The Mission (20 page)

‘Be back before it’s too late, please. Or at least let me know when you’re coming home so we don’t worry.’

‘Yes, my overprotective worrier. I’ll be fine.’ Jaz pulled on her black jacket, kissed Paul on the cheek and headed outside. Her new jeep sat on the driveway, waiting for her like an old friend. She couldn’t wait to show Marcus. She couldn’t wait to see him. Right now she craved some attention, even just the touch of his hand, and a moment without Ryan creeping into her thoughts.

She pulled into Marcus’s driveway and smiled when she saw him waiting for her. He was so sweet. He stood up and was looking at her jeep as she got out.

‘Not bad, hey?’

‘It’s very cool, Jaz. It suits you. Have you named it yet?’ he teased.

Jaz walked straight over to him and melted into his arms. ‘Not yet. I missed you,’ she said. She really had.

‘I missed you too.’ He nuzzled her neck, kissing her softly.

Jaz didn’t let him go, instead she held on tightly, enjoying the firm circle of his arms and the fresh scent of his skin and the hint of fancy aftershave. It was dark outside, except for the lights from the houses. Across the road, the last hint of glow from the missing sun glistened on the water.

Meanwhile, his hands worked their way up to her face and cupped her chin so he could kiss her. The waves crashed on the beach behind them, making her feel as if they were alone on an island.

But the front door opening dissolved that. Marcus stepped back and took her hand. ‘I better take you inside or I may just forgo dinner completely,’ he whispered.

‘Your mum wouldn’t like that,’ she said, following him inside.

He agreed with a chuckle.

‘Jaz, so nice of Marcus to actually let you get inside the house,’ said Carl.

‘Hi Mr Sincl-Carl,’ she added when she saw the look he gave her.

‘Mr Sinclair was my dad, and he wasn’t a nice man.’ He smiled. Jaz knew that Marcus was going to age really well if he took after his dad. ‘Come in, Diane is in the kitchen, she’s just finishing up with the risotto.’

‘So glad you came,’ said Diane upon seeing Jaz. ‘How did you find such a natural beauty, Marcus?’ she teased.

It made Jaz blush. Marcus still had her hand, which was actually nice and made her feel more relaxed. It also helped that Carl seemed just like Paul but in a less geeky way. Carl walked like a man of importance but could flirt with his wife and stir up his son. He was probably once a school leader or captain of a team. He just oozed likability.

Watching him kiss his wife’s cheek and whisper something to her, causing her to laugh, made Jaz feel right at home. It was just like watching her mum and dad, it was disturbing to watch but also nice to see how much they loved each other.

‘I’m sorry. I wish they would behave,’ said Marcus.

‘Hey, you’d get the same at my house.’

‘Come, I’ll give you the tour before we sit down to eat. Be back in a tick, Mum,’ he said to Diane, who was wearing soft blue pants and an expensive cream blouse.

First he showed her the lower floor, the theatre room, games room, downstairs toilet and the office. All very sparse with the focus on the art pieces, and the rooms were spotless and well designed. Next was upstairs to all the bedrooms. ‘This is my mum’s office, that was Dad’s downstairs. Here’s my room.’ He pushed open a door and it was a room much like Jaz’s, large, with a window and its own ensuite. The carpet was a soft grey with wooden furniture throughout. She tried not to stare at the double bed with its blue cover. Ryan’s room would fit into this one twice. Damn, she couldn’t believe she’d thought of that. No Ryan thoughts, she’d promised herself.

‘It’s cool. I like it.’ She went to the far wall and touched some of his skateboards, before moving to his desk. A large pad and some pencils sat like they’d not long ago been used and the drawings stuck up on the wall grabbed her attention. One looked like it was of his mate Kaino on his skateboard. ‘Did you draw this?’ she asked, turning to him.

Marcus glanced at the floor as he sat on the edge of his bed. ‘Yeah.’

‘These are great. Do you take art at school? Can I?’ she asked motioning to the drawing pad.

‘Sure. Yeah, I’m doing art. Dad doesn’t get it, but Mum is real arty, you know. You can’t grow up around art and not absorb some of it.’

Jaz was only half listening, as the fourth drawing had taken her breath. He’d drawn her, from their first afternoon having coffee at the beach. He’d captured her so well, with her hair blowing across her face. ‘Wow.’ Then the next few were also of her. ‘I’m detecting a theme,’ she teased. ‘They are amazing though. Can I have this one?’

He came up behind her, his hand automatically snaking around her waist as he looked over her shoulder. ‘Sure. Why that one?’

It was Jaz, drawn from the chest up, dressed up for his ball but she was looking off into the distance as if she was deep in thought. The funny thing was, that night she had been. It was after she’d seen Ryan. She could see it on her face.

So that’s what Anna saw all the time.

‘I don’t know. I think you really captured me. It’s quite confronting seeing it, but still I’d like to have something you’ve drawn. You have a real talent.’

Marcus tore the picture from his book and gave it to her. ‘You can tell that to my dad,’ he said with a laugh.

Jaz detected the pain in his voice. Everyone had family dramas, parents who had preconceived ideas of what their kids would do and grow up to be.

‘Dinner’s ready,’ came Carl’s voice from near the foot of the stairs.

They left his room and headed to the dinning room. Jaz sat beside Marcus and put his picture by the empty seat next to him.

‘What you got there, Jaz?’ said Diane as she put a plate in front of Jaz.

‘I asked Marcus for one of his drawings. He’s amazing. I wish I had that much talent,’ she said clearly, hoping Carl was listening.

‘Yes, he is gifted.’ Diane looked to Carl, before she walked back to the kitchen for more plates.

They talked for a while about Marcus’s drawings and then the art Diane liked to collect. She also wondered how many art pieces were hollow and filled with drugs! ‘I know nothing about art,’ Jaz confessed.

‘No, unless it’s martial arts,’ said Marcus, who then went on to tell them Jaz knew karate.

‘You seem too pretty for that,’ said Diane, just as Carl’s mobile phone rang.

‘Oh, sorry. Sorry Diane, I really have to take this,’ said Carl getting up from the table. His face was hard to read but he seemed very serious, tense almost. ‘I’ve been waiting for this call. I’ll make it as short as I can.’ He left in the direction of his office.

This could be something important, she thought. Jaz turned to Marcus. ‘I just need to go to the ladies, sorry. When I’m nervous, my throat goes dry and I end up drinking heaps of water and then pay for it later.’ Jaz stood up.

‘You were nervous,’ he said, smiling up at her.

Jaz put her fingers together. ‘Just a little bit,’ she said shyly. ‘I’ll be back.’ She gave him a wink and headed off to the toilet, which was past Carl’s office.

She wondered how long she could string this out. As she walked past his open door she glanced in. Carl was leaning over his desk writing something on a notepad.

‘Yes, I can meet you tomorrow. It’s all arranged. Yes. You have nothing to worry about. Okay, yep.’

It sounded like he was wrapping up the call so Jaz quickly stepped towards the bathroom and hid behind the door, leaving it ajar just enough to see through.

Carl left his office and she could hear him heading back to the table. Quickly she came out and stepped into his office, figuring she had at least half a minute up her sleeve. She knew what she was looking for and went straight to his desk. Frantically her eyes searched for the notepad he had been writing on. Her heart was racing, blood pounding in her head at the thought of being caught.

She saw an open day planner and in one corner was written ‘8pm Cicerello’s’

Was that Cicerello’s, the fish and chips shop in Fremantle? She didn’t have time to think further on it. Quickly she left his office and walked back to the dining room casually, even though her body was pumping with adrenaline.

It could mean nothing, but her gut told her that this was something important. Could this be a drug boss further up the chain? Or maybe one of his sellers? This could be the proof MTG needed. Or it could just be his mate, wanting to catch up over fish and beer and Jaz would look like a fool. But at least only she would know.

‘Jaz, what are you planning to do after school?’ asked Diane as she watched Jaz take her seat.

‘You sound just like my mum,’ she said trying to give herself a few seconds to calm herself down and find some composure. Pushing her empty plate away from her, she tried to think of a reply. ‘You know, I’m still not really sure. I haven’t even ruled uni out. I wish I had a talent like Marcus that I could follow, it would help with my choices.’

‘I’m sure you will find something,’ she said.

‘Marcus is going to uni, aren’t you, son?’ said Carl.

‘Yep, just not sure what courses I want to take.’ Marcus gave her a look, which said it depended on what Carl let him take.

‘Who’s for dessert?’ said Diane. ‘I have a chocolate cheesecake.’

‘Yes, please,’ said Jaz, getting up and collecting the empty plates, happy to be doing something. Also glad her nerves had settled down.

‘Oh, you’re the guest Jaz, you shouldn’t be helping,’ said Diane. Her hair was up in a tight bun and Jaz wondered if she ever let it out. Or was this still part of her control act? Was her professional side staying in place while in public?

‘I don’t mind.’

The rest of the night went smoothly. They were no different from her own family. After dinner, Marcus finally snuck her back up to his room.

‘God, I thought I’d never get you away from their endless questions.’ He shut his door and pulled her towards his bed.

Warning lights began to flash in her head.

‘Come and lie with me for a bit. I want to be able to pretend you’re beside me tonight when I go to sleep.’ He released his hair from its ponytail and moved over on the bed, making room for her.

He wasn’t getting undressed, so she was safe so far. But this was Marcus, who never rushed anything so she figured he wouldn’t try anything, especially with his folks downstairs.

‘Okay.’

Jaz climbed onto his bed and sunk down into his arms.

‘See, isn’t this nice,’ he said.

Jaz’s hand rested against his chest, the rise and fall of his breathing was normal, his heart rate wasn’t. It made her smile, knowing he was nervous.

‘What are you smiling about?’ he asked.

‘Nothing, just enjoying this.’ Jaz tucked herself closer to his body, wrapping a leg over his so that the full length of their bodies touched. She felt warm and comfortable, as if she were lying here with Taylor. Happy and contented with someone she cared about. Lying next to Ryan, on the other hand, was never this easy.

Jaz lifted her head from his shoulder so she could see him. Big mistake. Marcus was watching her with heat-filled eyes. His lips came towards her and she readied herself.

His kisses were nice, very nice. His hand moved up to her waist as they lay on their sides, facing each other. She felt his fingers slide under her top, gentle and almost unsure. Jaz couldn’t help compare him to Ryan, whose fingers had moved with precision and great understanding of where to touch. How many more women had Ryan slept with than Marcus? That thought almost sent her cold but she took comfort in Marcus’s fumbling fingers. She doubted he was new to this game either, but Ryan had five years on Marcus. You could do a lot in five years.

Marcus’s hand brushed over her breast and that’s when Jaz knew. Ryan only had to lie beside her and she’d be burning with need for him. He just had some sort of magnetic pull that stole her thoughts and willpower. Was it because she loved him?

But Jaz could remember back to when she’d first met Ryan, before she cared for him. They just had this spark that would crackle whenever they saw each other. At least, she had felt it. All this thinking wasn’t getting her anywhere, not when Ryan had pushed her away. That hurt and embarrassment still lingered. Still caused her sleepless nights and still made her angry with him, or herself for not being what he wanted. And it wasn’t helping this make-out session with Marcus either.

Determined to shove Ryan away, she moved her hand down Marcus’s chest towards his low-sitting jeans. Marcus tensed and pulled away from her just a fraction, so he could talk.

‘Jaz, I think we better stop there before I can’t stop. I don’t plan on doing this with my parents downstairs,’ he said with a chuckle.

‘No, me neither.’

He kissed her again, deep and filled with promise.

‘Okay, let’s go downstairs where I can’t take advantage of you,’ he said teasingly.

‘Good plan.’

As they left his room, Jaz glanced back to his bed and wondered if she would have gone through with it if it had come to it? There was probably no point saving herself for Ryan when he clearly didn’t want her. But then, if by some chance he’d change his mind, shouldn’t she be a bit more experienced anyway? Jaz was torn by her last thought. She was dreaming, like the typical schoolgirl she was. What chance did she have with Ryan? None.

Jaz spent Sunday with Taylor. She’d been worried about him while she was away and time together was long overdue. It started with a late breakfast at Molly’s and that’s where she first noticed a black Nissan X-Trail parked opposite the shop. It was nothing unusual, except she saw another Nissan X-Trail when they went to the shopping centre to watch a movie. Maybe they were the latest car trend but since the attack on Taylor, Ryan had warned Jaz to be on the lookout for anything abnormal.

After they left the cinema and went for a drive, Jaz kept an eye on the side mirror as she chatted to Taylor. She couldn’t shake the weird feeling that she’d noticed this car for a reason.

‘It’s a real bummer Anna couldn’t come. Fancy not liking movies, Ricky’s just weird,’ said Taylor.