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- 04/18/2021
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Catering With Benefits (3) - An Appetite for More - 15. I’ll Find a Quiet Little Bar
“Is that Mrs Jessica Haynes?”
“Yes, who’s calling?”
“This is Patrick Aboud, Governor of Long Bay Prison. Is your husband Brendan Haynes?”
“Yes, Mr Aboud, what has he done now?”
“Mrs Haynes, I am calling to check on your residential address. Are you still resident at 1902 Bunnerong Rd. Pagewood?”
“Yes, but what is this about?”
“Mrs Haynes, an officer from Maroubra Police Station will be at your address shortly. Will you please stay there until the officer arrives?”
“Am I going to be arrested for something?”
“No Mrs Haynes, it is nothing like that. The officer will be calling around to give you some news about your husband.”
“Well, he’s only my husband in name.”
“I appreciate that Madam. The officer will make all this clear when he speaks to you.”
“You’ve got me worried Mr Aboud.”
“Yes, I understand but I can’t discuss anymore over the phone. Please wait for the officer to arrive.”
“Very well then.”
Jessica hung up and immediately called her son Justin. She told him about the phone call and he drove over to his mother’s home, only ten minutes way, arriving a few minutes before the police officer.
“Mrs Jessica Haynes?”
“Yes, officer and this is my son Justin.”
“That’s good you are together. I have some serious news to tell, may I come in?”
“Of course, can I get you anything young man, a tea or something?”
“No thanks, I’m good.”
As they all sat down Justin asked “So what is this all about officer?”
“Mrs Haynes, Mr Haynes, it is my unfortunate duty to inform you that Mr Brendan Haynes was found dead yesterday at Long Bay Prison.”
“Oh Mum, I don’t know what to say.”
“That’s sad news officer.” replied Jessica.
“Yes, that is why the Governor asked me to call around Madam, they don’t like to give such news over the phone.”
“Thank you for that officer.”
“Now is there anyone you would like me to call for you?”
“No, that won’t be necessary, as Justin is here.”
“I can also arrange for a police liaison officer to come and support you if you wish and they can refer you to a bereavement counsellor if you feel you need it.”
Justin spoke “None of that will be necessary officer. The news is a relief to us. I don’t think we will grieve over his demise.”
“Justin, don’t say that. Officer, can you tell me how he died?”
“Details have not been released yet, but I will get back to you as soon as I have more information.”
“Thank you.”
“I must say, this is not the usual reaction I get when I deliver this type of news.”
“Officer, my father has been dead to me for years. The fact that he is now gone is a relief. He won’t be missed at all.”
“Justin!” Jessica retorted.
“Just telling it like it is Mum.”
Starting to feel a different type of discomfort than is usual in such circumstances, the police officer said “Well if there’s nothing more I can do for you, I’ll be off. I will get back to you when I have more details for you.”
“Thank you officer.” concluded Jessica and showed the constable to the door. When she returned to Justin he was pacing the room but smiling, then said to his mother “Best news I’ve had in years Mum. He’s finally out of our lives forever. I wonder if he suffered at the end?”
“Justin, I don’t like the way you said that.”
“Oh face reality Mum, no one’s going to grieve over his departure; least of all me.”
“Just the same, he’s still your father.”
“Not anymore, thankfully.
“You know what I mean.”
“Not a fact I’m particularly proud of.”
“I suppose I should call Julia, she needs to know.”
“Can I deliver the good news?”
“Not with an attitude like that. I’ll call her.”
“Spoilsport!”
<>
Julia took the news calmly and thanked Jessica for calling, but failed to ask Jessica if she was ok. After the call Jessica said to Justin “That’s odd, she must have been so shocked, she didn’t even offer her condolences to me.”
“She probably didn’t think it was necessary. She’s hardly likely to miss the old bastard, is she?”
“I don’t know where this attitude of yours is coming from Justin.”
“Mum, face the facts. He raped his own sister, made her pregnant; she had to give up her child, married you without telling you and was violent to you during your marriage. Then he threw me out of the house, murdered a man with whom I had consensual sex and said in court he’d do it again, if he had to. Have I missed anything? Did I cover all his redeeming qualities?... Oh wait...there are none.”
“Ok Justin I don’t want to fall out with you, so let’s not discuss it any further for now. I need to get to work, I’m already late, luckily my first period today is free.”
“Oh, I need to tell Jared... and no Mum, you can’t stop me from doing it. He is my brother and no relation to you.”
“Do as you wish.”
“I’ll do it when I get home I want to tell Craig first.”
<>
Justin bounded down the hallway when he arrived home and straight into the arms of an anxious Craig. “What happened, is you mother ok? I’ve been worried all morning, trying to work out what it could be.”
“It started off a bit mysteriously with a call from Long Bay advising her, the local police would be calling around to Mum’s place. I arrived just before he arrived.”
“So I guess it’s something to do with your father. What happened?”
“The best news of all.” Justin said with a big smile.
“Is he being released on parole?”
“Certainly not; that wouldn’t be good news.”
“What then?”
“He’s dead. Dead as a door nail. Snuffed it, gone, shuffled off this mortal coil, turned up his toes, passed on, croaked, kicked the bucket, gone to hell, expired, breathed his last, succumbed, left us, passed to his eternal reward, lost, met his maker, wasted, checked out, eternal rest, a goner, came to an end, bit the dust, annihilated, liquidated.....”
“Enough Justin, I get the message.”
“Just wanted to make sure. I love saying all those expressions, it’s so reaffirming.”
“So how did he die? You hadn’t said he was sick.”
“We don’t know yet.”
“Sounds suspicious, surely they would tell you if it was natural causes.”
“You’re right, I was so thrilled to hear of his death, I hadn’t thought about the cause.”
“So, if it’s not an illness, then that leaves an accident, suicide or murder.”
“How intriguing, but an accident seems unlikely in prison, it’s such a controlled environment.”
“There are accidents and then there are accidents.” Craig said with air quotes. “Do you think he might have taken his own life?”
“You’ve got to have a conscience to do that, I doubt he did. However, murder seems more likely. He must have rubbed someone up the wrong way in prison and those types wouldn’t take it lightly. That must be it. What a befitting end to the slime bucket.”
“I know you won’t miss him, but all that’s a bit strong. After all he was your father and a human being.”
“Sperm donor maybe, but not the latter.”
“Well grief is a strange thing and it’s best you deal with it in your own way.”
“Yeah...the word P A R T Y comes to mind.”
“I remember you gave me space when Gramps died, so I’ll do the same for you.”
“Oh, I almost forgot, I haven’t told Jared yet.”
“And your aunt Julia?”
“Mum called her, but I said she couldn’t tell Jared, that’s my privilege. I think he’ll be thrilled.”
<>
“Hi Jared, I’ve got some news for you.”
“And I for you, but you go first.”
“Well, are you ready for this...Brendan is dead, how do you feel about that?”
“I already know, Mum called me about thirty minutes ago. That’s what I was going to tell you.”
“Bugger! My mum told her, oh well the outcomes the same, he’s gone and good riddance. How do you feel?”
“Much the same as you, though I never met him so I have no connection other than the obvious. But he raised you, don’t you have some feelings for him?”
“Oh I have feelings alright, hatred, revulsion and now relief.”
“Fair enough, but how did it happen, was he sick?”
“We don’t know for sure, but I reckon he was done in by a fellow prisoner.”
“Oh really, what makes you think that?”
“He could get people off side very easily and if you’re already doing life for murder, it’s just another notch on your belt. Anyway, they did us a favour. Pity we can’t thank them.”
“Yeah, know what you mean.”
“Wish I’d thought of it myself. Do you think it can be arranged to have someone bumped off in prison?”
“Maybe that’s just movie stuff. I wouldn’t know about that Justin, best not to go there.”
“Ok” Justin replied disappointedly. “But there was that case in Victoria when Carl Williams was bashed to death in Barwon Prison,”
“Yeah, but he moved in a very dangerous circle of drug dealers and gangsters. Hardly fits the profile of our dad.”
“You’re probably right.” concluded Justin.
“Can you let me know when the funeral is?”
“Why, do you want to go?”
“Of course, he was family.”
“Strange family ties. Ok, I’ll let you know when it is.
***
A week later the local police again contacted Jessica with further information about her husband’s death. She was advised that he died from strangulation occasioned by hanging. The investigation into his death concluded it was suicide.
When asked how this could happen in such a controlled environment as a prison, she was told that prisoner Haynes had been of good behaviour since his incarceration and was rewarded by being given access to the prison workshop, where prisoners could make small items for their own use or to donate to charity. It was believed that the wire he used to hang himself was taken from the workshop.
He further advised that the information provided was only for family use and would not be released to the media.
***
When Haynes body was released by the coroner, Jessica called a local undertaker to arrange for the funeral. She ordered the simplest service on offer and advised the undertaker that only a few closes relatives would be attending a funeral home service. No church service would be held.
After being told of the arrangements by his mother, Justin called the funeral home and spoke to a Matthew Riley.
“Yes Mr Riley, I’d like an open coffin, so I can make sure it’s him we are burying. No, better still, after that, I want a cremation, so there’s no trace of him left on this earth.”
“There will be the ashes Mr Haynes. We can arrange for you to collect them from the crematorium.”
“I don’t think we’ll have any use for them, maybe use as fertilizer in the memorial garden. Shit makes great fertilizer.
“As you wish Mr Haynes. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“I hear you can now have your ashes sent into space. Can you arrange that?”
“There are companies in the US that can do it. I have not arranged it before but if you are serious I have some details here. Just give me a minute.”
Riley returned and gave Justin the following details from a brochure “The Memorial Launch carries all your loved one's ashes and scatters them in space, while the Voyager service sends a ceremonial portion of your loved one's ashes to space and returns them to your care afterwards. Is that what you had in mind?”
“I like the one way trip option.”
“Very good, I’ll get a quote for you. But I warn you it won’t be cheap.”
“Thanks Mr Riley, I look forward to your call.”
Justin forgot to give Riley his number so when he had the quote ready Riley called the only number he had, which was Jessica’s.
“Good morning, is Mr Haynes there please.”
“Do you mean Justin or Brendan?”
“Justin, of course. Sorry, I should have introduced myself, I’m Matthew Riley from Riley’s funerals, I’m arranging Mr Brendan Haynes funeral.”
“This is Jessica Haynes, the deceased’s widow and Justin’s mother, he’s not here at present, can I help?”
“Sorry Mrs Haynes, I should have realised this is your number. I just wanted to give Mr Haynes junior the quote for disposal of the ashes of Mr Haynes senior.”
“Did he request a cremation?”
“Yes, Mrs Haynes, is that not what you requested?”
“I don’t recall we spoke specifically about it, but cremation is fine with me. I don’t suppose anyone will want to visit his grave anyway.”
“Very good madam. Shall I give you the quote or would you like to have Mr Haynes junior call me back.”
“I’m a bit confused as to why we would need a quote for disposal of ashes. Aren’t the usual options to collect them in an urn or have them scattered in the garden at the crematorium?”
“That is so Mrs Haynes, but Mr Haynes junior requested a special service.”
“Very well, if that’s what he wants. So how much is this quote?”
“For the complete disposal service, including collection by us, international freight, customs formalities and final disposal, the total cost will be $19,409. That’s Australian dollars of course, as most of the cost is in US dollars.”
“I beg your pardon Mr Riley, I have no idea what you are talking about. Why such an enormous figure for disposal of ashes?”
“Mr Haynes junior requested for Mr Haynes senior’s ashes to be disposed of in space. That is the best price I can get for you, for a deep space disposal.”
“There must be some mistake Mr Riley, we don’t want anything like that.”
“Well, as the next of kin, all decisions are yours in regard to the funeral and disposal.”
“Thank you Mr Riley, please proceed as I requested. I’m ok with the cremation but disposal of the ashes should be just in the memorial garden of the crematorium.”
“And may I ask if you still want the open casket option that Mr Haynes junior requested?”
“No I don’t. Please forget all this nonsense. I just want the simplest service as originally requested.”
“Very well Mrs Haynes. Will you tell Mr Haynes junior or would you like me to call him.”
“I’ll do it, thank you Mr Riley.”
“Very well, I will see you at the service on Tuesday.”
“Good bye Mr Riley.”
The conversation between Justin and his mother did not go well. There were a few expletives uttered by Justin and an equal number of rebukes from Jessica. The conversation resulted in Justin refusing to go to the service at all, but he did offer to pay half the cost for his mother.
***
Jessica notified Julia of the funeral details and she advised Jared. By the time Justin rang Jared he had already heard from his mother.
“Missed again with the news.” Justin said.
“Well, Julia keeps me informed, but thanks anyway. Do you want me to drive you and your mother?” asked Jared.
“Certainly not, I’m not going to the funeral. I was originally going but now Mum’s refused to have an open casket, there seems no point in going.”
“What’s that got to do with it?”
“I wanted to make sure he was dead. Now I’ll just have to take it on trust.”
“You’re very churned up about this Justin. I thought you would have gotten it out of your system by now.”
“I had forgotten about him, but his death as stirred up old feelings. Hopefully this will be the last I’ll ever hear of him.”
“I think that’s it from him, I don’t think he’ll be able to reach you from the grave.”
“I made sure of that. Mum, at least agreed to a cremation, so there’ll only be a bit of dust left behind.”
“Does that make you feel better?”
“Yes, but not as good as I wanted.”
Justin explained about the proposed space burial, Jared laughed and then said “I think your Mum was right. He might have been off this earth, but in some ways it would have immortalised him. Do you realise, every time you looked at the stars you would think of him floating around up there, and no way to change it?”
“Fuck, you’re right. Thanks to Mum, I dodged a bullet there.”
“Sleep on that thought tonight, and then forget him.”
“Thanks Brother. I love you.”
“Love you too Justin. Now, would you do me a favour?”
“Anything Jared.”
“Would you please come to the funeral with me?”
“Why, do you need my support?”
“It’s not for me, it’s for your mother. She told my mum that she was disappointed you would not go. I think you at least owe her that.”
“I didn’t know she felt like that. We haven’t spoken much the last few weeks.”
“Why wouldn’t you two be supporting each other at a time like this?”
“She got pissed off when I tried to change the funeral arrangements. We had words and it didn’t end well, so we’ve been avoiding each other.”
“Justin, listen to me. Your mum is the closest relative you’ll ever have and from what you’ve told me, she has supported you one hundred percent all your life. Now she just wants this one small thing, so you had better do it, or....”
“Or what?”
“You don’t want to know what your big brother is capable of.”
“Ooo, threats, I can’t wait to see what you’ll do, kneecaping, broken bones?”
“Don’t push me Justin. I am an expert in armed and hand to hand combat.”
“Hey that’s a bit heavy, I was only joking. Of course I’ll accompany Mum, now you’ve explained it.”
“Good man, then after we deliver our respective mothers home, I’d like to get pissed with you. Just the two of us and we can call him all the names we want and get it all out of our systems, once and for all. How about it?”
“You’re on. Where?”
“I’ll find a quiet little bar, where we are not known.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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