Flight of the Curlew

By Rex Jacobs

Flight of the Curlew is a fast moving story about a ruthless executive who has scrambled his way to the top using anyone or anything in his way.
Things fall apart rapidly as he is knifed in the back and summarily discarded without warning. His home life is already on the skids, and now his destruction is comprehensive and complete. A broken man, he seeks refuge on the streets and his misery deepens as the bottom tier of humanity closes in around him.

In the depth of despair and hope he discovers a flicker of decency from within, and formulates a plan of action which will see him reunited with an old acquaintance in the most unusual of circumstances. Through her, and because of the treachery he had committed on her, he finds a way to redeem himself and bring hope to those with none. Hector Jefferson, the bastard, becomes a decent human being, and the Curlew Foundation steps in to lend a hand. She finds forgiveness where there had been none.

Any connection to persons either living or passed on is strictly coincidental. This is a work of fiction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rex Jacobs
• Release date: Nov 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370763467

Rex Jacobs

Life is a wonderful, exciting, sometimes dangerous and often totally boring trip. I have certainly had a taste of all these slices of the human experience and thankfully have managed not to overdose in any particular compartment.I strive to write as honestly and openly as possible, but will never get drawn into discussing the source of inspiration for any particular tale. They are all true in some way. We all have our own truth. That is the way it is with mankind.My journey is seventy years young as of 2016, and if you don’t find me plonking away at a keyboard, I’ll be somewhere behind the lens of my faithful Nikon, tending my private garden or manipulating some beautiful pieces of glass into some form of art.I write for enjoyment, and always endeavour to capture that ‘I know where he’s coming from moment’. This is my first real attempt at the online publishing world, and would love to take the opportunity of thanking you for popping in to meet me.I hope you enjoy the read, and wish you every success in life. It is a wonderful trip.Rex Jacobs.

Book preview

Flight of the Curlew

When betrayal leads to betrayal, forgiveness and love are most unlikely.

a Short Story

by

Rex Jacobs

Smashwords Edition

Copyrighty © Rex Jacobs 2009

All Rights Reserved.

Cover photo courtesy of Jim Oakley … Australian wildlife and bird photographer … Alice Springs.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Flight of the Curlew

Flight of the Curlew

He hated the north wind. His head was bursting, his eyes were running, and he was already on his second handkerchief since leaving home. He hated the hay fever season almost as much as he hated his life.

He knew about the young flesh his wife was indulging in through the day. She was domineering, calculating, and desperately clinging onto the myth of her beauty. Beautiful she never was. Well endowed, flirtatious and a cheap slut maybe, but never beautiful. She wasn’t even clever. The male escorts were listed on her credit card, which he paid.

If he were honest with himself they probably deserved one another. She was convenient at the time. He needed a wife by his side to take the next rung of the corporate ladder.

He had always been a mover and shaker, a ruthless and arrogant man, and she had been his secretary. He had only employed her to decorate the front office, and divert the attention of those whom he sought to take advantage. It was a dog eat dog business, and she was the perfect decoy. She was also, he must admit, pretty good in bed.

Chief Executive Officer was the mantle he had aspired to since he first walked through the front door of Jones Partners Naulty and Asquith International Finance Brokers.

He had manipulated his way through the lower ranks with the cunning of a rat, and by the time he had become Finance Manager had very few friends in the company. Those below feared they would be the next ones trampled on, and those above were checking the mirror daily to see where the next knife had been wedged in their backs.

She was his equal in many ways. He was her ticket to the top. He always boasted that he’d never paid for a hooker, and in truth he hadn’t; but the services she provided between the sheets had nothing to do with love or respect. It was all about her pursuit of social status, prestige and money.

He prided himself on his professional integrity. He had never transgressed in brokering a crooked deal. He was in that way at least, respected as a straight shooter. Behind the scenes it was a totally different story. There had been countless fellow employees broken, used and crushed in his wake. Jones Partners NAIFB had become a meat grinder of human resources.

He had captured the top office in a bloodless coup three years before. The outgoing CEO’s fall from grace had been planned for over two years before that, and had been a long calculated campaign. He had covered his tracks well and although the entire board suspected foul play, they had no choice other than to capitulate. Hector Jefferson was now the CEO of Jones Partners NAIFB.

As in all wolf packs, there was never a shortage of young ambitious males. His successor was already stalking … His life was about to change. Permanently.

His wife had almost thrown him out of the front door. He was over a half hour late leaving. He wanted to check a few things before going in to work. There was trouble brewing at the office … it had been in his nostrils for several days … little things, anomalies and whispers. Every morning for the past week there had been an ominous hush as he strutted through his domain. Something was brewing, and he was not comfortable.

He had noticed she was agitated at his tardiness and thought she may have hired a prostitute for a morning rumble. He smiled to himself as he passed the young buck at the bottom of the street leaning on a fancy red MG sports car, mobile phone to his ear, trying not to look conspicuous. Hector had to admit that his money was at least purchasing fine looking specimens, and wondered if Doreen ever contracted female company as well.

He picked up his own mobile phone and rang home. The phone was busy. The young buck was getting the all clear to come to the house.

He contemplated driving around the block and paying them a surprise visit, but there were more pressing things to attend to. He had even considered engaging a hooker himself, but his ego had always pulled him up short every time he had the urge. He was a hunter, a dominator; to pay for such a service would be far too demeaning. Predators never paid, they just took.

He pulled the car to the kerb and drummed his fingers heavily on the dash board. He was angry. His last attempt at an office affair tormented him. He was a failure, he was losing control. His wife was home spreading her legs for some handsome young gigolo, and the pretty thing at work had dumped him for the much younger and more virile James Naulty, who just happened to be working behind the scenes to unseat him from the top job. He was surrounded by treachery. He was being heavily defeated on all sides at his own game.

‘Fuck her!’ he screamed, beating his fist on the steering wheel.

He gripped the wheel with both hands and head butted the air so violently that he cricked his neck.

He looked into the rear view mirror with a wry grin, seeking the counsel of his sullen image.

‘Guess that’s just what those two are up to right now’ he laughed through closed lips.

‘Well fuck them all! He raged.

Hector was torn between confronting the copulating couple at home or tackling the immediate problem at work. James would be away all day at a seminar. He would have uninterrupted access to the files in his office. He had been up all night making a list of what he needed to check.

He slammed his foot on the throttle. The Mercedes laid a heavy patch of rubber and headed toward the office. His wife could have her fun for the moment; there would be plenty of other times to spring that