Part 23 (1/2)

Afterwards we had a gla.s.s of champagne on the harbour's edge. I was disconcerted to spot Damien and Lauren's balcony up there between the towers, and didn't catch what Mary was saying at first. It seemed she had been to see her doctor about some symptoms, and he had sent her for tests, which had established angina, so she felt she should catch a taxi rather than walk home. I felt terrible at having made her walk all that way, but she dismissed my apology, saying she was fine really, just a little tired.

It was the middle of the following week before Maddox invited me over to the police station at Darlinghurst for another chat. I expected apocalyptic wrath, and thought it must be some kind of devious police trick when he seemed mildly satisfied. Finally I came to understand that Lauren had worked her magic on him, and he even expressed some concern that Anna and I may have been traumatised by that last encounter with Damien, whom they now knew had been deeply disturbed for some time.

There were a couple of angles that he wanted to explore. Apparently Marcus had been cooking up all sorts of stuff in that laboratory of his, including hallucinogenic compounds derived from plants. Maddox wanted to know about the use of drugs in our circle when we were students, and whether Marcus had supplied them. I told him we were no different from others of our age, and that although Marcus had supplied hash on occasions, especially to Curtis, our drug of choice had been alcohol.

It appeared that Maddox was only really interested in Marcus's drugs in so far as they might relate to the aspect of the whole case that most intrigued him, which was the hold that Marcus had had over his students, which he described as messianic messianic. I wasn't sure that was the word I would have used, but maybe he was right. I found it hard now to pin down the nature of that magnetism, like trying to describe a colour or a taste.

Marcus's funeral was a very quiet affair. Damien was still in a coma and Lauren didn't go, nor did Suzi. Anna and I sat on one side, the deceased's family on the other. They comprised a cousin and his wife and their two teenage children, who were all rather amazed to have inherited the house at Castlecrag. 'Very special special, of course,' the wife said. 'I mean, Walter Burley Griffin and everything. But so so much work to be done. And the much work to be done. And the stuff stuff Marcus acc.u.mulated!' I mentioned the Lloyd Rees print that Luce and I had liked, and offered to buy it, and they said I was welcome to it. Marcus acc.u.mulated!' I mentioned the Lloyd Rees print that Luce and I had liked, and offered to buy it, and they said I was welcome to it.

We didn't notice Detective Sergeant Maddox at the back of the chapel until we stood up to leave.

'He's facing the Supreme Judgement now,' he murmured.

'I suppose so,' I said.

'Your circle of friends has shrunk mighty small, Josh. You should think hard on that.' Then, as if changing the subject entirely, he said, 'I was speaking to Grant Campbell on the phone the other day. He told me about your little misadventure when you were over there recently. I really think you and Anna should consider hanging up your climbing shoes. It's a dangerous game.'

'Yes, we've come to the same conclusion.'

'Funny, it reminded me of something that came up in the Lucy Corcoran investigation.'

'Really?'

'Yes. There's a strange pinnacle of rock out in the sea to the south of Lord Howe, called b.a.l.l.s Pyramid. You must have seen it.'

'Yes.' I found I was holding my breath.

'There was lots of confusing information to sort out in the days after Lucy disappeared,' he went on. 'People charging all over the place, rumours of sightings and false alarms. We had to decide what was relevant and what wasn't. It's always like that with an investigation of course, but afterwards you wonder. On the day after the accident, the helicopter from HMAS Newcastle Newcastle flew over b.a.l.l.s Pyramid. They spotted two people who'd landed on the Pyramid from a Zodiac off one of the visiting yachts.' flew over b.a.l.l.s Pyramid. They spotted two people who'd landed on the Pyramid from a Zodiac off one of the visiting yachts.'

'Really? Did you find out who they were?'

'Mm. One of them had a beard, the other red hair. Sounded like Damien Stokes and Curtis Read to me. Later on I asked them, and they said they'd wanted to check that Lucy hadn't been washed up on b.a.l.l.s Pyramid. With the direction of the currents that would have been impossible, of course, and I took it for an innocent mistake. But then you wonder ...'

'What do you wonder?'

He just shrugged.

'Did they find any sign of her?' I asked.

He said, 'No. Well, they couldn't have, could they?'

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That evening I met Rory in the hallway of the hotel. He regarded me quizzically over the top of his gla.s.ses, the way he no doubt considered all dubious witnesses, then asked sombrely if I'd care to join him in a tot of whisky. I didn't, but I couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

We sat in the little bar while he poured the Glenfiddich, then he said, 'You've been to a funeral, I hear. That feller who was the tutor of those climbers, your friends.'

'That's right.' Mary must have kept him informed.

'All over now.'

'I suppose so.'

'No.' He repeated, with emphasis, 'It is all over. The coroner has accepted the police report. There's no suspicion attached to yourself or Ms Green.'

I looked at him in astonishment.

'Mary asked me to keep an eye on things. I really think this business ...' He hesitated, then seemed to think better of what he'd been about to say. 'Mary tells me you're considering your career options.'

'Well, um, yes,' I said, and then, since he seemed to expect something more, I added, 'I enjoyed my experience in London, but I'm not sure that I want to continue in that path.'

'The Venezuelan business, eh?'

I gawped at him.

'Banker friend of mine at the club,' he said. 'He was one of the people your bank tried to cheat. He was interested when I mentioned your name, told me the story.' And he proceeded to relate it exactly as it had happened.

I was shocked, though it all seemed rather trivial now, compared with everything else that had happened since. 'They told me nothing would be said.'

He chuckled. 'No use having an anonymous scapegoat. Wouldn't be believed. You're quite famous, apparently, in a select circle.'

I groaned.

'Sometimes these experiences can be the most valuable. And not necessarily a liability-shows you were in the thick of it. Best to move boldly forward now. Put the past behind you.'

He'd been discussing it with Mary, of course, and this was now the official line. They were really talking about Luce, and my unhealthy obsession with her death. This had to mark the end of it.

'My friend has an interest in a boutique investment company. They specialise in ecological investments-carbon trading, stuff like that? I don't pretend to understand it. But he thinks your background and experience might be just what they need. You might like to give this chap a ring.'

He handed me a card, just as Damien had once done. It had very discreet small lettering. I thanked him and promised that I would.

I a.s.sumed that was the heavy agenda business over, but then he came out with the big surprise.

'Er, Mary and I have decided to get married, Josh. Mary wanted to tell you, of course, but I asked her to allow me ...'

It was almost as if he was asking me for her hand or something, and I couldn't suppress a big grin. He seemed discomfited by this response. 'No, no,' I said. 'I'm just so pleased, Rory. For both of you.' I didn't go so far as to say I'd love to have him as an uncle.

'I'm afraid it'll mean letting the hotel go. Mary's very reluctant, understandably, but you know about her heart, don't you? The specialist's told her she must take it easy, and I intend to make sure she does. I, too, will be retiring, from the bench.'

'I see. Anyway, congratulations.' I raised my gla.s.s.

'Yes, well ... it's been a long time for both of us, but it's never too late, Josh, that's the thing.'