CRYSTALLINE - 36. Welcome Home

Carol was warmly welcomed by all, at a gathering in Jonathan’s office. When Smidmore delivered her home, Jonathan gave Smidmore a “Well done old man” and a slap on the back.

“Thank you Jonathan, always willing to help”

“But where is Dante?” asked Thomas

“I expect to have him home tomorrow. Being on remand we need a court order to rescind the ruling, and the police have already lodged their application. It’s only a formality, so I don’t expect any delay”

“How did you convince the cops to release both?” asked Jonathan

“Gentle persuasion, sound legal argument, and...” he lowered his voice to almost a whisper “...I may have banged on the desk a few times”

“Good man, whatever it takes”. Jonathan then looked at Lachlan and asked “What does a man have to do to get a drink around here?”

Those who were not on direct guest service duty, partied on through the afternoon. When Cook asked to be excused to start on dinner, Jonathan replied “Talk to the youngins around here and find out about these new fangled food delivery services I’ve heard about. No one will be slaving over a hot stove tonight”

***

The following day Dante was released and Jonathan sent Thomas and Lachlan, in a stretch limo, complete with bar, to collect him from the prison.

On that particular day there were media outside the prison waiting for the arrival of a bishop, previously convicted of sexual child abuse, and sentenced that day. The arrival of the limo caught their attention so it was photographed and microphones thrust at Thomas and Lachlan as the chauffeur opened the car door and they alighted from the vehicle.

“Are you here to collect a high profile parolee?”

“Is he a member of an outlawed motor cycle gang?”

“What is his name?”

“What was he convicted of?”

“Can you tell us who sent you?”

“How long has he been in prison?

“Are you from the Catholic church?”

“Do you have any comment?”

The chauffeur protected his clients as best he could by fending off the media and shepherding his clients to the prison gate. When Dante came through the gate he was photographed many times and his image pasted into search engines as well as being sent back to the media offices for identification.

While the media was puzzling over this, the prisoner transport van arrived and the media attention turned to jumping up to get am image through the van windows.

The limo drove off, as all the occupants laughed rollickingly and the chauffeur smiled into the rear vision mirror.

“Help yourself to the bar gentlemen, we have about an hour’s drive”

When they stopped laughing, Thomas gave Dante a hug and a kiss, while Lachlan poured drinks. As he placed the drinks in the holders, he said “My turn for a hug, good to have you back Dante”

“Thanks guys, didn’t expect all this. I feel more like a movie star than an ex-con”

Another peel of laughter, then “It was Jonathan’s idea” replied Lachlan “When it comes to family, Jonathan doesn’t hold back”

“Who did the press think I was?” asked Dante

“I don’t think they knew, but judging by the questions they thought you must have been some high profile crime boss”

“Hope I don’t appear on the evening news”

Laughter ensued again.

***

When they arrived, there were welcome back drinks for Dante and any staff not on duty.

In the evening Jonathan held a private dinner with Lachlan, Dante and Thomas. After dessert, Lachlan announced there would be some special entertainment. He then made a quick call and shortly afterwards, Yashuki arrived.

“Our resident magician has a new act.” Lachlan said “And wants to try it out on us first”

“I look forward to this” said Thomas.

“Ok Yashuki, over to you” said Thomas.

“Thank you all. I want to make this premier performance of my new act, a welcome home gift for Dante. You might remember a few weeks back I did a trick where I stripped to my pants and invited a member of the audience to participate in proving I did not hide anything in my clothing. Now I would like to take that act one step further”

Yashuki removed his shirt and stood there, wearing only black pants and said “This is where my act finished before, now for the finale. I expect at this stage the audience will be asking me to strip further and I will oblige”

He signalled to Lachlan, who started appropriate music, then Yashuki did a few sexy moves and some pelvic thrusts, concluding with removing his pants in one swift move, thanks to Velcro.

He was left wearing a small G string with a cord hanging from each side. “I need a volunteer, how about you Mr P?”

“Happy to” As Jonathan stood he asked “What do I have to do? You’re not going to make me disappear, are you?”

“Not you, just your watch and wallet...just kidding, I want you to look into my G string and tell us what you see, apart from the obvious”

Jonathan gleefully pulled open the G string, peered inside and said “Other than an enviable set of cock and balls, nothing else”

“Good, now tweak my nipples”

“I like this trick” said Jonathan, as he did as requested.

“So, did you feel anything besides flesh?”

“No, perfectly normal nipples”

“Excellent, now take this black cloak, pass it around and check if there is anything hidden”

After all had checked it, Jonathan returned it to Yashuki, who span it into the air, like pizza dough and stepped under it as it fell and completely covered him. A few seconds later, Yashuki stepped from beneath the cloak and stood hands on hips before his audience.

The four took a collective breath when they noticed Yashuki was now completely naked except for nipple rings and a cock ring.

They applauded, and Lachlan said “That should wow an audience, but I don’t suppose you’re going to reveal how you do it?”

“I might if you do me one favour”

“Anything” replied Lachlan.

“Please take the cloak and cover me with it”

Lachlan did as Yashuki requested, but instead of the cloak hanging over Yashuki, it fell to the ground where Yashuki had been standing.

“Where the fuck did he go?” asked Jonathan, as he lifted the cloak off the floor and found only a note which said “I shall appear later when you wish me to”

“What does that mean?” asked Dante

“I don’t know” replied Thomas “But let’s toast to a very clever man and he might reappear”

<>

After dinner the two couples said goodnight and retired to their rooms.

As Jonathan and Lachlan climbed the stairs, Lachlan said “That was a great act of Yashuki’s, but had a strange ending. Disappearing magicians are not new, though unfathomable by me how they do it. But he left us with some sort of promise of something to come”

“I guess we’ll find out in time” concluded Jonathan.

“How about we go over to his room and see if he’s there?” asked Lachlan.

“I’m tempted but that might spoil his surprise”

“You’re probably right” replied Lachlan “But I’ve got a surprise for you. Andy sent over a new style of cock ring for me to try. It’s a sort of puzzle ring that you have to remove, if you can”

“And if I can’t?”

“Then I will have a permanent erection”

“Did I tell you my puzzle solving skills are quite frankly...rubbish”

<>

Thomas and Dante had much the same conversation as they walked across the garden to the garage.

“It’s so good to have you back” said Thomas as they reached the bottom of the stairs to their flat.

“And great to be back, did you miss me?”

“Of course”

“Did you think I was guilty?”

“Not of Patrick’s death”

“That sounds like you might think I was guilty of something else”

“You are”

“And what would that be?”

“I think you know”

“No I don’t, tell me” asked Dante as they reached the door to their flat.

“I’ll let you think about it for a while and then you can tell me. I don’t want to accuse you” concluded Thomas.

“Ok, it seems Yashuki isn’t the only Mr mysterious” said Dante, as he opened the door and switched on the light. “Are you ready for bed, or do you want a nightcap?” he continued.

“Let’s go straight to bed, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do in the office tomorrow. I’ve slacked off a bit while I was so worried about you”

Dante took Thomas’ hand, lead him to their bedroom, turned on the light and exclaimed “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“That’s not a very nice greeting after all the work I’ve done to impress you with my magic” replied a naked Yashuki, sitting cross-legged on the bed.

“Sorry, it was just a shock to see you here...oh I get it, this is the final part of your trick, very good”

“Not quite” added Thomas “Yashuki can make many things disappear, including pain and guilt”

“I don’t understand”

“While you were away on your enforced vacation, Yashuki made my pain disappear with his magic fingers. He’s really great at massage”

“And the guilt bit?”

“That’s where you come in. Have you thought over what I said earlier, because if you haven’t then you might disappear from my life”

“You know don’t you, about Yashuki and I?”

“Yes, but you have to admit it and thereby make your own guilt disappear”

Dante looked at Yashuki, accusingly, then slowly turned towards Thomas and said “I’m sorry for keeping it from you, but...”

Thomas put up his hand to stop Dante’s further explanation, then after a few seconds, burst out laughing. He was then joined by Yashuki, while Dante looked confused as his eyes darted back and forth between the other two.

Dante sat on the bed to work out what was happening and noticed something had changed. “Hey this is a new bed. What happened to our old bed, this is a king size”

“I can’t have one of us rolling out and falling onto the floor during the night” explained Thomas.

***

The following morning, Thomas approached Cook and said “Good morning Cook, what a wonderful day it is”

“I suppose so...oh I see what you mean, Dante’s back, Carol’s back and Mia’s on her way back”

“Yes, all of that and more”

“Of course all is well here again. Now will Dante be joining us for breakfast or did you come over for a tray breakfast? You want to spend more time together, just the two of you, right?”

“Yes, I mean no...that is Dante is coming for breakfast, but I came to ask you to prepare for one extra. Yashuki will be joining us”

“But he usually eats in the Villa staff room”

“Not anymore, he’ll be dining at this table from now on”

“At the risk of sounding like a red-headed politician from Queensland, please explain”

“You know how you sometimes say, good things come in threes”

“Yes, but what has that got to do....oh do you mean...you and Dante and...?”

“Yes Cook, are you happy for us?”

“I think so...can I have some time to think about this?”

***

Two days later Connor received the enhanced video from his friend. He first watched it himself, but could not identify the person rolling the deceased into the pool. The image was much clearer, thanks to the enhancement but did not seem to match any of the guests’ photos they had collected as no males had long hair.

Fraser and Giles arrived a little later and were anxious to view the new version of the video. After three viewings and pausing on the frame that showed the best image of the suspect, Fraser went to his evidence board and removed the picture of the only guest that had a criminal record.

“Can you two see any similarities?” he asked his colleagues

“Could be him” suggested Giles “How old is the picture we have?”

“About seven years, it’s his prison ID photo” he then directed a question to Connor “Did you get clearance to access the licensing registry”

“Yes Boss, but...”

“You mean you haven’t checked it?”

“No, but right on to it now”

“Good let me know what you find”

While Connor trawled through driver’s licence photos, Fraser and Giles kept examining the video footage and the prison ID photo of Rodney Smith.

“You know Frase, the more I compare these two images, the more alike they look”

“I’d like to say I agree with you, but the problem is the brain can fool you and allow you to see what you want to see”

“You might be right, I’ll stop staring at them” concluded Giles.

“While wonder boy over there is doing his thing, how about I shout coffee all ‘round”

“Thanks Frase, mine’s flat white”

“No, here’s twenty dollars and mines long black, one sugar”

“Oh I see, it’s still the woman’s job to get the coffee?”

“No, it’s the less senior officer’s job to get the coffee” Fraser replied with a winner’s grin.

<>

When Giles returned with the coffee, Fraser and Connor were huddled around Connor’s screen.

“Is it boy’s porn time again?” she asked.

“Come and see for yourself and gives us your expert opinion” suggested Fraser

“Fucking hell...sorry guys...it’s him, dead ringer”

The trio were looking at a one year old driver’s licence photo of Rodney Smith, with shoulder length grey hair and comparing it to the still image taken from the enhanced video of him rolling Patrick Ricardi into the Crystalline pool and turning him face down.

“Have you got a current address there Connor?”

“Yes boss, I’ll print it out for you”

“Tell me Connor, have you ever been on an arrest?”

“No boss”

“Then no time, like the present to see how it’s done”

***

Fraser took Giles in his car and Connor joined the uniformed officers in a patrol car. When they arrived one of the uniformed constables went to the back door of the property to cover any possible escape route. The other constable, carrying a door ram, accompanied Fraser and Giles to the front door, while Connor stood back to observe. There was no reply when they rang the doorbell, so Fraser ordered the officer to knock in the door. They entered and methodically checked each room till they found one room with a closed door. Fraser and Giles drew their guns and stood either side of the door while the uniformed officer turned the door handle slowly and silently, then threw the door open and stepped back.

There, sleeping soundly was their suspect. While Giles and Fraser kept their guns pointed at the sleeping man, Fraser indicated to the third officer to wake the suspect.

“What the fuck are you lot doing here?”

“Rodney Smith?” asked Fraser

“Yes, who wants to know?”

“I’m Detective Inspector Fraser, this is Detective Sergeant Giles and you Rodney Smith are under arrest for the murder of Patrick Ricardi. Do you understand me?”

“Not at all, I didn’t do it”

“Doesn’t matter, get out of the bed very slowly, no sudden moves and hands in the air”

As the suspect threw back the bed covers and stood up, Fraser said “Whoa there mate, we don’t need to see your kit hanging out, turn around and face the wall”

As Smith complied, Connor was heard sniggering in the background, then Fraser ordered “Hands behind your back, cuff him Giles”

“Yes Sir, my pleasure”

“And mine too” uttered Connor “Nice butt”

As they all turned towards the door, Connor was standing there and said “Expertly executed guys, no shots fired, not even a scuffle. I’m impressed”

“I told you we’d show you how it’s done” said Fraser “However, we could have done without the commentary. You’re not really supposed to compliment the suspects”

***

Smith was formally charged, back at the station and questioned by Fraser and Giles. He continued to protest his innocence but refused to co-operate in any other way.

*****