The Geographical Cure?

By Catrina Faye

Tagged Bonnie and Clyde by their friends, for stealing. Two teenage drug addicts Honey Dawkins and Clyde Heartwood, try The Geographical Cure. The cure requires that you move far away and change your life by giving up drugs. But does it work? Find out as we follow Bonnie and Clyde along their own journey. If the bent drug squad policeman doesn’t get them the drug dealer's will. Travel with our teenage runaways on an exciting adventure into the outback of Australia as they deal, con and steal their way across the countryside. From Sydney to Brisbane, Toowoomba to St. George, Bollon to Thargomindah, Windorah, Birdsville, Marree, Lake Eyre and finally Oodnadatta.
An Australian adventure story, a story of love and vice, that begins in Sydney and ends in a race across the Australian outback. The teens are finally caught during a regatta at Lake Eyre. Although always in trouble, their journey isn’t all doom and gloom as they try to get themselves straightened up.
Does the geographical cure work?
Will they eventually succeed in their rehabilitation?
To find out what happens to Bonnie and Clyde download the full story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catrina Faye
• Release date: Apr 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9780645480405

Catrina Faye

With the SILLY SEASON over and done. It’s back to the grind.I am a multi genera Author who writes stories in many differing categories for people of all ages. New stories coming!I am back at my desktop now creating new stories for somebody like you to enjoy.If you haven’t begun reading my books yet, please, treat yourself to a free download of my previously published titles.Select me as you’re 'FAVOURITE' in settings and follow me to be given a heads up on new publications as they appear on eBook stores worldwide.If you have enjoyed one of my books, please, tell your friends, tell the world. ?⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ you have my permission to hit the stars, leave reviews.

Book preview

The Geographical Cure?

Bonnie and Clyde.

by Catrina Faye, 2022.

ISBN: 978-0-6454804-0-5

COPYRIGHT:

This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of, Catrina Faye.

ISBN: 978-0-6454804-0-5

DISCLAIMER:

The following work is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person living or deceased is entirely coincidental. Any characters or occurrences at real locations are also fictional.

FORMATTING BY:

A Darned Good Book

Prologue.

The police officer was finally closing the gap between the big four wheel drive and his motorcycle. He could see their dust trail in the quickly closing distance now that the chase followed the un-paved road towards Lake Eyre. Kevin had begun to hunt down this pair of offenders almost four days ago and he desperately longed for it to come to an end. And, end this chase would very soon. The two culprits were heading along the track that finished at the lake, they would have nowhere to go as the usually dry lake had filled with water this year. He laughed aloud, gritted his teeth, then he gunned the motor surging the motorbike forward.

The criminals were thundering along the road without a care as they plowed through the thick sand and dust that covered the bush track. Little did they expect what they saw as the track ended upon the lake. Bright colourful flags flew in the light breeze high above the crowd that were sitting along the shoreline and within the lake tall masts stood erect from the small flotilla of racing catamarans. Bonnie and Clyde's stolen four wheel drive skidded to a complete halt meters from hitting the people gathered for the regatta. They turned to look back along the rough track that they had come from only to see the policeman riding towards them at speed. Quick as a flash they exited their vehicle and ran towards the shoreline where the boats were at anchor. They clambered aboard one of the boats. Clyde quickly cutting the anchor rope. Bonnie grabbing an ore and pushing the boat away from the shore as Clyde pulled up the main sail. The small bright orange sail slowly filled in the breeze and as boat began to pull away from the shore the policeman's motorbike slowed to a stop. Kevin ran towards the shoreline, he shouted stop police, stop, several times before he realised that his words were a waste of time.

The only thing that Kevin could do was follow the pair out on to the lake. He pulled up the sand anchor of the closest boat then he pushed the boat away from the shore before he jumped inside of it. Seeing the departure of the two boats, several member’s of the surrounding crowd, thinking that the race had begun, ran to their own boats and began to set sail.

Chapter One.

The day had begun bright and sunny, but they had missed that earlier experience. By the time that they had resurfaced from their previous evening’s drug fuelled stupor, grey clouds had covered the sun.The clouds had arrived with a cold breeze that had blown up from the southwest to chill down the early afternoon. Winter for this couple was always the very worst time. Even though the winters in Brisbane were mild in comparison to other places that they had previously lived. Winter was a dreadful curse. They sat up, pushed the dirty bed clothes back and shivered as they looked with bleary eyes at their untidy surroundings.

The bedsit unit was unloved and quite dirty, empty takeaway containers, beer bottles, and pill packets sat upon the floor in piles. Narrow walkways in between the stacks of garbage ran from bed to bathroom, lounge area to kitchenette and to the front door. The couple argued together intensely about who's turn it was to clean the dishes and take out the trash, or to do the washing and general cleaning. But as usual for them nothing was decided or done about the mess as they dressed in the same day clothes that they always wore. Eventually their fiery argument turned into a more civilised discussion. How would they get their much needed dose of heroin for today. That or whatever other replacement drug that they could scrounge. Food came to mind as well, but it was lightly discussed in a secondary conversation. Was it Oxfam day or Lifeline, maybe Vinnie's? They didn’t know.

It didn’t take long before they realised their problem, no money with which to purchase heroin, or any prescription pills for swaps. Their only possession of any value, a gold watch, already in hock. While the afternoon dragged along the couple’s hapless discussion returned to intense argument. This time over who's fault it all was. Both blaming the other for their destitute lifestyle. Clyde became angry, he would have to brace the cold and most likely grift half of the night to get them something, anything to take away the pain of the withdrawals.

Screw you. Clyde said as he left, slamming hard the front door of their shabby little bedsit unit in anger.

Screw you too. Yelled Bonnie in reply as the loud sound of the door hitting the jamb cracked about the room.

After hitting the jamb the door slowly reopened by itself, the lock having been broken by thieves months beforehand. Bonnie watched the door for a few moments as it swung back and forth in the freezing cold breeze. Of late her relationship with Clyde was a bit like that door, broken and dysfunctional. Upset wasn’t quite the right word, demoralised was by far a better description of Bonnie's present mood. Bonnie walked the short distance to the unit's door and pulling the door closed, tied the piece of bail twine to the nail on the inside wall. She wandered over to the kitchenette and after picking through the unwashed dishes found the cleanest glass to fill with water. She downed two full glasses before returning the glass to the washing up pile. Her stomach was empty, it gurgled and groaned aloud, demanding to be fed. When had Bonnie eaten last, was it yesterday, or the day before, she could not remember. Shifting the empty pizza box from the couch to the pile of rubbish upon the floor, Bonnie sat down, lamenting. He would be back, he always came back, whether it was because he loved her or that he just had nowhere else to go, Bonnie couldn’t decide, but she knew for certain that Clyde would return. She curled up upon the lounge and pulled the dirty blankets tightly about her shivering body. The couple hadn’t begun their relationship with drugs as their main life objective. Back when they were fourteen life was a fabulous party in comparison to their present lifestyle.

How had they come to this? Not so long back, they had been these two beautiful people in a sincere loving relationship. Reality was harsh, it was only two short years ago that their friendship had begun. Honey Dawkins as she was known then, the darling of her father’s eye and much loved by her mother, was excited. She had gone to the party in Double Bay with a tiny bit of apprehension. A new outfit brought especially for the event looked wonderful and the shop assistant assured her that it was in the latest style, perfect. She had taken the mini cocktail dress home with her, along with a pile of new makeup and other accessories that would complete the look. Her only concern was her legs, perhaps they were just a little bit top heavy for such a short skirt. A pair of coal black stockings helped make her legs to look a little thinner. The sequinned tightly fitting broad waistband gave distraction from her heavy thighs and a pair of black mid height pumps gave extra length to her legs. Her best friends birthday party had been the event of the season. It was there that her relationship had first begun with Clyde Heartwood. He was the hottest guy in the room she remembered, well to her at least anyway. As the night progressed they had danced together for many happy hours while getting to know each other.

Yes, that long ago night was special. Remembering those good times during the bad can help to pick up one’s mood. However, it also brought back memories of their first hit a month later on. This close friend, was it Mitch? Whoever. Had suggested that smoking a little heroin before bed was a great aphrodisiac, and it was just the most wonderful enhancement to one’s sexual pleasure. No, no way man you never get addicted just smoking. Bull dust. They had not only become addicted to heroin but only a month later on they were injecting the bloody crap. For two young school kids with an addiction came need and need brought forth challenges, and where to get the money for your next hit topped that list. That was where her nickname Bonnie had come from, she and Clyde had taken to stealing from friends, family and acquaintances to fund their ever increasing drug habit. Jess had caught them nicking her jewellery during an afternoon party and had dubbed them both ‘Bonnie and Clyde' before kicking them out of her home. After that experience they weren’t welcome anymore in many friends homes, even their own family members became estranged from them. The pair had left their hometown of Sydney upon the afternoon bus, arriving in Brisbane the next morning.

A persistent thumping on the flats door disturbed her musings. Bonnie grabbed the blanket and wrapping it about her shoulders, walked over to see who was there. The policeman stood alone on the step his eye's focused upon the ragged girl standing within the doorway. She looked so terrible today, the dirty checkered blanket wrapped around her shivering form was hardly flattering. Her face showing where her tears had run down around the drug sores and trailed over the dirty skin of her face. Why Jake found this skinny unkempt junkie tart attractive Jake didn’t know. Perhaps it was her total lack of personality or self esteem, or could it have been her eager desire for cash that lead to carefree sex. He didn’t know and right now he didn’t care. He only wanted one thing and she stood before him.

Bonnie, is Clyde at home?

No he’s out Jake.

You know he was supposed to come into the station today?

No he didn’t mention it.

But Bonnie knew that Jake only came here for one thing and she could see in his eye's that it wasn’t Clyde he was looking for, and Bonnie desperately needed to get money for drugs.

Are good, I mean, I will need to come in and look around.

Fifty up front.

Just the usual then. I got a little treat for you as well babe.

Give it to me first, yer, and the dollars too Jake.

Bonnie had learned over time to always get payment beforehand.

Here. Done!

Jake handed her the fifty and a point, he removed his cap, and he smiled as he manoeuvred his way between the piles of rubbish and over towards the double bed. Bonnie didn’t care what Jake was up to, she had the fix that would relieve her craving and she hurried into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Taking the fit kit from the drug cabinet Bonnie began to mix the ice with water. She knew that she should keep some for Clyde but she was shaking so badly that she would need the whole lot herself if she was going to tend to Jake. Thirty seconds later on the syringe was pulled out of her vein and stuffed into the lockbox. Bonnie felt pleasure as the drug rushed through her body stimulating her senses, warming her cold blood enough to stop her shivering almost immediately. Some blood dribbled down her forearm as the ice kicked in, and then her hunger disappeared to be replaced by the muscular tightness of the speed high. She stuck a small bandaid over the hole in her arm and washed away the blood and some of the filth from her face. Then brushed her hair and slapped a bit of concealer over her sores. She couldn’t do anything else to make herself more presentable for the mug in the other room, oh bugger him anyway, just a dirty cop. He did get top gear though, that point was pure. Jake probably stole it from some poor sod under the guise of destroying it. Show time. It wasn’t her most favourite of hobbies nor was it anywhere near her proudest moments, these quick tumbles for cash were just a chore. The copper was randy today and it was all over in ten minutes and he left immediately, leaving Bonnie alone with all of her miserable conflicting feelings of guilt and remorse.

The speed kicked off again giving Bonnie a tingle all over as she washed the filth of sex from her body. Her mind went back in time to the morning that she and Clyde had first arrived inside the Brisbane transit centre. They were completely strung out from the bus ride and totally hanging out for a fix. Mitch had given them a contact number to get some drugs in the city of opportunity known as Brisvegas to the local folk. A quick phone call and Clyde had a meeting set up to meet a dealer not to far away in the city centre. They had hit the teller machine on the way out of the centre and their Centrelink payment was in. Looks as though their luck had taken a turn for the better here in Brisbane. Bonnie remembered them smiling at each other and giving a tiny squeal of joy as they shouldered their packs and walked off down George Street.

Jason was it, yes that was his name, had waited for them inside McDonald's. As they entered the restaurant, Clyde hit recall on his phone and waited to see who answered. A tall weedy guy hovering over his Big Mac breakfast meal in the corner booth picked up his vibrating phone from the table. He looked down at the screen but he didn’t answer, he looked up to view around the room. He saw Clyde with the phone to his ear and Bonnie walking beside him, their description matched that of the couple's description given to him by Mitch. Jason stood and waved as though he was greeting his old friends. That had been it really, from the fast food welcome to Brisbane their new life had begun. Things quickly went back to normal however, and they took a trip to Lifeline for the necessities of life.

Every city in Australia was awash with charitable organisations all ready to help addiction thrive. After their assessment they were given food, some clothing, plus the list of cheap rentals along with rent vouchers. During the first couple of months or so, things had actually gone quite well for them. They had even kicked the habit for a few weeks some time back and Bonnie had gotten work in a local cafe. But it didn’t take long for the wheels to fall off that cart though, an abusive boss, a flaming sex predator who kept trying it on had Bonnie so stressed that it drove her back to the drug dealer. Clyde of course followed along. They had nearly lost the flat over several weeks of binging and not paying their rent. However they were saved once again by the ever charitable St Vincent’s de Paul, another charity eager to be seen doing good in the public eye.

West End was a tangle of poorly lit alleys that crisscrossed the main streets. The area had a mixture of new modern units and old Queenslander homes. Some of the older homes had been turned into boarding houses and backpackers over the years and the high class units held the wealthy people who worked in the CBD. A constant flow of drugs followed money up and down the avenues and the elevators of the towering high rises. Bonnie and Clyde had their cheap ramshackle bedsit in one of the old Queenslanders. It was a ground floor affair that opened onto the backyard, missing palings allowed access to the alleyway opposite. It was perfect for sneaking in and out without being seen. Darkness had descended while Bonnie showered and the rumble of thunder interrupted her thoughts. Bonnie stepped out of the shower and as she began to dress her mind returned to the present. She had to get out there and find Clyde before Jake did. That mean cop bastard would have no compunction in locking Clyde up even if he was innocent. Bonnie picked up the old fleece lined raincoat from the peg by the door, it stunk with that horrible smell old plastic gets after years of usage. Everything that she owned was given to her by charity and usually years old. She pulled her wool beanie down over her head as far as it would go to keep her warm and walked out into the cold night. A thunder storm flashed brightly in the distance, lightning up the alleyway momentarily as she walked to it’s end and then on up to the main thoroughfare.

Clyde had had a hard time of it so far this afternoon, his usual contacts were staying indoors because of the cold weather. Those that were out and about were in much the same boat as him, empty of cash or stash and looking to scam. More than once he thought about robbery. It would be so easy inside these twisting dark alleys and lanes. Just wait for some rich guy putting his car away and hit him over the head, even the local 7-11 was tempting, bluff