In Jeopardy Read online

  ‘Very candidly put – you’ve summed up the situation. Why didn’t you tell me this before?’

  ‘There wasn’t any point. You would have been deaf to advice, because you hung onto an idealised image.’

  Julian asks questions he wouldn’t have dared to ask in the past. He offers Christine any assistance he can give her. She is touched and tells her brother he’s kind, but that she doesn’t want to burden him. She informs him that she has engaged a solicitor to attend these affairs.

  During the next week they meet daily for dinner or lunch before Julian returns to Sydney then flies to Perth. He suggests that Christine come to Perth with him. She tells him this is too generous. She reasons that she has recently returned from Sydney, instigated legal action against Richard, and since she has accepted the responsibility as Charge Nurse of the ward she cannot abandon the hospital. He dismisses her reasons as minor obstacles that she can easily overcome.

  He impresses on her that the hospital won’t object to her taking a long weekend off. He suggests she ask for the days off in exchange for her taking on extra shifts. She asks him if he has cleared a proposed visit with Diana. He counters that the matter won’t be a problem, he will attend to it and Diana will be delighted. After convincing Christine, he arranges her flight and insists on paying her fare.

  When Julian returns to Sydney Christine has almost forgotten about Perth. She organises shifts, oversees and trains student nurses, fits in extra shifts to make up for time she will take off. These duties keep her in a rushed state. Days seamlessly merge into each other. She returns to the apartment wanting to collapse and sleep following the seven shifts she has worked this week.

  Tim is in the living-room on the floor, suitcases open, personal effects litter the floor and he doesn’t hear her enter. He looks up, revealing a wide-eyed startled possum stare. She apologises for catching him unaware. Following an awkward silence he says, ‘Hi Christine. Your mail is buried under my stuff.’

  He moves an armful of crumpled clothing to retrieve her stack. She walks away from him and her mail. ‘It can wait. I’m making a cup of tea. Do you want one?’

  ‘Thanks; white tea, two sugars.’

  She drops into one of the armchairs, one of the few pieces of furniture that is bare and stares at nothingness, almost unaware of Tim’s presence. Her head bursts from the noise of the ward, being consumed by too many tasks and loose ends she has to tie up before taking four days from work to go to Perth.

  ‘Christine?’

  She snaps back to the present. ‘Did you say something?’

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘I must have drifted off.’

  ‘You haven’t opened your mail.’

  ‘I’m tired – I’d rather not.’

  ‘Expecting bad news? Open your mail. I’m here to protect you from the big bad wolf of bills.’

  ‘Since when have you become so interested in my welfare? You’re just burning with curiosity aren’t you?’

  The first letter has the travel agency’s logo stamped in bold red print. Christine hasn’t mentioned her travel arrangements to Tim. It’s probably this letter that caught his attention. He stops packing and watches Christine open the letter.

  ‘Bad news? Tragedy? Disaster?’

  ‘A ticket to Perth.’

  ‘That would make me dance on stars. What a charmed life you must lead! You only just returned from Sydney and now you’re off to Perth.’

  ‘I’m meeting up with family and I’ll only be away for a few days.’

  ‘You make it sound painful, like a chore.’

  ‘Travel is painful, packing your life into and out of suitcases; isn’t that what you’re doing now?’

  ‘You’re funny – in an unfunny way – but I get your point.’

  She rips open each letter, followed by Tim’s question, ‘Bad news?’

  She responds, ‘Boring, another bill or landfill,’ and they both laugh until she picks up the letter from Ben Thornton’s legal firm. She had half forgotten about legal proceedings. Thornton requests she contact him by phone. He explains he has received correspondence from Richard’s lawyer, and includes some available times for Christine to arrange an appointment with him.

  ‘Did you run a red light – get caught speeding – driving and talking on your phone?’

  ‘I wish it was that simple.’

  ‘Is it that bad?’

  ‘Worse. You don’t know – do you?’

  ‘Know what?’

  ‘This is a hospital, news travels faster than any grapevine.’

  ‘You don’t have some dreaded disease – nothing terminal I hope?’

  ‘My husband threw me out of his life when we were in Sydney. The whole ugly affair exploded in our hotel room. He thinks he’s in love with this woman – at least a girl I swear is half his age. I didn’t exactly want to hang around and I returned alone.’

  ‘Wow – that’s amazing – I’m sorry – I really feel for you – that’s bad. I mean, he’s some bad person.’

  ‘I’d call him a son of a bitch.’

  ‘I’d call him that and more. You’ve shown remarkable self-control. I never would have guessed this is the reason you are living in residents’ quarters.’

  ‘I didn’t want to air my personal life in public. I don’t want people to think I’m some fragile creature you have to tip-toe around. No one needs to make allowances for me, half expecting that I will fall apart – that’s not going to happen.’ This is a hospital and medical workers must be made of tough stuff. This job is self-selecting – a hospital’s no place for sooks. ‘You can’t fall to pieces at any little crisis when you work in a place like this.’

  Christine calls Ben Thornton’s office and arranges an appointment before she leaves for Perth.

  Thornton doesn’t waste time on small talk. ‘I trust you’ve read my letter.’

  ‘Your letter makes the situation sound serious. Do I have any reason to panic?’

  ‘Your estranged husband has responded and has since engaged a legal representative. She acknowledges our orders that your husband is not to contact you.’

  ‘I guess that explains why email contact from him has stopped.’

  ‘Mr Banks contacted me personally when he received my letter and ahead of his solicitor. He made it clear he was angry with you, and me for that matter. Your estranged husband accused me of filling your head with rubbish. He told me I was unethical, shouting down the phone at me.’

  ‘That’s so like Richard.’

  ‘I gave Mr Banks enough rope to hang himself. I have his measure.’

  He doesn’t reveal to Christine that Richard threatened violence and accused Thornton of interfering with his life then inciting theft from his house. Thornton secretly prides himself on breaking with the protocols of his profession. He cannot think of any of his peers who would not only engage in a conversation with a client’s adversary, but who would enjoy such a confrontation. By allowing Richard free reign Thornton learnt that he wouldn’t hesitate to threaten and intimidate his client and possibly use violence against her.

  Christine expects bad news and from the moment she decided to leave the house of her own accord she assumed she would become embroiled in drawn out and complicated litigation. Since she left the house the cramped hospital apartment has become a refuge. She has thrown herself into her work with the prime purpose of blocking out Richard and the ugly saga he instigated. Times when she half forgets that he exists are short lived, until she feels the sting of being betrayed slapped hard across her face.

  Thornton tells Christine that she is fortunate that she doesn’t have the complication of children and these words strike at Christine’s heart. Although Thornton’s words inflict pain she continues to listen to his assurances that her childless state has spared her more grief than she already has to contend with, and reminds her that she has nothing of value to take away from a barren marriage, except for stuff and money.

  ‘I’m sorry Ms Francis – I
should think before I speak. I don’t have children and dislike them, but this is no excuse for what I just said.’

  ‘Call me Christine.’

  Richard’s earlier offer to pay Christine a large enough sum of cash that would enable her to buy another property is too good to be true. He made this offer to remind Christine that he wanted to expel her from his life. She suspects that Richard will, not for the first time, press his elderly parents to release funds from their family trust to buy her out of his life. She is convinced that he has money salted away in accounts that she has no knowledge of.

  His offer of the payout still stands. However, Thornton implores her to reject the offer. ‘Any man able to write out a cheque for more than half a million dollars is likely to have considerably more to spare.’

  Thornton explains that although this amount sounds like a handsome sum it is likely to buy Christine a dinky house with nothing to spare. He looks directly at her. ‘Are you prepared to acquiesce to this deal? It’s no more than shut up and piss off money.’ Before she has a chance to answer he continues, ‘I am under your instruction, but I recommend you insist on more.’

  ‘You bet I’m going to.’

  ‘There’s another condition to Banks’ offer. He claims that since you looted and ransacked the house he has reduced the sum offered to cover costs to repair the house. He further claims that you stole family heirlooms. He says these items cannot be replaced and is unable to calculate an accurate monetary value of them.’

  She shakes her head. ‘Untrue – completely untrue.’

  Thornton throws his head back and laughs out loud after he relays Richard’s claims. ‘You don’t give the impression that you’re up for criminal behaviour.’ He jokes, ‘Perhaps you’ve kept bad company for too long.’

  There is a break in the conversation before Thornton says, ‘As your solicitor I have to ask you the following question.’

  Christine nods.

  ‘Are any of Mr Banks’ claims true?’

  ‘No.’

  Thornton smiles. ‘We will call him out. I will ask for the police report and insurance claim. I expect he won’t produce one, therefore, the matter will be dismissed.’

  Thornton asks his client if she has any idea of her husband’s wealth independent of their shared assets. She shakes her head.

  Thornton confirms that Banks is likely to have hidden wealth. He informs her that because she left the marital home then instigated legal proceedings and because there are no children involved that Banks’ solicitor will vigorously challenge her entitlement to fifty per cent of their shared assets. He asks Christine whether there is any chance that she would return to the home and remain separated under the same roof until all legal proceedings are resolved.

  Without hesitation she says, ‘Never.’

  After uttering this comment she strongly suspects that Richard sought legal advice much earlier and then plotted a series of events designed to antagonise, distress and insult her to the point that she chose to leave.

  There was that absurd story about meeting up with a long lost friend from university. He would have applied for leave to factor in a dirty getaway with his bimbo. For most of her marriage to Richard there had been this unspoken agreement between them that he was unfaithful to her. Before this latest episode his infidelity always blew over and he meticulously made amends.

  In the early days of their relationship he made excuses for his actions, promised the liaison that had just ended would be the last. In return she forgave him. This time the pattern of Richard’s behaviour failed to repeat and without mercy or conscience he ejected her from his life. She doesn’t need to explain this to Thornton who has read the situation well enough to understand where she stands and the abuse that is coming her way.

  Thornton’s manner becomes bright and breezy. ‘We can use the information you’ve given me against Mr Banks.’

  ‘How is this relevant to no-fault divorce?’

  ‘It’s not in the sense that he can leave you regardless of his reason. He can set up a harem. As long as he doesn’t hold more than one marriage certificate he hasn’t committed a crime. I want to make the claim on your behalf that you left under extenuating circumstances. Essentially Mr Banks hounded you out of the house. Isn’t this what happened?’

  She nods.

  Thornton gains her permission to investigate whether Richard does in fact have hidden cash and other assets. However, Christine tells herself that her priority is to sever all ties with Richard. She reminds herself he is a man without honour. Perhaps it is only now and from a distance she can see him as he really is. She silently fumes. He can rot, along with the sordid company he keeps.

  Damien colluded with Richard while pretending to be a friend and someone she could trust. Without integrity, this man lied without compunction. It is obvious to her that during that last incident Jenna was barely able to contain her disgust. She expects that this relationship will split. Jenna might have the sense and integrity to leave, or more likely, Damien will treat Jenna in the same manner Richard has treated her.

  After Christine’s meeting with her solicitor she feels flat. Matters that Thornton discussed have dredged up hurtful memories of Richard’s cruelty. The thought of a divorce and property settlement spinning out fills her with dread. However, she relishes the idea of nailing Richard, finding out that he does in fact have substantial hidden assets that she has a claim to.

  Chapter Nine

  Diana’s husband Paul meets Christine at the airport. She hasn’t seen him for more than ten years. He still has dark, sad eyes giving the impression that he was a neglected, silent child in a large bustling family. He’s polite and pleasant but the conversation from the airport is disrupted by awkward phrases and silent moments.

  It’s Saturday and Julian arrived a day ahead of Christine. Diana and Paul’s children, Lawrence and Natasha, are at home. Diana is asleep. She was up until the early hours of the morning working on a bridal gown for a client who had a fitting that morning. Christine finds Natasha, like Paul, polite and pleasant. She only speaks when directly spoken to and allows Lawrence to speak for them both. One of the first things he says to her is, ‘Can we call you Christine?’

  ‘I don’t see why not. Yes, of course.’

  Natasha smiles and Lawrence says, ‘Great – so we can forget about labels and formalities – we’ve sorted this issue out before mum gets involved.’

  ‘Why would this be an issue, you don’t refer to me as uncle.’

  Paul clears his throat. ‘My family uses formalities. I’m sure between us we can break this habit.’

  ‘Yeah – cause it sucks, dad!’

  Natasha chimes, ‘Can we change the subject?’

  When Paul and Lawrence leave to buy takeaway Indian and Pizza, Natasha shows Christine her room and tells her she can sleep in the spare bed.

  Christine can’t help noting then commenting, ‘You’re remarkably tidy.’

  ‘I’m not, really, mum insisted I clean my room otherwise she would. I didn’t want her going through my stuff.’

  Christine doesn’t know what to expect of her sister’s children. Before meeting them she worried that they might be formal and stuffy, the way Diana could be. She likes them and is impressed by their ease of conversation, and that they have welcomed her, an aunt but a stranger, into their home.

  She leaves her bags unopened and follows Natasha to the kitchen. Diana still hasn’t appeared.

  Julian and Natasha make a salad and stack plates and cutlery onto the island bench. Christine offers to help; Julian insists they don’t need help. Christine feels a sting of awkwardness and hopes that she hasn’t intruded on her absent family. She hopes that one day she can return their hospitality and generosity.

  Lawrence and Paul return and dump the stack of steaming boxes and containers onto the island bench.

  ‘Is mum up yet?’

  Paul walks away from the kitchen. ‘I’ll let her know we’re ready to eat.’

 
Muffled voices from another part of the house find their way to the kitchen.

  Paul returns. ‘She’s still tired, she sends her apologies and insists we eat without her.’

  Lawrence rolls his eyes.

  Paul speaks, ‘And we don’t need any comment.’

  Diana’s absence fills the space and conversation sticks to safe subjects. Julian suggests they visit at least one of Perth’s highlights.

  Diana emerges after the meal. She strongly resembles Julian except she has long black hair like Natasha. She still has a youthful appearance and is slender and graceful. She wears a fashionable cut of jeans, white shirt contrasted by a black pendant, and a woollen shawl draped over her shoulders. Dressed modestly she carries the look with style, but also giving the impression she doesn’t care much about appearances.

  After Diana greets their guests, she apologises for her absence. Paul offers to put together a plate.

  Diana shakes her head. ‘Sit down and enjoy the company. I’ll arrange something myself.’

  Paul lists places their guests might be interested to visit. Although it is an unseasonably cold autumn in Perth, he suggests a cruise along the Swan River. Lawrence dismisses this as boring. Diana suggests a trip to the city, to its quaint malls, historic buildings, the garden and the riverbank.

  Lawrence says, ‘Boring, boring…’

  Diana drops her knife and fork with a clink and turns her focus on Lawrence. ‘You haven’t come up with any bright ideas yet.’

  ‘We can show Christine and Julian our school and the university you want me to attend next year. I’d like to take them to the boatshed.’

  Natasha interrupts. ‘No one has asked Christine and Julian where they would like to go.’

  Christine responds, ‘We don’t need to go anywhere. If you want to take us somewhere let’s make it local. I’m kind of tired anyway.’