A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 52
Joey Collins unfastened the letter in the file and moved slowly to the chair. She placed the other files onto the floor and sat down.
'My dear Joey,
By the time you read this letter, I'll be pushing up daisies. Gordon only knows when this will be darl, and I hope it won't be for a few more years yet, but then you never know what the old fella upstairs has in store for any of us!
Well, I just wanted you to know one or two things which, I've never got around to saying to you. You've been a beaut mate, Joey love. You've always been there for me when I needed a shoulder or just some company and that means a lot to an old boiler like me. You've been the closest thing I've ever had to a daughter, darl. I've known you all your life… yeah, ever since you were a nipper, and you've always been the same. I was lucky enough to be included in so much of your young life – your ma, dad and me went back years. I knew your dad when we were teenagers – in fact, he was my boyfriend at one time… but, that's another story. But your ma, dad and me had some bloody good times together… like the time your ma and I went to 'spend a penny' and the door got stuck. Your ma had to climb over the top to get out! How we laughed! Your dad wondered what on earth was going on in there! Since they've been gone, it's left a dirty great hole in my life, but at least I've had you to help fill the gap.
When your ma died, she asked me to look after you. She said you were too young to be left without a mum figure. I felt so privileged that of all the women she knew, it was me she asked. I hope I've managed to be a good friend, confidant and advisor over the years.
Joey love, I've left you as the main beneficiary in my Will. There are one or two small bequests to some of my old mates, but you, my love, will have the bulk of my estate, and that includes all my S.B.F & C shares – this will make you one of the major share holders in the company. Make life difficult for that bastard, Hugo Austin, or I'll come back and haunt you…!' Given enough rope, he'll hang himself. Look after your brother, Brett, when he gets out of prison. He's going to need good companions who won't lead him astray.
Joey wiped the tears, now streaming down her cheeks, but chuckled at the Hugo comment.
'A word to the wise… You can trust Alf Stewart implicitly but don't ever be taken in by Austin… and that Martha Holden! There's something not quite right about her, Joey. When Alf snuffs it, she's going to come into her inheritance and that little snake Austin, will be gaining more power. With Alf Stewart in charge, this has not been the case, but to speak frankly, darl, Alf's not going to be with us forever and obviously, that little 'shite' will be changing things into a multi-million dollar corporation – walking over everyone who gets in his way, before poor old Alf is cold in his grave! He'll knock on the head all the good we've achieved with the likes of the Summerbay lido for the little kids, funding for the medical centre, etc…
With your shares and mine put together, you won't have the majority share, but you can have a bloody big say in what goes on. You're no fool, Joey – use your intelligence and use it wisely.
I never explained the way I managed to buy the shares in the first place. Lou, the guy I was once engaged to marry, left me some money – I really didn't know what to do with it. He wasn't a good bloke, Joey. So I thought the best thing to do was to buy shares in a place that was useful to Summerbay; giving employment and stability to the community. Regarding Lou… I really didn't want to tell you this, but as I'm not around anymore, I feel you should hear the truth from me before some busy-body tells you another version. Lou, as I mentioned before, wasn't a good man. He was mixed up in stuff which, when I found out, sickened me to the stomach. We were out on his boat one day… we'd both been drinking a bit and we argued about some despicable deal he was involved in. I told him he was a rat and he smacked me around. Then, I did something awful… I smothered him! I really didn't know what to do after that – with him, I mean, so I asked your dad. He helped me get rid of the body love. He could have told me to go to hell, but he didn't. Problem is, Hugo flamin' Austin and his cronies got to know a bit about it and blackmailed your dad. He gave Austin a bushel of shares which virtually left him broke. He told you and your ma that he'd lost it gambling with Austin – the lesser of the two evils, I guess. You dad was a good man. I had a lot of time for him.
You're a good kid, Joey. Live a long life of truth, and love those who genuinely love you.
Your dad spoke to me before he died; he said to tell you how sorry he was that he got it wrong and hoped that you've forgiven him. I took the liberty to tell him, you already had.
God bless you, Joey.
Irene.
Ingrid Peters watched Martha Holden closely when she re-entered the office. She ensured that everything, apart from the ledgers found in the big, locked cupboard, had been returned to normal. Ingrid had made sure that the ledgers had been spirited away safely.
Martha sat back in her chair. She took an apple from her desk draw and began to chew on it thoughtfully. Was she considering her next move, Ingrid wondered? She'd found more than enough evidence within the ledgers to implicate Martha in some dubious deal or other. Ingrid sent Charlie Buckton a text message, informing her of her find. Now she would bide her time.
Martha looked at her watch. She got up and took a key from her pocket. Opening the cupboard, Ingrid noticed her physically start. As if imagining that the ledgers had magically removed themselves, Martha started to search desk draws, shelves and other cupboards frantically.
"Lost something?" Ingrid asked, innocently.
"Ermmm… well, yes. I had some books in the cupboard but now I can't…"
Her words drifted off as the penny began to drop.
"Where are they?" She snarled glaring at Ingrid.
"Where's what?" Ingrid asked, feigning innocence.
"You know, you bitch! Hand them over!"
Ingrid was somewhat surprised by Martha's tone. She stood slowly, expecting trouble.
"If you tell me what you've lost, I'll help you to find them." She suggested kindly.
Martha looked keenly at her colleague.
"They are private files – they belong to Hugo. He'll go mad if I've lost them." Martha replied, in a gentler tone.
"Then we'd better find them." Ingrid said, leaving her desk.
"Charlie. It's Alison. I have a dilemma."
"What's your problem?" Charlie asked hurriedly.
She had received Ingrid's text message and was rallying help to retrieve the ledgers.
"Joey's turned up!"
"Joey? Where the hell is she? Is she alright?"
"She's fine… she's fine. Err... Charlie, she doesn't want me to tell you where she is." Alison replied, sheepishly.
Charlie took a deep breath. She was finding it hard to understand Joey. Why the secrecy? Why wouldn't she let Charlie help her anymore? Why had she lost faith?
"Ok... Well, as long as she's safe, Alison. That's the main thing. If you can speak to her, please give her my... Just ask her to call me, will you?"
"I will. I'm sorry Charlie, but I'll make sure she's safe."
"Thanks Alison. Things are hotting up now – I don't want to have to worry about her too. Keep yourself safe too."
"Will do."
"Do you know what was in these ledgers?" Ingrid asked Martha innocently.
"Of course... I mean – well, no. I've told you before! They are Hugo's."
"But if they are Mr. Austin's ledgers, why have you got them?"
"What's it to you?"
"Just curious."
"You'd be better off minding your own business instead of prying into Company business!" Martha replied sharply. "After all, you're a nobody."
"But I thought you said they were Hugo's ledgers, not Company ledgers!" Ingrid pointed out.
Martha looked around slowly at Ingrid.
"I think you'd better button it now, lady!"
"What are you hiding, Martha?" Ingrid asked, walking towards the other woman.
"Me? I'm hiding nothing!"
"You look a little frightened, Martha. Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Ingrid offered. "After all, if Hugo's been... Well, let's just say, running a little business on the side, and you are aiding and abetting him, you could get into big trouble from the auditors and the Police!"
"Just who are you anyway?" Martha asked, opening a small draw in her desk. "You seem to know a lot for someone who is new to accounts work. What did you say you did before you started work here?"
"Nothing in particular. So what do you say, Martha? Why not tell me all about it?"
Alarm bells were ringing in Martha Holden's ears. Just who was Ingrid? She hadn't given Martha a straight answer to her question; instead, she was snooping for information about Hugo.
"I think you'd best go now." Martha warned, dangerously.
"But why? I'm only trying to help you find the missing ledgers, Martha. I think you need help, don't you?"
Martha's hand fished in the open desk draw and produced a blade. Ingrid gulped and instinctively moved backwards.
"Now, don't be stupid, Martha! There's no need for this!" Ingrid warned, slowly raising her hands in front of her chest. "Don't get yourself in anymore trouble!"
"Who are you?" Martha asked again, walking towards her companion.
"Nobody! Just a clerk. Martha, calm down! Don't...!"
Joey placed the precious document onto her lap and wiped away the last of her tears. Why? Why had this private letter ended up in a file in the Summerbay Fish & Crab Company achieve? Why had it not been left with Irene's solicitor? No one should have seen this letter accept her after Irene's death. She absently picked up the file again and flicked through the other paperwork. Finding another letter, this time a photocopy, she began to read again.
Martha ran down the corridor. She had blood on her sleeve and some still running down her arm. She glanced at it and wiped her arm on her black jeans. She paused at the end of the corridor, fearfull she might meet another employee or worse still, her Grandfather.
Two Police cars parked in the SBF & C car park. Four officers, including Sergeant Charlie Buckton and Constable Georgina Watson got out and walked slowly towards the entrance of the Company. Charlie paused for a moment, looking about her for Ingrid's car.
"There!" She cried pointing to a red Ford Escort parked along by the fence. "Ingrid said the ledgers will be in the boot. If it's locked, jemmy it!" Charlie instructed the two male officers.
"Right-o."
The officers ran in the direction of the red car, leaving Charlie and Watson to enter the building. Unusually, there was no receptionist.
Charlie glanced at her colleague who raised her eyebrows.
"Unusual, boss! Marilyn's normally devoted to her reception counter!"
Martha Holden continued to run along corridor's trying to find a safe haven to collect her thoughts. She heard the sound of voices coming from the canteen as employees made their way back to their work stations after lunch. She paused, panting and looking from side to side for a secure escape.
"Shit!" Alison yelled as she walked back into her office finding Ingrid lying in a pool of blood. "Ingrid!" She cried. "Can you hear me?!... Oh dear God! Can someone help me please?!"
Charlie and Watson heard the cry for help and ran in the direction of Alison's voice.
"My God!" Watson cried as she entered the office. "What the hell? Call an ambulance!"
"I don't know! I've just come back from the warehouse and found her like this! Is she alive?" Alison asked as Watson grasped Ingrid's wrist.
After a moment or two of dread, Watson's face relaxed.
"There's a pulse. Let's turn her gently."
The three women gently moved their colleague. Ingrid moaned.
"Careful." Charlie instructed. "Shit! It's her stomach!"
