McLoughlin saw Kazumi’s eyes drop with sadness. “And your boyfriend drowned?”
“Many people drown, Sergeant Ken.”
“Whatever happened?”
“Two hundred people on a ferry in Hong Kong Harbour when typhoon strike. No warning, Sergeant Ken. Just WHOOSH. In it come. No time to even put up the big black ‘T’ flag that serve as a warning typhoon come. David his name, Sergeant Ken. An Englishman. Civil engineer. He on the ferry when it capsize. So lose him. He good man. He take me to nice places. Say he love me. But at the time I not know if I love him. Later I know I did. He wanted to be lovers. I say no. Not till I know I’m sure.”
“Did you know anyone else who lost their lives at the time?”
Kazumi took a tissue from her handbag and wiped her eyes. McLoughlin could see he’d struck a nerve so he pulled the car into the side of the road and leaned over to her.
“Hey, I’m sorry. Gee I had no idea…”
“You could not know,” she told him, reassuringly. “But I lose my two sisters too.”
“Oh, Jesus!” he cussed, wishing he could withdraw the question.
“Typhoon very strong. It topple many apartments. My two sisters. They upstairs when building collapse on top of them.”
McLoughlin shook his head in dismay. “Good God!”
Kazumi tried to smile. “Long time ago, Sergeant Ken. They say time heal, but I still miss everyone.”
“Yes, I’ll bet you do. And this David man?”
“Nobody as good come along since him, so I not bother.”
“So I have some very big shoes to fill?” McLoughlin asked.
“David. He a good man. But he not make my heart beat like Sergeant Ken.”
McLoughlin looked deeply into her eyes. As he moved his head a little towards her it was all the inducement she needed. Quickly her mouth was upon his and they held together for a very long, lingering kiss. Slowly they drew apart and he told her, “I’m so terribly sorry you have had so much sadness.”
She offered a tiny smile. “Maybe I like Miss Katie. She move on. I try to move on.”
“Yes, she’s a remarkable woman isn’t she?” McLoughlin conceded.
“You think maybe things happen for a reason?” she asked.
“Well, it often gets said doesn’t it?”
“If typhoon not strike, I not meet Mr Paul, Miss Katie’s first man. I only work in this place for one day because of storm damage and Mr Paul, he come in. I cook for him and he tell me he want me to cook for him in Australia. So he bring me to Australia. Then he bring my parents too. They live in Melbourne. Mr Paul. He die. Miss Katie take over club. BOOM. Big fire. Many guns. Mr Gabe, he come. You Sergeant Ken, you come. Now today, I sit here with you.”
“It all does sound very incredible doesn’t it?” he responded, shaking his head. McLoughlin looked around. Where they had pulled over was on the edge of a big reserve. Trees. A small creek. “Would you like to walk for a while?” he asked her.
Kazumi nodded.
McLoughlin held Kazumi’s hand as they wandered off amongst the trees and the bushes. He could see she particularly enjoyed the little creek, so he found an old log and dragged it close to the water’s edge. He bounced it up and down a couple of times to get rid of any ‘nasties’ and sat down next to her.
“I’d like to ask you a question,” he said to her.
Kazumi nodded in reply.
“Are you happy?”
“Oh yes, Sergeant Ken, I happy but empty,” she told him. “Sometimes I feel I flounder about in the uncertainty of my own darkness. I see a word one day. That word is elegy. It is a mournful, musical composition. Sometimes I think my life an elegy. Other days, OK.”
McLoughlin pondered her response, thinking deeply, then, “Is the job OK? I mean are Gabe and Katie good to you?”
“Oh yes, YES, Sergeant Ken. I supposed to be housemaid,” she laughed. “I not housemaid. How can I be housemaid when they say I part of the family. Every birthday they remember. Miss Katie. Sometimes she bring me cup of tea in bed. She tell me anything I want, she pay for over and above what she pay me. Oh Sergeant Ken! That family. There are no words to express my love for them.”
McLoughlin had a gut feeling that was how the young woman would feel. But he enjoyed tremendously hearing it come from her. Again he took her in his arms and kissed her.
“Would you like to go away for a few days?” he put to her, spontaneously.
Kazumi didn’t hesitate. She nodded her head enthusiastically. Concern showed on McLoughlin’s face.
Kazumi looked at him. “You not want me to say yes?” she asked, a puzzled expression following her words.
“Oh, God, yes! Of course I did. But if we go away together, do you want one room or two?”
Kazumi giggled. “Two fires take too much wood,” she told him.
“But don’t you need to be sure?”
“I sure, Sergeant Ken. I sure when I first touch your hand. I think a girl she say, butterflies, they go everywhere.”
McLoughlin laughed. “Well that’s settled. We’ll leave tomorrow.”
“TOMORROW!” She gasped.
“Too soon?”
“Oh not too soon. But Miss Katie…?
McLoughlin put his hands up to her face. “I’ve already checked,” he smiled. “Now. Are we going out through Padthaway?”
“Another day,” she said. “This special moment with special man.”
* * *
After McLoughlin had secured the police vehicle in one of Gabe’s sheds the next morning, he and Kazumi boarded a plane from Mt Gambier to Melbourne. The connection tied in perfectly and after only brief delays, they were on the ground at Brisbane airport. McLoughlin had already arranged a hire car and towards the middle of the afternoon he drove up the entrance of Palazzo Versace, out from Surfers Paradise on Sea World Drive at Main Beach.
With the minimum of fuss their doors were opened and their baggage placed on a trolley and taken into the reception of Australia’s most opulent and luxurious hotel. Built by the family of the late fashion designer Gianni Versace, the $30,000,000 foyer in the complex was highlighted by an enormous antique chandelier that originated from the private home of Gianni. McLoughlin and Kazumi found that just walking into the place was an event in itself.
After checking in, they were taken up to their room. Initially both were overcome by its pure opulence and splendour. Kazumi threw herself into McLoughlin’s arms.
“You have to tell me, Sergeant Ken. Tell me I’m not dreaming!”
McLoughlin looked around the room. “This is the sort of stuff you see on shows like Rich and Famous,” he laughed, still trying to catch his breath. Kazumi felt like she was in fantasyland.
He checked his watch. There were still some daylight hours left. He sat on the end of the bed and held out his hand to her. “Would you like to go out somewhere? Go for a drive?”
She didn’t answer; instead, she dropped down between his knees and looked up at him.
McLoughlin spread his fingers and ran them through Kazumi’s hair, drawing her to him. Kazumi slowly straightened her legs and pushed McLoughlin back onto the bed so she lay directly on top