Beach Walker – Chapter 23
Caught in the Rip
Melissa’s assessment of the media situation was sensible, comforting – and, as it turned out, utterly wrong.
I’d been wondering how long it would take the press bloodhounds to latch on to my trail as Leonard’s friend – only living friend, as far as I knew. By Easter Monday morning, I had my answer. My phone was buzzing almost constantly with numbers I didn’t recognise. Calls, voicemail, text messages.
I would have turned it off, shoved it in the drawer of my bedside table, but I was still hoping desperately that Leonard would get in touch. I’d left a cheery, nonchalant voice message on Sunday morning. Another, more insistent, in the afternoon. Then finally, after midnight:
‘Leonard – Grace again. Please, please call me now. I’m really worried about you.’
Yet when I woke after a few hours’ troubled sleep: nothing.
Our big family breakfast was a torture to me. Concerned enquiries from Barb, Ted – even Josh – indicated that my distress was all too obvious to the rest of the family.
My son drew me aside. ‘What’s up, Mum? You look terrible. Aren’t you feeling well?’
‘Oh, I’m fine, darling. Fine. Really. It’s just … my friend Leonard.’
‘Ah, yes. The scientist chappy.’ He looked pleased that he’d actually remembered a detail from his funny, slightly cringey little mother’s odd new life.
That’s unfair, Grace.
‘That’s right. He’s involved in … That is to say, the media … Umm, it’s all a bit of a mess.’
‘What is, Mum?’ Josh’s voice rose in concern. With the years he’d become allergic to the slightest hint of impropriety or scandal.
‘I really don’t want to talk about it right now … but I’m worried for him.’
‘Hmm. Just don’t get mixed up in anything. I know how trusting you are.’ His gaze wavered downward, as the phone in my pocket began to buzz for the second time since we’d started our brief conversation. ‘Don’t you think you should get that?’
I blinked back the tears. ‘I know you mean well, darling – but please, leave me alone.’
‘Alright, Mum, alright.’ He held up a hand, as if fending off an accusation of interference. ‘Don’t get yourself upset, now.’
‘I’m going to my room for a while. I need peace and quiet.’
‘Good idea. Look … whatever it is … Mel and I are here for you, okay?’
‘Okay, darling.’
A reassuring hand on my shoulder and he rejoined the party on the veranda. Sympathetic glances in my direction sent me off to my quiet room at the other end of the house.
I shut the door behind me with relief, pulled out my phone and scrolled down the missed calls. Nothing from Leonard. One from Peter twenty minutes ago, then another – it had been him calling while I was talking to Josh.
A text message came through. Peter again.
Please call back when you get this. Urgent.
He answered straight away.
‘Grace, I’m so sorry. Terrible news, I’m afraid …’
Through the roar of the blood in my ears, I barely heard:
‘… found Leonard’s boat.’
‘His boat? What do you …?’
‘Out in the Rip. Nobody on board … On the news now. ABC.’
Hand shaking, I fumbled with the TV remote.
Next week in Beach Walker:
Chapter 24: A Trick of the Light
Two years later …
Disclaimer: The people and events described in this story are entirely the product of the author’s imagination; they bear no intentional resemblance to real-life people and events. The locations are authentic.