Spice

By L W Slack

Taking his beloved yacht out to sea had been a lifelong dream for Jim and right now he needed to escape the Rat Race so he told his boss he was taking leave. He gathered his supplies and signed Windward Bound out of dry dock. A gentle sail up the west coast to Washington was perfect for her maiden voyage.
Jim had no idea of what lay on the other side of the east bound storm that blocked his pathway north. With no time to make port he would have to sail out to sea to get around it. He alerted the coastguard and altered his course. Little did he know his course would take him beyond anywhere on the current map and would cause a big stir back at home.
All he hoped for was to feel the wind in his sails and the breeze on his face and a nice catch up with his daughter when he reached Washington. His journey gave him much more than that and he is forever grateful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359800001

Book preview

Spice

SPICE

Copyright © 2019 L W SLACK

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Published July 2019

ISBN 978-0-359-80000-1

The Confluence Publishing House

[e-mail]

Chapter 1

JIM

Jim Tucker is forty-three years of age he has brown hair and hazel eyes. He stands five foot eleven, is thick set and considers himself an average looking bloke. An easy-going kind of bloke, fiercely loyal to family and friends. He was known for his ability to be in the right place at the right time and for being ready to stop and help even the strangest of strangers with a ready smile and a helping hand. His easy-going character afforded him a wealth of mates, but it should be known, once pushed he’ll push back but harder.

Originally from Australia, he grew up in and around the Blue Mountains of N.S.W. His father, uncle, aunty taught him all he needed to know to survive in the bush as well as in and around both fresh and saltwater. Like most Australian kids he was very sports minded and he lived for the outdoors.

Jim could have easily been mistaken for an employee as he walked through the large glass revolving door of the Murray & Burch law firm at 11.15 am on Thursday March 11. He had the expensive suit and was clutching a soft leather file case. He took one last look up at the multistory building before he made his way down a large set of stairs to the busy street below. Deep in thought and yet with an absent look upon his face, he turned left onto the footpath not even noticing he was going against the flow of pedestrians.

Walking closely to the building facades, he narrowly missed being hit by a door as it flung open. Two loud men burst through the door laughing loudly while trying to hold each other up, the door may have missed Jim, but the blokes walked straight into him breaking his deep concentration.

Sorry Mate they both slurred and continued on their way.

Jim waved to them and mumbled

No problem fellas

He was just about to continue on his way when a thought came to him, he needed a drink. It had been one hell of a morning! The door was just about to close when Jim caught it and pulled it open revealing a lightly lit bar with a strong smell of alcohol in the air. He figured it must have been one of those 24 hours, never closes type of bar. There was faint music playing over old crackling speakers and the gentle murmur of voices.

Dead ahead stood a one-hundred-year-old bar made from solid oak. The highly polished bar top was a solid three inches thick. Beneath the top at six feet intervals it had hand crafted carvings of oak leaves and scrolls on each of the small wooden columns and square Stanforded panels between them. The bar was long, it ran nearly the full length of the room, jutting out of the wall to his right for about six and half feet then turning at 90 degrees to run about eighteen feet to the back of the bar.

On the wall behind the bar was a large mirror running the full length of the wall with glass shelves all the way along except for a small section where the register sat. The shelves closest to the cash register had a reasonable collection of alcohol, mostly bottom to mid-range quality while the remaining shelves were neatly displaying glasses of all different shapes and sizes.

Looking to the far end of the bar he noticed two or three men seated on bar stools. Unknowing to Jim they are the regular bar flies. There is a bartender behind the bar cleaning glasses near them.

Jim decided to sit close to the door and as far away from the bar flies as possible. The bartender was a clean-cut, shaven faced, stocky man in his thirties. He probably thought of himself as a bit of a modern-day philosopher. Placing the freshly polished glass on the shelf he made his way to where Jim was seated at the bar.

What will it be Mac? he chimes in a cheery voice

Jim looks up with a black look upon his face thinking, not another young bloke.

Jack on the rocks thanks mate. He replied barely able to be personable

No worries he turned to grab the bottle of Jack and a glass glancing at Jim through the mirror and paying particular attention to Jim’s expensive suit. He turned to face the bar, scooped up some ice from the tub set into the counter, placed the glass on the top of the bar and then proceeded to pour a small amount of Jack.

Jack signalled to make it a double.

Thanks. He said taking a small sip.

The bartender looked Jim up and down and tried to paint a picture but struggled to make sense of him.

Where are you from originally buddy? he asked

Jim looked at him across the top of glass as he is taking another sip and reluctantly replies.

Australia. He then took not a sip but a gulp

Aahh Aussie hey

Yeah

Jim clasped his drink with both hands and stared at it as if he is looking into it like a crystal ball.

A guy in that sort of a suit shouldn’t look so down in the dumps this early in the day Mack. The bartender questioned

Jim had a morose chuckle to himself and with a dishearten look on his face answered

Yeah, well today is the day I have realized it’s finely over.

Oh one of those…..so is it your work or your marriage? the bartender asked.

What! Is it that obvious? he looked up disappointed that he was so easy to read

It’s nearly always one of those two that brings guys like you in here so early. Do you think it’s over or you know it’s over?

Jim looks at the bartender with a dead straight poker face.

I know it’s over mate! he replied taking another gulp emptying his glass.

Were you married long buddy? he asked holding the bottle up suggesting a refill. Jim motions to it him again.

Yeah twenty years but we’ve been separated for over 12 months. I knew it was over but deep down I always hoped we could fix it – ahh you know.

The bartender shook his head slowly no.

No, I don’t buddy. I’ve never been married but I did lose a girl once that I thought was the one for me!

Yeah? You think of her much? Jim asked glad to have the conversation off him even if only for a moment.

Sometimes, once in a blue moon I guess. What about you? Do you think about your ex much? he asked shifting the conversation back to the customer, after all he was the bartender, he didn’t spill his guts to anyone.

"Yeah! Mainly when I go home to an empty house or see something that reminds me of her.

But it wasn’t until I walked out of the lawyer’s office this morning, that it hit me – it’s really finely over! That part of my life is finished." Answered Jim feeling a slight sense of relief just unloading those words.

Sound like you still love her?

Yeah I think so?  I mean I still care deeply for her, but she has moved on with another bloke –younger too. You know the type – he thinks his is ten feet tall and bullet proof. He said the relief from his previous statement melting away and being replaced by agitation

Sounds like this young fella gets under your skin! he quipped

Yeah! He’s always sticking his nose into our business.

The bartender wiped the top of the bar while talking to Jim.

Got any kids buddy? he asked

Yeah we’ve got a daughter, nineteen – she’s studying up at Washington.

Dose she take after you or her mother?

She takes after her mother. She is beautiful –just like her mother but she got my spirit. Sometimes she’s a little too quick to tell you what she is thinking and a little bit stubborn too. Jim said with a smile growing on his face

Mack, that can be a good trait to have.

Yeah probably. The wife, I mean the ex-wife say she gets her stubbornness from me. Jim said shrugging his shoulders to dismiss his ex-wife’s claims.

Have you seen her lately?

No. I work all over the place, it’s just hard to find the time to call you know, plus with the trouble between her mother and me.... Jim drifted off deep in thought

I should make time; I know but the last few times I called – I could hear the animosity in her voice. Jim looks up at the bartender and realizes he has never told anyone how he feels about his daughter and then he realizes he is sitting in a bar pouring his soul out to the bartender and he felt a sudden urge to explain why his is sitting here before the clock has even hit midday.

You know I never drink though the day. But when those guys basically fell into me, I just thought ‘stuff it’ I am going to do something different. A drink or two sounds like a good idea.

The bartender was chuckling away.

That’s okay buddy. You look like a guy that plays by the rules but needs to kick back sometimes – and I see a lot of different types of people come in here, no judgement from me! We get the guys like you, a one off and then those that always come back. He said turning his head towards where the bar flies are seated at the end of bar.

You’ll get over this hurdle mark my words. He added to Jim

Jim looked at the bartender, nodded his head in agreement then finished off his drink.

Yeah – I’ll be right, another thanks. He said tapping the top of his glass

Jim sits there for a while thinking back over his life, the only thoughts in his head are of all the arguing and fighting with his wife, Joy over the past fourteen months.

Too many arguments over spending so much time away working and then when he was home, he was always down at the dry dock working on their yacht. He found himself wishing they had never bought the big house on the east side of town; they were happier in their little old home.

I need my head read! He thought to himself shaking his head

Jim finished his second drink and stood up reaching into his pocket to pull out some cash. He turned to leave dropping enough money for his drinks and a generous tip next to his empty glass.

As he walks toward the door the bartender calls out to him

See you next time buddy!

Jim looks back to the bartender then glances across to where the bar flies are seated then back to the bartender again.

Nah, probably not mate. He said thinking that he never really wanted to be back in this part of town again.

Good luck then buddy the bar tender replied

Jim nods his heads thinking it was more than not wanting to be back in this part of town, he needed to get away – spend some time just focused on himself and try to figure out what the hell he was going to do.

Looking down at his watch it was only half eleven, plenty of time left in the day to go into work and see Allen about some holidays.

He made his way to the curb and haled down a cab.

Chapter 2

WORK

A twenty-minute cab ride and Jim arrived at Blake & Drake Insurance Investigators.

It’s a small office unit on the eighth floor of a large building in the north side of the city.

Jim’s office was a small room with a small window right next to Allen’s far more substantial office that had one whole wall of windows looking out across the city.

Working mainly out of his brief case he was hardly ever there to use the office space, so Allen turned Jim’s office into a small storeroom.

Jim had worked for the past eleven years as a Fraud Investigator. The last six of those years his travelled interstate, sometimes working seven days a week investigating claims for the company.

He made a pretty good living out of it because the hours were so long sometimes.

Jim had a good rapport with his boss Mr Allan Brooks, the head of this office of Blake & Drake Insurance Investigators.

He entered the lift and swiped his id card and hit the number 8 button. The lift went straight to his floor no other stops. He stepped out of the lift and turned right, to his left down the hall was a small debt collecting company sharing the same floor. Jim walked down the hallway for about six or seven meters which then opened up into a foyer revealing two frosted half glass panelled doors. Printed across the doors in gold writing with black edging was Blake & Drake Insurance Investigators.

He opened the door and stepped into a reception room of average size with a desk situated just off centre to the left of the room. Four or five feet behind the desk, dead centre of the wall were two solid doors. The door on the right was stamped with the name Allen Brooks while the other door was blank. Mary was sitting at the reception desk talking on the phone when Jim walked through the door. She looked up and acknowledged him with a big smile.

Mary is twenty-seven years old, always smiling with a bubbly personality and a super professional approach to her work. She was always very well groomed and impeccably dressed, she had dark shoulder length hair and sparkly green eyes. Today she was wearing a little black dress that clung to her petite hourglass figure. She stood up to get a file from the cabinet to her right and to Jim she looked taller than he remembered, he leaned over the desk and realized she was wearing black shoes with a heel that must surely be the highest you could possibly have.

Hello Mary he whispered, Is Al in?

She nodded and waved him toward Allen’s door

Jim knocked as he opened Allen’s door.

G’day Al he said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster

Allan, a man in his early sixties with a medium body frame, stood six foot two had the moustache.

He was always wearing one of the nicest suits that money can buy, he looks sharp wearing them.

Jimmy! He exclaimed standing up from behind his desk, Come in – how have you been?

Oh all right Al Jim replied

I haven’t seen you sense you went up to Seattle for the Staines case. He said holding walking around his desk to shake Jim’s hand.

Yeah I’ve been busy sorting out some things Jim replied

Allan dropped his smile remembering Jim’s divorce.

Oh – yeah, so sorry about you and Joy. Helen mentioned the divorce was being finalized today. You ok?

Jim tried to give a smile of confidence.  Yeah mate, I’m as good as I can be

Helen and I will have to have you around for dinner one night Jimmy. Allen replied trying to say anything that might make Jim feel a bit better

Yeah that would be nice Al.

So what brings you into the office today Jimmy? Allan enquired

Well I’d like to talk to you about taking some time off.

You haven’t taken a vacation for almost 3 years Jimmy so no problem mate. How long do you want off? he asked

I think a month or so Al, would that work?

No problem Jimmy. Do you know where you will go?

Yeah I want to go up and see Jessica and I want to try my yacht out and see how she handles, I’ll be killing two birds with one stone. Jim said feeling a little bit of excitement as he said the spoke out loud.

So you’ve finished that boat? he asked

Ah no but I have finished my yacht surprising even himself with the quip

Joy – Jim’s ex-wife always called his yacht a boat only because she knew how much it annoyed him

That sounds great Jimmy. Said Allan with a smirk on his face remembering how most sailors were about the nomenclature of their boats

Jim and Allan sat chatting about going out on the seas for a while until they were interrupted by Allan’s phone ringing. Allan answered the call then asked them to hold

Sorry Jimmy I’ve got to take this call. Go see Jess and try your boat – ah I mean your yacht out and I will see you in 6 weeks. Oh and say hello to Jessie for me.

Jim stood up, shook Allen’s hand nodding his head then headed toward the door.

Just as he reached the door Allan said.

It was good to see you Jimmy! Take care hey

No worries mate – see  ya

As he closed the door Mary asked

How are you Jim?

Good Mary, yourself?

I am great thanks Jim. Listen before I forget did you ever email the closing file for the Staines case?

"Sorry Mary, I totally forgot. I will do it today as soon as I get home!

Okay great thanks Jim.

So, Mary I am taking 6 weeks holiday can you please take care of my schedule?

Sure, of course I will. Are you finally going to finish fixing your yacht? she asked with a cheeky grin on her face

No, she’s all fixed up Mary! I’m going to sail her up to see Jess. He replied a little exasperated that everyone thought he was so far away from finishing his repairs.

Mary’s phone rang just as she started to ask about Jess, she reached out to answer it but left her hand resting on the receiver while she finished talking to Jim.

That’ll be nice Jim. Say hi to Jess and have a really good break! I look forward to seeing you back here tanned and all rested

Thanks Mary I will! Bye

Mary smiled and waved madly as she answered the phone

Hello Blake & Drake Insurance Investigators can I help you?

Jim made his way back down the corridor and lift, walked out the front of the building and hailed down another cab and made his way back home.

Chapter 3

Home

Home; a small one-bedroom apartment forty minutes northeast of work. It was supposed to be a temporary place to stay in the initial stages of the separation, but he has resided here ever since.

Inside it’s a modest little home with the bare essentials like a TV, fridge, bed and lounge. The lounge room connects to the kitchenette with a breakfast bench separating the two. To the right of the lounge room is a small hall and directly in front is the bathroom and to the left is the bedroom.

The bedroom has a single bed with a built-in wardrobe that’s big enough for the amount of clothes Jim owns but clothes still end up on the bed and on the back of the chair in the far corner near the window.

He entered the front door to the apartment and saw the blanket still on the lounge where he left it last. At the far end of the room is the kitchen area, on the sink is a plate and mug still in the drying rack from the last time he was home. He walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on to make him self a cuppa and then realized he was hungry. Looking in the cupboard the only thing simple enough was the instant two minutes noodles in a bowl. He set himself up at the kitchen bench with his cuppa and noodles.

He turned on his laptop and finished off the Staines case file then emailed it to Mary. He looked at his watch 8.35 pm. That had taken him 4 hours to complete, maybe one day he would do final reports straight away rather than leave them for months.

He folded the lid of the laptop down and lent back in the chair saying out loud

Ah thank Christ that is finished.

He thought to himself I better give Jess a ring.

He picked up his phone and hit the number 2, although he wasn’t much good at technology, he had managed to get the hang of speed dial and Jessica was his number 2, perhaps it was time to move her to number 1. He heard one ring and then Jess answered.

Her voice was soft and drowsy.

Hello.

G’day love. He said

Dad? said Jess with a slight sense of concern

How are you going love? Jim asked

Good Dad, but are you ok?

Hearing the concern in Jessies voice he assumed she was talking about the divorce.

Yeah I’m okay love.

I’m glad but it’s just a bit late so can we talk tomorrow? Jessie asked

Then it dawned on Jim that it was the middle of the night, he had forgotten about the time difference.

Oh, I’m so sorry love I totally forgot. Don’t worry we can talk tomorrow. He said feeling guilty for waking her

No, it’s all right dad, I’m awake now so let’s talk.

It’s so good to hear your voice Jess, I have left it too long to talk to you. I wanted you to know the divorce is done, all finished He said

I know, I spoke to mum earlier today. Are you okay dad?

"Yeah, I’m glad it’s all sorted to be honest. Your mum got the house, the new car and half of my Super. I got my yacht, the old car and two thirds of the savings.

So, mum got the home? Jess asked

Yeah she did but that’s ok, I didn’t really like it anyway Jim responded

Sounds to me mum got more then you dad! Are you ok with that?

It’s all okay love, I’m just happy it’s sorted out.

Yeah well, I hope mum knows what she is doing with that sleaze bag Rowan.

Jim is surprised to hear Jess’ animosity toward her mother and not him. Wondering what the story was he asked

What do you mean that sleaze bag, what has he done now?

Silence on the other end of the line. Jessie was trying to figure out if she should tell her dad about the argument with her mum over Rowan making sleezy remarks to her like saying how hot she is, how he gropes her with his eyes when Joy is not around.

She knows her dad will have more than just words with him if he knew what had been going on.

Jess? Jim pushed

Err…. it doesn’t matter dad, I just don’t like him, that’s all. Said Jess deciding it was best left unsaid, for now.

Nodding his head in agreement Jim said

Yeah love I can relate to that. So, how are your studies going?

Good dad, yeah really good. Jess replies wondering where this was headed

Seeing anyone special? he asked

Whoa Dad, No with a little embarrassment.

Laughing from his belly Jim said I’m only mucking around with ya love. Listen, I’m thinking of sailing up there to see you. What do you think?

Are you sure, I mean is the yacht seaworthy?

Of course, she is. I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t confident in her. He replied a little stung that even Jess had misgivings about his yacht.

So, you are keeping it then? she asked gingerly

You bet! I named her Windward Bound. Wait ‘til you see her Jess, she looks brand new nothing like what she was, fitted out with all the mod cons. I’m going down to the dock tomorrow to get her out. Said Jim excitement rising as he talked

I just have to get all the paperwork finalized and pay the fees then I am free to run her out to the water. It will take me a day or so to get my clothes, food and water supplies on board. I will chart my trip up to Washington D.C and lodge that with the authorities then I am ready to sail away. He said starting to feel the excitement in his bones

Okay dad just take care sailing up here.

Of course I will love. It will only take three or four days to get up there, so I guess I should be arriving in around a week. Do you think you would have time for a day of sailing and a picnic? he asked

For sure! I’ll take a few days out of school to spend with you.

No, I don’t want you missing out on your schooling.

It’s ok dad its only boring lectures and they are not compulsory, it won’t affect my grades.

"Well as long as it doesn’t affect your grades, I’m okay with you skipping

a class or too. Can’t wait to see you to love. I’ll call you in a day or so when I am on my way"

Okay dad, love you!

Love you too Jessie. Bye love. he said as he hung up the phone.

Jim leaned back in his chair marvelling at the fact Jess was concerned about him getting a fair deal from the divorce. He looked around his small apartment, it wasn’t much but the rent was paid till the end of next month, so he didn’t have to worry about that. So much had changed in the past 12 hours at least his apartment was one thing that remained stable and would be the same when he returned, not that there was much to hold him there now.

The thought of getting his yacht and sailing it up to Jessie brought a smile to his face. He could go to bed on a high thinking about a new adventure.

Chapter 4

Getting ready

It was Friday morning the 12th of March.

Jim got up early keen to get a move on his trip. As he drove south to the dockyards he went to a drive through and got some food and a large coffee, black and strong. He was just finishing the coffee as he pulled into the entrance of the secured dockyard. A security guard stepped out of his small guardhouse and stopped him.

Good Morning Sir, can I help you?

Good morning. I’m here to get my yacht out today. Said Jim feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety

No problem sir, can I have your driver’s licence and dock pass please?

Jim reaches into his rear pocket and pulled out his wallet and slid out his licence and dock pass from the side sleeve.

Thank you, just one moment Sir. Said the security guard returning to the inside of his guardhouse so he could check Jim’s credentials on the computer.

Your all good to precede sir. He said handing Jim back his licence and dock pass

As he lifted the boom gate the guard added

All of your paperwork including payments are made at the main office on the left over there. All the best.

Jim waved and nodded his appreciation as he proceeded through the gate. He drove right past his yacht heading straight to the main office.

Jim purchased the yacht sixteen months ago with dreams that he and Joy would sail around to different places, experience different cultures and different ways of life. Maybe now it would just be a solo journey. As he passed by his yacht, he couldn’t help but smile, thinking to himself won’t be long now. I’ll be out there on the water doing what I want to do and going where I want to go.

The yacht, a Beneteau 36 1989 was thirty-six-foot-long with a traditional white hull and a blue stripe along both sides, a safe little seaworthy yacht with a twin birth, small gully and head. She had nearly all the modern cons like G.P.S and depth indicator, autopilot, auto mainsail, inboard motor a small inflatable to tow behind, radio and solar panels to back up power