! ! ! ! Alana Woods! ! !

Imbroglio!

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Alana Woods!

Born in England, at four Alana immigrated with her family to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. In 1980 she moved with husband John and their three children to Canberra, Australias national capital, to work with the Commonwealth Court Reporting Service. In 2004 she and John moved to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Much as they enjoyed the sun and living by the sea they missed the family, so are now back in Canberra.! Automaton, a legal thriller, was the first of Alanas novels to be published. It won the Australian Fast Books Prize for Best Fiction in 2003 and was nominated by Sisters-inCrime Australia for the 2004 Davitt Award. The story is fictional but based on Alanas experiences and observations while working in court reporting in Canberra in the 1980s.! Imbroglio, also a thriller, is her second novel to be published.! Alana is currently working on another thriller, Dragline, involving corporate crime, the idea for which came from her experience while working as Director Publishing for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.!

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also by Alana Woods! Automaton! Tapestries and other short stories!

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Non fiction! 25 essential writing tips: guide to writing good fiction! Family medical history!

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Alana Woods 2011!

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.! All characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.!

! ISBN 978-0-9579767-1-9! ! ! !

Cover design by Lisa Hugg! Typeset in 12/15 Garamond! Published by WoodsfortheTrees! Website: http://www.alanawoods.com! First published 2011!

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For my family, for their total support,! but especially, as always, for my husband John.!

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Prologue!
The sound entered his ear, swirled through his brain, flowed, eddied around his groin, and sank to his toes. He felt, rather than heard. A mouth touched behind his lobe and trailed to his shoulder and his nerve ends rippled with it. A sense of silk swept across his chest. Coolness licked and a streak of flame ignited his genitals. A major case of elephantiasis. A hand, too small, smoothed and moved. He tensed. The mouth angled over his chest, his stomach and almost ... almost ... frustration exploded.!

She was back. And a little bolder. Thank God for dreams. Hands and mouth strayed but still would not commit themselves. A repeat performance for both. She touched, he exploded, and oblivion.! Why couldnt he see? Or move? It wasnt fair, giving him the dream and not letting him make full use of it. She was tense. Relax, Im not going to bite. I wish I could. She stretched lengthwise against him, pelvis pressing his hand, leg imprisoning his, the rise of her breast pushing into his bicep and chest. Hand caressing his cheek. She felt good. She smelled good. He could smell. Things were improving.! She left his side to settle on his hips and slow motion warmth sent a spiralling shock to every extremity. His hair stood on end, his teeth clamped. She impaled him to the bed. Her weight shifted. She lifted his head and folded her arms under. Her mouth tested his. He felt her tongue probe while, all the time, her body moved. Her weight eased. His heart thumped around its cage. Cool fingers gripped and guided. She lifted away. No, dont stop! Back again, trying carefully. Perspiration ran like tears from his face and body. He wished he could scratch. He wanted to gulp air and all he could do was lie like a slab. She needed help and all he could do was sweat.! Everything in him was being drawn to one spot. There would be nothing left. Everything except the husk would be in her. And she was a dream. Hed never be able to find himself because she didnt exist. Cant do it. Stop! Fingers caressed and opened his mouth. Then he forgot to be scared as smooth skin brushed his cheek and pressed past dry lips. Creamy firm skin. The sweat was back. So was the sound. He listened. It washed through him. He let her take him.!

If this is punishment for something, God, Ive had enough. Dont let her touch me. Dont touch me! Hands and mouth. That cool burr in his ear but this time he would ignore it.! Come on, gorgeous, I know you know Im here.! Words! He was straining.! Okay, gorgeous ... A whisper. Had he heard it? You can do it. I have every confidence in you. What? She breathed Torture time again into his ear and kissed his palm. Each finger, his wrist, the crook of his elbow, was feted. And then she turned them on herself. He could feel her cheek, her neck. Her breast was perfect. Life would be perfect if he could just move his fingers.! Stubborn, she murmured, raising goose bumps from his chin to his ankles. He was deeper than ever in the dream, acutely sensitive to the least move and touch. Nothing covered him. The thought that he was flat on his back naked to her gaze was erotic in the extreme. She stroked his thighs and blood rose and stained where she had been. She was

teasing. He held his breath waiting to be touched but she teased. Heaven sent hell. Her tongue and fingers traced whorls across his ribs. She was watching. Waiting to see how long it would be before he snapped. Any second if she didnt do something.! She nibbled her way down, hand massaging him to the consistency of glue. Tentatively her mouth wandered. When the tip of her tongue connected the shock lifted him off the bed.! She must have stared for a full minute. He bore holes through closed lids staring back. He could feel every knotted muscle on his drenched body. Softness sucked him in and exquisite intensity flooded out thought. She took an unendurable breath and arching wildly he grabbed her with both hands.!

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1!
A bright light shone in his skull.! David, can you hear me?! He jerked his head and the light clicked off.! David, Im Dr Fryer. How are you feeling?! F ... f ... He tried clearing his throat. It hurt. A glass appeared, along with a nurse to hold it. Cool water. He tried to smile his thanks and croaked, Where am I? Just like the idiots you see on television when its perfectly obvious.! You were in a car accident. Do you remember anything?! The doctor enunciated slowly as though talking to a halfwit. He lay back and closed his eyes, the effort of having his head held tiring. It was swirling. He was confused.! Accident? The memory of night, not being alone, the car swerving off the road, twisting and bouncing. He struggled with the thought and with trying to voice it. There was someone else.! The doctor and nurse exchanged a glance.! A friend?! He thought about it. No.! Another glance.! Im afraid he didnt survive the crash. You were extremely lucky. A passing motorist witnessed the accident and managed to pull you free.! The doctor waited.! Free?! Your car was alight. You received superficial burns to the face and neck but theyve already healed. He added No scarring as though it might be a concern.! The nurse patted his hand. He looked at her and back at the doctor feeling like a three year old.! Thats enough for now. Sleep. Ill be back in the morning.!

He was in a hospital. He tried to think where but his brain was clogged. He couldnt get past the idea of having escaped being burned to death. He must have been unconscious. He could remember being in the car, his head hurting and ... grappling with the wheel. The whole bloody mess flattened him.! He was making a poor attempt at trying to get out of bed when the doctor and nurse from when?entered and pressed him back.! Youre not in any state to get up, Mr Cameron.! I want to leave, he said, resisting, feeling sick.! The nurse clamped his shoulders and the doctor looked over his glasses. Youve been unconscious for six weeks. You wouldnt make it as far as the door.!

His head was whirling again. Six weeks. That cant be right. The whole thing was completely out of hand.! The doctor bent and flicked a light in each eye. He lay slack and let them examine him. Six weeks. He couldnt believe it.! My things ... ?! Here somewhere, the doctor said, straightening. Well, Im pleased. An improvement already. Miraculously no apparent damage. Well do some tests to make sure, but a couple of weeks and youll be ready to go home. Anyone to look after you? You wont be a hundred per cent for a while.! He had to give that some thought. No.! The doctor considered. Well see.! My things?! We stored what you had on you. The police kept what was retrieved from the accident scene.! Police? He wanted the last few months not to have happened.! Road fatality. Theyll be in later to talk to you. Nothing to be alarmed about.! He lay digesting it all. It was difficult. A crash, rescuefortunate for him. There was a pang of satisfaction about the fate of his passenger. And then unconsciousness, for six weeks. He wanted his belongings. He could do without the police, but if they suspected anything they would have been around as soon as he woke, they would have! Sister, he yelled, croaked. Sister. He fumbled down the side of the cot and under the pillows, found the buzzer and kept his thumb on it until a young nurse burst through the door.! She took the buzzer, swept a professional eye over him and found his pulse. Is anything wrong? Are you in pain? She soothed his brow and he closed his eyes. Creamy firm skin. He opened them. What had she reminded him of?! He took a breath. Is anyone outside?! She was puzzled. Outside?! The room. Anyone outside. Wanting to see me.! She glanced towards the door and frowned. Were you thinking of anyone in particular?! The doctor said I couldnt leave. I thought he might have someone on the door.! She laughed. This isnt prison, Mr Cameron. You can sign yourself out any time you want. But unless youve got someone to carry you, you wont get far. She straightened his sheets. Is there anything else?! He rolled his head. Her answer hadnt calmed him. If he was too ill to move they wouldnt think it necessary to guard him. And if he was that ill hed just have to resign himself to whatever eventuated.! He drifted between sleep and waking and some time later noticed a garbage bag on the meal trolley at his feet. Rolling on his side he managed to elbow himself double and stretched. The trolley was on wheels and he pulled it up to where he could lay back down. Shaking, sweating, fumbling, he twisted open the wire tag and emptied the contents. A whiff of smoke. Faded jeans with only a handkerchief in the pockets. A well-worn T-shirt, once white, no motif. Underpants. Scorched sneakers and a black bomber jacket, on a par

with the rest of the gear: singed. Two unremarkable keys the only items in the pockets. No identification. What had happened to his wallet? It took a minute for his pulse to settle.!

He received several visits on that, his first day. Some routine like the physiotherapist who contorted his limbs, tiring him. Then a young nurse rostered to wash him. He wanted a shave, felt untidy, but she refused; his beard had been clipped but his skin wasnt up to facing a razor. That made him ask for a mirror. She obliged without hesitation, which gave him confidence.! See. Nearly as good as new.! Not what he was thinking. Sunken eyes, black brows and lashes, a blade of a nose, black smears of unevenly trimmed beard covering pink skin stretched over high cheekbones. And the brilliance of the blue of his eyes startling himhe had forgotten he owned themstaring out from a Belsen-like face.! Christ. His hair had been getting to the unruly stage before. Now he needed ribbons. It started out from his skull in matted tufts that fuzzed unevenly at the ends. He put his hand to it and looked at the nurse.! If youre up to it tomorrow well wash it.! She came back when his lunch arrived and coaxed him to eat more than he wanted. Scrambled eggs lay like lead in his stomach for the rest of the afternoon. He needed sleep and resented the next intrusion in more ways than one.! A middle-aged and obvious beer drinker wearing a large open-necked short-sleeved pink shirt and a ring of faded hair held up identification and introduced himself. Sorry to wake you. We wont bother you for long. Im Inspector Lucas and this, he rotated a shoulder in the direction of a uniformed figure behind him, is Constable Evans. Constable Evans attended the scene of the accident.! He screwed his eyes in an effort to clear his head and shielded them with his hand. I dont remember much. The car started to burn and someone pulled me out. Or so the doctor said. I dont remember.! The inspector shifted his feet. What about before that? Before the accident. What about the passenger?! He wished for them to disappear. He lifted his hand. They were still there. Constable Evans had a notebook. I was driving. A throb was developing over his eyes. He wanted a lift. I picked him up.! You were on the coast road north.! He let his hand fall. Was I? He gave it a second. North of where?! It had the desired reactiona perceptible softening. Cairns, Mr Cameron. Youre in Cairns.! He let them see him absorb the information. Without emotion, as though past the point of being able to feel he said, He didnt say much. Who was he?! Sydney businessman by the name of Alexander Patton. Up here on holiday from what his office says. Poor bugger. Mercifully he was already dead before the fire got him. The person who pulled you out didnt know that though and wont forget in a hurry.! He must have looked puzzled.! Got herself burnt. First freeing you and putting out your hair !

That accounted for the frizz.! Then trying to free Patton. He hadnt been wearing a seat belt and got thrown around. Ended up in the back and the car was on its roof. She had no hope of getting him out but she tried.! The passing motorist. Was she badly hurt?! Second degree burns to her hands and arms.! Is she here?! Was for a week. Ive got the address of the guest house she stayed in if you want it, but I doubt shes still there and she asked that we dont hand out her home address. The inspector rose on his toes. She was behind you when you veered off the road. Says the car seemed to go out of control, flipped over an incline and rolled until it hit a tree. She followed, pulled you out, then called for help.! It all sounded like it should belong to someone else. Who was she?! Tourist by the name of Noel Valentine. The inspector cleared his throat. What happened to cause the accident?! Ceiling fan blades stirred the air. His nostrils flared, punctuating the breath he drew in. I dont know, he said wearily and, he hoped, convincingly. I cant remember anything between driving and waking up. Im sorry. Maybe a tyre blew, or I hit a rock or something.! The inspector swung his head in a negative. We checked the car and accident scene. Nothing.! When he kept his mouth shut the inspector provided an excuse. Its easy to miss that curve in the dark. Youre not the first to go over.! He lifted his hand palm up, fingers spread. Im sorry. Then, because he was not well enough for a prolonged inspection from a trained eye and wanted to know where he stood said, Id like to fly down to Sydney when I get out of here. Will that be a problem?! The inspector shoved his bottom lip up under his nose and made a smacking noise separating them. No. Its a pity you cant shed any light on things, but if you cant remember, you cant.! His armpits were very soggy.! Lucas retrieved his jacket from the end of the bed. Constable Evans here, Lucas took the envelope that was being held out by his subordinate and laid it on the bedside cabinet, brought along the bits and pieces that were picked up at the scene. Registration papers, your wallet. They mustve been in the glove boxit burst open and what was in there scattered as the car rolled. Hope youre back to normal soon. You know where to reach me if theres anything you can add.!

When next he was sensible the blinds had been drawn against the window and the lights switched on. A plate with a warming lid and glass of milk anchored a tray to the trolley at knee level. He lay looking at them, indulging in a little self pity before hooking the trolley with a knee. A sandwich, left because he had missed dinner. Minced chicken. He thought hed better eat it, drank the milk to push it down and felt worse, if that were possible.! The room was small and his alone. The ceiling was high and the fan kept the air moving slowly, comfortingly. The walls were a very light yellow, or at least he thought so under the fluorescent lighting. The sheet covering him was white, as was the plastic tag circling his

wrist and bearing the information: Cameron, C East. A curtain track hung above the bed with curtains gathered either side. A wardrobe, sink and bedside cupboard on his right completed the furnishings. On the cupboard was a jug of water, tissues, a glass and ... a wallet. He slapped his hand over it, not that there was anyone else around to beat him to it.! He searched the worn leather folds. $63.54 in notes and coins, a scratch lottery ticket, a Cairns hotel registration slip acknowledging receipt for one week, and car registration papers for a Commodore that was of no use whatsoever anymore. No credit cards, no drivers licence. Nothing much to show for his life. The litter sprinkled his chest.! The hotel registration reminded him of another address. He reached for it and held it close to his nose. Noel Valentine, 2 Grove Street.! Later he had his last visitor for the day. The sister who had been with the doctor when he first woke.! Are you awake? she asked softly.! He lifted his wrist from his eyes and grunted. She bent over him, solicitous, friendly.! Would you like a sleeping pill?! He shook his head. She felt his brow and took his pulse.! Sister, he said when she collected her paraphernalia to leave. The woman who helped me. She was here too, wasnt she?! For a week. She had second degree burns to her arms and hands. She came back to Outpatients for another couple of weeks, and to visit you.! Visit me?! She said she felt responsible for you.! Why would she feel responsible? What was she like?! A spontaneous smile widened her cheeks. If youd been awake you wouldnt have to ask.! Nice then?! Her top lip stretched and thinned to show pink gum. Yes.! He struggled up. How often did she come?! The smile tightened and colour streaked into her cheeks. Every day until you regained consciousness. She backed away. Sleep well. Ive got rounds.! She was embarrassed. Why? Why only till then?! She stopped by the door. Like I said. You regained consciousness.! The logic escaped him. But! Mr Cameron, her voice was firm, I have no idea why she hasnt come back. Goodnight.!