in temperature but the feeling someone was watching them. Without the sun, the cemetery felt dark and gloomy. Marcus crouched down and touched the little photos of his sister that were on the headstone.

‘Wow, I can see the resemblance. You know, you’re lucky. I bet you have some great memories with her. I wish I could remember Becky.’ Her voice faded away on the gentle breeze that floated through the cemetery like lost souls.

Marcus stood up and put his arms around Jaz. ‘Life works in funny ways, hey. At least you still have Simon. It’s harder being an only kid. Mum and Dad are so focused on my life because I’m all they have.’

They talked for a while by the grave before finally heading back to her jeep.

‘Come on, I’ll take you down to Mum’s gallery in Freo. There is a great coffee shop next door, and on the way I’ll show you the warehouse.’

Marcus gave her directions to an industrial kind of area, lots of space and surrounded by trees, which would help to keep the noise to a minimum. He got her to pull into a large yard surrounded with a high fence topped with barbed wire and a massive big shed-like building in the centre. There was a medium-sized delivery truck parked by the shed. Sea containers, six of them, lined up against the back fence, and wooden boxes were stacked beside the shed, along with heaps of pallets. On the nearest end of the shed was an office area, and maybe the toilets, by the look of the small windows. There was a dog kennel beside the big sliding door in the warehouse part of the shed. Lots of protection but, she rationalised, they did work with expensive art.

‘Can we go in for a look?’ she asked.

‘Nothing much to see. It’s just a big shed where they pack up the sculptures and stuff. Lots of bubble wrap though. I remember going in when I was little and I spent the whole time popping the plastic bubbles. I don’t go visit nowadays in case Dad tries to get me to work there. He wants me to take over the family business and as much as I like art, I’d prefer to be the one making it, not selling it.’

Jaz let out her breath slowly, not trying to show she’d been holding it ever since Marcus said ‘family business’. For a moment, she wondered if his dad had actually spelled out the business he was into. Even though Jaz had seen him with Sal, she still was struggling to think that Carl was into drugs of Sal’s magnitude.

‘But I can’t see his car so we might be safe. Park over there,’ said Marcus pointing to a spot by the office section. ‘Tommy is usually here,’ he said.

Jaz was going to make the most of this opportunity to look for clues. As Ryan always said, see, not just look.

The moment Jaz stepped out of the car, a vicious dog bark started up. A German Shepherd was straining at its chain upon seeing them, growling like it was ready to chew them up like a juicy steak.

‘That’s Cujo. Don’t go near him if you value your legs. Dad got him a few years ago, but said he was never a pet and no one was to be trusted around him. Apparently they’d had a break-in so Dad thought this would help deter graffiti kids and stuff. Don’t know about you, but I don’t trust the look in his eyes at all. Although he is fine with Tommy.’

Marcus grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the big shed door that was open.

‘Hey Tommy,’ he said to a big man standing by a wooden box.

Tommy turned, his tattoos and bulk making him look scary, until Jaz saw the smile he had for Marcus.

‘Marky mate, what are you doing here?’ Tommy came over, shook his hand, and then glanced at Jaz.

‘Tommy, this is my girlfriend Jaz. Jaz, this is Tommy, he’s been working for Dad for years. There’s another bloke, Rich who works on occasion too.’

Jaz shook his hand, Tommy’s grip was gentle and he grinned like a proud mate.

‘She’s a looker, Marky. Nice to meet you, Jaz. You getting the tour?’ he asked. He wore blue work clothes, and his goatee was dark and thick, while the hair on his head was none.

‘Yep, we’re off to the gallery next. So you wrap all the stuff up and deliver it?’ she asked.

‘Sure do.’ He walked back to the box he’d been standing beside and picked up a clipboard. ‘This one here is off to Margaret River as a showpiece in a winery. I’ve got those two left to get wrapped.’ He motioned to a large picture on canvas, which was leaning against a proper frame rail, and some sculpture was nearby, made of wire and wood.

Jaz walked over to them, taking the time to check out the rest of the shed. A sea container was at the opposite end sitting under a great big contraption that was kind of like a car hoist, but in this case probably lifted the sea containers on and off a truck.

‘Do you ship stuff overseas?’ she asked, turning to walk to the sea container.

Tommy didn’t move or flinch. Obviously there were no drugs left around here. ‘Not much, mainly we get the pieces in from overseas. Diane spends a lot of time overseas looking for new things.’

‘I’ve never really seen a sea container before. Cool.’ The rest of the shed was full of bubble wrap rolls, just like Marcus had said. Also lots of cardboard and packing straps, everything you would need to safely transport delicate items.

Jaz turned towards the office end of the shed. There were two doors.

‘That’s just the office part,’ said Marcus, watching her. ‘Sometimes Karen, Mum’s worker, comes here to keep the delivery paperwork up to date.’ Marcus shot Tommy a look, and Jaz laughed as Tommy glanced away as if he had no idea why Karen would be needed. ‘Tommy’s more the muscle, aren’t ya?’ he teased.

‘Too right, kid. I’m lucky if I can sign my name,’ he joked. ‘I’m just going to back the truck in,’ he said. ‘Nice meeting you, Jaz.’

‘You too, Tommy,’ she said as he walked off outside. Jaz turned to Marcus. ‘You know, if your dad is having trouble with break-ins, my dad could set you up with a good alarm system. His company make fully intergrated systems.’

‘No need. Dad has one set up in the office and he has big locks on the doors so no one could get in here without a big oxy torch.’ He pointed out the bolts. ‘But they try not to keep much in here anyway. The good stuff is kept under better security at the gallery. Dad has this place insured anyway.’

‘Good to know. I can’t imagine anyone would want to come and steal art pieces anyway. It’s not like it would be easy to sell or hide.’ Jaz turned back to the sea container. There was a link here, she could feel it between this sea container and the sea container sale notice she’d seen on Carl’s desk. There had to be. Why would he need to buy more when he already had a heap in his yard?

Marcus agreed. ‘Yeah, I know. But some people do anything for money.’

The beeping of a truck reversing had them moving out of the shed. They waved goodbye to Tommy, who was in the truck, and then got in the jeep.

Jaz couldn’t see anything funny at all in there; not even Tommy seemed out of place. But maybe during daylight hours it was supposed to seem like that? If they were going to put drugs in art to ship to clients, then Jaz guessed this would be the most likely spot to do it. It was out of the way, in an unimposing area.

Maybe she’d have to come back at another time to check the place out. If she did, she’d have to bring the biggest steak she could find!

Jaz was nervous. As she sat by her computer she couldn’t stop her leg from bouncing, nor could she stop chewing on her fingernail. Tonight she would see Ryan.

That thought alone made her leg pick up speed. Taylor was at Anna’s, but he was going to drop her off at Ryan’s tonight so her car wasn’t left outside his place. They were all eager to find out what Ryan could do about Nicko.

She straightened out the note she’d received from the cemetery. Already deciphered and locked away in her brain. It informed her that Ryan would make contact soon to discuss her target and any findings. Did the Agency know she was going out to dinner with him tonight, or was their private life none of the Agency’s business?

Jaz glanced at her watch. She still had fifteen minutes before Taylor would be here. Thank God she’d already found something to wear. Mind you, she’d had most of the morning to sort it, and Anna had helped. Well, if you can call it help. Anna wanted her to wear a dress and go sexy. Jaz was sure Anna harboured a little crush on Ryan, or maybe she thought Jaz still did too and was hoping for some action. But Jaz had won the clothing battle, almost.

She wore leggings with a body-hugging long grey top that just covered her bottom. A little black jacket over the top, some silver jewellery and a pair of knee high black boots and she was good to go. It seemed like a good casual mix until Anna opened her mouth.

‘See? Sexy as. Go knock ‘em dead,’ said Anna.

She was ready. Except for her nerves. If only they would go.

While she was waiting, she’d thought about the details they’d got from Meg. And on a whim Jaz had decided to Google De Luca Industries. The bell had gone at school and she’d forgotten to check it out. She was half expecting Sal to be in control of De Luca Industries because Ryan said he was huge, so he’d have to own the company. Right?

Regardless of what she thought, she Googled it anyway. What she’d found was a heap of businesses with the De Luca Industries label, but clicked on the link to the Perth-based one. De Luca Industries in Perth was a flight charter company. Did Sal own it? Is this how he shipped his drugs around to different places? Seemed very useful.

‘Jaz, Taylor is here,’ called Tasha as she neared the top of the stairs.

Jaz flicked off her computer, grabbed her small handbag and met her mum on the stairs. ‘Thanks, Mum.’

‘You look gorgeous. Hot date with Marcus?’

‘Maybe,’ said Jaz. Let her think whatever she wanted.

Tasha touched her arm, causing her to stop midway down the stairs. ‘You remember about birth control, right?’

‘Oh my God, Mum. Please,’ Jaz begged, as she felt her face burn.

‘I wouldn’t be a very good mum if I didn’t remind you about it. Even though you are old enough to know…’ Tasha faded away as she gazed at Jaz. Raising her hand she smoothed out her ponytail as if taking a last moment to remember her little girl.

‘I don’t plan on that, Mum, but if I do decide to do that…well, I know what to do. Now is that the end? Tay’s waiting,’ she said, raising an eyebrow at her mum.

Tasha sighed. ‘Yes, off you go. Have fun. But not too much fun,’ she added hastily.

Jaz was still laughing when she still climbed into Taylor’s car.

‘What’s so funny?’ he asked.

‘Yeah?’ said Anna, popping up in the back seat.

Jaz jumped a little, but she should have expected Anna wouldn’t miss out on this.

‘Nothing. Just my mum. So you both need to drop me off, hey?’ Jaz asked.

‘Of course,’ said Anna, as she played with her hair. She was wearing jeans and a Hello Kitty t-shirt. She was a big kid at heart.

‘You are just dropping me out the front and then leaving, right? I can’t have Ryan knowing you know stuff. Okay?’

‘You’re such a party pooper, Jaz,’ said Anna.

But they respected her wishes, and quickly dropped her off out the front and left just as fast so no one had time to place the car.

Standing on the side of the road in the dark, Jaz was a little scared without her friends and suddenly wanted them back. Could she really face Ryan on her own, especially with what went on between them? Or lack of. There was only one way to find out, and Jaz was all for facing her fears head on.

She let herself into his yard and headed to the back door, rapping her knuckles on the wood. There was nothing. What if the dinner had been cancelled? What if he didn’t want her to come anymore? Was he even home? Dread and humiliation began to trickle through her before the door finally opened.

Ryan stood there in stone-washed jeans and a button up dress shirt in dark grey. The sexy fresh scent of him hit her like a bucket of cold water, causing her skin to prickle with goose bumps. He almost smelt better than he looked. Almost. Those dark mysterious eyes won her over every time, especially when he gazed over her, as if he was checking her out. Was he interested? Or was that just her imagination running wild?