Everything to Lose (17 page)

28

Southsea
,
Hampshire

Gavin Shawlens sat in his silver Honda Civic car and grew more and more frustrated. He had arranged to meet Tyler Wattsin at 7.00 p.m. in the car park of the Old Bards Club, at the end of Elm Grove, Southsea. While he waited he tried to reset the car digital clock, which had lost more than two minutes.

Doggedly
he tried numerous sequences of buttons on the dash audio system to try and change the time on the clock. The car manual was in the glove compartment but he gave up in frustration. He picked up his newspaper and resumed work on a crossword.

After
sixteen minutes of watching patrons and their cars come and go in the car park Gavin checked the time and prepared to leave when Tyler opened the passenger door and slipped into the seat. He offered a lame excuse for being late.

Gavin
caught a blast of halitosis from his breath as they faced each other. There are six hundred types of bacteria in the average mouth. Tyler's bacteria were working double shifts to produce the foulest smell. Tyler wore the same shell suit he had on each occasion Gavin had met him or seen him around the University.

In
the confined space of Gavin's car Tyler's body odour quickly asserted itself. Gavin guessed rotten socks cooking in sweaty trainers plus strong meaty underarm sweat had produced a pungent cocktail. From the sweat dripping from his brow he'd been running. Even the obnoxious halitosis retreated into the background.

"What's
the point of crosswords?" Tyler said looking at Gavin's crossword.

"Have
you ever tried one?"

"No
way man. Mega boredom alert."

"Try
it. Try this one. Four down, name of an area in north America, where most people speak French, six letters?"

"Don't
know it."

"Begins
with Q," Gavin encouraged.

"Cuba?"

"How did you pass the University's entrance requirements?"

"Man
I'm like, a special case, I didn't need exams. I'm doing like, a social inclusion access programme thing, because I'm like, disadvantaged. S'what the old weird woman said anyway."

"I
can see that. Okay, better tell me about Oliver's aunt."

Tyler
said Oliver Mansole's aunt owned the Old Bards Club. Her name was Mrs McVickin. It was a substantial members-only pub and restaurant with a large well-lit car park. The car park was three quarters full with good quality cars, which Gavin took to mean well respected and popular. Gavin noticed a large old-looking factory building attached to the back of the Club.

Gavin
thought the factory would be a perfect place for Oliver Mansole to hide out. Gavin planned how he would convince Oliver's aunt to let him meet Oliver. He relished the thought Zoe would be pleased with his detective skills if he met and questioned Oliver Mansole.

When
they left Gavin's car they walked off in opposite directions. Gavin headed for the front entrance, Tyler headed for the rear. Gavin stopped and called Tyler to ask where he was going. For a few seconds Tyler hesitated then hurried to catch-up with Gavin. Tyler confessed that Mrs McVickin was a hard woman with a hatchet face who didn't tolerate fools and he gave an exaggerated facial expression to mean himself.

The
front of the Club was an impressively decorated rectangular building with a main entrance in the centre. When they entered the building they were met by a smartly dressed doorman checking Club memberships, dinner reservations and 'acceptable' patrons for the bar. He smiled and shook his head at Tyler. The doorman was over six foot with Mr Universe muscles filling his suit to capacity.

Tyler
told the doorman that Lisa McVickin was expecting Dr Gavin Shawlens. The doorman used his hand-held walkie-talkie to speak to the office. Two minutes later a sprightly young woman in a trim eye-catching bar staff uniform of white short-sleeved shirt, black bow tie, dark wine-coloured waistcoat and black knee-length skirt arrived and invited Gavin to follow her. She had a strong and smooth Polish accent. She told Tyler there was a drink waiting for him around the back and he scampered out the front door.

The
restaurant on the left-hand side was busy with well-dressed waiters and waitresses attending tables. Gavin glimpsed some appealing food on trays that swept past him. Many guests were chattering, laughing and enjoying themselves. It was a good atmosphere and Gavin felt safe and secure.

The
smell of good food stimulated his digestive juices and an involuntary licking of his lips. He followed the Polish woman as she turned right towards the bar and almost diagonally across the bar to a small office in the corner.

The
bar was quieter and the atmosphere more reserved with people having a drink before their meal. Gavin's attention was drawn to dance music beyond the bar. He looked through a large door opened by a barman for a waiter carrying a large tray of empty glasses. He saw a large dark room with four female pole dancers on a stage gyrating under a very large slowly rotating mirror ball. The room looked very busy.

The
office door was open. Inside a woman and two large men were deep in conversation. The Polish woman introduced Gavin Shawlens to Lisa C McVickin and her brothers. Identical twins Jim L McVickin and Jamie T McVickin. The Polish woman asked Gavin Shawlens if he would like anything to drink. He saw that the McVickins weren't drinking so he declined. She returned to the bar.

When
they sat down Lisa apologised for not allowing his grubby friend into the restaurant. Gavin explained that Tyler was one of his students and not a friend. He agreed that the sight and smell of Tyler Wattsin would put anyone off their meal. The four of them seemed happy to have got over that minor difficulty. Gavin looked out to the bar and complimented them with his favourable impressions of their Club.

Lisa
McVickin was forty-five years old and no more than five foot five inches tall with a rich looking blonde mid-neck length bop and dark-rimmed glasses. Dwarfed by her younger brothers who were over six foot she was nevertheless a dominating figure of a woman.

She
was overweight with a puffy round face but carried it well except that her neck skin formed a solid turkey wattle under her chin. She carried a walking stick to help push up from chairs and settees although she didn't need it for walking.

As
head of the McVickin family she was sharp-eyed, confident and dressed in a dark blue tailored dress with a gold necklace and matching earrings. Half a dozen gold bangles on her wrist jangled and tinkled when she used her hands to emphasise a point.

Since
her twenties Lisa McVickin had been pivotal in providing smart counsel for her family and they had complete faith in her. Everything she had done for the family businesses had worked out very well. The McVickins were very wealthy.

She
took control shortly before her father died from cirrhosis of the liver caused by continuous hard drinking. Before her rise to head of the family she had been less glamorous, frumpier with dumpy fat legs. In those days she glared at people with her beady raven-like dark eyes made more unsettling by thick glasses. She wore baggy clothes, school-type shoes, cheap makeup and did her own hair.

Lisa
was always a demanding force in the family. Her younger brothers were happy when she became the family boss. Now Lisa looked high class with coloured, coiffeur-styled hair and a top fashion wardrobe. She was a ferocious and intimidating businesswoman likely to breathe fire if she didn't get what she wanted.

Both
Jim and Jamie McVickin were large muscular men with broad shoulders who worked out regularly. They both shaved their heads bald to have the Bruce Willis look, wore near identical expensive hand tailored suits but different shirts and ties.

They
both had striking blue eyes and impish smiles. Expensive watches and gold wrist chains defined their wealthy background. Their good looks, good clothes, top cars and money attracted many female admirers. Neither of them was married.

Lisa
took control of their upbringing from their early teens. She kept them off alcohol and drugs so they were always smart, alert and intimidating. She decided how they would lead their lives and the jobs they would take.

Jamie
with more brawn than brain learned the ropes in the family business as a bouncer and doorman. When he was ready Lisa helped him built and manage a group of thirty-eight heavies for personal, door and major venue security known as JamVic Security Ltd.

No
criminals in their right mind would consider any transgression at an event covered by JamVic Security. Local police regularly commended JamVic Security for ensuring low levels of crime at clubs and venues under their security management.

Jim
was much smarter and Lisa shaped his career in a different direction. She made major sacrifices at critical points in his development to ensure his success and rapid promotion in a system rewarded by high profile victories that she created for him.

Lisa
got down to business. Gavin listened and watched her face. Her deadpan look and cold gravelly voice intimidated him. Tyler told the McVickins Gavin was looking for Oliver and Lisa told Gavin that she and JimJam as she called her twin brothers were looking for Oliver. Gavin had primed himself ready with questions he wanted to ask but he soon realised he was being interrogated.

"Do
you like my stick?" Lisa asked when she noticed Gavin shifting his eyes from her to look at it.

"I'm
trying to remember the name of it."

"It's
a Banksia," Lisa said.

"Joseph
Banks. It's a beautiful nut," Gavin said.

The
handle on Lisa's stick was a large Banksia nut named after Joseph Banks one of the botanists on Captain James Cook's ship Endeavour that arrived in Australia in 1770. The handle was four inches long and two inches thick and set on a solid hazel stick with a tapered gold tip. Banksia nuts are very hard, solid and easily worked to produce a deep shine on a dark brown surface. She told Gavin the stick had passed from her grandfather to her father to her.

Jim
McVickin took over and told Gavin that Oliver was close to their family. Oliver had taught the brothers judo and helped train all of Jamie's security men in self-defence. Jim said Oliver used their dance hall as a venue for juniors and seniors judo clubs. The clubs were popular and well supported by many of the Club members and their children. He pointed to some trophies displayed on the wall. They agreed among themselves it was not like Oliver to leave these clubs without a coach.

Then
Lisa McVickin, looking impatient, cut in and aggressively demanded to know what business Gavin had with Oliver. Her tone was accusing as if Gavin had something to do with Oliver's disappearance. Gavin felt threatened and realised the story Tyler had told him about Oliver's aunt wasn't true.

Gavin
explained he was a biochemist recently arrived at the University. He told them Oliver had been designated to assist him in his laboratory. Although employed as a Sports Biology technician Oliver originally trained as a chemistry technician. They were supposed to work together.

Lisa
seemed to calm down and asked Gavin if Oliver had done something wrong at work or was in trouble with the University. Gavin reassured her that there were no problems. Staff at the University were concerned Oliver was not at work. Gavin sensed they didn't know where Oliver was and they desperately wanted him back.

Gavin
and Lisa realised they had been duped. Tyler had told each of them that the other probably knew where Oliver was hiding. Lowlife like Tyler will say anything for a handout Lisa said. Lisa stood up and walked away. Gavin was not sure if she was away to fetch something and would be back so he continued speaking to the brothers about the judo clubs.

When
Lisa didn't return he exchanged telephone numbers with Jim McVickin and they agreed to call each other if there was any news about Oliver Mansole. Jim walked Gavin to the front entrance and apologised for his sister's sharpness.

Jim
joined Jamie and Lisa in the Club security office. On one wall there were ten CCTV monitors. The three of them gathered around the car park CCTV to watch Gavin Shawlens get into his car.

"A
biochemist indeed. I'll have him thank you very much," Lisa said.

She
turned to Jim and said.

"Make
it happen tomorrow."

"Tomorrow
I'm in court all day. I've got to ...," Jim reacted.

"There's
a golden opportunity here and I'm not going to let it pass me by. He's a proper scientist. I want him. Do it!"

Lisa
tapped his upper arm with the Banksia and gave him a look that said
don't
you
dare
let
me
down
.