Chapter 21
Amy's eyes slowly flickered open as the sun started to illuminate the room. They had been in Sydney now for two days. And the news of Ty's fathers passing had now become public knowledge. It was being reported as a suspicious death still being investigated by authorities.
Amy's eyes focused on the room around her, she felt tired and drained still. Her eyes now focusing on the flat screen TV that was on the wall opposite her. The volume was down but she could see the news stories flashing across the screen. Brad Borden found dead. Police are seeking assistance from the public over his disappearance and subsequent reappearance on Bondi beach. A body on Bondi, Murder or accidental.
She yawned and slowly became aware that she was no longer in the lounge area of the apartment but cuddled up under the 12000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. Her body snuggled up to a heat source that suddenly dawned on her as another person's body. Amy swallowed and looked up slowly, to see Tys sleeping face beside her, the back of her head resting on his shoulder, his arm around her so her cheek rested on his bare chest., The Tv was on, obviously turned on during the night, and now it was covered by images of the media frenzy that was Tys life. 5 channels had been set up to view at once on the smart TV, all morning shows in deep discussion about the possible murder investigation to come and Ty's presence in Australia. And their synopsis as to what was going to happen to the Borden fortune and its new reigning king. Amy looked back at the TV, he must have turned it on during the night and then drifted off into slumber once again.
Slowly Amy's facilities returned to her, she remembered making the decision to go to bed, in the early hours, she recalled taking Ty to his room, encouraging him to rest and try and sleep, then returning to her own room, getting changed, then climbing into her large empty bed. What she didn't recall though, was how they had ended up in bed together, and how Ty seemed to only be half dressed.
Amy lifted the sheet and then pushed it back down, realizing she too was only in a tee shirt and panties, her clothes on the chair in front of her, Her blue eyes flicked around the room, This was the master suite, this was her room. She swallowed again, feeling Tys warmth around her, His arm about her shoulders. She looked up at his face again, his eyes closed, his jaw relaxed, that sexy soft hair scattered ever so perfectly across his brow. Her thoughts went back to the night before, the club, the noise, the people, the women, he could have had any of them, he could have stayed there, and buried his pain and grief in any one of the willing young ladies that were on offer. Yet, here he was, in her bed, his arm around her shoulders, his body at peace next to hers.
Amy took a breath, knowing that nothing had happened between them, she wouldn't have allowed it anyway in the condition he was in the night before. But She also didn't recall him joining her in her room, in her bed, The last time she had seen him, she had sat next to him as he laid down, and gently stroked his forehead until he finally fell asleep.
She had left him there, wrapped in the comforter, hoping that he would at least gain a few hours of rest before he had to face the mess that was too greet him the next day.
Ty moved slightly beside her, his head falling gently to the side as he licked his lips and exhaled. The sheets only just covering his chest line. He inhaled heavily and then let the breath go, his hand twitching on Amy's arm as he resettled himself.
Amy slowly, and carefully sat up, turning around next to him to watch him for a few moments before she gently leaned over and took the remote control from the bedside next to him.
She hit the button and shut the TV off, silencing the images that she knew he would have to eventually deal with. His world was going to spin out of control soon enough, so it was the least she could do for Ty to give him a few moments of normality when he finally woke and faced the day ahead.
She heard him murmur and as she laid back against his arm once again, his consciousness returning as his eyes started to flicker open to the morning suns rays.
Amy shut her eyes, feinting sleep, wanting to see his reaction to their sleeping arrangements.
Ty inhaled and yawned, his free arm lifting so he could rub his red eyes. The vodka aftermath making his head pound. He groaned, Amy keeping still, a tiny smile on her sleeping lips as she felt him move his body, the arm around her flexing, his fingers touching her arm, absentmindedly at first, but then with more inclination as he became aware of her presence and close proximity to him.
Ty jumped slightly, he rubbed his head and lifted it, his bleary green eyes looking down on Amy's blonde head, snuggled into his shoulder and chest.
Amys smile broadened, knowing he couldn't see her face, hearing him groan and then feeling him move slightly. His other arm now raised and covering his mouth as he forced air out between his fingers.
Amy decided to play a little further, still holding her sleep rouse, but turning slightly into him, snuggling into his side some more, her arm running around his abdomen and holding him tightly to her like he was her security blanket or favorite plush toy,
She felt his body tense at her movement and then heard him exhale again. Amy hearing his heartbeat quicken slightly as he tried to piece it all together.
"shit" he whispered, Ty, sat up a little more, his head thumping, the sunlight hurting his eyes. He didn't remember coming to her room, heck, he didn't remember going to his room. Nor taking off his clothes, nor even getting home. It was all a blur.
Amy couldn't contain it any longer, she moved again, her head tilting up towards his face as she let her eyes open, pretending she was seeing him for the first time that morning.
Ty's green eyes looked down at her warily, he gave her a soft smile, an awkward smile, hoping to hell this wasn't what he thought it was.
"Hey," she said softly, her eyes looking dreamily up at him, seeing the look of uncertainty in his eyes, she knew she shouldn't, but she just couldn't help herself, it was obvious his recount of the night before was at best patchy if not non -existent.
"Hey, "he croaked, his hand that was around her, giving her a gentle squeeze,
"hows the head?" Amy asked, rolling slightly so she was now laying on her stomach, her head resting on her arms as she used his chest as her pillow,
"thunderous" he groaned, as he shut his eyes, his hand raised and shielding them from the light.
"what time did we get back, "he asked, as he went to sit up, but smiled awkwardly at her as her body weight held him in place.
"I dunno, early morning I think" Amy smiled back, "you were pretty out of it,"
He nodded, taking her word for it, the evening was a complete blur to him. "I need an aspirin," he said softly, rubbing his hand through his hair and trying to clear the fog. His eyes flickering towards the TV screen as it stood silently before them.
Amy caught his attention, not wanting him to see that nightmare just yet. So she sat up and crossed her legs under herself, smiling at him broadly. "Im famished, " she grinned, her hand on his bare chest. Tys eyes watching her fingers, looking a little apprehensive, His mind going to places that he hoped they hadn't ventured while he was intoxicated.
"um, "he stammered, coughing slightly to clear his throat, "ergh, where are my pants?" he glanced down to his bare chest, his hand pulling the sheet down enough to show the top of his boxers. "did you do this?"
Amy giggled and raised an eyebrow, "you're in my bed Ty, my room, "she tapped his chest and then rolled over him, making in inhale quickly as her body pressed against his monetarily as she stood up, Her soft tanned legs and bottom of her panties exposed under her soft pink tee.
Ty swallowed and rubbed his face, trying to recall what had happened the night before, it was all a blur of shapes and sounds and colors. He remembered the couch, Amy holding him, other girls, dancing, more girls. Bodies, heat, music, hands-on skin, lips on lips.
"Fuck!" he groaned, as he pushed his head into the pillow and covered his face with his hands. Amy turning back, seeing the remorse in him and deciding to give it one more push before she put him out of his misery.
"Ty, "she said softly, bringing his attention back to her, he sat up and held his head, his green eyes now on her as she stood at the end of the messed-up bed, "I just want to say…. Thank you, "
It was Ty's turn now to cock an eyebrow, his look of confusion nearly cracking Amy's game face and making her laugh, "thank you, for?, Amy …. What happened last night?"
Those emerald eyes watched her as he tried to piece it together, worry about his features as his mind kept coming to the same conclusion each time.
Amy dropped her smile slightly, as she came over to him and touched the tip of his chin with her fingers, her lips gently touching his in a soft innocent kiss. "you were amazing, "
Concern filled Tys face even more as Amy's hand tapped his cheek as she moved away.
"Amy, " He said quickly, getting out of the bed and holding his head, his hand taking her arm and stopping her from leaving, "please tell me we didn't….. because that's not how I wanted …." He looked away, walking to the window, only clad in his boxers but giving up to the revelation that he and Amy may have actually crossed that line. This was not how he had envisaged this going. It wasn't meant to be this way. Not with her, not her first time. This was such a mess. Oh fuck! what about Jack!.
"TY, "Amy said softly, deciding to come clean. She had tried to forgive him for his actions the night before when he had pushed her away at the club and flirted openly with the other women in front of her. She knew it was the alcohol and the pain from finding out about his father that made him go into the destructive spiral. But somewhere inside, she felt a little justified in making him squirm a little now.
Ty turned to look at her, his face filled with regret, "I never wanted it to be that way, not for you, not between us, "he blurted, "it should have been special, not a drunken romp, I wanted it to mean something to show you how much I, I….not like this, Im so sorry. "
Amy froze, seeing his eyes and how guilty and mortified he looked. She suddenly realized that in his attempt to apologize for supposedly taking her virginity in a drunken sex romp, he had exposed himself and his feelings for her in their truest and most purest form.
He said he wanted it to be special, he wanted it to mean something, for them, between them. She let it tick over in her mind as it all started to become clear. He hadn't given up on them at all. He still wanted her. He still had feelings for her, he had just voiced them in his botched attempt to explain his actions.
Ty had shown his heart, for the first time, since her birthday night. It had all fallen apart then because she had tried to push him into sleeping with her. And in doing so, she had pushed him away. Made him doubt the feelings they shared. But now, when she had resigned herself to thinking she had lost her chance, that even though she still felt those butterflies when he was near, it wasn't going to happen. Here he was, declaring his heart without realizing it.
"nothing happened," she said finally, giving him a soft smile. As she walked over to get her robe and pulled it on,
"no?" he replied, his eyes looking relieved, "we didn't ?"
Amy shook her head, her lip pouting somewhat at his obvious jubilation that they hadn't crossed that line.
"Oh god, "he breathed, a smile finally resonating on his face, "I thought …. When you… Argh" he rubbed his face, and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. A smile playing in the corners of his mouth.
"thanks, " she said sulkily as she tied her robe, "good to know the idea of sleeping with me repulses you so"
Ty turned, realizing how his comment must have sounded, and quickly went to her, placing his hands on her arms and then pulling her eyes up to meet his " NO NO, that's not it, not at all, " he searched her eyes, trying to make her understand. "I didn't mean it like that, I …. I"
"You? "Amy said, "you don't want me? You don't see me that way, You think I'm too young? You think Im after your money?" she threw all the options she could think of at him, Trying to get him to just say what he actually felt.
"no no, I …want to… It's just when you said I …..and I couldn't remember I just,…." He stopped, and shut his eyes as he centered himself, his words now all over the place as were his feelings. "look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have got smashed last night, I don't remember much of it, but the fact Im in your bed, in my underwear, means it was heading down a path that I don't want for us, for you, not now anyway, not like this"
Amy signed and rolled her lip, listening to him. Not liking all of it, but giving him the courtesy to at least let him have his say.
"I care about you Amy, ok, I do, I always have, but I can't have this, not right now, not with all this other crap going on in my life, I …." He stopped, regrouping again, wanting to set this right "but that doesn't mean I don't …. Because I do, so when you hinted we did, I freaked, not because I didn't want you, or because I didn't want it, but …..argh, my head is killing me and I'm screwing this up!"
He pressed the ball of his wrist into his eye socket, trying to quash the hammers in his head from the hangover. He took another slow cleansing breath and looked back at her, his mind processing the events of the morning. His face calming slightly as a questioning look filled his green eyes. "why did you let me think we had sex when we didn't?" he let out quickly.
Amy looked away coyly, not answering, her lip curling with a slight smile of accomplishment,
"Amy?" Ty pushed, expecting an answer,
"I wanted to get you back for treating me like some starlet bunny at the club last night, We were having a great time, dancing and enjoying ourselves, and then you….."
Ty touched her cheek, encouraging her to go on, he didn't recall much of it, apart from their dancing together and a brief discussion on a sofa chair.
"what did I do Amy?" he asked softly
Amy took a breath and blurted it out, all her anger and annoyance going with it "you were all over anything female that came near you and trust me there where a lot of them. You didn't care that I saw it, you laughed at me when I told you I didn't like, it and told me to go back to the hotel alone when I asked if we could leave,"
Ty dropped his head, parts of her recount flashing true to him. He did have images in his mind of different girls and music, and a vivid image of a visibly upset Amy standing before him on the dance floor.
"I'm sorry, " he said in the softest of tones, "I was in a bad place, with my d…."
"your dad, "Amy said, her face filled with compassion, "I know, that's why I forgave you moments after you did it, " she gave him a soft smile, "but I couldn't resist a little revenge, I think I was owed that, and since you couldn't remember, and looked so lost I just …I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have taken advantage of your fragile state,"
He nodded, conceding her point, "No, it was warranted, especially if I acted like such a jerk, "
"a big jerk" she embellished
TY nodded, a slight smile on his face as he stepped closer to her. "ok, ok, A big jerk "
Amy gave him a gentle hug and kissed his cheek, showing him, she wasn't holding it against him.
They stood, face to face for a few minutes more, their eyes locked, their bodies close, the air a little clearer for the words that had been said.
"Um, Amy, I," Ty said, his voice a soft whisper now, she was right there, looking beautiful, all he had to do was lean in and ….
"You should get dressed," Amy said, seeing his indecision. She didn't want this to be a knee-jerk reaction. Knowing that those feelings were still there was enough for her right then, there was hope, and with that at least they could build something stronger between them.
Ty chuckled, looking down at his boxers, and then raising an eyebrow, "yes, clothes would be a good start" He leaned forward and gave her a hug, savoring the feeling of her body against his. For now, that would have to do. For it was all he had to give at the moment.
"and I'm sorry, "he said, one last time, pressing his finger to her lips when she went to protest, "I shouldn't have treated you like that, It was selfish and it was wrong, " He kissed the tip of her little nose, "You didn't deserve that, " he looked down, feeling bad for his actions, "I've been told that when I drink I can get a little out of hand, so I apologize for that, it won't happen again"
Amy nodded, accepting his apology, "what won't happen again Ty? Getting a little out of hand or the drinking? or more correctly getting drunk when you can't cope"
Ty chewed his lip, taking the hit, it was warranted, she had seen him under the influence a few times now, and it had always ended in harsh words, hurt feelings and tears.
"I hear you and your right, "he replied, accepting the criticism, "I promise to work on that ok"
Amy smiled at him. Taking the step forward he just offered as a victory. She wasn't going to change years of destructive habits in one day. It would take time to get him to lower those walls and trust with all his heart. The damage of all those years of neglect, distrust, and abuse was going to leave scars. And although they would heal with time, he would bare their burden.
Amy met Ty in the kitchen after he showered and dressed, the morning's discussion leaving them on an even keel, relationship-wise, they were by no means perfect. And although Amy would have liked to have it become more than friends, for she knew they both wanted that, at the moment, friends was all Ty could handle. And as his best friend, she was happy to be by his side.
They returned to St Vincent's, Meeting the Hospital counselor in her office and assigning release papers for Brads Body once the coroner was done with their autopsy.
Ty had requested Raymond again when they left the apt, as the media were everywhere. And photos were not enough to appease the jackals this time. They were after a story, a soundbite, or an interview. And Ty, still processing the death of his father and what it actually meant, wasn't up for anything like what the press demanded.
So, in efforts to stay away from the public eye, both of them were reduced to security guards and dark-windowed cars. Not leaving the Apartment unless accompanied by an appropriate entourage.
The day was filled with paperwork lawyers and police interviews, keeping Ty in a permanent funk. Constantly having to go through the same thing s again and again was making it even harder for him to stay in the good head space he had found when he left the apartment that morning.
Amy could see he was struggling, so when they finally returned, she made him a hot tea and rubbed his shoulders, helping him release some of the tension the day's activities had put on him.
"there's something I have to do Amy, "Ty said, his eyes shut as she rubbed his shoulders, he was sitting on the floor, his shirt open, Amy behind him on the couch as she massaged his tense muscles.
"what's that?" she asked, hearing him groan as she worked on a knot in his neck.
Ty rubbed his eyes, he had been dreading this but knew it had to be done, he had asked the police to leave it to him, which he hoped they had. But it still wasn't something he was looking forward too,
"I have to call her, " he said in a soft whisper,
"your mom,?" Amy's voice was low too,
TY nodded, "I can't let her find out through the media, "
Amy stopped working his shoulders and lent down wrapping her arms around his neck, giving him a cuddle from behind. "It will be easier coming from you too, "
TY tapped her arm, appreciating her support and pulled himself to his feet, his shirt open to his navel but still tucked into his pants, He had worn more formal attire today, due to the seriousness of the meeting she had to attend. One being with a representative of his father's legal firm who had flown in to discuss the clearance of Brads remains and when they could be sent back home.
Ty ran his hands through his hair and exhaled, his hand pulling his phone from his pocket, he looked at the screen, hesitating. This was not going to be easy to do.
"I think you should make this call on your own TY, "Amy said, pointing gently to the bedroom door, "I'll be here I promise when you're done"
He smiled and walked slowly towards the bedroom, shutting the door as Amy watched him push the phone to his ear.
Amy called for room service, made a fresh pot of tea, and put out some placemats and glasses. Looking every now and then towards the door, hoping he was ok. Her phone bussed, making her jump slightly, the name on the screen filling her with relief,
"Lou," she said, needing to hear a familiar voice, " it's so good to hear from you,"
"Amy, the line isn't the best, your fading in and out, "Lou raised her voice, hoping her sister could hear her.
"Lou!, " Amy replied, waiting for a moment then moving, hoping the reception would take, "argh, there you are !"
"Amy, are you ok!" Lou asked, finally able to hear her sister, "how's Ty? We saw on the tv all the coverage this is getting, it's worldwide, they say Brads been murdered!"
"we don't know Lou, the autopsy isn't back yet until it comes in, no one knows anything, "Amy explained.
"this must be horrific for TY, is he ok?"
"he's hanging in there, it's not easy, the press won't leave him alone, they follow us everywhere now, we cant even leave the room without a formal escort, "
Lou covered her mouth, "that's horrible, cant you just call the police or something! file a complaint!"
"they police organized the escort Lou, it's the best they can do. We just have to wait until the investigation continues on and see what happens from there. "she looked back at the bedroom door, her mind still worried, he had been in there a while.
"So no idea when you will be home?" Lou queried,
"not yet, hopefully not much longer, once they release the ….. um, body, we can arrange for Brad to return to Montana, I think Ty will want to go with him. So I don't know Lou, its all just up in the air right now,"
Amy watched the door as it slowly opened, Ty came back through, his face pale, his eyes a little red.
"I've got to go Lou, Ill talk again soon, love you" Amy hung up before her sister had a chance to answer. Her eyes on Ty as he stood near the bedroom door, his eyes not really looking at her, his chest moving quickly as he slowly placed his phone on the table near the lounge, Amy hearing the shake in his breath as his hand fumbled it and it rattled across the glass surface.
Amy quickly came over to him, engulfed him in a hug, her arms pulling him into her as he returned the gesture, his head burying into her shoulder. He shook, as he fought to hold it in. The grief taking hold again, Amy feeling the tremble in his chest as he tried to suck in a breath. Amy heard him quickly inhale, and sniff back the tears, pulling back and giving her a false smile as he wiped his eyes quickly with his hands. Moving towards the sofa and sitting down. He cleared his throat and pressed his thumb and index finger into his eyes, as he took several deep breaths, pushing the pain down inside him again.
"I promised myself I wasn't going to do that again, "he said shakily, giving a rough chuckle, "you must think Im a complete wuss"
"no, there's nothing wussy about losing a parent and being upset about it, " Amy countered, "tears and crying are part of the healing process Ty, you should never feel embarrassed for showing how you feel"
"It's not the Borden Way Amy " he retorted, "dad would say Im being soft, " he laughed, as another tear fell, his hand quickly wiping it away as Amy stopped him, her hand on his as his damp eyes looked up at her.
"I take it you spoke to your mom, " she asked,
Ty shook his head, letting another wry laugh escape his trembling lips, "well, no not really, Mom, wouldn't come to the phone, supposedly"he explained, seeing Amy look at him in confusion,
"then who were you talki…." Amy dropped her sentence when she saw Ty's facial expression change.
"I was talking to Wade actually, seems he told mom about the accident yesterday after the police called them, " he rubbed his face, "thought It was better coming from him, someone who actually cared about her, rather than from me"
His voice cracked and he sniffed back the moisture again in his welled in his eyes, "Wade seems to think mom is better off without my influence,"
Amy watched his hands shake as he tried to control the pain that ran through him. She could see how much not being able to reach her was hurting him. She was his only surviving parent, and even if the relationship was strained, not being able to seek comfort in her as his mother, as his father's wife, was making Ty feel even more alone. It was, in essence, the same as having both parents ripped away from him simultaneously.
"did Wade say what they are going to do? Is your mom going to come to Montana, when you bring Brad home or ?" Amy couldn't imagine a family being so broken.
"Um .. I don't know, "Ty stammered, his voice fractured, "I didn't speak to her, so I can only go by what Wade said, And as Im not really his favorite person right now, Um, I have no clue whats going to happen"
"Ty, look, take a breath and tell me what he said, exactly " Amy said clearly, trying to take a little of the control away from him so he could focus on handling the grief.
TY took a breath and rubbed his face, calming himself, he sucked back the tears and looked at her, taking charge of his emotions and lot allowing the pain to win, "um he said dads will is in the hands of the executor right now and once all the legal and police stuff is done here, I need to go to Montana for the reading. "
"so, after we are done here, its Montana as our next stop?" Amy asked.
"I don't know Amy, "Ty replied honestly, "I spoke to one of dads legal team today at the hospital, she told me that Dad changed his will and instructions in regards to the family trust and his property holdings right before he dumped me on your doorstep, she couldn't tell me why but it seems dad was worried about a hostile takeover or something like that"
"who was trying to take the Lucky from him, did she say?" Amy asked, seeing a connection coming to light, if there was interest in Brad's business ventures from an outside source, maybe this hostile take over had something to do with his sudden disappearance and death.
"she said it was all sealed until the reading of the will, so I suppose I'll have to wait till then to find out what the hell is going on" Ty said
"did this lawyer know who this person was your dad met the day he disappeared, those initials, KLM did they mean anything to her"
Ty shook his head, "no, she had no clue, " he rubbed his face, letting the air escape his lungs through his fingers and he tried to put it all together. "If I could find out who it was and where this meeting took place, maybe I'd be able to piece together his last movements"
Amy sat back, the mystery growing around them, "the iPad didn't hold any answers did it, ?"
"No, it was pretty much empty apart from the calendar entries and a few emails, "Ty chuckled again, "oh and let's not forget the photos of the woman he obviously hooked up with while he was here in Australia"
"how many photos are there?" Amy asked, curious as to why Brad would document his conquests in such a bizarre and visual way. Ty had told her that Brad kept his women under wraps not wanting the larger world to know of his mistresses and companions. Especially since he was supposed to be a happily married man.
Ty turned to look at her, not seeing the connection, "there are a few, 3 or 4, mostly group shots, around a pool or something, could be a bar. Why do you ask?"
"well, if we found some or all these women, maybe they might know your father's movements while he was here, we could maybe retrace his steps. "Amy suggested.
Ty considered her idea, rolling it around in his mind, then giving her a smile of agreement as he quickly got up and ran into the bedroom, Returning to her side a few minutes later, evidence bag and box in his hands.
He placed them both on the coffee table and looked at Amy, a look a trepidation in his eyes as he pulled the box open.
Inside where Brad Borden's personal effects, retrieved from his body and from the hotel safe once they realized he wasn't coming back to claim them.
Ty reached into the box first, feeling better to look through the documents from the safe. Avoiding the evidence bag.
He pulled out the iPad and opened the cover, he scrolled through the images of horses and stock charts and finally stopped on one image, of his father and three people, two men and one woman, All smiling as they stood around a beach drinks bar, a beautiful white beach as their backdrop,
"do you know any of these people" Amy asked, pinching the screen with her fingers, making the image larger.
"Um no, I didn't really socialize with dad work colleagues, " Ty replied, "I was always kept out of it, I only met the woman when they became his PA"
Amy nodded and scrolled to the next image, this one was a fun picture on a large yacht, with Brad and 4 men all waving at the camera, champagne flutes in hands, All smiling and looking happy. There were also three women in this shot, seated quietly on the deck of the cabin, there faces smiling as the men stole the main attention of the photo.
"how about these ones? "Amy asked Ty, looking over the image, this time taking more notice that he did when he skimmed over them earlier.
"that's Marcus and Louis, they are part of the management team that runs Montana, I don't know the other one, a new guy to help Thomas in Alberta maybe?" Ty suggested,
"do you know where that was taken?" Amy pushed again, showing him the image again,
"looks like the main stables at Montana Lucky, but its been a while since I've been there, so I can't say for sure"
Amy nodded again, and continued to flick through the images until she came across a female, very pretty and oriental, this image was just of Brad and the lady and had the Sydney harbor bridge in the background.
"what about her! that's taken here, see the bridge!" Amy announced, as TY slid closer to her and looked at the image, He zoomed in on the lady who was well dressed in a traditional tight red Asian gown with gold rope ties up the side to its high neckline.
"I think that's a ferry!" Ty said with a smile, "look at the water in the background, he must have gone on a harbor cruise or something, I don't know her through "
Amy continued to flick through the images, seeing several with women of varying ages, making Amy get a real feel for Ty's fathers womanizing ways. There were 4 in all, depicting happy embraces with stunning women at different locations around Syndey, All looked like they knew Brad well, One was near the Taronga Zoo sign, another in front of the opera house, then there was the river cruise, one at Luna Park and one in a large greenhouse in a professional garden somewhere.
"ok, well, we have a place to start," Amy said, as she quickly scribbled down her notes on the possible locations where these shots may have been taken. "is there anything in that box that may link to these photos and ladies"
Ty thumbed through the documents and files, seeing stock quotations and proposals for IVF and stud lines mainly. Until he found a black binder, with a leather strap holding it securely closed. He unwound it and saw notes and scribbles in his father's handwriting, nothing really concrete, Ty thumbed through the yellow pages until he came to the back page, the binding was loose at the top and something had been slipped inside the back leather cover. Ty slipped his fingers inside the sleeve and pulled out a folded piece of paper, He looked at Amy as he slowly, with trepidation in his heart unfolded it.
It had a list of dates times, initials scribbled in black pen, all Abbreviations for the locations of the photos.
"I think these dates lead up to the day dad disappeared, look, 13th TZ Mia. 11:30 am 15th. CQ F4 Tala,
10:30 am. 16th SOH Sou Lin, 9:00 am. and the 18th LP Tan Lo. 10:00 am," He continued to look at the list his eyes widening once he realized what it was he was actually looking at, "Amy these are all the places were those photos were taken, and the 19th is listed too, 19th RBG Kia Ling M 11 am"
Amy grabbed the piece of paper, flicking through the images and then running her finger down the list,
"look they match up TY!" she said, a smile on her face as it fell together "TZ, that Taronga Zoo, like in the photo, and that picture must be Mia!, then there's CQ F4, that would be Circular Quay, Ferry 4, like the picture, "
"so shes Tala, " Ty said his face now also alive as they continued on, "SOH, Sydney Opera House, Sou lin"
Amy nodded, giving him a big smile "LP Luna Park, Tan Lo, and " she stopped, her finger resting on the last entry, the one for the 19th, "RBG, that's the Royal Botanical Gardens and that, " she pointed to the photo of the porcelain-faced older oriental woman "is Kia Ling M or otherwise known as K L M!"
"that's the initials in the Ipad, his last meeting before he disappeared was at the Royal Botanical Gardens, with this Kia Ling chick, !"Ty's mouth stayed open, trying to process what they had uncovered, "who the hell is she?"
"I don't know Ty, but at least now we have a name and a location," Amy said, looking hopeful,
TY looked into her blue eyes, seeing her calculating out a plan, he'd seen that look before.
"you sure about this Amy, " he asked, "maybe we should just give this all over to the police to sort out"
Amy leaned forward and kissed his cheek, "your dad died here, for whatever reason we owe it to your mother, and to you to find out why,"
to be continued