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In a state of semi-consciousness between wakefulness and sleep Andrew heard his name being called. A figure stood at the precipice, beckoning him forward. Andrew hesitated. At first he did not recognise the voice or the outline of the person that called to him. The figure beckoned and called again with great urgency. Trepidation and exhilaration coursed through him. For a brief heart accelerating moment he thought it was his father. He took a step closer. The figure morphed. It was his uncle. Andrew's stomach tightened to stone, disappointment hardening to disdain. Colin's eyes were like hot coals burning into Andrew with a shocking intensity. His uncle's expression was one of dread and desperation. Frightened, Andrew turned to run but something caught his shoulder. He shouted as he struck out at the force that sort to tear him backwards. With one frantic and powerful twist he wrenched himself free and in that moment sat up gasping and wrestling with the twisted bedclothes. Relief washed over him as he calmed. It was only a dream.
He fell back to the pillow. Returning gradually to a restful state, Andrew let his mind dance between pondering the dream and interpreting the cause of the shadows that played across his bedroom ceiling. That was intense, he said out loud. Andrew did not often engage in dream analysis but he couldn't help but ask himself. What was that all about? He lay for a few moments more, then turned his head slightly to the side to see the time. It had just gone 3.00am. He rolled back but suddenly was gripped again, his stomach tightened, his breath shortened. The shadows cast by the streetlight outside his room no longer played on his ceiling, the clear shape of a human figure hung motionless on the cyclorama of his ceiling like a cinematic shadow-puppet eyeing its prey.
Andrew lay as still as a hunted animal: his mind processing the situation at a rapid rate. He knew that if he turned quickly he might get a glimpse of who was staring through the partially open blind, but this would lose any advantage he might now hold. Andrew calmed his breathing and waited, the figure moved slightly from side to side as if angling to get a better view. Was this person, he reckoned male, alone or with others? Andrew oscillated: friend or foe, flight or freeze, guile or surprise? For a few moments nothing changed then the figure slowly stepped out of the frame and the shadows danced once more. Stealing his nerves, Andrew swiftly and deftly slipped out of bed. He bunched the covers and pillows as if to appear that he slept if the intruder were to return for further inspection. Had this person heard him call out from his dream he wondered, perhaps that's what had attracted it to the window? But who stalks around a house at 3.00 in the morning? Given recent events Andrew had to assume the worst, this stalker meant to do them harm and Andrew at least had a temporary advantage of knowing that someone was outside his house. He dressed in the hall. Moved past his mother's room into the living room. He froze; senses on hyper alert, straining to detect the threat.
At first, nothing else seemed amiss. Andrew held himself for several minutes. Without thinking about it he had two elements working for him. He'd been well trained in stalking and tracking animals by his father and at this moment that instinct was kicking in. Stillness and surprise are critical to any successful attack. Hunter or hunted Andrew had both. The other element was his strength and agility. Malcolm had encouraged Andrew to develop himself by practicing the subtle arts of Tai Chi and Aikido. The principles of these martial arts manifested in him as he breathed, steadied and considered his options. His capacity to use his physical abilities would not be obvious to an opponent who might at first perceive the slight frame of a young man still in the process of reaching maturity. This perception would inevitably change if any form of combat were to take place.
Andrew prepared himself for this eventuality as he watched and waited, his senses tuned to noises in and outside the house. From where he stood in the shadows of the living room he could see through the kitchen window onto the back deck. To his front he could also see though to the closed-in verandah. To his right coming off the living room was his father's study. He noticed a thin line of light under the closed door. This was strange as he did not remember either closing the door or leaving a light on. Andrew moved carefully and quietly to the door and placed his ear on the painted surface. Someone was in the study. He heard the distinct sound of paper being turned. Then silence. Andrew moved back from the door and into the corner of the room. He had the impulse to squat down into the darkened corner between the wall and the single-seat lounge chair. Andrew knew this as his father's reading chair, the coarse fabric against his skin reminded him of hours spent sitting on the arm being read to as a young boy.
The moment Andrew secured his vantage point the person inside the room turned off the light and opened the door slowly and silently: the door's well-oiled hinges giving testimony to the thoroughness of Malcolm Chesterman's home maintenance policy. Immediately Andrew recognised the silhouetted figure. His uncle Colin left the door ajar behind him and made his way to the front door making as little sound as possible. Andrew noticed he carried something in his left hand but couldn't make out what it was. As Colin opened the door another shape appeared outside. From what Andrew could determine it was the same figure that had stood outside his room. The two men had a brief non-verbal exchange. It appeared to Andrew that the other man had to be satisfied that his uncle had found what he came for, and only then could they leave.
The door closed and the two men left without making a sound. Andrew did not move for several minutes. His dream had been some kind of premonition and now his uncle's strange behaviour over recent days had compounded into actions sinister. What had he taken from the study? Why had he come to the house in the middle of the night? Who was the person that waited for him who had been peering through Andrew's window? Andrew had more questions than answers. The fact that Colin was involved in something clandestine was self-evident. Andrew didn't know the other man. But he could tell from the brief exchange that this person had power or influence over Colin.
Andrew decided it was safe to move again however he wasn't about to take any chances. He moved through the dark spaces of his family home with stealth and caution. He entered the study and closed the door. Andrew decided not to turn on the overhead light, opting for the light on the desk. This would be enough for him to look around the room. He was intrigued to find out what his uncle had taken. Colin had not been too careful in covering his tracks. On the desk was a set of his father's Moleskin notebooks. Andrew had to assume that his uncle had taken one of them and that the notebook contained information important to the man that had waited for him. But what did all this imply? He ran through recent events: a car bomb in his front yard, his uncle Colin's strangeness and tonight's covert behaviour, city detectives showing up in his house, strange gangster types hanging around and all this since his father's disappearance.
Something was very wrong with this picture. He thought for moment, should he call the police? He desperately wanted to begin the quest to find his Dad and the thought of any further delay deeply disturbed him. But he had to consider the well being and safety of his mother and Jenni. He was beginning to feel overwhelmed with the situation when he reasoned that he could not and should not act on his own. He decided to wake the others and tell them everything he'd seen and together they would make a decision.
It didn't take long to wake them. They met in the study and Andrew explained everything he'd seen. There was a strange silence once he finished. Jenni and Andrew both looked at Deidre. She had the expression of someone who'd just received news that confirmed a long held but deeply suppressed belief.
What should we do? Jenni questioned.
Deidre began in a voice of quiet determination. Firstly, she said, as if preparing a game plan. If Colin is involved in what's been happening, and it would seem that he is, then we mustn't let him know that we suspect anything. So if he comes back or shows up later, we tell him nothing. Secondly, we continue as we planned. Thirdly, Jenni, your uncle should know where you are and what's happening. He's been a good friend and I know Malcolm trusts him. I want you to know I feel uneasy that you're caught up in this Jenni. She paused.
Jenni took Deidre's hand; she wanted to reassure Deidre she understood her concern. Mrs. Chesterman you are like family to me and to my uncle. Right now there is nothing else I could be doing and nothing else my uncle would want me to be doing. He knows where I am and that I'm helping Andrew.
She'd explained to Deidre that she'd spoken to her uncle yesterday morning and that he was returning today from the city. She explained that she'd left him a message on the answering machine, which they often did for one another.
For Andrew, watching his mother take charge in this way was a momentary distraction. He'd never seen this side of her. As for Jenni, he was equally struck by her resolve. Both women were purposeful and determined. He admired their courage and strength. Quietly he committed to himself that when this was over he would tell one that he loved her and would remind the other that this was also true.
Deidre continued. With all that's going on none of us are safe, as long as the people that are behind this know where we are, I think we should get what we can together and leave here as soon as possible.
Andrew fought to contain his emotions. Colin's involvement implicated his father. And this pointed to a connection to 'the people that were behind this'. He wondered if it could be true that his father was involved. Andrew began to spiral into a set of 'what if' questions. He felt a dark and bitter anger growing toward his uncle. Colin had always had a reputation for being unreliable and unpredictable. He'd once heard his father refer to Colin as an infuriating maverick. He'd never been sure of its meaning but had been aware of an underlying tension between Colin and his father. If this mess was linked to Colin, Andrew felt the next time he saw his uncle he would explode with rage.
For the first time in his life Andrew began to imagine how he could personally cause grievous harm to another human being. He stopped himself. He needed to stay focused; imagining acts of revenge and rectification would not help his cause. His thoughts were taking him to the brink of a dark and savage place. Was this the precipice in his dream, he wondered? Had he intuitively known that his uncle was connected or involved in his father's disappearance? The thought sickened him. Even more that he had trusted Colin.
He realised that all along Colin must have had some information that might have helped them find his father.
We have to find Colin, he blurted, and we have to find out what he knows. That bastard's involved, I'm sure of it.
Taken aback by Andrew's outburst, Deidre thought for a moment, then responded; Andrew listen to me, I agree that your uncle is most likely into something here that isn't any good. I have to tell you now that there has been a lot of tension between Mal and Colin lately and also between your father and I. Mal wouldn't tell me what it was but I have known in my heart that something has been terribly wrong.
She continued: the people that Colin is involved with could be capable of anything. So we need to be careful. Now, I agree that we need to talk to Colin. I have an idea and I want you to listen to what I am about to say. Deidre was thinking in her feet. But she knew that her instinct to track Colin down and let Andrew and Jenni go look for signs of Malcolm without her was right.
Andrew heard the intensity in her voice. He began to fear what she might say.
Deidre continued: This thing is growing by the minute and for all we know, your father's troubles may be connected. As his wife and as your mother I have to find out for myself. I have to talk to Colin. He'll talk to me and I will find out the truth. I've put off getting involved for too long. This thing with Colin and your father, you know... she paused for a moment, …I should have got involved a long time ago. You two go now. Go and find out what you can.
Andrew began to protest. But the look in his mother's eye stopped him cold. She meant every word and he knew she'd not be dissuaded. Jenni and Andrew would begin their trek without her. That much was clear. She would not rest until Colin had told her all he knew.
Jenni broke the silence. Mrs. Chesterman what do we do if we find something?
Jenni's eyes met Andrew's as Deidre spoke. Bring him home. She said, her voice quavering with suppressed emotion. If you find him…either way… she said, just bring him home.
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