Breakwater Bay

By charles back

The peaceful Hillarys marina environment is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Harry Josephs, a small time hoodlum from Liverpool England. Josephs quickly establishes a protection racket around the marina businesses with two violent hirelings who work for him and demand a monthly stipend for business protection. With the easy money quickly multiplying, Josephs decides to enter the world-wide arms trade and deal in illicit weaponry to bring in even greater profits, but he is scammed by an on-line cash transfer that he makes to a bank in England. Greg Langford, a government Asio agent and ex-army officer becomes aware of  the bullying activities of Josephs and takes up the case at the behest of his friend Barry Wilder who has also suffered at the hands of the gang. Harry Josephs returns to England to retrieve his money from the bank but unwittingly becomes a victim of an old enemy who he previously tried to eliminate, but failed. Now his nemesis has lured him back on to home ground and inevitably Josephs becomes a victim himself. Langford follows the trail of the illegal arms deals and in the city of Galveston in Texas he crosses swords with a group of American ex army officers who are selling the arms ordenance on-line to increase their retirement payout. Langford engages the select group led by Esther Mornington, a retired female colonel who is the brains behind the operation. In a thrilling conclusion, Langford dismantles the military arms operation in Galveston and returns to the Hillarys Marina in Western Australia to wrap up the remnants of the standover business. With the help of Bob Hersey, his police officer friend and the business community he is able restore peace and harmony to Breakwater Bay.

• Language: English
• Publisher: charles back
• Release date: Nov 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9798355646301

charles back

Charles was born in Liverpool England in 1945 and emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1950 aboard the steamship Asturius. He lived in Sydney for the next eleven years and then his father signed him up for twelve years in the Royal Australian Navy. Charles served three tours of duty as a code breaker during the Vietnam war and left the service in 1973. He attended university and graduated as a secondary Art and English teacher in 1978 and served in the Education Department of Western Australia for thirty one years. After his teaching career Charles went back to university and graduated as a Naturopath in 2007, and after continued studies graduated as a psychotherapist in 2010. Charles is now retired and lives by the sea in Perth Western Australia, close to his two daughters.

Book preview

Breakwater            Bay

By

Charles Back

ONE

During the first week in November, a Tuesday morning it already warming by ten o’clock. Barry Wilder drove his early model BMW into the marina carpark and found an empty bay among the throng of vehicles gathering around the popular beach resort. He looked seaward and noticed that the stiffening breeze was whipping up a southerly swell that rolled in across the outer reef. Wilder shaded his eyes from the sun’s glare as he got out of his car and looked into the cloudless topaz sky thinking that another long hot summer wasn’t far away.

On the ocean road a few kilometres north of Perth the Hillarys Marina houses a large boat harbour that was completed almost twenty years ago. During the winter months the resort complex appears to be devoid of human habitation but come summertime the sun-worshiping crowds throng in their thousands and bring the venue back to life.    

For six months every year the marina becomes the focal seaside attraction for beachgoers living in the affluent coastal suburbs for five kilometres in every direction. With the exponential increase in seasonal income the inevitable criminal elements arrive, intent on purloining their share of the hard earned summer take. 

Wilder walked towards the main mall sensing that there was something unusual about the place this morning, hard to put his finger on it but it was almost like a premonition. He wasn’t superstitious by nature, but Wilder’s instincts had been aroused on numerous occasions before and they were always worth some attention. He entered the Pensacola café and picked up a newspaper from the magazine rack as he approached his favourite table and sat down where he did most days.    

He liked the friendly atmosphere around this place and the coffee was good. Kevin Brandt, the café’s proprietor, stood attentively behind the front counter proudly working his new San Remo Capri coffee machine amongst a cloud of hissing steam. He nodded in welcome when Wilder arrived and continued to make coffee that tantalised peoples’ olfactories well outside a twenty metre radius. 

‘Morning Kev, how’s it all going?’ 

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TWO.

Wilder walked towards the café’s front counter past the table where the woman who had attracted his attention sat, intending to pay his bill. She looked up when he approached, and he smiled in a friendly way to which she responded showing her green eyes and beautifully shaped mouth. 

‘You're the Naturopath that worked in the Morley clinic where I took my friend last year,’ he heard her say as he moved a chair partly blocking his path.

‘I did work there a while ago, what’s your friend’s name?’ He’d asked the question with genuine interest, in both the friend and this attractive lady too.       ‘Jeanette Galson, she recommended that I should come to see you.’        

‘I remember Jeanette, how is she these days?’ 

‘She still has the occasional night when she finds difficulty sleeping but she’s much better.’ 

‘Well, I'm glad to hear that, say hello to her for me if you would and I’ll give you my business card just in case you need any future help. I'm not at the clinic anymore but I do work from my home not far from here.’     

‘That was a courageous thing you did a while ago,’ she said admiringly.   

‘Oh that. I’m not a local hero if that’s what you mean,’ Wilder replied feeling embarrassed that she had noticed the earlier incident with Kevin and the two thugs. ‘I think it was just a small misunderstanding and Kevin got a bit hot under the collar, nothing too serious. Barry Wilder’s my name and I come for a coffee a couple of times a week, but I haven't seen you here before,’ he said.   

‘Barry, hello, I'm Denise Graham. I recently moved from south of the river and I haven't actually been here before. Jeanette told me that the marina has a relaxing atmosphere and she advised me to take a look at it one day and today’s the day.’ 

‘Well, it's been nice talking to you Denise and I hope you enjoy the morning here, maybe we can have a coffee some time when you’re not busy.’ He’d made the suggestion harmlessly enough but with a mildly subtle enquiry as to whether she was available or otherwise engaged. 

‘I’d like that, and I’ll look forward to it,’ she replied with a hint of enthusiasm. Wilder said goodbye and continued to the cashier’s desk feeling excited at the prospect of making further acquaintances with Denise Graham in the not too distant future.

The simple business card, how did men ever meet women before cards were invented he thought, knowing that he would probably receive a phone call sometime in the next few days. Wilder walked to his car, an early but lovingly cared for BMW that he’d owned for six years. He felt the proverbial spring in his step feeling that the day had offered some exciting prospects.

Occasionally tourists passed through this pleasant little seaside centre chatting excitedly in foreign tongues, uninvolved with the locals in all but the briefest of encounters, and soon to fly to far off places. Wilder could hear their voices as he opened his car door, thankful that he was a local and still lived in this beautiful city of Perth.

Three days later the anticipated phone call vibrated in his pocket. His well rehearsed acceptance of the invitation to have coffee at 3pm on the following Friday was mentally pencilled in for both of them and the date was confirmed. He supposed that with a lifetime of experience in meeting and talking to people behind him, knowing the route to be taken beforehand was not such a mercenary way to meet with someone that seemed interesting and attractive. For all of his life he’d respected women and he still felt the same now. He’d married at nineteen and that had lasted almost twenty years but now a new life beckoned.

Wilder’s approach to any relationship on most levels stood him in good stead with the majority of women he’d shared some part of his life with. Maybe this new engagement, if there was to be one, would result in another fruitful period with someone who was looking for the same level of involvement.     

There were certainly moments of extreme emotional pain and hurt along the way, but he thought that it was the natural consequence of giving and taking in any relationship. In hindsight it didn’t diminish the quality of time spent with any of his partners and he’d do it all again without hesitation.

The strange and familiar thoughts about his life going nowhere subsided within three months of vacating Olana’s home after his relationship with her eventually fragmented.   They had parted ways and painful though it was he knew there comes a time when it’s better to go than stay. A state of ease and acceptance slowly developed in Wilder’s mind once the final division of all that they had worked for was made and then suddenly the relationship was finished. He was now once again a single man. As his thoughts cleared, imperceptibly at first, the journey began for him to find out who Barry John Wilder really was and what was the purpose in his life.   

THREE. 

After a short and exciting exchange of small talk on his mobile phone Wilder and Denise agreed to meet at a more discreet venue a couple of kilometres up the coast. There was no particular reason for their decision other than they wanted to keep their newfound relationship private and away from the preying eyes of the inquisitive Pensacola patrons.    

This brought an element of expectation and privately shared secret to the table that promised exciting possibilities that they both felt but for now held in abeyance. Whichever way they were going to play out this engagement the chemistry of their meeting would always be palpable when in each other’s presence. They danced their game moving ever closer as they sat looking out over the sea both feeling   that their physical engagement might not be far away.    

Wilder felt that the closeness and touch of a woman was     one of the truly intimate experiences for a man, and often   resulted in activities that defied reason or logic. It was courtship at its most fundamental level. The first tentative touches between them could bring an excitement that was hard to resist. The demand by both partners for the same   sensation continues until they relinquish all resistance to what promises to lie ahead.         

Such were the thoughts Wilder harboured about Denise Graham in the developing moments of their first meeting.    She’d been married for four years but that mystifying union had concluded nearly two years earlier and only cursory encounters with one or two men had taken up a small part of her life since then. The unusual marriage she’d entered  into with a man known for his involvement with elements of the criminal fraternity in Perth did not sit comfortably with Wilder.       They were together now and engaged in polite conversation and the thought of Denise somehow involved in crime and violence was abhorrent to him. After the healing months following her divorce, Denise had sufficiently cleared her mind during the convalescence period and that allowed her to rebalance herself and continue with a life of relative normality.            

She’d again taken up with her previously successful career in real estate sales and continued to work for one of the more prominent and reputable companies on the West Coast not far from Perth city. During the following months she’d managed to survive the divorce with enough money to find and pay for an attractive two storey town house with part sea views in the north coastal suburbs.          

She drove a late model Mercedes sedan and had most things that a woman needed to enjoy a comfortable working life except for the one thing she truly desired, the company of a man. Despite her apparent success Denise felt that the occasional attempts to engage in a lasting relationship with a male suitor had failed. She wanted someone who she found attractive and an intellectual equal and interested in an ongoing relationship. Short and meaningless affairs were not enough to fulfil her need as a woman approaching her most productive years and Denise desperately wanted commitment.           

The early forties as Wilder recalled was a time when many people blossom and find their life’s real meaning and Denise seemed to be one of those females approaching her time. She needed some permanency and a future with a man that could offer a solid foundation to her lifelong requirements. In return she was prepared to offer a place in her life that would fulfil the same requirements physically and emotionally and in part financially to an acceptable suitor. Wilder felt sure that he was going to be carefully scrutinised by this woman and considered as a potential candidate.         

While he sat looking into her attractive eyes it felt to him that there was a complete package here for a willing or unsuspecting male. Taken at face value Denise appeared to be the perfect restart to an exciting married life with a woman who was desirable and available. This was an interesting perspective, but his convalescence was taking longer to heal the wounds of his breakup and he was still very wary of what was being offered by this alluring woman.  

Call it an inner awakening of the male survival instinct or the pain of relationship failure he was very conscious of what his mind was telling him, and the thoughts were there to be heeded with clarity and warning. Despite these ideas flooding into his mind, he felt himself being drawn ever closer into the tantalising intimacies that promised to lie not far ahead.               

Without preamble Denise suddenly put her left hand on his at the side of the table and it felt like a bolt of electricity had struck him and then she made an unexpected and irresistible suggestion. 

‘Why don’t we leave here and go to my place, it’s not far and we can have a coffee there if you like.’  If I like, he thought with uncontrollable excitement flooding into his beating heart, let’s do it.     

‘That sounds like a good idea if that’s what you want to do,’ he actually said trying to appear calm and composed. They stood up moving their chairs outwards from the table and headed towards the checkout desk and the front door.

The café staff looked a little perplexed as they left but there were more important things for him to think of and for now a departing smile would have to suffice. 

‘If you follow me I’m parked just over there in the second row.’ She pointed to her car that was next to one of the few trees in the small carpark only four bays from his. 

‘Go ahead then and I’ll be right behind you,’ he replied.

As they left the car park Wilder noticed a familiar light cream Ford Mustang at the side of the café. It had been one or two cars behind Denise when she arrived, and his instincts were alerted to a warning that he inadvertently failed to acknowledge. He followed her out towards the main road, and he saw two men in their mid twenties approaching the Ford and then the unlock lights flashed. He dismissed the incident out of hand and turned onto the highway following Denise southwards to he knew not what.       

True to her word they soon pulled into the driveway of a well presented two storey town house. The automatic garage door moved slowly upwards and a tidy but ‘full of things’ interior came into view with room for only one car, hers obviously. He parked outside the garage on the other side of the driveway, and she stooped under the door as it slowly shut again behind her. They walked along a short pathway to the front door of her house, she with her keys jingling playfully in her hands and a pleasant smile on her beautiful face. She approached the thick wooden door, inserted the key, and turned the lock.   

‘What do you think?’ 

‘You’ve been doing well in the real estate world,’ he said. How long have you been living here?’ They entered a well appointed room through a generous entrance that successfully established a feeling of space and comfort. 

‘I’ve been here almost a year now. Make yourself at home and I’ll fix a coffee, or would you like something cool?  It’s almost noon, what about a glass of wine? I have a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc or a Merlot.’ Without too much thought about it Wilder decided on a glass of white. 

‘The cool white would be nice,’ he said nonchalantly. A slow but tangible feeling of excitement stirred in the pit of his stomach and moved slowly up towards his throat. The thought of living with an attractive partner again in a residence of this calibre was an enticing idea providing they could reach an acceptable level of agreement. He decided the idea was potentially attractive but premature at this stage. Then he noticed some interesting books along the shelf to the right of the entrance. They were mostly best sellers and cooking books but nothing classical or in depth except for a Psychology do it yourself. It had caught his eye and he wondered if after her divorce Denise had experienced some disturbing psychological problems herself.  

He heard the closing of a fridge door and glasses being prepared. Chopping sounds on a wooden board resonated from the kitchen reminding him of the domesticated character of a life such as this.     

‘Don’t go to too much trouble for me Denise,’ he called to her as she appeared through an entrance to the lounge room. 

‘No trouble.’ She moved across the room with a small tray of drinks and cheese blocks with biscuits taking care not to spill anything. She carefully placed the contents of the tray on the coffee table in front of him and revealed an ample cleavage formed by her breasts that lay in a black bra tantalisingly close to his face. She sat next to him on the three seat lounge rather than in either of the two chairs that were on the other side of the table. 

‘Here’s to us.’ She raised the glass to her lips and took a few sips.’   

‘To us,’ he replied and raised his own glass in mock salutation meeting her inviting eyes above the rim.  ‘Denise this is a rather nice way to spend the morning, it’s not often I have the chance to share such pleasant surroundings with a beautiful lady.’ He’d laced the remark with a modicum of gallant jest hoping that his comment would be well received.   

‘Mister Wilder I think you are a bit of a charmer, and I am charmed.’ She moved fractionally closer and refilled his glass from the bottle that lay on the tray before them. She replaced the bottle on the table and allowed her lips to gently pass close to his cheek as she sat back on the lounge slightly nearer to him than before. Her perfume was tantalising, and he put his drink down and gently took her by the shoulder.  

He guided her towards him in anticipation of their first kiss and he felt her body relax to his touch. She responded with a deep sigh that made the moment longed for easier for both of them.     

‘Denise I feel so relaxed here with you. I never thought I could feel like this again after some very difficult months being alone and I’m glad we’ve met,’ he said.

FOUR.

‘What a cosy little setup we have here.’ The offending interruption shattered the atmosphere as a gravelly voice rasped out across the room from the front door. Wilder pulled back from Denise surprised to see someone else in the house, especially someone he vaguely recognised who was accompanied by a second beefy and familiar looking accomplice. 

‘How did you two get in here?’ Denise demanded. She wanted an answer apparently recognising them both as she rose defensively from the seat.   

‘I don’t think Harry is going to like it when we report back to him this afternoon Denise.’ The one in charge took a step forward and dismissed her question. 

‘The shit will really hit the fan when we tell him you were all ready to get your rompers off for Biggus Dickus here. What do you reckon Mitch?’ 

‘Yeah, you’re rat shit Denise.’ Mitch looked at both of them with a knowing smile spreading across his face.  

‘You are rat shit!’ 

‘Listen guys, I don’t know what this is all about but breaking into someone’s house uninvited even if you have a key is still against the law in W.A.’   

Wilder tried to speak with as much strength of conviction in his voice as he could muster but it didn’t quite work that way.  

‘Besides we’re just two friends having a drink and talking for a while. There’s no harm in that.’ More words that sounded a bit lame even to him, but it was the best he could come up with at such short notice. Denise moved across the room towards this unannounced intruder and his mate Mitch jingling the key that he was holding in front of his face.   

‘Give me that key Garnet.’ Denise’s anger was rising fast, and her hand lunged towards it, but the attempt was futile.   

‘You have no right to come in here unannounced and I’m going to make a report to the police’ 

‘Well fuck me, Perry Mason meets CSI.’ Garnet the key man made his comment with great mirth as he and Mitch burst into loud shrieks of laughter at the joke. Wilder vaguely remembered a television series about Perry Mason somewhere in the distant past but he’d never watched CSI and the joke was lost. Besides, he didn’t feel like laughing any more than Denise who suddenly lunged at the key ring again.    

This time she gouged her tormentor’s nose with the tip of her sharp fingernail and the room went strangely quiet. Garnet held the key clenched in his fist tightly by his side and felt the hot drip of warm blood on the tip of his nose. He looked at his left forefinger and his anger raised its ugly head. Blood!  The sight of blood is a strong ego stimulator in the psychopathic mind-set, especially when it’s theirs and Wilder knew the man’s ire would rise faster than an Easter tide on the long weekend.    

Denise felt a momentary elation in her small victory but Wilder sensed that it would be short lived and totally reversed before he could cover the ten feet to where they stood opposite each other. Without warning, Garnet hit out with his clenched fist that held the key and the blow was aimed at Denise.   

‘Oh shit,’ Wilder yelled as the blow glanced off Denise’s jaw and hit her left shoulder with a force that knocked her backwards into Wilder. They collided and both fell sideways into the coffee table knocking the