“We didn’t know what to think. Thought you might be dead, or worse. You could have called.”
“Not from where I’ve been. I was back in Melbourne.”
“What—?” PA dropped her hands from her hips. “How?”
“Swore at an inopportune moment.”
“And it worked?”
“Two-day penalty, and all.”
The woman’s mouth twitched — and then PA guffawed, acting as if the weight of this world had been lifted. “Oh, that’s right,” she managed to squeeze out, between peals of laughter. “I did once warn you, didn’t I?”
“You did.” Without thinking, Jack covered the distance between them to give her a hug, left ear pressed against her sternum. “Man, I missed you.”
“Sure, sure,” PA protested, even while her arms tightened and he heard her heart beat faster, “don’t go getting all mushy. Thought you didn’t trust me.”
“I learned.”
“Swell. And you’re okay?”
“I am, surprisingly.” Jack released her, as he peered up. “The Brick?”
Gravity returned to the woman’s expression, as she lost the smile. “He’s had a relapse. Gypsie-Ann’s blood wasn’t enough — only a temporary effect. I can’t explain it.”
“What?” Prima Ballerina pushed forward and closer to them both. “What are you saying? B’s going to be all right, isn’t he?” Silence. “Where is he?”
“Here. In the clinic.” Pretty Amazonia dissected the Rotter with her eyes. “Took Jack a while to learn how to trust me — how’re we ever going to trust you?”
Herself angry now, Midori stared up at the other woman, and her voice possessed none of its singsong charm. “What the hell do you think, lady? You think you can stop me finding him?”
PA’s cheeks dusted pink. “Are you threatening me?”
Once again, Jack pushed between them. “Enough with the schoolyard behaviour, kids — we have more important stuff to think about. PA, Midori has a point and we all need to know. Is the Brick going to be okay?”
Pretty Amazonia swivelled to face the big, dark windows that rounded one side of the Equalizers’ meeting area. The sun outside had already set and Jack could see that a fire still licked part of the city over near the harbour.
“If he survives the night,” she said in a soft voice, “I’ll be surprised.”
Where had the optimism fled?
#178
Lying on his back, on a reinforced steel bed that still deigned to sag in the middle, the Brick had his eyes closed.
He’d apparently fallen asleep listening to classical music, since an orchestral tune (in mono on black shellac) spun at 78 rpm towards the finish of the single track. The record rotated atop a stained, wooden 1930s Zenith tube player beside him, a cumbersome thing much like the patient — a big, rectangular box with a bronze dial at the front and a deco-style grille covering the single speaker.
A rash of intrusive behaviour by Midori — who rushed over, snapping up his massive four-fingered right hand in both of hers, and then putting on the weeps — revived the ailing Equalizer. Petrous eyelids flickered, there was a soft groan, and seconds later he gazed up at the girl.
“Hello, sunshine,” he squeezed out, all feeble voice.
“Shhh, B. I’m sorry I left. Didn’t mean to. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Forget it. Yer here now.”
“I am.”
“That’s what counts.”
While she reached over to give him a hug, the Brick’s blue irises, faded in colour, moved across the room and found Jack and Pretty Amazonia in the doorway.
“Kid. Yer back. Knew you’d be back…Grand t’see you.”
Jack inclined his head, forcing a smile. “You too, Mister B.”
“Word is yer loaned me Henderson — looked after that li’l beauty, right…?”
Jack distantly recalled a bent-up and smashed motorbike in the ground floor front lobby of the Port Phillip Patriot. “Sure thing,” he said, nodding too quickly.
“And we’re a team again.” The Brick wrapped his rocky arms around Prima Ballerina, squeezed his eyes shut. “We’re a team. Together.”
Midori showered kisses all over the craggy brow while he tittered, at which point Jack and PA chose to do a runner. After closing the door, they walked silently together, carousing with thoughts each preferred not to put out on the line.
The woman ruptured this silence first. “I can’t stand to see him like that.”
“He looked okay.”
“It’s all front, for our sake. So, ends up I’m glad you brought the girl.”