The SPECTRE Of The VATICAN ©

Chapter 20 - The Dinner.

Time: Present Day
Location: Sydney, Australia.

The stretch limo pulled up outside Layla's flat. Mal jumped out and rushed to the door. He rang the bell enthusiastically. Inside Layla had just finished drying her hair and putting on make-up. She went to the door and flung it open. Mal was there to greet her, decked out in a fine pinstripe suit, both had seen better days after a day at the races.

"Haven't you lot been home?" Layla chided.

"Too busy celebrating, anyway what's at home for me these days?" Mal retorted, "now if I had someone like you waiting at home I'd be there in a flash!"

They gave each other a hug.

Mal was always able to make her smile even in the darkest moments.

Maybe she should hook up . . . ,she thought,. . . stop it, so soon after Carter . . . no, you're just being silly, but he is handsome, in a rugged kind of way . . . and he's got a heart of gold.

She realised she hadn't let go of Mal, he hadn't either, he was obviously going to milk this moment for all it was worth.

The others were trundling up the stairway as they broke the embrace.

"Ullo ullo ullo, what's goin' on ere den?" Mark asked in his awful fake Cockney accent.

"Nothing . . ." Layla was a little embarrassed, "you lot into the bathroom and freshen up a bit. I don't want to appear like a good time girl out with a pack of drunks do I?"

"We're certainly gonna have a good time though," Mal said, with a laugh, as he made his way to the bathroom.

"I hope none of you lot is driving," Layla cautioned.

"No, Mal's got the limo waiting for us outside," replied David.

"That must be costing you a fortune, who's paying?" asked Layla.

"I am, don't you worry about a thing Layla, as I said tonight's on me. I'll explain on the way," said Mal.

And that he did. When they were all ensconced in the back of the limo Mal explained how he had asked Carter for help at the races and how he believed that Carter had made the horse whinny at the appropriate moment to answer his questions. This and using Carter's system had got them the last four winners in a row and a huge trifecta and a massive Quaddie dividend.

As they pulled up at the Casino Layla asked, "Exactly how much did you guys win?"

David piped in as they got out of the limo, "Mal won most of it but I think all up it's a touch over four hundred grand!"

"Holy shit, that's nearly half a million dollars, at the races!" Layla said.

"Let's get to the restaurant and I'll tell you all about it. You won't believe what I think happened."

"I hope you're not going to blow it all at the casino?" Layla queried.

"That's why you're here to see that we don't, only kidding Layla. I've got the limo coming back for us at ten pm, so we shouldn't get into too much strife in that time. Let's enjoy the meal and see how we feel after that. We've all had a big day and are a bit tired I think," said Mal.

"A bit drunk too I think," quipped Layla. They all laughed. The Maitre'D came over to them as they entered the restaurant. He appeared to be deciding whether or not to let them in when Layla pulled him aside and said, "Look, I know my friends are a bit frayed at the edges but they have just won an awful lot of money and are looking to spend some of it in your restaurant. I promise they will be on their best behaviour." She flashed him that smile and he folded.

"Of course Mademoiselle, please follow me," he said hautily. Mark fell in behind him with an exaggerated waiter imitation. Layla cuffed him one.

"Ouch!" he cried," what was that for?"

"You know very well, you're all going to behave, as long as I'm here anyway," Layla insisted.

Soon they were seated at the table and lost in conversation when the waiter slid up to enquire about what they wanted to drink. Mal asked for the wine list which he produced from under his arm with the flourish of a professional magician.

Mal looked it over and said, "A bottle of Moet my good man, your finest year of course."

"Of course sir, a fine choice," he said sounding a little surprised, "and how many champagne glasses would that be?"

"Just the one each," Mark chipped in, "I'm from New Zealand not Tasmania!"

They all laughed except the waiter who looked at Mark quizically.

"Only one head not two!" he explained,"so . . . I only need one glass . . . oh, forget it."

They all laughed again. The waiter said, "Alright sir" and pranced off to get the champagne.

"Now tell me again, how, and why you think Carter was helping you at the track Mal?"

Mal explained in great detail all that had gone on that day leading up to and including the horse whinnying and the feeling he had that Carter, or at least his spirit, was there with them, like old times. Even sceptical Mark admitted that he too believed something mystical had occurred to them.

"You just don't pick four winners, let alone outsiders, in a row like that without something magical happening," David added, "I think Mal's right, Carter was there alright. I think we thought Mal was mad at first, but we all felt his presence in the end."

"The last thing I want to do is upset you Layla, but that's good isn't it. If Carter has made some sort of contact from the other side. Of course Mark doesn't believe in such things but I do, especially after today! The only thing is why me, why not you?" Mal wondered.

"I think I may know," replied Layla, "l wasn't going to tell anyone this, but I had this feeling that Carter was there when I went to see his body in the hospital. I think he touched me. I was alone in there, it was eerie, I was scared and took off. I thought it must have been my imagination, but now I'm not so sure."

"You see, Layla believes me Mark, don't know why you don't. Anyway let's eat. I could eat a horse and chase the jockey," said Mal.

Over dinner Layla told them what she, and Amanda, had discovered at the restaurant at lunch, and how they had talked to the paramedic that had first treated Carter. She told them what he had said about the priest.

"That's funny we saw Father Dan today at the races," said Trevor.

"But that's it, according to the paramedic apparently it wasn't Father Dan but another priest, younger, fitter," said Layla.

"Yeah that makes sense in a way. Father Dan wouldn't have left like that, in fact, if you ask me I don't think any priest worth his salt would have," said Mal.

"You know, you're right Mal, maybe I'll call Amanda in the morning, perhaps we should ask the police if we can take a look at that CCTV footage. I am sure Tony will let us."

"Maybe you will see who he was meeting with too. We can't think of anyone we know, funny nobody contacted you, maybe whoever it was, was killed or injured too," said Mal.

"Maybe you should be the investigative journalist rather than Amanda and I. We might need your help anyway because Ed won't let us pursue any more enquiries in work time. He's been told to drop it unless any further info about the bikies involvement comes to light, or until the bikies involved are caught," Layla explained.

"Okay, but I don't see how much use we can be, unless you happen to need some money? If you do I can certainly help with that now. You go get'em girl, find the bastards that did this, don't care who they are even if they are tough bikies they are not getting away with killing our Carter."