Read Online Return to Moondilla by Tony Parsons - Free Book Online Page B

him seemed ludicrous, but there was truth to what Julie said—the man had resources. Of course, Baxter wouldn’t tell her what Campanelli had muttered before getting in his Mercedes. It would only worry her.
    A change of subject was in order. ‘Do you mind bringing your wine outside?’ he asked. ‘I’ve got something I want to show you.’ They headed onto the verandah, where Chief was snoozing in the sun. ‘I’ve been working on the layout of my novel,’ Baxter explained, gesturing to the stack of pages. ‘Do you have time to read the first chapter?’
    She grinned and stared down at the pages, and Baxter was pleased to see that she seemed fascinated. ‘It’s my day off. Not that it means anything—I’m on call just about all the time. But I’d love to take a peek.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Baxter said, handing ‘Fallen Angel’ to her. ‘I’ll go on making notes while you read it.’
    When she’d finished, Julie looked at Baxter and nodded. ‘It’s very good. Sad, but good. If a girl decides she wants to make a living via prostitution, that’s one thing, but having to live that way to fund a drug habit is another matter.’
    ‘Thanks, Julie. That’s exactly what I set out to say.’
    ‘And this is how you’re going to start your book?’
    ‘That’s the plan. I reckon it puts the whole rotten drug business into focus.’
    ‘It does.’ The troubled look was in her eyes again.
    ‘You know,’ Baxter said, ‘I came back here because I needed to get away to a different kind of lifestyle. Finding out about the drugs . . . well, it’s really taken the gilt off the gingerbread.’
    ‘Yes, I felt the same way when I realised how bad it was.’
    ‘Let’s hope that Latham and Company can clean it up, and then Moondilla will revert to what it was.’ He sighed. ‘Or maybe that’s wishful thinking.’
    ‘It’s still a nice place,’ Julie said. ‘A bit dull for some people, but—drugs aside, of course—you don’t come down here if you’re looking for excitement. You come to fish and to smell the flowers and to enjoy the river and the ocean.’
    She looked as though she loved it as much as he did, and he realised her words echoed Mr Garland’s from so long ago.
    ‘That’s right,’ he said vehemently, the thought of the old fisherman stirring his anger, ‘and it’s obscene for Moondilla to be fouled up by drugs. I’ll do everything I can to help Latham and his team clean it up.’
    ‘Very laudable,’ she said, nodding. ‘I feel the same way. But let’s be cautious—we won’t be any help if we put ourselves in danger.’
    Baxter nodded, although he knew it was a bit late for that.
    Julie had finished her wine. ‘What a relief that I haven’t been called in to work,’ she said. ‘If you can spare the time, I’d like to introduce you to some of my family—my sister Jane and her husband Steve, the fishing fanatic.’
    ‘Good idea. I’d love to meet them, and I could ask Steve to tune up Flora.’
    ‘Flora?’
    ‘My runabout—you know, the Flora Jane .’
    •
    So Baxter spent a lovely afternoon with Julie and the Lewises.
    Jane was a nice-looking woman—not as classically good-looking as Julie, but very attractive and with a great personality. Sherrie was a stunning seventeen-year-old who did indeed look like a young Julie, while Jason was fifteen, a solid boy whose main interest appeared to be sailing sabots on the river.
    Baxter soon heard from the horse’s mouth that Jason wasn’t very good at cricket or football, so he wasn’t in the upper echelon of boys at the high school. Conversely, Sherrie was an excellent tennis player and swimmer, and Jason thought it extremely unfair that his sister was so good at sport, especially because she didn’t take it seriously.
    In Steve Lewis, Baxter thought he’d found a true friend. Lewis was a lean fellow, quite nice-looking, with dark hair and keen grey eyes. He’d taken over Moondilla Motors after serving his apprenticeship there