Destined to Play, Feel, Fly Trilogy (25 page)

‘Go and get ready before I change my mind.’ His words trigger me into action.

I breathe a sigh of relief to find normal clothes in the box, thankful that I am no longer required to play ‘dress ups’. I put on a swimming costume under a sundress, just in case the water is warm enough for a quick dip. I grab sunglasses, hat and sunscreen and feel more energised and fabulous than I can remember. Jeremy has a backpack ready to go and we finally embark out the giant double doors of the treehouse. A driveway heads up behind the house towards the ridge of the mountain. I notice a large man standing outside a checkpoint-type hut. He is in uniform and has a rifle slung over his shoulder. Jeremy acknowledges his wave as I am swiftly guided in the opposite direction, down toward the beach. Shivers scale down my spine as an eerie feeling flows through me.

‘I thought we were completely alone. Is that necessary?’

‘I’ll explain everything when we get to the beach.’

For the first time in days, I notice a perilous undertone in Jeremy’s words, but I don’t want to think about it.

We settle ourselves down on the blanket with a beautifully laid out picnic feast before our eyes. The expansive view is as
endless as it is breathtaking with the sky crystal clear. ‘Wow, this place is incredible. I hope we’re in no rush to leave.’

‘We have plenty of time. It’s great to be outdoors with you again.’

‘It’s even better being able to see the outdoors this time.’

He affectionately smooths some loose strands of my hair away from my face and tucks them behind my ear.

‘How are you, really?’ he asks gently.

‘I feel so much better now, thank you. How could I not? I have had your undivided physical, emotional, mental and medical attention. What about you? You look like you have much on your mind.’

‘I do. There’s quite a bit I need to explain to you and I couldn’t risk it up there.’

His hand motions behind us.

‘How come?’

‘Truthfully? I’m not sure whether it’s bugged or not. I know we will be safer out here.’

‘Bugged? By whom? What’s this about, Jeremy?’ I look at him nervously. ‘Or do I not want to know?’

‘I would love not to involve you in any more of this, Alex, but you need to know some of it, as you are right in the middle of it now.’

I have a foreboding that the cocoon Jeremy has so meticulously orchestrated during our time together is slowly but surely about to unravel. He holds my hand and caresses my fingers, as if lost in thought for a while.

‘I think you had better tell me what you need to, Dr Quinn.’ He nods and begins.

‘I don’t need to enlighten you on the statistics for depression; the market for an effective drug is massive and is only looking to
grow over the next decade, particularly in western economies. Antidepressants are a billion dollar industry and every large pharmaceutical company around the world is currently undergoing a frantic search for more effective medications, researching many different avenues and spreading their seed funding nets far and wide. This has become even more urgent given the recent studies conducted by the FDA, which concluded that some antidepressant drugs can be linked to an increase in suicidal tendencies compared to a placebo. All hell has broken loose for companies to develop a new drug. Competition is fierce and desperate and although I hate to admit it, not always above the line. Which is why we need to have this conversation.’

He sounds a little on edge, which is unusual for him and it’s why he has my undivided attention.

‘Someone hacked into Sam’s computer in the last twenty-four hours and will have access to the results I sent him. This is the reason for the added security. We haven’t been able to determine who it was and it may take some time. I don’t mean to scare you more than necessary, Alexa, but if our competitors stumble upon the potential of the formula we’re developing as a result of last weekend, and your involvement in it, well, let’s just say it may put you in undue danger. And that is a risk I’m not willing to take. I have organised a qualified bodyguard who will pose as your full-time research assistant at UTAS to ensure your security at work when you return.’

‘You’re serious?’

‘I put you into this situation and I’ll take full responsibility for ensuring your safety. I don’t know what I would do if anything were to happen to you.’

‘What could happen, Jeremy? What are you so worried about?’

‘All pharmaceuticals are concerned with protecting their existing and potential patents and the major companies spare no expense in doing so. They have special departments for their investigative work and they aren’t staffed by the average person, if you know what I mean. They recruit ex-SEALs, computer hackers, scientists and neurosurgeons, and ex-judges who are or were at the top of their field. Some of the most highly trained and skilled people on the planet are retained on exorbitant sums of money to fulfil certain requirements of the firms they work for.’

‘And are you one of those people?’

‘No, not necessarily. I have a specific arrangement with a pharmaceutical company in relation to the development of a drug for depression. These special departments are all about ensuring the intellectual property of the company is protected at all stages of development — and at all costs. In essence, they protect the security of our research results. As we get closer to developing a formula or product and embark on the process of preparing for a legal patent, which can be a long-winded process, they become more engaged. Intellectual espionage is rife in the pharmaceutical industry and for some organisations the human cost of achieving patent rights is of no consequence. It’s part of the way they conduct business. My concern is that if one of our competitors is involved in the hacking, which hasn’t been confirmed at this stage, they may well want to verify our results for themselves.’

‘You mean with me?’ To say that I’m shell-shocked would be an understatement.

‘It’s unlikely, but not totally out of the question. I don’t want to alarm you, Alex, and I won’t let anything happen to you, but you must accept the extra security that will be coming your way. I won’t be taking no for an answer.’

‘Do you honestly think something could happen?’

‘We hope not, but we will certainly be taking extra precautions, just in case. In the meantime, I’d like to give you something, Alexandra, both as a memory of our time together and in the hope that it will help to keep you safe.’ His expression is serious. He pulls a small box from his backpack, opens it carefully, and places a solid silver or platinum bracelet into my hand. I study it closely. It appears to be encrusted with what looks like pink diamond chips and illustrated with ancient Gaelic inscriptions, their intricate and delicate design a stark contrast to the bracelet’s robust weight.

‘Jeremy —’ I start.

‘Alexandra, since you’re not in a position for me to be putting a ring on your finger just yet, I’m hoping that you can promise me you will wear this and not remove it.’ He looks deeply into my eyes. ‘Will you do it for me?’

I return his gaze. I have been through so much this past week. He has asked me and pushed me to do many things I’d never even imagined, let alone dreamt I would do … am I going to argue with him about wearing this precious piece of jewellery? I can sense how important this is to him.

‘Yes, of course.’ As if I’d ever say anything else. ‘It’s so beautiful. What do these symbols represent?’

‘The Gaelic letters for
anam cara
. It means “friend of your soul” or “soul companion”.’

My heart swells and I quickly swallow to suppress the deep emotion threatening to swamp me. Our eyes lock and for a long moment we exist in a place full of energy, yet serenely peaceful. I know I belong to him and him to me. Without further words, I extend my arm to him.

‘Thank you, Alex. May our souls smile in the embrace of our
anam cara
.’

He places it around my wrist and as he seals the clasp shut, I hear a strange computerised noise. Once again a perfect fit. Not too loose, not too tight, but unable to be slipped over my hand should I want to remove it. I feel undeniably connected to him in every way and am delighted with this physical symbol of our love.

‘What was that noise?’ I can’t help but ask.

‘It is digitally encoded, sealed around your wrist both physically and electronically and will enable both Sam’s and my teams to access your location 24/7 should anything unforeseen occur. It was important to me that you were happy to wear it willingly before that happened.’

Well, I hadn’t considered being connected to him quite as pragmatically as this.

For quite some time, I sit contemplating this precious piece of new ‘techno’ jewellery, embracing — or perhaps entrapping — my wrist. My mind flicks back to when I did some work for Argyle pink diamond mines in Western Australia and the precautions the company took to ensure the safe delivery of these precious gems from the mine to Perth. Several dummy flights per week occurred so no one knew which flight would carry the actual diamonds — the most rare and expensive diamonds in the world. Now I sit staring at their chips embedded in the bracelet. It really is incredible to consider the lengths and expense companies go to in securing their assets. Just when I thought this
Alice in Wonderland
adventure was coming to a close, now this. My stomach tumbles with emotions. Strangely, no questions flood my mind, just a quiet acquiescence. I sit before him consciously breathing and unconsciously stroking the silver bracelet.

We return to the treehouse many hours later after attempting to wash away the more sinister ‘what-if’ scenarios of our future in the ocean. It appears to be just the tonic we both needed.

Our last night is significantly more subdued than our previous evenings. We sit comfortably in silence, embracing each other for a long time, absorbing the impact of the path we have finally chosen together. Our conversation is limited, yet our connection is thick with emotion. Our lovemaking has heightened to an intensity that takes on an almost spiritual meaning, as we bask in the awareness that our lives have been irrevocably altered as a result of this experience. We both understand the significance of not knowing what life may become when we leave Avalon. There is an irresistible edge to our unknown fate. Sleep lasts for a mere few hours, as we lay lovingly entwined in each other’s bodies.

As luck would have it, the morning is heavily overcast. When we take off in a private plane, I am given no clue to the terrain below as it is blanketed with clouds and mist until we rise above it into stark sunshine. I’m aware Jeremy is an exceptionally resourceful man when he wants something; I had no idea that resourcefulness extended to the weather. I don’t know if we are flying above water or land and he won’t budge on telling me the whereabouts of Avalon. He assures me that the less I know, the safer I’ll be and that must be his priority. We hold hands the entire flight. At some stage, I doze off, resting my head on his shoulder only to wake up as we commence our descent and our imminent separation.

We hug with deep passion and I shed a few silent tears before I disembark from the aircraft. I don’t want to leave his
embrace but I know I must. Apparently my luggage will be automatically forwarded and loaded onto my flight to Hobart. Jeremy is continuing on the plane, eventually making his way back toward Boston.

As if on autopilot, I settle in for the flight home, grateful for the empty seats beside me. I attempt to assimilate everything that has happened in the last week, the potential risk of my involvement, and the future of my family life. It is almost too much for my brain. I bend down to place my boarding pass in my handbag and notice a thick envelope in there. I open it up and find a note in Jeremy’s handwriting.

To say that I’m shocked to see the photos in front of my eyes would be the understatement of the decade. Could this person really be me? I leaf through them slowly.