Last Known Contact Read online

  “I’m going to visit her later. I’ll ask her then.”

  “Good luck. What else are you doing today?”

  “I need to meet with Campbell and Dennis and formulate a plan to manage things until Dad returns.”

  And see what they both really know.

  She continued. “Once that’s done, I want to sit down with you and go over everything from that last day Dad was around.” Ellie knew Paul would say what he thought. He mightn’t get on with Dennis, but he was close to her father and along with Campbell could be relied on to tell her if something wasn’t right.

  11

  Campbell’s Choices

  Campbell Boyd had attended the same school as Jack. They moved in different circles, Campbell coming from a wealthy family who’d already lined him up for a future in finance and business management. While Jack excelled at football and cricket, Campbell retired hurt in the lower grades. He wanted to be athletic and be liked as Jack was. Perhaps he’d idolized him.

  In their last year of high school, their paths crossed more, with Jack aiming for the same university as Campbell, his sights on a business degree. After a nasty incident when another student tried to bully Campbell into helping him cheat, Jack stepped in and from then, they were friends.

  Jack’s rise to wealth was meteoric and unexpected to everyone, except those who knew him personally. He was born fighting for what he wanted, the youngest of a large family living in poverty. A keen intellect and sense of justice drove him from a young age and he worked multiple jobs, giving some of his money to help his mum out after his dad went to prison yet again. Scholarships got him part of the way, and he did the rest.

  What was not to admire and even love about Jack Bannerman? Campbell came out of university and straight into one of the big banks. Ten years later, Jack came calling. “I need someone I can trust, Cam. You’ve always been rock solid.”

  Bannerman Wealth Group was a fledgling company with five staff, housed in a rundown shop in West Melbourne. Against his better judgement, and protests of his family, Campbell left a lucrative position and dived in. Thirty years later, he could look back without any professional regret.

  He stared at the computer screen, pulled from his thoughts by a new email. It wasn’t one he wanted to see. This was Jack’s project, so without him, how was it to go ahead?

  “Campbell? May I come in?”

  “Ellie, my dear. Of course.” He pushed himself onto his feet, grimacing at pain in his knees. Arms open, he met her on the other side of his desk.

  “I don’t want to interrupt if you’re busy.”

  “Actually, I’m not. Please, let’s sit.” Campbell gestured for her to go first.

  Ellie sank onto one of the two seat sofas and he took the other. She was pale and her eyes were ringed with redness. He poured water into two glasses from a jug on the coffee table.

  “Are you sleeping at all?”

  She took the glass with a smile. “Yes. Not enough. But everyone needs to stop worrying about me.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Paul, for one. Have you heard anything yet?”

  “You know I’d call you first if I do. And Paul has always had a soft spot for you. He’ll watch your back.” Campbell hoped that reassured her.

  “If I tell you something, will you keep it confidential for now?” Ellie asked.

  “You know I will.”

  Ellie put her glass down, untouched. “Dad left me a message. Well, two.”

  “What? When, Ellie?”

  She glanced at the door then spoke in a quieter tone. “There was a voicemail on the home phone. I only found it last night.”

  Campbell’s fingers drummed against his leg and he curled them into his palm. “Whatever did he say?”

  “He was sorry I was on a plane. He said I’d understand once I read his letter.”

  “Letter?”

  “Told me to look in our usual place—we’ve always had a secret way of communicating going back to my childhood.”

  He was holding his breath. Bit by bit, he let it out.

  “The problem is, I’ve looked, and the letter isn’t where it should be. Not even the…well the place we leave notes and stuff is missing.” Ellie picked up her glass and drank.

  “Jack told you he’d left a letter in your secret hiding place, but nothing was there? And he phoned while you were in transit. Then he must be alive!” At last some good news.

  “You can’t say anything. Ben is verifying the time of the phone call but without this letter, I’m no closer to finding out what happened. For all we know he might have hidden a letter to say he was going on a week’s holiday to somewhere with no means of contact.” Ellie’s voice pitched higher as the words tumbled out. “He might waltz back here in a couple of days all suntanned and with presents from some island.”

  “You look like you’re going to cry, Ellie. Please, have some more water.”

  “I’m not going to cry, but I want to find Dad.” She leaned back and whispered. “I just need to find him.”

  “We will. The police will.”

  “Until there is some sort of evidence of foul play, or whatever you want to call it, they won’t do anything. Not yet.”

  Jack’s disappearance surely wasn’t the result of him deciding to take a break on some deserted island. A lifetime knowing the man ruled this out. Besides, he’d have left instructions, delegated Dennis or Ellie to oversee things. And then there was the project.

  “My dear child, I don’t believe for a minute Jack would vanish to some island and somehow, we need to persuade the police to take it seriously. There’s a large venture underway and his presence is quite critical.”

  Ellie sat bolt upright. “How critical? Campbell, who would benefit from his absence?”

  12

  Change Of Guard

  The sub-penthouse floor was almost deserted. With the sudden decision to run an executive meeting downstairs, all staff had followed Joni to set things up. Only Mark stayed, finishing a paper Dennis wanted on Campbell’s desk in a hurry. Nobody messed with what Mr Connor demanded, and by the time quiet descended, he’d completed the task.

  He wandered into Campbell’s office and around the desk. If he left this to one side of the keyboard, then Campbell would find it when he returned. His hand hovered over the keyboard as he surveyed the reception area. He was alone.

  Mark tapped the keyboard and the screen woke up. An email was open. An interesting email.

  The boardroom doors closed behind Joni. She’d offered to stay to takes notes after setting up a pot of coffee and selection of pastries, but Ellie wanted this meeting off the record.

  She’d taken Dad’s spot at the head of the table for no reason other than to best see the others’ faces. Campbell was to her left, with Paul beside him.

  On her right, Dennis tapped the table impatiently, his chair pushed back and one ankle crossed over a knee. At first, he’d refused to attend. It was a waste of his time. Ellie had shrugged and said fine, she’d meet with the other two. Yet, here he was.

  “Thanks for attending on short notice. I know you are all worried about Dad and I’m hoping we can agree to work together to find him.”

  “Why is Dekeles here?” Dennis stared at Paul, who winked at him. Ellie ignored them both.

  “The police aren’t convinced Dad is more than off on some jaunt. There’s no evidence he was kidnapped, or any one of a number of things. But we all know he would never just disappear like that!”

  “Exactly, Ellie.” Campbell said. “Even if he wanted a break, he’d have let us know.”

  “Which brings me to a question. Who would benefit from Dad disappearing?”

  “Are you some sort of detective now?” Dennis checked his watch. “Get to the point.”

  How can you be so cold? Just like Meredith.

  “Very well.” Ellie said. “Campbell mentioned there is a major project underway, one Dad would need to be involved with. What is it?”

  “It
isn’t for Dekeles to know so off you go, sunshine.”

  “Paul is a necessary part of our planning to find Dad. He’s hardly going to run off and share company information.”

  “You sure about that, Ellie?”

  “I can come back if you want.” Paul pushed his chair back. “Jack is more important than whatever’s going on with this...joker.”

  Dennis grinned. “That the best you can do?”

  “Do either of you actually care about Dad?” Disappointed, Ellie shook her head.

  With a sigh, Dennis uncrossed his legs and pulled his chair in. “Wind farm.”

  “Sorry?”

  “We’re working with a private developer for a wind farm. They needed investors and we’ve been finding them.”

  “Sounds straightforward. Would Dad even need to be involved?” A look passed between Dennis and Campbell. Something wasn’t right. “So, what’s the issue?”

  Campbell cleared his throat. “Just the timing. The funding is in place, but the grid, where the farm will connect to send power to the provider, well, that’s a problem. Our systems aren’t set up for the volume of wind and solar farms, not in some regions, so it is either a case of get in early or look at a lot more cost by running your own storage as well.”

  “So, we’re trying to get in first?”

  Again, the look between the men

  “Who will this affect?” Paul asked Campbell.

  “Affect? Wind farms are a good thing.”

  “So, Jack is all for it?”

  “What’s your point, Dekeles?” Dennis leaned toward him. “Mister business expert.”

  “You didn’t seem all that happy about it at the board meeting. Just saying.”

  “Dennis?”

  “Ellie, I have no idea what he’s on about. Jack signed off on it ages ago. It has nothing to do with him disappearing, and I thought that is what you wanted to talk about.”

  “It is. But if this deal put him at risk—”

  “No risk, Ellie. Straightforward, as you suggested.” Campbell interrupted. “Should we discuss the running of Bannerman Wealth Group while he is…wherever he is?”

  “Something’s not adding up, Paul.”

  Ellie and Paul were in the elevator, heading down to the foyer. Dennis was now the interim CEO, based on chain of command and long held instructions from Jack, in the event of death or disablement, which were verified by Campbell.

  “You mean about the wind farm? Yeah. Those two know something they’re not sharing and I’m surprised at Campbell but expect it from Connor…sorry.”

  “I wish you two would get along. Or act like adults at least. Sorry. Not sorry.” Ellie was over it. Her voice was calm but she was one more problem away from screaming.

  The doors whooshed open and Paul followed Ellie into the foyer. “Are you walking?”

  “I’m going home to get my car then visit Meredith. And no, I don’t need company.”

  “I’ll pull my head in. About Dennis.”

  “Good. This is difficult enough.” They stopped just inside the front doors. Ellie stared up at Paul. “Have you looked for footage from the day Dad disappeared? To see if anyone was with him?”

  “He left alone. I looked.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah. Pity there’s no cameras at that marina. Can’t understand it actually.”

  “Only a handful of boats tie up there. Some of their owners are obsessively private.”

  “Still. Would have helped.”

  People hurried in and out of the building. Ellie looked past Paul to reception, to the painting of the yacht on the sea. How wonderful to simply take Sea Angel and go. Follow the trade winds, sea mist on her lips. Find Gabi, wherever she might be in the world right now and let her take some of the burden. She always knew the right words and besides, she should know about her ex-husband. Same as Michael needs to know.

  “Ellie?”

  No sea mists. Not until she found Dad.

  “What if I bring dinner over later? We can compare notes and plan what comes next.” Paul put his hand on her arm.

  “Oh. Um, no, but thanks. I have no idea what I’m doing later.”

  “Well, text if you change your mind. Or we could meet somewhere.”

  “We did for breakfast. And it was nice, thanks.” Ellie extracted her arm with a small smile. “I have to get going.”

  She didn’t walk home but grabbed a tram. Hanging onto a rail as it bumped and lurched across other tracks and around corners, Ellie drifted back to the earlier image of a blue-green sea and salty winds.

  Find Dad.

  Then she’d take a proper break. Run away with the yacht for a while. Sort out her future as a single woman.

  In minutes she was home, stopping long enough to collect car keys.

  The gates to Jack’s house were open. Ellie nosed her car around the fountain in the middle of the driveway and parked facing back out. In her rear-view mirror, she saw the curtains move in the living room. By the time she reached the front door, Meredith had flung it open. Ellie steeled herself for the expected cold reception.

  “I’m so glad you’ve come.” Meredith threw her arms around Ellie. Unlike the last two visits, she didn’t reek of alcohol and the embrace was heartfelt. “Please come in.”

  Ellie followed her, closing the door. “I’m sorry to drop by unannounced. Finding Dad is all I can think about and I wanted to see how you were holding up.”

  “Let’s get coffee.” Meredith headed for the kitchen. “How sweet of you. Shall we sit in the garden? I’ll tell Brenda to bring us out a tray if you’d like to find a spot.”

  The sprawling grounds were a mixture of entertaining areas as well as leafy retreats. Ellie found a place in the shade near the pool, not on the lounges, but where old tree stumps were carved into seats. The guest house was only a few metres away.

  “There you are!” Meredith dropped onto a seat and pulled sunglasses down from her head. Her skirt was short, revealing tanned, slender legs that she crossed. “Coffee won’t be long.”

  “Thanks. I’d love to have a talk, Meredith.”

  “How was London?”

  It felt like a year had passed since she’d boarded in Heathrow, not just a few days. Her notes were on the laptop, weeks of work turned into a brief she’d finished on the plane, ready to go over with Dad. Her chest tightened.

  “It doesn’t seem to matter anymore.” Ellie stared at the pool. Two of the sun lounges were close together, coffee cups on either side. What else would go wrong?

  “But it does, darling. Jack certainly thought it important enough to send you there for such a long visit, not that I really understand why.”

  “Setting up a new office takes time. I had meetings with a range of companies and individuals, people we might contract to handle the European side of the Foundation.”

  Brenda arrived with a tray, which she placed on another tree trunk covered with a glass top. Ellie thanked her, but Meredith barely looked up from her phone when it buzzed.

  “The cakes are gluten free and vegan,” she said. “And despite that, they are actually delicious. Help yourself.”

  “I will. Coffee smells good.”

  “The blend is from some green ethical rainforest something, ra, ra, ra. Better taste good as it costs the earth. Not that Jack cares, he is just as happy with instant.” Meredith screwed up her nose at the idea.

  “So…when did you last see Dad?”

  Meredith picked up an exquisite cupcake. “The night before he disappeared.”

  “Not at breakfast that day?”

  “Don’t be silly. We never saw each other before lunchtime. You know what Jack’s like. Early to bed, early to rise etcetera etcetera.”

  Yes. He works hard for what you enjoy.

  “You’re more of a night owl?” Ellie suggested.

  “I do like a nice night out. We used to do those all the time.” Meredith nibbled the edge of the cupcake. “Been quite a while though.”

  �
�So, how was he the night before he disappeared?”

  “Actually, Ellie, this is going to sound like I contradict myself, but he was out late. We had dinner, then I had a friend to meet for a drink and he said he had work to do. You must try one of these.”

  Ellie took a cupcake, admiring an intricate pattern of minute iced flowers on top. If this was Brenda’s work, she needed more recognition. “Did he work in the library?”

  “Oh no. We left at the same time and he dropped me off at Crown Casino. He was going to go to the office to finish something with this windmill project thing.”

  “Wind farm?”

  “Whatever.”

  “Was he back when you got home?”

  Meredith removed her sunglasses. “Sweetie, I have no idea. I got in after one. And he sleeps in another room so how would I know if he even came back or stayed somewhere… else?”

  Too much information.

  Yet, it made sense if Dennis was in any way involved with Meredith other than being her step-son-law. Ellie bit into the cupcake rather than comment. It was light and fluffy and way too good for Meredith.

  “What are you doing to find him? Is that detective of yours…on the case?”

  Innuendo dripped from her lips and if Ellie wasn’t enjoying the cupcake so much, she might have thrown it at her head.

  “If you mean Detective Rossi, then you’d be best to speak with him. Dad isn’t of great interest to them yet.”

  “Yet?”

  “He hasn’t been missing for long, plus he’s an adult with full faculties, and there is no evidence of foul play.”

  “You’re not doing a thing.” Meredith pouted and sat back.

  “He’s your husband. What have you done to find him?” Ellie forced a smile. “Phoned? Texted? Hired a private detective?”

  “Well, I’d ask Paul to look but he hates Dennis so it would be counter-productive. I’ve called. His phone is off, although I did leave a couple of messages.”

  “Why does it matter that Paul and Dennis can’t get along? Dad is the one missing and they can work together if they have to.”