Stage Fright by Marianne Delacourt

Author:Marianne Delacourt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC000000, book
ISBN: 9781742695044
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2012-08-20T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

I hung around until they were out of sight, then I rang Lloyd Honey. Lloyd was my first-ever client. I’d kinda sorted his love life for him and he seemed to think he owed me some type of debt. He owned an IT business that handled enormous amounts of information: I wasn’t sure exactly how, or who for, but he’d never failed me yet when I needed to know something.

‘Hello, Ms Sharp,’ he answered.

‘Tara!’ We did this dance every time we spoke. He tried to be polite and formal and I countered with something a little more friendly. ‘How are you, Lloyd?’

‘Extremely well. We just got back from an overseas holiday.’

He really did sound good; vibrant, in fact. This, for Lloyd, was outstanding. He was a nice man but he was never . . . vibrant.

‘You sound great!’

‘I’ve got some good news.’

‘Oh?’

‘I’m going to be a father.’

Well knock me down and pick me right on up again! ‘Oh, Lloyd, how wonderful!’ And it was. I just hoped his sexually wayward wife was feeling the same. ‘We should have a celebratory drink when I’m back in town.’

‘Indeed. That would be nice. Now, what can I do for you?’

‘I need to trace an identity. I have a first name and a photo. Is that enough?’

‘Are they Australian?’

‘Um . . . yeah.’ Jeez, could he track people from all over the world?

‘I’ll see what I can do. Can you give me some context Ms . . . Tara?’

‘His name is Harvey and he’d be in his late twenties.

He attended one of my home-run courses on Improving Your Communication Skills. He only gave his first name on the enrolment form. I haven’t seen him in months and he’s turned up in a place I didn’t expect to see him. Not only that but he pretended not to know me.’

‘And you think it might be relevant to the job you’re working on?’

‘Probably not, but I thought it was worth checking. Curiosity at worst.’

‘Hmmm. Did he tell you what he did?’

‘He said he was a public servant. I have a photo from when he did the class. I’ll send it straight through to you.’

‘It might take a few days but I’ll let you know what I unearth.’

‘Thank you, Lloyd. I really appreciate your help. And I’m truly thrilled for you—about the baby.’

‘As am I. Goodbye, Ms—goodbye, Tara.’

‘Bye.’

I hung up and searched through my photos until I found the one I was looking for: a group shot with Wal, Harvey, Enid and me. It was a tad blurry but I’d kept it as a reminder of my first-ever paying gig in my new business. I attached it to an email and sent it to Lloyd, then I stood for a moment and contemplated the idea of dear Lloyd and his narcissistic and promiscuous wife becoming parents. I guess the baby had half a chance at least. Better than many.

A group of teens dressed up for clubbing bumped past me and jogged me into real time. The mall was rocking out now, people everywhere, in the outdoor cafés, music blaring from Ric’s.

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