The Silent Country (53 page)

‘I’ll find you when I have a break.’ He waved and went on board.

The movie was halfway through and most of the passengers seemed to have dozed off when Gordon tapped her on the shoulder again and motioned her to the galley at the rear of the plane.

He handed her a glass of wine. ‘From First Class, it’s a good drop. Now, tell me what’s been happening. I heard that you’d gone bush somewhere.’

‘I did. I’ve been in the Territory. I loved it, especially Kakadu. I’ve been chasing a story about a film expedition that happened more than fifty years ago. Then Andy dug up a woman who was on the original expedition and now lives in Italy. She did well for herself. Married a billionaire and has houses around the world. I went to interview her at her summer house on Lake Como.’

‘Woohoo! So tell me more. Have you met anyone else interesting in your travels?’

Veronica sipped her wine. They were speaking quietly as Gordon tucked into his dinner tray. ‘Actually, I have, in Darwin. His name’s Jamie McIntosh and he’s an
environmentalist. He’s been very helpful.’ Seeing Gordon’s raised eyebrow, she smiled. ‘Yes, he is dishy. Very special.’

‘Too bad he’s in Darwin.’

‘I’m going back up there. Marta, my contact in Italy, gave me some interesting information.’

‘What a glam job you have. Like me.’ He rolled his eyes.

Veronica smiled. ‘People do think our jobs are fabulous but they don’t understand the gruelling side of it. And I’m not happy about the great new idea of shoving me in front of the camera all the time. I’ve had the cameraman shooting me doing the most mundane things . . .’

‘I hope you did your hair and make-up!’

‘That was the last thing on my mind. See, I’m not cut out to be a front of camera person. I hate the idea of losing my privacy. I wish Andy would come up with something different and not make me the focal point of the show,’ Veronica said.

‘I can see the thinking. It’s a good idea because you’ll look great and the show will get good ratings and you’ll get a bigger budget and everyone will say it’s all because of you. By the way, did you hear the news about your boss, William Rowe? He owns your network, doesn’t he? He’s been nominated for Australian of the Year,’ said Gordon, pleased to impart news she didn’t know.

‘Is that so? He seems a decent sort of man. Even cynical Andy likes him and says that he has business integrity. He’s given a lot of money to various charities, too,’ said Veronica. She took another sip of her wine. ‘Oh, and you’ll never guess who I worked with up north,’ she continued. ‘Eddie. That’s where he went.’

‘No way!’ Gordon loved this piece of gossip. ‘How was it? How did you feel? Did the ol’ heart go pitter patter?’

‘Absolutely not. It was fine for a while, very professional. He is a terrific cameraman. But I’m glad we broke
up. The man is a serious male chauvinist pig. He certainly objected to taking instructions from me.’

‘I’d been telling you that for ages, darling heart.’

‘Y’know, Gordy, since I’ve been up in the Top End I’ve realised how debilitating city life can be. Rush, rush, rush, all the time. I never thought I’d question my career, but I’m starting to feel like I’m treading water.’

‘Been there, done that? Maybe being in front of camera will give you a bit of a boost once you get used to it,’ said Gordon.

‘I love working, but this whole story of the original expedition and the people back then and those people I’ve met in Darwin have opened my eyes to a lot of things.’

‘Hmm. Like?’ Gordon gave her a shrewd glance.

‘How life can work out so differently from the way one imagines or expects it’s going to.’

‘Would this have anything to do with this Jamie guy?’ He hastily swallowed the last mouthful of his dinner as a passenger’s bell rang. ‘Blue light calling. Better see what 32A wants. Here, have the rest of the wine. Let’s catch up soon.’ He kissed her quickly and disappeared behind a curtain.

Veronica thought about her chat with Gordon as she headed into the office to see Andy. Why had this particular story, these people, these places and events, affected her more deeply than any other story she’d done?

Andy gave her a hug. ‘Good to have your cheerful presence back in the joint.’

‘It’s good to see you,’ said Veronica. ‘We have a lot to catch up on. How are the other stories working?’

‘Pretty well. Of course, they aren’t monsters like this one, but then we are still doing them in the old format. This one is really going to break new ground for us.’

‘Pleased to hear it,’ Veronica said, smiling at her boss.
‘Did you get my emails? Where have you got to in your investigations?’

‘I’ve got a few leads. But first, tell me what you made of Marta. Is she telling you the truth about Topov?’

‘I don’t doubt her for a moment. She’s very beautiful, self-centred as mega-rich people can be, but her story was really compelling. It turns out that they all lied to Colin and the police about Topov’s death. Colin still believes that Topov was taken by a croc.’ Veronica filled Andy in on all Marta had told her.

‘Well, that does half answer why John Cardwell doesn’t want the story to come out,’ said Andy.

‘Half answer?’

‘It seems from what Marta says that any one of them could have been responsible for Topov’s death,’ said Andy slowly. ‘Apparently they all disliked the man and on the day he died, everyone had an opportunity to confront him.’

‘Are you thinking Johnny – John Cardwell – might have been the one that did?’ asked Veronica.

‘Why else would he put the heavy hand on Colin and us?’

‘But Colin didn’t know anything.’

‘Well, maybe Cardwell just didn’t want any of the events brought up again because he doesn’t want to be implicated in Topov’s death, even after fifty years,’ mused Andy.

‘But that’s not going to stop us, is it?’ said Veronica.

‘Not until we’ve found out as much as we can,’ said Andy. ‘But we still need more facts.’

‘Like?’

‘Like finding Topov’s grave. It might still be there, untouched. Finding his remains would make the program even more interesting and verify Marta’s story. The icing on the cake, as it were.’ Andy gave her a swift look. ‘I don’t suppose you’ll have any objection to going north again?’

‘To find Topov? That could be a long shot.’ She tried to remain professional but she could feel a huge smile breaking out on her face at the thought of seeing Jamie again. ‘Marta gave a fairly detailed description of the place where they buried him, I’m sure Jamie could help us find it. It’s worth a shot.’

‘I think so. Use Dougie again, his stuff was good.’

‘Well, we’ll go out and see what we can find.’ But Veronica had difficulty reminding herself Topov’s body, if it was there, would be mere bones by now. To her he seemed still very much alive, a much larger than life character.

‘I know that you believe Marta, but it still sounds pretty wild. I think we’d look a pair of jackasses if we dragged the police into this now on a rather flimsy premise. But if we do find a body, it will change things and it won’t just be a vague story of a forgotten journey,’ said Andy.

‘Do you want to see some of the interview with Marta?’

‘I certainly do. Especially the bit where she talks about burying Topov,’ said Andy.

‘She wouldn’t say that on camera,’ said Veronica. When Andy’s face fell, she added, ‘I did, nevertheless, get it all on my personal tape recorder.’

‘We can’t use it without her permission.’

‘She agreed I could use the tape and it does give the details of where they buried him.’

Andy slapped her on the shoulder. ‘Excellent. We could use her voice over the scenes of your finding the remains, if and when you do.’

‘Maybe. Now, what leads do you have?’

‘While you were slumming it at Lake Como, I haven’t been idle. I’ve been on the trail of Madame Olga Konstantinova.’

‘Really! Did she stay in Sydney?’

‘On and off it appears. I haven’t been able to ascertain
much about her relationship with Maxim Topov. But she was quite the social doyenne in her time. There’re lots of reports of social functions at her Darling Point home and references to the Count, presumably her husband, who was always abroad it seems.’ He paused. ‘And she had two daughters who were at school in France, improving their accents.’

‘So did she stay in Australia or go back to Europe?’

‘She went back and forth to visit her daughters. Her husband’s career seems a little shadowy and vague. The daughters eventually came back to Australia . . . and stayed here.’ He paused for effect and then continued, ‘One of them, Valma, still lives in Olga’s house.’

‘Really! We can film the place where it all began!’ exclaimed Veronica. ‘I wonder what ghosts might lurk. Have you talked to her about this?’

‘Indeed I have. She has heard of Topov, but never met him and never took much interest, though she recalls her mother mentioning him. She’s rather ambivalent about the whole thing, so I thought I’d leave it to you to meet her and whip up some enthusiasm and get permission to film there. The other sister is younger and doesn’t recall much either. She lives in Paddington but is overseas at present.’

‘What’s the older sister like?’

‘She’s never married and I got the impression she’s not fond of men. So I told her you’d be in touch. Use your charm.’

‘So she’s in her late sixties at least . . . How do I handle this? Maybe I have to explain what a wonderful entrepreneur her mother was and how she supported this film project . . . Do you think that’s the way to go, Andy?’

‘You understand women better than me, Veronica. Whatever works. My antennae say Valma holds a key.’

That evening, after unpacking and heating up a frozen meal, Veronica curled up in her bed. She was glad to be back in her own surroundings and she decided to ring Jamie.

‘Hi. What are you up to?’

‘Watching some rubbish on telly while I put off making a lot of notes for a talk I have to give. Have you recovered from Italy?’

‘I’m a bit jetlagged, but I can’t relax, I have so much spinning around in my head.’

‘About?’

‘The story, of course. I found out a lot in Italy and Andy’s come up with some new info.’

‘Ah, of course. So the story’s going well?’

‘It’s certainly proving to be interesting. Actually, I’m planning to come back up to the Territory. I need to get out to Arnhem Land again.’

‘You do? Happy to help.’ The warmth in Jamie’s voice flowed down the phone line.

Veronica found herself curling into the bed, cradling the phone. ‘I haven’t had a chance to tell you all that Marta told me.’

‘No, I got your text messages about the scenery, the food, some amazing house. What’s the good news that’s going to bring you north again?’ asked Jamie. ‘Work or not, Billy – and I – will be happy to see you.’

Veronica told him at length what Marta had related about the fate of Topov. It felt good to share it with someone who was really interested, other than Andy. And it helped her to go through the details once more.

At the end of the story, Jamie seemed quite amazed. ‘That’s a heck of a story. Do you have any theories about who might have thumped him? And why?’

‘Everyone had a motive, I guess. But now Andy wants me to come up there and try to find the place Marta
described, where they buried Topov and see if we can find his remains.’

‘If you do find it, are you going to show it on TV? If you are, you’ll have to follow correct procedures. That means police, forensic people, coroner, too.’

‘I know, but it means some sort of closure to the story.’

‘True, but it will still leave a lot of unanswered questions, won’t it? What kind of info have you got to help find the place where they buried him?’

‘Quite a good description. I’d like to talk to John Cardwell to see what he remembers, but he’s very media shy,’ said Veronica, yawning. ‘I’m sure that he doesn’t want this to come out.’

‘That sounds a bit suspicious. Maybe he’s the one who had the fist fight with Topov. You sound tired, shall we talk more tomorrow?’ said Jamie gently.

‘Yes, I’d love to, after I’ve had a good night’s sleep. I’ll let you know when I’m arriving up there. I’ll have to alert Dougie, too.’