The Chrysalid Conspiracy (52 page)

“I really don’t believe this,” he managed to say. “Solace from a couple of kids. I’d love to join you, but I’m still not sure. At least you know the truth. Hey, I’ve got to go,” he said, looking at his watch. “Thank you so much.”

As he went through the door, Rayn called after him. “Hey Joe. Remember – if you take a chance, anything can happen. If you don’t, everything stays the same. See you tomorrow.”

***

The sound of a boiling kettle calling for attention, with bacon frying in the background was, to Amelia, the perfect way to be woken up. Without opening her eyes, she muttered her gratitude to Rayn. “Oh, thank you, my friend. I don’t deserve you.”

Sheila’s voice broke into her reverie. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. Rayn’s at war with the kitchen.” Amelia was immediately wide-awake.

“No, she can’t do that,” She managed to say.

Sheila laughed. “That’s what she said, but she’s giving it a go anyway.”

“No,” said Amelia. “What’s the time? It’s Molly. We can’t have her thinking her wages are just charity. She’ll go bananas. We’ve got to have something for her to do. Get her out of there before Molly gets here. Please, Sheila.”

Sheila did as she was asked and, a few minutes later, Rayn came in carrying a plate of bacon sandwiches. “Good morning, my hero,” she said. “I really like the way your mind works.”

“If you’re too intelligent for housework, like you say you are,” said Amelia, “then you should have figured that one out yourself.” As she spoke, she pushed back her duvet and made as if to get up.

“Whoa!” Rayn cried out. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m getting up. I’ve had enough of this,” Amelia snapped.

“No you’re not,” Rayn told her. “I need you back to full fitness. I’ve lost my training partner and I don’t have the willpower and self-discipline to work on my own. You’re staying there till Sheila says it’s okay.”

“I must agree with her, Amelia,” said Sheila. “I’m sorry, but if you were rugby scrum half I’d have you strapped up for a week. Give it one more day, at least.”

“Why are you ganging up on me?” Amelia moaned in frustration. “Can I at least get up for breakfast?”

Amelia was sitting at the table with her consolation prize of bacon and coffee when her mother breezed in, looking completely revitalised. Her face was fresh and vivid and Amelia saw the woman she had always known.

“Mum, you look fantastic. What’s the deal?” she said, really pleased for her.

“Thank you Amelia, and good morning. We have a Genie in the house. Sheila, you are pure magic. I feel better than I have for years. Any more of those sandwiches going begging?”

“I’ll put some more bacon on,” said Rayn. “Come on, Sheila, dig in. You’re part of the family now, whether you like it or not.”

“Molly’s late this morning. I wonder what’s up,” Amelia said to her mother.

“Oh, I gave her the day off. She was so excited by what Lorraine said, it didn’t seem fair to make her work.”

“Oh no,” Amelia sighed. “I wish you’d told me. Rayn’s going to be all over me when she finds out.” Before her mother could ask, Rayn came back in with another pile of sandwiches, more tea and coffee, and ashtrays.

“Do I notice a glitch in the communications department?” she asked, not amused.

To avoid an open confrontation, Amelia launched off into a different subject. “So, whereabouts in Australia do you come from, Sheila?” Amelia asked.

To be fair, her knowledge of Australian geography was so bad it wouldn’t matter what Sheila told them. She’d be none the wiser.

“I used to tell people that I came from the middle of nowhere,” Sheila smiled. “But being in the middle implies that you must have some idea of where the edges are. My parents own a sheep farm and I grew up a long way from any neighbours. Mum taught me school stuff and we had a teacher fly in once a week. So I grew up surrounded by sheep, farmhands, more sheep, and Sundowners.”

“Sundowners?” Rayn was intrigued.

“Migrant workers. Mainly sheep shearers, but anything else going. I suppose they’re a bit like your gypsies. Crooked to the core but the nicest people in the world.”

The others laughed and Lucy explained that Rayn and her mother were, in fact, Gypsies. Sheila was thrilled and wanted to know more, but Amelia continued her questioning. “How on earth did you end up being a physiotherapist? It seems an unlikely profession to emerge from that background?”

“We discovered I had a magic touch. I used to sort out the Sundowners during shearing. Mostly muscle strain and back problems. That’s why the farm was so successful – we always had the pick of the best workers. They used to come for miles just for a massage. It was free and the best in the known world. That’s our known world, not the real one. So, I went off to college and everything went downhill from there.”

“Downhill?” said Rayn, suddenly on the edge of her seat. “What happened?”

“You don’t want to know,” said Sheila.

“Well, come on. Don’t stop now.” Rayn was almost salivating with anticipation and Bridie’s tail was up.

Lucy cut in. “It’s none of our business. Leave it alone.” Amelia couldn’t change the subject at this point, so she gave it a nudge in a different direction.

“Look, Sheila,” she said. “I’m sorry I was a bit brutal yesterday. I hope you can forgive me?”

“Amelia, it was exactly what I needed. No one has ever given it to me like that. The truth as it really is, I mean. It was like being hit in the face with a cricket bat. If you hadn’t, I would have been out that door and back into my self-pitying wilderness. You put everything into perspective. I owe you,” Sheila confessed. “Do you mind if I tell you the whole story, now I think I can handle it?”

“I think we could sit through it – for your sake, of course,” said Rayn. “Don’t you mum?”

Sheila laughed and, after taking a deep breath, began her story.

“I’m going to give it to you, warts and all. I’ve come to realise I’m not entirely blameless, so here goes. At eighteen I went off to college, as I said, to do physiology. There I was, fresh from the farm, amongst people my own age, more intellectual than your average farmer and fun to be with.

It was a totally new environment but I quickly got into the swing of things. I studied physiology in great detail, both male and female; sometimes at the same time. I tested the limits of my tolerance to drugs, alcohol and sleep deprivation. I became so good at it that I got top marks, but only from the students. The administration asked me to leave. I call it my ‘blank’ year. I don’t remember much but I’m supposed to have had a whale of a time.

“Meanwhile, back on the farm, mum and dad were disappointed but not judgemental and I managed to get sorted out. I carried on with the ‘magic’ and, when I was ready to trust myself again; I went off to Melbourne and got the necessary certificates.” Sheila paused for a moment. “Any chance of another coffee?” she said to Rayn. “My hands are shaking. This is really tougher than I thought it would be.”

“You can stop when you like.” said Lucy.

“No she can’t!” burst in Rayn. “I’ll get you all the coffee you need. Just don’t start again till I get back.” Sheila laughed again, which both Lucy and Amelia saw as a good sign. When Rayn returned and they were settled again, she continued.

“Word of my magic touch sort of spread and I got a job with a sports club, from where I ended up as physio to the National Rugby Team. It was a very prestigious position, very high profile and I loved it. That’s when it all fell to pieces. A snide of a reporter contacted some of my so-called friends from college and did a kiss and tell piece in the Sunday papers, with photographs. The next thing you know, I was gang banging the whole team and supplying them with drugs. I didn’t have the courage to stay and fight. I just split.”

There were tears in Sheila’s eyes as she stopped for a moment. The others were silent. There was nothing they could say. Rayn, who knew this was the truth, was beginning to wish she had been a little less enthusiastic, while Amelia, who could feel the pain, was nearly in tears for her.

“You know,” Sheila said, at length. “Last night was the only time I’ve given a thought for the other people involved. The team went through hell. Drugs enquiries; divorce actions, the guy who hired me got fired. Loss of advertising contracts had a huge impact on the whole sport. And I’ve been so wrapped up in myself I’ve never given them a thought. That kick in the backside you gave me has certainly shaken a few things up. Anyway, I’ve been on the move ever since, a couple of years now. Mum and dad have stood by me with finances and such. If somebody recognises me I just split again. One time I didn’t even go back to my flat. Just got on a bus and kept going. Then last week I got this letter from my dad telling me to take this job. He didn’t ask, he actually told me. Imagine how I felt when I was recognised in about eight seconds?” Sheila paused again and then suddenly turned to Rayn. “Rayn, can we get stuck into that washing up? I need to be active or else I’ll fall apart.”

They retreated to the kitchen just as Carrieanne’s voice called out from the shop. “Hello? It’s us. Can we come in?”

“Yes! Come on in,” called Amelia.

“Amelia,” said Lucy, quickly. “Can we arrange to be alone this week some time?”

“Of course, Mum. Any particular reason?” answered Amelia, curiously.

“It’s time,” she said, as the two sisters came bouncing in. Amelia caught her breath.

Claire rushed in, already talking. “Hey, Amelia. Guess what Caz found out? We know…” She stumbled to a halt when she saw Lucy. “Oh, hi Lucy,” she said. “You look well.”

“What do you mean, well?” said Carrieanne, quickly. “She looks fantastic. Nice to see you up and about again, Lucy. How do you feel?”

“I’m fine, thank you. It looks as if you girls have something you need to discuss. I’m off to get some work done,” and she motored out to her workshop.

“Sorry,” said Claire. “Is it safe to talk now?”

“Yes,” said Amelia. “What’s this all about?”

“We have news about the Lucy Lacey thing. Caz has this stupid friend at school that’s got…” began Claire.

“She’s not stupid,” defended Carrieanne in a loud voice.

“Stop!” Amelia implored. “Don’t start again. Claire, apologise to your sister and let her tell her own story. Now, go get Rayn, she’d better be in on this.” A somewhat deflated Claire did as she was told.

“Hi guys,” greeted Rayn. “What are you doing here on a school day? Escaped?”

“Teacher training day,” said Claire, still showing her disappointment.

“I thought you’d better hear this Rayn,” said Amelia. “Go Ahead Caz.”

“Well,” began Carrieanne, “I’ve got this friend at school, she’s a really lovely girl…”

“Come off it, Caz,” interrupted Claire. “She’s thick as a walrus and twice as ugly.”

“Claire, shut up,” Amelia told her.

“Thank you, Amelia. I’m going to have her stuffed and mounted. Anyway, she may not be pretty but she plays a wicked flute and has a terrific singing voice. It turns out she also has an elder brother who’s a bit of a computer freak. Very clever and a wizard hacker.”

Claire couldn’t resist any longer. “Oh, come on,” she moaned. “Alex is completely thick at maths. He thinks a prime number is an ageing lap dancer.”

Despite herself, Rayn burst into laughter. Amelia was about to rebuke Claire again when Rayn cut in, showing some uncharacteristic tact. “Hey Claire. Why don’t you take Sheila’s cigarettes in the kitchen to her?” and she slid a packet and a lighter across the table. “Have a chat, she’s really nice.” Claire grabbed the cigarettes and lighter, stuck her tongue out at her sister in defiance and flounced out of the room.

“Sorry about that,” said Carrieanne. “She’s annoyed because dad has been on at us to find out exactly what happened on Sunday. He’s got a copy of the police report somehow, but he doesn’t believe it. As far as I’m concerned he can get stuffed. Ve know Nar-Think.”

“That’s okay, Please go on” Amelia smiled.”

“Well, I was talking about Brenda, my friend. Her brother is a computer hacker. So I asked her to get him to check out Lucy Lacey Imports. Apparently it’s a worldwide charitable conservation trust. The Lucy side deals with collecting plant and non-sentient life and the Lacy side does the same with animals, reptiles, insects, that sort of stuff.”

“Did he manage to get any details of the structure of it? You know, organisers, funding, anything at all?” asked Rayn.

“Yes. It was started about ten years ago by a Lucille Jaxson and William Lacey,” said Carrieanne. “It’s called the ‘Lucy Lacey Research Foundation’ and it’s registered as a charity.”

“Who the hell is William Lacey?” muttered Amelia.

“George’s original name was Billy, wasn’t it?” suggested Rayn. “Do you think, maybe…?”

“Reasonable assumption, I suppose,” answered Amelia. “Go on Caz. What else?”

“He couldn’t find out where their funding comes from, which really got up his nose, as he hates to fail. The charity seems to run itself and there have been many accusations and inquiries into allegations of illegal imports and smuggling. But no prosecutions. “But,” and she paused for effect. “In the legal paperwork of those inquiries, he found a reference to an Exotic Animal Sanctuary somewhere near Warem Down in Hampshire. Is that okay?” Carrieanne finished.

“That’s fantastic Caz. You’ve done really well, thank you.” Amelia was still shaken by the continuing confirmation of her mother’s involvement, but was getting used to these kinds of shocks. Rayn pointed out that it didn’t get them much further forward, but it was nice to get some answers for a change.

“I don’t know, Rayn. It gives us a much better understanding of the size and influence of Maddy’s organisation,” Amelia answered.

“At least we now know who and what the Lucy Lacey imports thing is all about, and what it is they’re up to.”

As she was talking, Sheila came in looking for another lighter. Hers had died.

“What’s that about Lucy Lacey?” she asked. “I’ve not heard that name since I left home.” Although her voice was conversational, the impact was disproportionate.

Amelia sat back in her chair with a half-smile on her face, while Rayn choked on her own expletive.