I'Ve Got You (19 page)

‘I'm in heaven,' she said, looking out at the magnificent vista from under the dappled shade of the pergola.

‘Good to hear.' Kabe leaned over and kissed her; he tasted of sweet berries.

Belle wondered what had happened to Lexie and Dan. Marilyn was most likely resting after a few hectic days away and a late night. She shrugged and sipped her coffee.

‘Fuck!' Kabe growled. ‘Jesus!' He stared at page three of the
Whitsunday Gazette
.

Belle hurriedly opened the
Luna Bay News
. On the first page, it showed a photo of Kabe kissing her outside the lingerie shop. The caption stated,
The Damsel Hunter SAVED!
Underneath in smaller print:
In Distress?
Libellous lies followed about Kabe saving her, just to get his hands on Butterfly Island:
An island that should surely go to a more worthy company, such as Eagle Ray Resorts, known for their conscientious involvement in looking after the environment. The same Eagle Ray Ms Belle Fabrini once worked for. Is there a conflict of interest? Is she playing one against the other? One fact is sure, Mr Travers' fiancée plays hard.'

Belle screwed up the paper and let out a scream. ‘I've never been his girlfriend let alone his bloody fiancée!'

Kabe shoved his chair back and gathered her in his arms, holding her tight. She began to shake; she hated that she was falling apart over these vicious lies.

Kabe cupped her face, and growled, ‘They're not going to use you to get to me. Doing that, they've just bought themselves a load of grief.'

Marilyn walked into the main patio wearing a flowing, colourful silk caftan. ‘Good heavens, what's going on?'

‘The papers,' Kabe motioned with a sideways nod.

‘Not the usual rubbish.' Marilyn reached across the table for a paper and sank into a padded chair. ‘What've they got?' she asked no one in particular as she began to scan the pages. Her expression soon set in grim, determined lines. Disgusted, she threw the paper aside just as Kabe brought her a coffee. Marilyn thanked him. Staring out to sea, perhaps considering their options, she quietly took a sip, and then, with care lowered her cup to its saucer. Awestruck, Belle watched as Marilyn controlled her rage before swinging her focus back to them. Slowly, and with great deliberation, she continued, ‘They still haven't learnt anything from their last fiasco, when Greg Travers tried to get hold of White Sails. I bet you anything, Eagle Ray are behind this, and whatever's going on with Mario. So far, he's outwitted them.' A crafty smile played on her elegant face, and Belle thought she'd never want to be on the wrong side of Marilyn Hunter. ‘But we won't let them!' Her tone was determined, her face fierce with a look that would surely make the strongest man buckle at the knees.

‘Good morning,' Lexie called cheerily, as she walked in from the garden.

‘Hi all,' from Dan as he came out of the kitchen, his plate stacked with bacon, eggs and toast. He scanned everyone at the table and asked. ‘Who died?'

‘What's going on?' Lexie wanted to know. Marilyn handed them the newspapers. ‘Oh shit!' Lexie turned the pages. ‘Shit!'

‘
Fuck!
' Dan's whisper was venomous, as he crumpled the paper and looked straight at Kabe. ‘Not letting them get away with this—are you?'

‘No, mate,' Kabe growled.

‘Okay,' Marilyn announced, ‘I'm going to ring our solicitor, Barry Ainsworth, and get him to contact the paper. He can officially state, if they don't retract the photos and defamatory text we
will
sue and that will cost them. I know it feels like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted,' Marilyn said to Belle, ‘And I'm afraid we'll have to confront Greg Travers.' She re-read a section of the article. ‘It says here, Greg Travers claims Kabe Hunter lodged a plan for a resort on Butterfly Island. It's waiting for an okay from council. I won't read the rest, it's all slander.' She smiled, one of those half smiles with an accompanying deadly look that meant she was going to relish payback. ‘Meanwhile, we have to put our heads together and come up with a comprehensive plan to expose them all.'

‘I think we should include Pop,' Belle told them. ‘We're seeing him today anyway.'

‘That's a good idea,' Marilyn said. ‘And I'm still coming along. Except now as someone with legal expertise. Mario is still the unknown in all this. I think he's been living under a pressure for too long. The sooner we find out what he's hiding the better.'

‘What about your parents?' Kabe asked Belle.

She turned to Lexie. ‘What do you think?'

‘There's no point in getting them all worked up. I say talk to them after we have all the facts, and a plan.'

‘I agree,' Belle said to Kabe.

‘I'll get food organised,' Dan said, wolfing down a sandwich of bacon and eggs as he jogged into the kitchen.

‘Belle, Lexie, pack a few essentials for an overnight stay,' Kabe said and turned to his mother. ‘Mum, bring a jacket or something.'

‘Honestly, sweetheart, I'm not a child, next thing I know you'll be asking if I need to use the loo before we leave.'

He gave her a pained, contrite expression and said, ‘Sorry, do you?'

Marilyn laughed and gave him the finger.

Belle snort-giggled and, head down, ate her pancakes. Lexie roared laughing and moved off to help herself to breakfast.

They'd almost finished breakfast when Dan came out; eyes big, brows raised, he said with a backward nod to Kabe, ‘There's a radio call for you.'

‘Thanks, Dan.' Kabe pushed back his chair, and disappeared into the house.

Dan went back into the kitchen and came back juggling a couple of camp coolers and a huge basket. He set them down on the patio near the path leading down to the jetty.

Belle glanced at Lexie and Marilyn. ‘Anyone besides me feeling nervous?'

Before they could answer, Kabe jogged out of the shadows. ‘That was Mario.' He hitched a thumb towards the house. ‘He's had visitors.'

Belle could tell by his tone that something was very wrong. ‘God, is Pop okay?' She studied Kabe's face. ‘Why didn't he ask for Lexie or me?'

‘Mario's fine, he's just angry and didn't want to worry you so he asked for me, and …' Kabe shrugged. ‘His words: “If I was talkin' to the girls I'd be on the hooter for ages.” And then he signed off.'

‘Let's make a move, and see what it's all about.' Marilyn's voice sounded concerned, and angry.

* * *

As soon as Dan moored the launch, they all clambered off onto Mario's jetty.

‘Mario!' Marilyn called out, one hand shading her eyes, the other waving happily.

‘G'day, Lyn. This is a nice surprise.' Mario chuckled.

‘You're looking dangerously well,' Marilyn said, walking into his open arms.

Mario kissed her cheek. ‘Ah, you're such a liar,' he said, grinning ‘
Bella dentro e fuori
.'

‘Italian, Mario!' Marilyn exclaimed.

‘
Sì, mia bella
. You have to keep the brain active at my age.' Mario ambled over and hugged Belle and Lexie. ‘Ah, my girls, a sight for sore old eyes.'

‘Pop, we've been worried. Who was here, was it Greg?' Belle asked.

‘Yeah, Pop, who were they?' Lexie demanded.

‘I'll explain. Come on, let's get to the house for some refreshments first,' Mario said, then greeted Kabe and Dan with a wave. ‘You didn't waste any time gettin' here, and everyone's got somethin' on their feet. Good, this time of day the sand's bloody hot.'

They made their way up to the house, Kabe and Dan bringing up the rear with the camp coolers.

Stopping on the veranda, Mario pointed to the kitchen and told them to store their gear in there. Belle led Lexie and Marilyn to the veranda, where they could enjoy the cool sea breeze. Kabe, Dan and her grandfather returned with cold drinks: a mixture of lime, ginger, carrot and pear juice over crushed ice.

Belle took a sip. ‘Hmm, delicious, Pop.'

‘Good, it's a little experiment of mine,' Mario said, rubbing his hands before resting them on the arms of his chair. ‘Let's get the nasty stuff out of the way. Marilyn, I'm glad you're here. I need your expertise as a lawyer. I'll pay of course—'

‘Oh no—don't even think about it.' Marilyn shook her head, her tone final.

‘Thank you. Perhaps there's something I can do for you sometime.'

Marilyn smiled and nodded. ‘I'll write a list,' she said, and laughed.

Belle loved the way Marilyn laughed: full, earthy, suggesting she was a strong and spirited woman. The more time she spent with Marilyn, the more she could see where Kabe's mannerisms and quiet strength came from.

‘Okay,' Mario began. ‘My conversation with Kabe this morning didn't last long, he knew exactly who'd come by—Greg Travers—never did like that weasel,' he muttered, and then turned to look at Kabe. ‘What you don't know is, there was another bloke with him. Some sort of stiff-as-a-pole legal beagle.'

‘Pop,' Belle began, worriedly, ‘I'm so sorry.'

He shook his head, and he said, with emphasis, ‘Not a bit of it is your fault, sweetheart.'

Belle placed a hand over her grandfather's and looked at him. ‘Why does Greg think he has a chance at getting your island? Many have tried before. Why is it different now? Is it because you've left it to Lexie and me?'

Mario dropped his head for what seemed like an eternity to Belle. Everyone waited patiently. Except for the rustle of leaves, birdcalls and wavelets breaking along the tiny bay, there wasn't a sound. Mario straightened and, eyes filled with pain, told them what had happened.

‘I had my money tied up in investments, and for a while it was good, the dividends paid for everything. I lived comfortably in Luna Bay and occasionally spent weekends here on Butterfly.' Mario's brown eyes cut to Belle then Lexie. ‘My investments took a hit during the financial crisis. I'm still trying to recover.'

‘Pop!' Belle and Lexie cried out.

‘Is that why you rented out your cottage?' Belle asked.

He gripped their hands and shook his head. ‘I had enough left to make myself comfortable here and the rent pays for my outgoings.'

‘I'm so sorry, Mario. But why are you here at all?' Marilyn asked. ‘You always enjoyed socialising, and getting involved in the community. Trivia night at the pub was one of your favourite pastimes.'

‘Taxes,' Mario muttered.

‘Pardon?' Marilyn asked, frowning. ‘Greg Travers tried the same with White Sails. He was desperate to buy the whole lot, our homes, the jetty, and the business. Admittedly, we were having difficulties with the land tax department at the time, but they were at fault not us. Greg did everything to get us to sell. I'm sure he would've sold it on to Eagle Ray for a tidy profit.'

Belle swung around to look at Kabe. ‘Why didn't you say anything?'

‘What's the point of giving you further crap to worry about?' Kabe shook his head. ‘It wasn't long after we started White Sails. Like any small business, it took a little while to build a name for ourselves. Land tax seems to be Greg's favourite scam.'

‘He informed me tax for an island, even this size, is something I couldn't afford anymore,' Mario put in.

Belle squeezed her grandfather's hand.

Lexie turned to look at him, took his other hand in both of hers, and said, ‘Oh Pop, why didn't you say something?'

‘I didn't
want
you girls or your Mum and Dad to worry about this—at all,' he said sternly. ‘Unless I find a solution, I'm leaving you a financial burden rather than an asset. I can't do that to you. At the moment, I've fixed it the only way I can, by making Butterfly my primary home.'

‘You can't keep this from your son, your only child,' Marilyn put in. ‘When Tony finds out, he'll be angry. And Anna too. Your daughter in-law loves you. Why do you think they fought so hard to get you back on the mainland?'

‘They want to put me in a retirement home where I'll dry up and fall asleep head first in my oatmeal.'

Marilyn gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Mario, I bet it was a joke. I can't see them doing that, knowing how much you'd hate it.'

‘Anyway, I can't see a way out,' Mario muttered. ‘I
have
to stay here. It's the only way.'

‘That's not true, Mario, there are exemptions,' Marilyn stated firmly. ‘I think you have a valid reason not to have to pay taxes.' Eyes welling, Mario stared at her. ‘I can put in the application for you and see to it. It
will
be fine.' She paused in thought before continuing. ‘So that's why these goons have been sniffing around to the point of harassment. Have they offered you money to allow you to pay your taxes, late fines or whatever? As compensation you'd have to allow them to lease and build on part of the island?'

‘Yep, that's exactly it. But that's not all … they showed me plans with Kabe's name on them. Said he intended to marry Belle and Dan would marry Lexie. They would use my beautiful girls to get to build here.'

‘What?!' Lexie squeaked, outraged.

Dan tried to make light of the so-called plan, and wiggled his eyebrows at Lexie. She glared at him. He slapped a hand over his chest in mock suffering.

Mario looked at Dan and continued, ‘You may joke, but that's what they tried on me. Of course, I didn't believe a bloody word.' Mario's eyes settled on Kabe's, and stayed locked with his for what seemed like an eternity to Belle. Then agreeing on whatever the hell they saw, the two men gave each other a barely perceptible nod.

‘Same here,' Dan ground out, deadly serious now.

It must be a man thing
, Belle thought. It didn't matter, it was positive, and Belle's tension eased.

Marilyn cut through the heavy silence: ‘Mario, we've been friends for
many
years, I wish you'd confided in me. In future, anything legal—no wait, anything worrying you at all—for goodness sake tell the girls, or me.'