Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
T he next day, she acted as if the conversation the day before hadn’t taken place. At least today his mood was lighter, and she was careful not to mention love bites or Swedish backpackers. They discussed the bait shop and how they would work there and make good money. She kept her tone light, and was careful about what she said to avoid antagonising him. ‘I can serve customers. I could also do the paperwork and that sort of stuff,’ she said enthusiastically.
‘Sounds good, babe. I’ll do the heavy stuff and make sure the stock’s there. There’s a lot of people who fish in Yeppoon. We should make good money.’
Bob’s mate, Ziggy, welcomed them when they arrived at the shop. There were even a couple of customers buying bait when they walked in. Ziggy was an older man of about forty, and Evie was fascinated by the number of tattoos adorning his arms and legs. He was tall and solid, and she thought how skinny Bob looked beside him. Bob had known Ziggy for years and was going to lease the business from him. Ziggy said he would help him out for the first year by only charging a small rent. ‘You know mate, there’s always favours you can do for me.’ He cast a look Evie’s way and she stayed silent. There was something about Ziggy that told her not to say too much. He directed his conversation towards Bob, ignoring the fact that she also was also going to be working in the shop.
When she mentioned later that night to Bob that she didn’t think Ziggy was very friendly, he immediately stuck up for him. ‘He’s had a tough life and his wife left him. He’s done time in jail, and don’t ever get him when he’s in a bad mood. He’s got the worst temper I’ve ever seen.’
Evie stored that information in the back of her mind, Bob’s words adding to the bad feeling she already had about his friend. Three other men called around that afternoon and, apart from saying hello, she made herself scarce by keeping busy in the living area behind the shop. Before they arrived in Yeppoon, it had been exciting to think they would have a flat to call their own. Now, however, the description Ziggy had given of a flat with two bedrooms and a view of the beach, wasn’t exactly what they had found.
Sure, the flat had two bedrooms, but one was so small she doubted a bed would fit. The other room did have a double bed, but the mattress was old and the entire place stank of cigarettes and stale beer. Opening up the windows, she laughed. The view faced west. If she stuck her head out the window and peered to the left, she could just glimpse the ocean. The entire view was really of a concrete building that backed onto theirs.
At least cleaning and setting up the space kept her busy. Although she crept down the stairs that led to the shop a couple of times, to see if the men were still there drinking with Bob, she was happy to keep to herself in the flat. His friends were older than her father, and not the sort of people she wanted to hang out with. They did seem to be on best terms with Bob though, and their voices drifted up to her.
It seemed that Bob was not only to run the bait shop, but the men had other jobs lined up for him. She stood silently, holding her breath as she heard the directions given as to where he was to make deliveries and pickups. Drugs, she thought. More drugs. She had hoped they had left all of that behind.