Chapter 10 #4
Michelle hid the wrench behind her back as he turned. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked Katrina.
‘Kickboxing.’ Katrina was gasping for breath. ‘Shane owns a gym and he’s a nationally recognised trainer. We’ve had a chat and he knows he breached the “no violence” clause in the contract he signed, but he understands that we’ll overlook his behaviour if he overlooks mine.’
Shane nodded. ‘I blew it. Reboot.’ He was tanned, with small features in a big face. ‘What can I say? I’m goin’ crazy with the divorce, but that roundhouse of Sam’s kicked the sense right into me.’
‘O-o-okay . . .’ Michelle still didn’t get it.
‘Shane thinks I have potential,’ Katrina explained, removing her gloves.
‘Smashing kick. Lot of power there. Very fit, for someone your age. And you trained with Peter Bouras, who’s a legend, so your technique’s great.’ Shane turned to Michelle. ‘Who are you?’
‘She’s my partner,’ Katrina replied. ‘We’ve got each other’s backs.’
Shane nodded enthusiastically. ‘Great. Sparring partner. I get it.’
‘I think we agree that this punishment mindset of yours isn’t healthy, Shane.’ Katrina tossed her gloves onto the couch nearby. ‘You need to find better ways to manage your feelings.’
‘She had other clients she could have seen. Clients who aren’t abusive,’ said Michelle, who felt she ought to be making some kind of contribution. She couldn’t believe how cool Katrina was – how matter-of-fact. It was awe-inspiring.
‘Sure. I know. I need an emotional workout.’ But Shane wasn’t interested in Michelle.
He turned back to Katrina. ‘Thing is, I’ve got a slot at my gym for someone like you.
The old ladies get turned off by male trainers and by hot young female ones even more, but a lady like you, fit but old, you’re perfect.
I could train you up to teach the old-lady classes.
And I reckon you could even make it to the WAKO Senior Championships, with my help. Your lead kick is awesome.’
‘Thank you, that’s a lovely compliment, but I don’t really have time.’ Katrina wiped the sweat from her eyes. ‘We’re leaving now, and I’m afraid I’ll have to charge you the full fee, because I wouldn’t have come tonight if I’d known what I was in for.’
‘Sure. Totally. But think about the job, okay? Hang on.’ Shucking his hand pads, Shane listed towards his living-room sideboard, which stood under a framed inspirational quote – The Body Achieves What the Mind Believes – and picked up an orange business card shaped like a boxing glove.
‘Call me,’ he said, shoving the card at Katrina.
‘Any time. You’re wasted on this shit, you should be in the ring. ’
Katrina took the card, then seized Michelle’s arm and hustled her out of the house.
They were halfway across the courtyard before Katrina finally spluttered, ‘Oh my God! Oh my God!’
‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.’ Michelle was close to tears. This was down to her. She was the one in charge of booking.
‘It’s not your fault. I should have called you back, but it all happened so quickly. Did you say he was a friend of Nick’s?’
‘Nick referred him.’
‘Him and Mr Mole Check.’ Katrina gave a gusty sigh. ‘Let’s not take any more of Nick’s friends. They’re too much trouble – them and their issues.’
‘Absolutely. You’re right. I’m sorry.’ Michelle glanced nervously back at the glass doors, but Shane was nowhere to be seen.
‘You handled it so well, though. You’re a real pro.
Could you show me a couple of kickboxing moves?
’ Though she couldn’t really imagine throwing herself around like that . . .
Katrina paused with one foot in her car.
‘We should definitely do a session. In the meantime, I’ll send you some links to a great set of self-defence videos.
You know, I only did those kickboxing classes for exercise.
Who’d have believed they’d pay off?’ She nodded at the big red button nearby.
‘Do you mind pressing that for me? I don’t have a remote. ’
‘Sure.’ Edging towards the roller door, Michelle asked, ‘You took the card. Are you going to call him?’
‘Me? Work for Shane?’ Katrina shuddered. ‘Imagine wearing sweaty training gear all day!’
‘So, you’re okay?’
‘I’m fine. Look, I’ve had worse at the uniform shop. You should see what some of the parents do when they hear we don’t give refunds on clothes their kids have grown out of. Once I had to squirt a father with calendula face mist. He backed off because he thought it was pepper spray.’
Pepper spray. That was an idea. Should they try something like that? Make their own, with water and chilli powder? Or maybe a duress alarm would be better. Michelle had heard they had GPS trackers; she would check.
‘Thanks for coming.’ Katrina looked up through the open driver’s door. ‘I really needed the back-up.’
Michelle felt a prickle behind her eyes again. ‘I had to come. It was my fault.’ Her amateur error had put her friend at risk. Things would have to change.
‘Don’t be silly. It was his fault.’ Katrina jerked her head at Shane’s house. ‘I’m glad he didn’t see you waving that tyre iron. He’d have called the police for sure.’
Smiling reluctantly, Michelle said, ‘It’s a ratchet wrench.’
‘Self-defence and auto mechanics. Aren’t we tough?’