Lit eZine Vol 5 | p-26 | FICTION | Family Connections

SHORT STORY

FAMILY CONNECTIONS
by Issy Jinarmo

Mark Whitehead looked out of his Sydney office window and gave a deep sigh. He adjusted the photos on his desk of his wife, Jenny, and their two children, Joel and Remy. On the wall behind him was a framed photograph of his police force bidding him farewell. ‘Such a long time ago now,’ he thought as he sat back and smiled as he remembered some cases he and his, then, Detective Sergeant Rob Archer, had been involved in. 

Rob was now a Detective Inspector, and the two families were still great friends. ‘Lucky man, that Rob,’ he thought, ‘his eldest daughter Annabelle is now in her first year as a police constable. Perhaps, one day, one of my two will join the force too.’

      “Mark,” his secretary Helen, who had worked for him since he opened the detective agency, broke his reverie. “Your next clients, Mr and Mrs Sullivan, have arrived. Are you okay if I bring them in?”

    “Of course, wheel them in, as they say in the movies.”

Mark stood up, walked across the room and put out his hand to greet a grey-haired, thin, stern-faced woman who adjusted her glasses as she looked at Mark and shook his hand. Two steps behind her shuffled a fairly rotund, bearded man dressed in work overalls. He was carrying an old battered Gladstone bag. The man did not shake Mark’s hand. The look on his face suggested he wasn’t comfortable about being involved in whatever matter the couple was going to raise with him. ‘This man is ill at ease about being here,’ thought Mark. 

“My name’s Mark, Mr and Mrs Sullivan. Take a seat, then tell me how I can be of help.”

“Rather stand,” replied Mr Sullivan gruffly.

“Arthur, sit down.” Mrs Sullivan gave her husband a piercing stare. “My name is Cynthia,” she said, a slight smile crossing her face. 

Arthur Sullivan remained standing.

“How can I help you both?” 

Arthur Sullivan gave a nervous cough. “It’s like this, mate. I’m here because my wife told me we have to talk to you. I will—”

Cynthia interrupted her husband. “Shush Arthur, I’ll explain. We are good friends of Lucy Archer’s father, Raymond.  You helped the family after he was involved in the motor car accident which sadly killed his wife – the driver didn’t stop.”

“I remember that case very well. I was glad to help. Mr Sullivan… Arthur, if we are to continue I will feel a happier if you sit down and make yourself comfortable,” Mark said.  Arthur Sullivan gave a groan, put down his Gladstone bag and eased himself into the armchair Mark offered him. “Me and the missus, we’ve got a problem. We’ve lost our daughter.” He gave a loud sniff, pulled out a grubby handkerchief and blew his nose loudly.

“You’ve lost your daughter, has she passed away?”

“No, nothing like that, well we hope not,” Cynthia said resolutely. “She’s disappeared, gone, we don’t know where. None of her friends have seen her for nearly two weeks. She hasn’t been at work either. We can’t find any trace of her. We are at our wits’ end!”

Mark jotted down details as words tumbled out of both Cynthia’s and Arthur’s mouths. 

“Okay, Mr and Mrs Sullivan, let’s recap. You are your daughter’s adoptive parents. You travelled to Sri Lanka and collected both Mayra and her brother Ashkant well over thirty years ago,” Mark stated.

“Yes, Mayra has been a good daughter, worked hard, has a good job working for a diamond broker in Sydney. Her brother Akshant well…” Cynthia paused, looking to Arthur for support. 

Arthur stood up again. “Look, the boy has problems. His name means ‘winner’. He always has to win wherever he goes. He’s my son, but I tell you, he’s a bad lot.”

Cynthia gave a soft sob.  

“They are strong words, Arthur,” remarked Mark. “Why do you say that?”

“Mayra’s a good girl, works hard, helps us. But the boy is in debt, smokes, drinks, gambles, associates with some shady blokes and loves going out with expensive women!”

“Mr Whitehead,” Cynthia wiped a tear away from her face. “We have been coping with Akshant and his problems but things have become too difficult. We are simple but generous people. We have given our adopted children everything but now…”

Arthur’s facial expression softened as he knelt beside his wife. “Right out of the blue, a couple of weeks ago, we got a letter from Sri Lanka. It was from the children’s biological parents. No idea how they knew where we were. Said they needed money and seriously threatened us. They said something about diamonds and Mayra’s job. Then our son told us one of his shady Sri Lankan friends here actually knew Akshant’s birth parents and had met them in Colombo!”

“We ignored the contact,” said Cynthia. “Mayra became withdrawn, wouldn’t speak to us or Akshant.  She told us she was taking a holiday with a friend on the mid-north coast at Forster. She went away nearly two weeks ago. She doesn’t answer our calls. The friend she said she was going away with knows nothing about a holiday. Her work doesn’t know where she is. Something isn’t right. We went to the police but they haven’t got back to us. We can’t go on like this, that’s why we’ve come to you. Please help us find our daughter.”   

“Mr and Mrs Sullivan, does Mayra have any access at all to the diamonds?” asked Mark.

“Please call us Cynthia and Arthur, Mark.  Of course not, she is a secretary, works in the office, she only sees the catalogues. Never seen a diamond as long as she has been there. We’ve often laughed about how we wished she could bring her work home with her.” Cynthia’s joke broke the ice momentarily till Arthur spoke up.

“The kids’ natural parents are simple people.”

“Arthur doesn’t mean to be unkind. It’s just that they were poor and uneducated. We don’t even know if they are still alive. If they are, we don’t know how they could find out where we are and where Mayra works, and make threats.”

“Can you be sure the letter and threats came from them if they are uneducated? “

“Mark, the police suggested the same thing. We don’t know. Perhaps someone wrote it for them or do you think there is a possibility it is someone else?” Cynthia enquired. “and they maybe kidnapped Mayra?”  Her eyes were welling with tears at the thought.

“I don’t suppose you have a copy of the letter, you would have given the original to the police, I assume?”

“We did, Mark, but we photocopied it before we did.” Cynthia asked Arthur to get it the letter out of his Gladstone bag. He fumbled around and the smell of his sandwiches filled the air.  He handed Mark the copy enveloped in a plastic sheet.

Mark looked at it. “Interesting, I see it’s in English. Can I hold on to this for now? I’ll see what I can make out from it.  Is Mayra’s passport still in the house, or is it missing?” he asked.

“We haven’t found it yet but I haven’t had a really good search. I’ve been so upset. I assumed the police could trace whether she left the country or not, but we haven’t heard. We are so worried, Mark.  Do you think you can find out what happened to her?”

“I’ll certainly do my best. Are you able to give me the names of your son’s shady friends? I think they are worth investigating.”

“No, but we will try and get that information out of Akshant, if we get him in a favourable mood.”

“Leave everything with me and I’ll see what I can come up with. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have something worthwhile to report. Please let me know if the police give you any information that may help, and get me those names.”  Mark got up and showed them to the door, then sat down and swung his chair around, putting his feet up on the window sill.  The sun shone on the harbour. Mark never tired of the wonderful view from his office. He scratched his head, tossing all the information around and trying to make sense out of it.

‘I wonder if Akshant’s dubious friends have anything to do with this. They sound like a sleazy lot.’

D.I. Rob Archer looked at the file on his desk. He had an email address for the Sri Lankan police, telligppolice.ik, as noted in records, he constructed a message expressing a request for help to ascertain if Mayra Sullivan had entered the country in the last two weeks. He did not have to wait long for a reply.

A message arrived a couple of hours later from Inspector Kosala Devi. Rob felt increasingly nervous as he read the lines: Good afternoon Detective Inspector, I am pleased to inform you we have a record of Mayra Sullivan entering our country from Australia on the 5^th of January. She reported at Customs that she was visiting her parents in Colombo. The address she gave was 5 Devanampi Lane. Inspector Kosala Devi.

She has gone to find her birth parents, Rob realised. Strange she didn’t tell Arthur and Cynthia. He picked up the phone to ring them, not sure how they would receive the news. 

His phone rang just as he was about to dial. It was his old colleague and friend, Mark Whitehead. Rob was surprised the Sullivans had contracted outside help instead of letting the police do their groundwork first but put it down to parental stress.

He told Mark about the email from Inspector Devi and told him he was about to ring the clients to inform them and see what they wanted to do. Mark suggested if they wanted more assistance the Sri Lankan police could possibly check the household but warned the family there might not appreciate having a visit from the police, especially if they had already had a surprise visit from a lost daughter.

Rob’s feeling of foreboding wasn’t helped by Arthur’s grumpy voice answering the phone.

“Yeah, who’s calling?”

“Mr Sullivan, it’s D.I. Rob Archer calling in regard to the police investigation into the disappearance of your daughter—”

“Fine job you’ve done, too. Took so bleedin’ long I had to hire our own detective.”

“I assure you we have been working on the case, Mr Sullivan. The uniform branch escalated their search this morning, and I am happy to inform you that I know where your daughter is.”

“What? You’ve found her? Cynthia, Cynthia, they’ve found Mayra,” Arthur yelled.

Rob heard Cynthia’s excited exclamation. “Oh thank heavens, thank heavens. Where is she? Is she all right?” He felt a little guilty as he knew his next sentence was going to squash their elation.

“I’ve been in contact with the Sri Lankan police and they confirmed to me just now that she is in Sri Lanka. In Colombo with her birth parents.” 

Complete silence filled the room.

“Are you there?” he queried. All he heard was the click of the phone as it disconnected.

Arthur and Cynthia hugged each other in stunned silence for a few minutes, trying to let the shock dissipate somewhat.

“Why would she do that without telling us?” Cynthia whispered. “I love her so much, why would she hurt us like this?”

“Maybe she thought we wouldn’t approve.” Arthur was also shattered. He had always felt so protective of the little girl that had come into their lives so many years ago and he felt helpless now that she might have placed herself in danger and he wasn’t there to protect her. “Akshant had a hand in this, I know he did,” he muttered between gritted teeth.

“Arthur, his friends, those awful rough lads, they might have tricked her, lured her away … diamonds…they might think she can help them get their hands on the diamonds, her parents might be a myth …”

“Or a hostage situation…they might have kidnapped her…oh heavens Cyn, let’s stop second guessing, we don’t know, it might be okay, she might have just gone to visit her parents and all is well.”

Just then, the phone rang. 

“Mr. Sullivan, Mark Whitehead here.”

“Wondered when we’d hear from you.”

“Mr. Sullivan, I am phoning because my former colleague, now DI Rob Archer and I, have had a discussion regarding the disappearance of Mayra and I believe he has just filled you in on the police findings up to this point in time.”

“Yep,” Arthur replied gruffly. “I will tell you right now, we’re none too pleased with their progress except, of course, we know Mayra is alive and well but not here in Australia.”

“I’ve had a good think about this very serious turn of events, Arthur. I believe we should be working together with the police on this case before things escalate out of control. We have to ask ourselves who wrote to you? How did they obtain your address? Are they really Mayra’s birth parents? If not, who are they? Then a further question, who was behind her sudden departure to Sri Lanka? These events, with my long experience in the Police Force, tell me there is a lot going on here and we need to get to the bottom of it before something tragic happens.”

“As far as I am concerned, it’s tragic already! Mayra, for whatever reason, is in Sri Lanka not here. Cynthia wants to meet with you again. She is very distressed, so the hell am I! Ashkant is avoiding us. What does that tell you?”

“I’ll ask Rob if he would be willing to meet up with us,” Mark said, reassuringly.  

The following afternoon Mark welcomed to his Sydney Harbour office his great mate, DI Rob Archer with his sergeant, Tony Blackwood, together with Cynthia, Arthur and, an obviously not too willing, Ashkant Sullivan.

“Thanks everyone for agreeing to have what I consider a necessary meeting. Rob, would you like to bring us to speed on where you are with this case?”

“Indeed, I would,” said Rob, an assertive tone in his voice. “Inspector Devi, as you know, told us Mayra entered Sri Lanka January 5, registering her address as 5 Devanampi Lane. Sri Lankan police checked this address, questioning your parents….” Rob Archer paused for a moment, looking straight at Ashkant, who avoided eye contact with him. 

DI. Archer continued…. “What I am telling you now is a further update from yesterday’s report. The police have discovered Mayra only stayed overnight at that address. Her father saw her getting into a tuk-tuk very early the next morning. Luckily, he recognised the driver, as he sells bread from his vehicle nearby. When questioned, the man told the police he drove Mayra to the Sambodhi Chaithya Buddhist shrine located in Colombo Harbour where she was met by a man dressed in a white suit. He also said as he was driving away, the man looked up at the CCTV camera mounted on a nearby pole and dragged Mayra, he said ‘unwillingly,’ down a narrow alleyway.” 

Cynthia gasped. Arthur stood up and walked toward Ashkant. “What the hell do you know about all this? Where is your sister?” he bellowed.

Ashkant turned his head; Arthur lifted his fist. 

“Wait, wait, Arthur,” shouted Mark Whitehead. “None of this anger will help us find your daughter.”

Arthur shook his head. “Mate, I realise that. Come on, Ashkant, tell us what you know.”

“Hang on, Arthur,” Rob stood at the distraught man’s side. “Let me finish telling you the rest of the Sri Lankan police’s findings.”

Cynthia beckoned Arthur to sit back in his chair. 

“The CCTV vision allowed the police to identify the man who met your daughter, Arthur. His name is Kasun Pereira, a young businessman who, the police describe as owning dubious companies carrying out deliveries of ‘goods’ around the capital. They called him in for questioning, which proved very interesting.”

Mark watched Ashkant’s reaction to what Rob was saying. His vast experience as a DI told him that Ashkant was familiar with the name Rob mentioned. He noticed beads of perspiration forming on the young man’s forehead. 

“The story is getting very interesting, Rob. What did they learn from this young ‘entrepreneur’?” Mark asked, eye-balling Ashkant.

“Inspector Devi happily told me Kasun, after prolonged questioning, admitted he had lived in Sydney and Newcastle, and his best mate during this time was, would you believe it, Ashkant Sullivan?”

Ashkant leapt from his chair and raced toward Mark’s office door, his exit barred by Sergeant Blackwood. 

“Hang on there, mate. You’re not going anywhere,” he said, gripping Ashkant’s shoulders as a furious Arthur Sullivan advanced toward his son.

“Arthur, Arthur settle down please. We just need to get to the bottom of this whole matter.”  Cynthia begged. As she moved toward Arthur, she turned to Rob.  

“Were the police able to find Mayra? That’s what we need to know, Rob. The rest you can tell us after that. ”

“Yes, I was about to tell you the good news but was hoping Ashkant would speak up first. Kasun took the police to where he had kept her. She was naturally upset, but is safe and staying in a hotel. We have the number so you can reach her. The police are keeping an eye on her until she is safely on the plane home.”  Cynthia cried in relief, Arthur hugged her as Ashkant broke down in tears. “So sorry Mum and Dad, Kasum is a terrible man, my best friend!” Ashkant spat. “I unwittingly gave him information that he used against our family and then he blackmailed me, stating that he would accuse me of things I hadn’t done. He knew I was jealous of Mayra. She is so successful and when he found out she worked for a diamond trader, I think he concocted his plan, but now I know how much you all mean to me.  I would never want anything to happen to Mayra. Do you think our birth parents have anything to do with it?” Ashkant directed toward Rob, as the three of them hugged.

“At this stage, it appears they didn’t.”

“You have done the wrong thing, Ashkant, but Mayra is safe and your information will help put things right, and Kasum can be brought to justice.” Cynthia sobbed.

“Thank you Rob and Mark for following up and finding our girl. We can’t wait to see her. Will Ashkant have charges brought against him?”

“I can’t guarantee he won’t at the moment, but I will certainly put his case forward when we make further enquiries.”

“Give me the hotel phone number, Rob. I think Mayra needs to talk with her family urgently.”  Rob agreed and handed the number to Mark, who took no time to get his secretary to make the call and put it through.

“Hello Mumma,” a shaky voice came over the loud speaker. Cynthia cried, slowly composing herself.

“Oh Mayra, my sweet girl, are you okay?”

“I’m okay, a bit shaky but I will be glad to be home with you all. I think I am booked to fly out tomorrow and arrive in to Australia at 8am, Friday morning. The police are taking me to the airport. Will you be there to meet me?” The three of them answered in unison, “We sure will.”

“Ashkant, we have the best parents in the world. Our birth parents didn’t really want to know about us. They put me up for one night but have no interest in us at all. They have had six more children and thought I wanted something from them. I tried to convince them otherwise, but I guess there may be guilt there, even though I tried to reassure them there was no need. They did the best thing by adopting us out, don’t you think?”

Ashkand nodded. “I know I have learnt my lesson.”

“Hey Dad, you doing okay?”  Arthur sobbed quietly, “…better now, little girl. How did you find out the identity of your birth parents, Mayra?  Don’t worry, you can tell us the whole story when you get home.” 

“Okay, I’ll pack and look forward to seeing you on Friday, I am sorry I put you all through this. I thought I would handle the threat myself, I guess I am lucky it didn’t turn out worse. See you on Friday, don’t be late. Love you all.”

The phone clicked back to a dial tone, but the room was full of relief and emotion. “Thank you both,”  Cynthia said warmly, nodding to Mark and Rob.

The trio waited patiently as Singapore Airlines, flight 207, pulled in on tarmac right on time.