CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Undo the locks and unbolt the door
Evil will reign no more
The past will make no difference now
Waiting here, I’m thinking how?
How will I start to be?
All things expected of me
I feel it will be a race
Fought at a frantic pace
I know that will be the case
When evil shows its ugly face
Undo the locks and unbolt the door
Evil will reign no more
Jason found himself looking at the words that flowed from the end of his pen. He felt a calming presence within himself although the words were not of his own mind. A voice, deep and loud rang in his head, “Soon I will leave you, you will need me no longer, we will be as one.” Jason stood up quickly, his upper legs catching the edge of the oak desk he was sitting behind, lifting it a few inches from the polished floor. It crashed back down. Tammy played quietly beside him on the floor, drawing pictures on a writing pad with a pencil. She rose and stood beside him unaffected by her father’s behaviour. “Did the old man scare you daddy?”
Tammy looked around, “The old man who was behind you, he comes to see us all the time. He’s gone again now. Don’t be frightened daddy, He’s our friend.”
Jason picked Tammy up in his arms. “You saw someone in here with us, do you understand more than I?”
“Yes, the same old man comes all the time, he sits and watches us. I told mummy about him but she told me I was silly. Do you think I’m silly daddy?”
“No love, I think we are very lucky to have him with us. You can see him and I can feel him. I don’t know who he is, but I know we need him at the moment. It’s our secret, just me and you.”
Jason put Tammy back down. She continued to draw calmly on the writing pad; he opened his diary at today’s page. Fourth of July nineteen ninety five, the last entry he had made was: meeting with mayor Banks, 4.30 sharp, at the mayor’s request. It was 4.25 pm, Jason sat back and waited. As the mayor got closer he sensed the force of evil.
Tammy gave him a piercing glance. "Daddy, a bad man is coming."
Fred Banks drove himself everywhere, he wanted no one overhearing his conversations. Banks was a huge fat man, a full 25 stone. He was so obese that he had no neck and from the front it appeared he was looking over a pile of crumpets with the fat layered beneath his chin. He wore a suit so cunningly tailored it left his hands and face completely naked. His eyes were very close together and huge bushy eyebrows joined in the middle. He was bald but allowed the hair on one side of his head to grow long, then laid it across his scalp to hide the bald area, using lots of hair cream to hold it in place. He was a terribly domineering man. People who opposed him usually ended up out of a job or threatened with violence by some of his underworld friends. Beagle, his male secretary and aid accompanied him. Beagle was a small frail man with poor eyesight. His spectacles were so thick they resembled the bottom of burgundy glasses surrounded by gold rims. Beagle was a whiz with figures and neither of them could lie straight in bed.
Banks bellowed into Beagle’s ear in his usual overpowering manner. “This Jason Brinkly bloke is worth a fortune Beagle. He’s letting us use an eight million-dollar property on the edge of the metro area as a park, That wouldn’t even be pocket money to this guy. People all over Australia, the world in fact loved this guy for his music. With that much money and that much influence I reckon he can help me get to Canberra. Don’t you upset him Beagle or I’ll kick your arse, just agree with whatever he says.”
Beagle frowned. “Don’t you think a long-haired, beer-swilling, drug-taking larrikin would be a bit of a worry to our public image sir?”
Banks exploded. “Beagle!! Haven’t you heard anything I’ve been saying, you flatulent, cloth-eared moron?”
“I get your point sir.”
They pulled up outside the office of Brinkly International. “This guy would never be as smart as his old man Beagle, should be like taking candy from a baby. One negative comment Beagle and we could be in trouble, so let me do the talking.”
Beagle frowned again. “Easy sir, let’s not let things like this come between us. I don’t like the idea of it, I’m worried, and it doesn’t feel right.”
“You heard what I said Beagle.”
Jason’s intercom phone rang. He picked it up; Debbie his secretary announced the arrival of the mayor. Jason asked he be sent in. The door opened and the mayor approached him with his right hand out. Jason shook his hand. “Fred Banks, this is my aid Beagle.” Jason shook Beagle’s flimsy hand. Tammy had stood up staring menacingly at the two men. She looked at her father then sat on his knee keeping her gaze fixed on the two visitors.
“To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?” asked Jason. Beagle was struck with his manner and speech.
Banks raised his eyebrows and smiled. “For the opening of your park to the people of this fine city we live in, I would like you to write a song for the event. We are truly grateful for such an honour. The old convent at the base of our beautiful rolling hills is a wonderful spot and Spartan with history and I feel a song is needed to commemorate the occasion. If you accept perhaps you and I could publicly take on the honour of opening the park. This could be really big, national news. A great help for the coming elections. I don’t know if you are aware Jason, but I have been nominated to run for premiere for the Australian People’s Party. This would do no end for our cause. I was a great friend of your father’s and he was to have run for a seat himself this year, federal seat, was our little secret but I feel you have what it takes to take his place. Am I going too fast for you?”
Jason was silent for a few seconds. “You would like me to write a song for the opening of the park and run for a seat in federal parliament for the Australian People’s Party. Is that what you’re asking?”
“I can arrange nomination and canvas on your behalf for the seat of Parkin in the Adelaide hills. It takes in the area where you live, plus a considerable area of the hills face zone. The party members have already discussed this and are awaiting your response. We had already arranged this with your father prior to his regretful passing. We felt his experience and leadership would be of great assistance to us to gain power.”
Jason interrupted. “To say nothing of his money would you think?”
Banks became unsettled. “Please, Mr Brinkly, the requirement for party donations had never been discussed.”
Jason rose to his feet and holding Tammy in his arms walked to the window, turned and faced them. For the first time Jason and Tammy used their ability to communicate via mental telepathy. With a wide smile he looked at them “Would a beer-swilling, drug-taking, long-haired moron not be thorn in the party’s side?”
Beagle dropped the suitcase he was clutching, coughing nervously. Banks glared at him then spoke. “Jason, your standing as this state’s most prominent musical ambassador is unsurpassed. We hardly feel that is the case or I would not be here. We have looked into this you know. Stepping into your father’s shoes is a bold move; it’s up to you.”
Jason sat back down, Tammy stood beside him holding her father’s arm. “I don’t think you can expect the same direction on anything as regards my father and I. I have a meeting tomorrow with members of my organisation. I will be making a few changes and will put this on the agenda. The song I can guarantee, the other commitment I will get back to you about in the near future.”
“So you will consider it?” asked Banks.
“Yes, now is there anything else you wish to discuss?”
“You are a little different to what I expected Mr Brinkly.” said Beagle.
“Yeah, you get that. Now gentleman, I must get my daughter home for tea.”
They both shook Jason’s hand and headed for the door; Banks spoke on the way. “A little short but most enjoyable and gratifying meeting Jason, hope to hear from you very soon.” They both disappeared into the lift. Jason closed the door.
&nb
sp; “The big man’s a bad man daddy; I didn’t like him.”
“Yes love and he certainly won’t be the last one we find.”
Banks bellowed into Beagle’s ear whilst driving back to their office. “This Jason Brinkly is definitely not what I expected. He could be of more use to us than I thought. He appeared to be smart and he’s rich. Some of his old man is in him by the looks of it. Widowed father looking after his daughter, the public will love it.”
Beagle interrupted. “I had a strange feeling come over me when I met him, sort of; a feeling of enlightenment and well being. He has a powerful presence.”
“You’re right there, I felt scared and intimidated by him. Yes! Just the bloke you want pushing your barrow for you. I want you to chase him up if he’s not back to us in a couple of days. Find out what he likes, try to suck him in. Use the same old trick, get him involved in something dodgy then put the screws on him. If I’m not in Canberra next year Beagle, you’re sacked.”