Annabel

By Drew Lindsay

She is beautiful, desirable; everything a man could wish for in a woman. Ben Hood is extremely attracted to Annabel. Suddenly, without warning, she goes missing. Ben is determined to find her. His search leads him to Lord Howe Island and then to Cairns in Far North Queensland. Eventually he discovers that she is not the woman he thought he knew, and she is trapped in a frightening situation with a ruthless criminal organization. Ben is desperate to save her, but he would also enjoy not being dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drew Lindsay
• Release date: Jul 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215752296

Drew Lindsay

Drew Lindsay is a dynamic Australian Novelist and Writer. He has travelled extensively throughout Australia and the world. His background includes working as a Policeman and detective, then managing his own private investigation business as well as working in Fraud Investigation Management positions within the insurance industry.Drew is a PADI Divemaster and holds a private pilot's license. He has a great love of entertaining others with his vivid imagination. His novels allow the reader to escape into worlds of romance, excitement, humour and fast paced adventure. Drew lives in northern New South Wales with his wife.

Book preview

You can only do so much when you are retired, unless you’ve got ants in your pants, like the hyperactive ones have, and those who think that unless they are running about like idiots, doing all kinds of things, mostly crazy things that don’t amount to much at the end of the day…they are not enjoying life.

Where was I going with this? Oh yes. Retiring gracefully. It’s got a nice ring to it, don’t you think? Out of the rat race. No more putting up with the pushy narcissistic types that strut about causing mountains of emotional damage to everyone around them, and then walking away from the disasters they have caused, blaming everyone else for the wreckage. And the bullies. Lots of them. Probably got bullied when they were young and by God are they going to get back at the world, especially when they weasel or con their way into a position of authority, and then, they’ve got you in their crosshairs. I know a couple of people like that…one in particular. I’d love to name them, but I won’t. They know who they are.

And the borderline personality types who will screw with your brain and emotions if you don’t have the good sense to get well away from them before they get you.

Where was I going with this? Oh yes. Retiring gracefully. Away from the horde of fruitcakes and the insanely heavy city traffic if you can. Avoid tollways or you’ll end up bankrupt. Keep the TV off and read good books. Sip red wine or scotch whisky if you want to stop your arteries from clogging up. Look at trees and the ocean if you can. Keep nice people around you. Dump the ones who don’t make you feel good.

Keep your doors and windows firmly shut if you hear strange moaning when the wind picks up, and that sounds distresses or unsettles you. Have rubber seals fitted if you must.

Those sort of wind sounds didn’t bother Ben Hood all that much, in fact he loved them. He often deliberately left a window slightly ajar, just to hear those moaning sounds. He is now happily retired and doesn’t mind the moaning of the wind through cracks in his rather old ranch style home. He owns sufficient acres of bushland around his home, right down to the Nepean River, to remain well insulated from the advancing hordes…for the time being.

Some of the hoards have the audacity to wander onto his land. If Ben sees them, he politely but firmly, asks them to leave. If they choose to defy him, he asks Buddy to escort them off his property. Buddy is never polite. Buddy is also very firm and determined to get rid of those who are not welcome on Ben’s property. Buddy is a very large male German Shepherd dog and has extremely strong, white teeth.

Very few people argue the toss with Buddy. Buddy has his own place to sleep in Ben’s large home. He isn’t allowed free run of the house and never has access to the bedrooms, especially Ben’s bedroom. Not that Ben has secrets to keep from Buddy in his bedroom. Bedrooms were just generally off limits. Buddy has a thick, comfortable mattress in the huge lobby just inside the front door. He is rarely allowed into the kitchen or lounge areas, although Ben knew the dog sneaked in there from time to time after all the lights were out.

Buddy is a very firm minded dog, but with Ben, he knows who is the master. Ben saved him from a near death experience. He will never forget that. His previous owner had died, and he was left to fend for himself. He got shot twice while trying to fend for himself and Ben saved him. And the pretty lady. The very pretty lady at the hospital or whatever they called it. Her name is Annabel. Buddy loved seeing her. She is always very kind to him. He knew Ben loved seeing her too. She was always very kind to Ben as well…extremely kind, from time to time.

The wind was up. It moaned through the cracks in the windows and doors. Ben slept. Then, after a little while, he knew he wasn’t alone. He felt he was probably dreaming. A wet nose pushed against the side of his face and there was a whimper. Ben sat upright. ‘What are you doing in here Buddy?’

The big dog lay down beside Ben’s bed. Ben turned on a soft night light. ‘What’s going on?’

The dog looked up at him and whimpered softly.

‘It’s just the wind,’ said Ben. ‘You’ve never been afraid of the wind before. Go on out to your bed.’

The dog didn’t move.

‘Are you sick or something?’

Buddy laid his head back on the carpet. Ben slid his legs out of the bed and leaned down to the dog, resting a hand on the huge head. ‘Might have to take you to the vets to see Annabel tomorrow and get you sorted out.’

Buddy was on his feet in a flash. Ben sat back, startled. ‘Well, that was a quick recovery.’ The dog lay down again but kept his huge head up and his eyes on Ben. ‘Are you missing your favourite veterinary nurse?’

Buddy made a low growling noise that Ben hadn’t heard before. ‘The wind’s got you spooked mate,’ said Ben. ‘Just in case, I’ll take you to the vets tomorrow and have Annabel check you out…okay?’

Buddy laid his head back onto the carpet.

‘Alright, you can stay here just for tonight,’ said Ben. ‘Only for tonight because something has upset you. Just keep your eyes off my bed. You sleep on the floor and stop worrying about the wind moaning. It does that all the time. It doesn’t mean anything.’

****

Chapter Two

‘Hello. This is Ben Hood. Could I make an appointment to bring my German Shepherd to see Annabel? We’re regular there. Annabel knows my dog.’

‘This is Rhonda, Ben. She’s gone. I’m the one with the missing tooth in front.’

‘I thought you were going to have that fixed?’

‘Next week. I don’t like going to the dentist.’

‘What do you mean…she’s gone?’

‘Annabel. She’s gone.’

‘Is she on holidays?’ asked Ben.

‘No. She’s gone.’

‘Where?’

‘I don’t know Mr. Hood. Dr. Fink is very upset, but what can we do?’

‘Can I come for a quick visit?’

‘Dr. Fink is very busy with Annabel gone.’

‘I’m coming over right away. I won’t take up too much of his time.’

‘Okay.’

‘Is Annabel sick or something?’

‘I don’t know Mr. Hood.’

‘I’ll call her,’ said Ben.

‘I think her mobile phone is turned off Mr. Hood.’

‘I’ll be there soon.’

‘Okay.’

Ben pushed the speed button on his phone for Annabel’s number. Usually, if she didn’t answer, the call would have gone to voice mail. This time it went nowhere. There was no message and no beep.

Rhonda remained seated behind her reception desk when Ben entered. Buddy was at his side. Rhonda had a fear of big dogs and went out of her way to go nowhere near them. Ben had wondered why she ever took a job as a receptionist in a Veterinary practice. He walked to the counter. There wasn’t anyone else in the waiting room, notwithstanding Rhonda’s claim that the vet was very busy.

She half smiled at him. ‘Hello’.

‘You haven’t got that missing front tooth replaced,’ said Ben.

‘Oh Jesus. I just knew you would notice and say something.’

‘I thought you said Dr. Fink was busy?’

‘He’s operating on a cat. He’s amputating a back leg. A car ran over the poor thing.’

‘So, if it recovers, it will only have three legs,’ said Ben.

‘Yes.’

‘Can you see why you need to have that front tooth replaced?’

‘I’m saving up. I’ll get around to it. Why do you ask?’

‘Say yes for me’.

‘Yes.’

‘See. Air hisses out through the gap in your teeth when you say yes.’

‘Well, I won’t say yes anymore.’

Ben laughed. ‘You just did.’

Rhonda stood. ‘I have no reason to smile or feel good just now Mr. Hood. I’ll let Dr. Fink know you are here. Please take a seat.’

‘I’ve got more than enough seats at home, thank you.’

Then she laughed, rather loudly, and quickly left the room.

Dr. Abraham Fink approached Ben and held out his hand. Ben stood and accepted the handshake. Dr. Fink was a small man…probably in his late 50’s. He had a slight Chinese appearance. He was wearing green surgical scrubs over his thin body. Thick lens glasses made his eyes look larger than they probably were. He wore a surgical cap. ‘You’re here about Annabel?’

‘Yes,’ said Ben.

‘Please follow me. You can bring your dog.’

Ben followed Dr. Fink along a narrow passageway which led to an office at the end. Dr. Fink sat down behind a battered timber desk and waved his hand at four upholstered chairs situated in front of the desk. ‘Take your pick.’

Ben smiled. He was about to make a joke but decided against it. He sat down on a seat just to the right of Dr. Fink’s desk. Buddy lay down beside the chair.

‘This is my office,’ said Fink. ‘It’s also the bereavement and counselling room.’

‘Does it get much use in the bereavement and counselling department?’

‘Thankfully, not,’ said Dr. Fink. ‘It is important however, to give support to anyone who has lost a pet. We don’t work miracles here.’

‘I’m sure you do the best you can,’ said Ben.

‘Yes…of course.’ Dr. Fink folded his arms across his chest. ‘You and Annabel were close. Is that correct?’

‘She had a special bond with my German Shepherd…Buddy.’

‘Yes…I know.’

‘She and I were also good friends.’

‘How good…may I ask?’

Ben didn’t respond.

‘As you Australians say Ben, let’s not run around the bush.’

‘Beat about the bush,’ said Ben. ‘I think it’s an old English expression, although we say it a lot in Australia. It means, let’s get to the point.’

‘So, shall we?’

‘Yes.’

Dr. Fink looked at Ben.

Ben looked back at Dr. Fink. ‘Alright. We were more than good friends. We were lovers.’

‘I already knew that’ said Dr. Fink.

Ben looked slightly shocked but didn’t respond.

‘She told me.’ said Dr. Fink. ‘Now she’s gone. Just like that. I don’t suppose you happen to know where she is?’

‘I don’t,’ said Ben.

‘Are you sure about that?’

‘I’m absolutely sure,’ said Ben.

‘Has she gone to your home for protection?’

Ben was shocked at the question, but he tried not to show it. ‘Protection from who?’

‘Don’t you know?’

Ben sat back in the chair. ‘Why would Annabel need any kind of protection Dr. Fink?’

‘Didn’t she disclose anything of her past and family associations to you?’

‘No.’

‘Were you curious about her past?’

‘Yes,’ said Ben.

Fink unfolded his arms. ‘Why didn’t you ask her?’

‘I’m not one to pry, unless it’s important to pry.’

‘So…it was just a sexual thing between you both?’

‘She initiated sex,’ said Ben. He looked down at Buddy. ‘Perhaps time to leave,’ he said. ‘Dr. Fink just overstepped the mark.’

‘Please,’ said Fink. ‘I am so sorry. I have breached the boundaries of propriety. It’s not something that I usually do. Please forgive me. Don’t leave.’

Ben looked at the vet. ‘I’m confused at Annabel taking off like this without telling me. I’m confused as to why she would turn off her mobile phone. Is there something about Annabel and her sudden disappearance that you would like to share with me Dr. Fink?’

‘Annabel is not who you think she is.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I don’t know what I mean,’ said Dr. Fink.

Ben looked confused.

Dr. Fink held up both hands. ‘Her background is shrouded in mystery.’

‘You employed her as a veterinary nurse.’

‘Yes. Her qualifications in that regard are exemplary. She has a degree from one of the finest universities in Hong Kong. I’ve watched her work. She is extremely capable.’

‘So, she comes from Hong Kong?’

‘She was educated