To Betray A Brother (13 page)

The doorbell rang. "Hang on," Penny called out as she headed toward the door. After driving Bryce out of her life, she had locked herself away for the past three days. She opened the door to find no one there. "Weird." The door jammed as she closed it. Partially visible, a large manila envelope protruded from beneath the door. She bent over, freed the door, tearing the envelope open in the process and exposed a newspaper clipping.

Penny removed the clipping as she headed back into the lounge. Empty coffee cups scattered about floor and table, mixed with the remnants of a couple of day’s unwashed dishes. Pale light streamed from the lamp, casting shadows about the room. Sunlight snuck past the edges of the heavy curtains, drawn to shut out the cruelty of the world and cast an eerie sense of hopelessness across the room. Even Tim Tam had deserted her. The laptop sat open on the coffee table, resting from the duties of taking her diary notes.

She flopped on the couch and ripped out the newspaper clipping. The date was from several months ago. "
AFP Capture 1.5 million Dollar Drug and Weapons Haul in Overnight Raid."
She flung the clipping onto the table and sat back into the couch drawing the blanket under her chin. She had spent the last few days trying to come to grips with the rent where her heart once beat. Her hand closed around a bottle of wine which sat half empty on the carpet beside her. She tipped her head back and took several large mouthfuls. The liquid left a thick warm coating as it hit the back of her throat and slid down into her stomach. It did little to ease the ache from days of continuous crying. Sleep had come in snatches between bouts of sobbing. Just when she thought there had been nothing left to cry, another wave would start. Her stomach tightened, and her ribs clenched smothering her breath. She convulsed. Doubling forward, she wrapped her hands across her shoulders, hugging herself as she pulled her legs against her chest. She rolled onto her side and closed her eyes blocking out the world. Sleep took her for a time.

Bryce had filled her dreams, his flashing brown eyes laughing, celebrating her first ever podium finish and the secret places he had shared with her. Memories of their lovemaking were so vivid she had woken reaching out for him, before remembering he no longer formed part of her life. She took another mouthful of wine, shook her head, and stood. Her hands wrapped around the mugs scattered about the coffee table as she made her way into the kitchen. "Tim Tam." He was nowhere to be seen. Odin and Warlock stood at the door, their tongues hung from their open mouths. “I’ll get to you guys in a minute.”

She made her way back into the lounge and collected the remaining dirty dishes. After stacking them into the dishwasher, Penny drew the curtains in the lounge and opened the windows. Fresh light and gusts of breeze perfumed by the rose garden below the windows replaced the stale musty atmosphere, breathing a new life into the room. She stood in the sunlight, her hands hung loose by her sides as she breathed though her nose. Deep cleansing breaths filled her chest as she savoured the smell of the air. The ache in her heart hammered a new as the image of Bryce with a bunch of handpicked flowers flooded back. Her chest constricted as another wave of tears threatened to overwhelm her. She clenched her hands forcing her nails into her palms. Sharp pain shot up her arm. She sobered immediately.

"Right, girl." She inhaled. "God! What is that smell?" She lifted her arm. "Whew. I guess it’s you. Time for a shower judging by that."

She looked squarely into the mirror. Her hair just three steps from becoming dread locks, and large black rings circled her flat lifeless eyes. "Ok, it’s about time you got your shit together. You have a business to run and a life to live, or should I say a life to put back together?" She smiled, a wry crooked smile which did not reach into her eyes. "Ok. Shower and then back to work. You need to keep the head active and stop playing silly mind games.”

Penny opened the door to
Leather and Lace
. She hadn’t been anywhere near work for a week. She flicked on the lights and turned the closed sign to open as she stepped inside. Her shoe kicked something and another manila envelope skidded across the floor. She retrieved the envelope and continued to the counter. The envelope dropped to the counter as she pushed the button to start up the computer. There would be a hundred mail orders to process.

The red light of the answering machine blinked furiously, demanding attention. Ignoring the light, Penny put her float into the till and opened the business program on her computer to find eighty-seven mail orders. Ready to deal with any customers who might wander in, she retrieved a pen and pad, and turned her attention to the answering machine messages. The second to last message caught her attention.

"Penny, its Stitch. I've left some messages on your mobile for you. We need to talk. You have everything all wrong."

Her chest tightened at the sound of his voice. Automatically images of Bryce flooded her mind. She deleted the message.

"Wrong, my arse. You guys used me, plain and simple. Just like Justin, except there are more of you." The ache in her heart intensified. "Get a hold of yourself. You have work to do. If you don't get these orders out, you will lose customers and business."

Penny processed the outstanding orders. Each received a small a gift taken from last season's stock. To each order she also included a thank you note saying she had been sick, hence the delay in getting the order out. Her stomach growled. Penny looked at the clock, nine thirty pm. Night had fallen, and she had no idea of how long she’d been working. Upon reflection, Penny couldn’t remember when she had walked through the door to start work. A quick glance at the list showed she had three orders left to process. "Let's get them done and find something to eat," she said as she selected the items detailed on the list in front of her.

Penny looked at the boxes beside the counter, ready for tomorrow's mail run. "A good day's work,” she said as she grabbed her handbag.

The envelope still sat on the counter. Innocuous, yet insidious, it called to her, demanding her attention. After two steps toward the door, Penny returned, snatched up the envelope, and stuffed it into her handbag. As she locked the door a familiar sound reached her ears. Her stomach churned as she turned, her fears confirmed. She saw the set of the handle bars of the Harley which blasted up the road toward her. She slid into the shadows, not wanting him to see her. "Please, God, don't let him stop." Her heart hammered in her chest, blood pulsed through her temples as her shaking hands struggled with the lock. "Please, no. Please, no," she whispered.

The Harley got closer. Her worst fears realised as the bike slowed and come to a stop in the street behind her. "Penny!" Bryce's voice called. He left the engine idling and walked toward her.

She breathed in, puffed up her chest. "I told you, I do not want to be party to your lies. I have to live with the lies I
told to keep your worthless arse out of jail. Now get out of here before I change my mind." Her voice sounded weak to her own ears.

"Is that your final word? You won't even allow me a few minutes to thank you, tell you my side of the story?" His voice strained, the hurt matched the pain etched across his face, the pain reflected in those deep brown eyes.

Her heart cried out,
Let him speak. You know you want—need him.
She almost caved. Just for a moment she teetered on the edge. Her willpower regained control. "Bryce." She tried to sound as calm and authoritative as she could. "I’m really happy you’re free. What I did for you, I did at considerable personal cost. I don’t want to be reminded every waking moment that I will bend my morals to suit myself. It will take me some time to get over this. So please, if you have any feelings or respect for me…" Her chest tightened as a weight pushed down on her making breathing difficult as she spoke. Beyond her control now, tears welled in her eyes, "…you will allow me to go forward and rebuild my life. If you want the pickup back, take it and get out of here."

His head bowed. After a moment, he stared directly into her eyes. She saw his pain intensify at her words. He shook his head slowly. "I built it for you, as a gift. I don’t want it back. Please keep it. If that is your final word, I can't say I will be able to do as you ask. I've loved you for a long time, Penny, and I'm not sure that is going to change any time soon."

Without another word he turned and walked back to his bike. He selected first gear, glanced at her, and then disappeared in roar of spinning wheels and exhaust.

Long after Bryce had dissolved into the night, she looked toward him. Deep down some part of her longed for him to return, sweep her up in his arms, take her away, and put an end to this painful game. There was nothing, no tears, no tension in her chest, no stomach contracting, just a lump settled in the pit of her stomach, heavy like a dead weight. She turned and walked off into the night. No longer hungry, she just wanted to return to the security of her own home.

* * * *

The coffee shop hummed as Penny walked through the door. She breathed deeply and paused for a moment to enjoy the aroma of fresh coffee filling her senses and the atmosphere. For the first time since she and Bryce had spoken outside of
Leather and Lace
, a week or so ago, she had woken with a clear head, though her heart still ached when Bryce jumped into her consciousness at the oddest moment.

Today, the spring in her step, which had disappeared for a while, returned. She ordered her usual coffee and sat down at the table. A new girl placed her coffee on the table. Penny stuck out her hand. "Hi, I'm Penny."

The girl smiled as she took Penny's hand. "Imogen. Pleased to meet you. Do you come in often?"

"Ha-ha." Penny laughed. "Most every work day starts here before heading into the shop."

"Oh, hang on. Do you own
Leather and Lace
?" Imogen turned and raced back to the counter. She leaned across and retrieved something. On her return, she held out a manila envelope. "Somebody left this for you last night."

"Last night?"

"It was under the door this morning. You name is written across the front so I guess it can only be for you. The girls said you could be in today." She held out the envelope.

Penny hesitated for a moment, unsure whether or not to take it. Her hand trembled as she took the envelope and placed it on the table.

"Nice to meet you." Imogen bounced off to get the next customer's order.

Penny stared at the table for a long time before scooping the envelope into her bag and leaving without her coffee.

Five manila envelopes lay strewn across the table in front of Penny as she sat at the dining room table. The newspaper clipping from the first envelope lay amongst them. For some unknown reason, she had decided not to throw the article out. The light from the fluorescent tube glowed harshly, adding to her tension. Her hands shook as she opened the envelopes, removing from each in turn a newspaper clipping. She took a mouthful of wine. The sweet liquid ran down her throat and settled in her stomach.

Putting the envelopes aside she lay out all the clippings and scanned their headings.

Federal Police Capture 1.5 Million Dollar Drug and Weapons Haul in Overnight Raid.

Joint Federal and Queensland Police Operation Seizes Weapon Cache

Federal Officers Destroy Meth Labs in Early Morning Raids

Undercover Officer Wounded in Gunfire Exchange

Queensland Police Raid Bikie Clubhouses

Federal Police Puts More Pressure in Weapon Traffickers with Overnight Raids.

Penny looked at the headlines, trying to work out what they meant and why somebody might send them to her, especially in the secretive manner she had received them. She began to read.

In several raids overnight, the Federal Police seized drugs and weapons with a street value of approximately 1.5 million dollars. The raids are part of Task Force Bobble Head’s on-going investigations setup to target the illegal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs. Agents made several arrests and confiscated property during the raid.

The article was written about six months ago. She read another dated about four months ago.

In a joint operation, Federal Police and Queensland Police Officers raided properties owned by members and known associates of the Decedents Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. They seized a large number of military style weapons including Russian RPG rocket launchers, heavy machine guns, and a 50 calibre Parker Hale sniper rifle.

Penny pushed the article away and swallowed another mouthful of wine. She reached for the third article, dated about three months old.

Yesterday morning Federal Police Agents raided several properties across the country believed to be associated to Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs the Descendants and the Wraiths. On entering the properties, authorities confirmed the houses were set up and being used as methamphetamine laboratories. Several arrests were made in connection with the properties. A quantity of money and several weapons were also seized.

Intrigued, Penny put some crackers and cut up some cheese onto a plate to accompany her wine and began to read the next article.

In a fire fight, which lasted approximately eight minutes, the result of a bungled raid, a Federal Police Officer was shot and wounded. The officer sustained injuries to his right arm and shoulder. An associate of the Descendants Outlaw Motorcycle Club opened fire when officers entered the premises. Authorities shot and killed one man. His name is yet to be released.

Penny finished her wine and wondered what she was missing. What is the message? There must be a pattern, but what?

Overnight heavily armed Queensland Police raided clubhouses belonging to the Descendants and Wraiths, outlaw motorcycle clubs. The large volume of military style weapons captured disturbed authorities contained several crates which appeared to be ready for further shipping and distribution. An amount of cash and drugs were also found on premises. Police made seven arrests. Several other persons of interest are assisting the agents with their enquiries.

This article was dated four weeks earlier. She reached for the last one written within several days of the one she had just read.

Federal Officers claimed a major victory yesterday when they arrested five people connected the Wraiths Outlaw Motorcycle Gang who were moving a semi-trailer load of weapons. Police intercepted the semi-trailer as the shipping container was about to be transferred onto a waiting barge.

Authorities believe the weapons were destined for other chapters of the Wraiths who have been escalating their territorial hostilities in efforts to control drug and sex trades. Agent Radcliffe said the capture resulted from several months of intensive fieldwork by agents.

Penny munched on crackers while she thought about the news articles. What in these articles was so important, and what were they trying to tell her?
Who is trying to tell her? She walked over to the bench and refilled her wine glass, passing by the calendar on the way. Circled dates caught her eye. "Hang on. Four weeks ago. Justin was murdered about four weeks ago, and Bryce arrested shortly afterward."

She ripped the calendar from the wall and sat back down. Working backward, if dates of these articles were correct, the latest lot of raids occurred on or around the time Justin was murdered and Bryce was away. Excitement coursed through her veins as she acknowledged the discovery she had just made. No, surely not. If Bryce had been tied up in any business like this, she would have known.

She rubbed her temples, massaging the throbbing ache which had started up. The act soothed her and allowed her to think. Butterflies gathered in her stomach as the realisation she might be wrong about Bryce dawned. While she didn't keep specific dates, the others seemed to match with when Bryce was away on
Club Business
. She reached for her phone. Without thinking, she located Bryce's number and pushed the dial button. Her hands slicked with sweat as she listed to his cell ring. ”Shit. Voice mail. Bryce, its Penny. Please call me."

Who else would know?
Penny ran through a list of people she might call. Stitch sat at the top. He had left her several messages she’d ignored. She rang his number. The call went through to voice mail. "Hi, Stitch. It's Penny. I'm sorry I’ve taken so long to return your call. Call back when you have the chance."

Penny dialled another number. This time an elderly female voice came down the line. "Hello."

"Mrs. Huntington, its Penny here." The butterflies in her stomach intensified.

"Yes, dear." A gentleness filled her voice.

"Mrs. Huntington, would you be available to meet for coffee this week?" She knew she was stretching. She had exchanged about ten words in the past six months with Mrs. Huntington.

"I don't drink coffee, dear."