Chapter 20
David never pushed the issue with Tracey and their friendship grew. Urs recovered well, this little piece of Tasmanian paradise had renewed his heart and soul. They all were healing nicely in their own ways. And life was good. The days turned into weeks and they settled into a routine. Carlos had proven himself to be an excellent TA (trades assistant) and spent much of his time with Simon and Darrell as they worked on the property. Sebastien had continued to annoy Sue in the kitchen. He was an excellent cook and had taken over many of the culinary duties of the house. David spent as much time with Tracey as he could. She showed him some of the nicest parts of the property, they walked, and they rode horses, they had picnics. On more than one occasion Urs had joined them. Their days were filled with laughter and happiness. Urs had wrestled Simons 35mm camera away from him and had become quite the photographer. He had taken shots of them all at work and at play. A few of which had found their way onto one of the walls in the guest house.

Each night they would come together for dinner like one big happy family. When the weather did not permit outside adventures they would spend time playing board games or just talking. They found things out about each other, they laughed and they cried and their friendships grew. Even Baby Girl had adopted the boys as her new upright friends.
Tracey had left the property for only a few days at a time. Knowing what he did David guest she was off to attend to her global duties or medical check ups. He was right in both respects. Tracey herself had never felt as good as she did for a long time. Having them around even seemed to make her physical pain hurt less. But it was still there, lurking waiting to attack.
It was as if they had stepped out of time and were living in their own private Utopia.
But a storm was brewing and it was an email from Nat that alerted them to it. Tracey knew it would only be a matter of time before someone at the music company wanted to know why Il Divo had dropped off the radar. It had taken 5 weeks. One more week than the boys had told them they were going to the Bahamas. Nat’s contacts had been true to their word and she knew that Il Divo’s manager was waiting at Heathrow Airport to board a plane to Australia. That gave them a few days. Tracey figured he wouldn’t fly all the way out if he had no idea where the group was. Tracey, Sue, Simon and Darrell knew that Jarrod West was coming. They did not tell the guys. Tracey was definitely not happy. She got in touch with a few people. The first one being Jimmy.
Tracey had been absent for the few days preceding Jarrod’s visit. Everyone assuming it was one of her trips. So she was not at the house when Jarrod arrived. Neither was anyone less. The guys had gone quad biking. It was the sound of the bikes coming down the path that alerted Jarrod. He stood on the steps of the guest house and waited. David saw the car and Jarrod before the others and slowed his bike. In turn Carlos, Sebastien and Urs did the same. They pulled up outside the house and alighted in silence, no one said a word.
Sue had heard the bikes from her own home, she knew Jarrod had arrived and sent a page to Simon and Darrell and headed for the guest house. By the time she got there everyone was inside. Jarrod was yelling at the guys and in return they were shouting back. The tension was volatile, emotions where high as the guys defended their actions. Something they should never have had to do. Sue was trying to bring things to order but she was not being heard. They were all so engrossed in the altercation that no one heard or saw Tracey at the front door. If they had they may have realised just how angry she was. Standing at the threshold of the house was Tracey, with rage in her eyes and a shotgun in her hands. She shouted once for them to be quiet, twice, then raised the gun and fired. The sound was deafening, everyone ducked, and Jarrod spun around to face her finding himself looking down the barrel of the gun. The guys were stunned. Jarrod was about to release another verbal explosion. Tracey beat him to it. Her voice was cold and stern. She did not raise it. She did not have to. “That will be quite enough Mr West. You utter one more word without my permission and you’ll leave in a body bag. Nod if you understand?”
Jarrod nodded keeping his eyes on the gun. The rest of the room was silent.
“This is private property Mr West. I don’t recall inviting you. Considering what you are responsible for I am surprised you came at all.”
Jarrod went to speak but Tracey moved the gun and he remained silent. “Thanks to you and your corporate buddies Urs nearly died and the others were on the edge of their own nervous break downs. I am here to tell you that things are going to change once they get back to the mainstream. Now Mr West you may speak. BUT be warned. You raise you voice, swear or in any other way tick me off I will shut you down.”
It was as if Jarrod had not heard her words. He launched into a barrage of abusive language.
Tracey cocked the gun and the others all yelled. David being the loudest.
“Tracey No!!!!!”
She stepped forward so that the barrel of the gun rested on Jarrod’s stomach. There was no mistaking the rage in her eyes. This is the scene that Simon found as he entered the house.
“Oh Lord Tracey. What are you doing?”
Jarrod looked from Tracey to Simon and back to Tracey. “I don’t like him very much Simon. He hurts people.”
“That maybe so but you can’t shoot him.”
“Why not?”
There was a silence as the others looked on nervously. It almost looked like Simon was trying to think of a reason.
Urs spoke up. “My sweet nightingale, because this is not who you are. It might have been once but not now.”
Tracey took a deep breath. “He needs to leave.”
“Ok.” Said Simon. “I’ll….”
“No, My way.” Tracey adjusted the gun, everyone got a little nervous but all she did was place her fingers to her lips and gave and ear piercing whistle.
Jimmy, accompanied by three other men entered the house. They all recognised Jimmy and David recognised the rest from the picture on the wall in Tracey’s cottage.
“Officer Marshall will escort Mr West off the property and make sure that he gets back on a plane headed for the northern hemisphere.”
Jimmy and his friends were not dressed in a uniform but they were dressed alike. Dark pants and pale blue denim shirts. There was no escaping their presence.
Jimmy and one of the men came forward and took Jarrod by the arms and removed him from the house, Jarrod left in silence, too shocked to say a word. The party of five walked down the road past Jarrod’s car and disappeared around a bend. It was then that Sebastien had the courage to say something. Tracey still had the gun aimed down the road.
“Are they going to make him walk all the way to the airport?”
Without moving Tracey spoke. “Nope. Just to the next town.”
“Aw Ace that’s ten k’s away.” It was Sue “He’ll be exhausted.”
Urs came and put his arm around Tracey. She lowered the gun and he felt the tension leave her body. “You Aussie girls do get passionate about things don’t you?”
Tracey turned and threw the gun at Simon. She had the biggest grin on her face. “You didn’t really think I would have shot him do you? Too messy.”
David, Sebastien, Carlos and Urs laughed. It was a nervous laugh but it did lighten the mood.
“So those where some of Jimmy’s chauffer buddies I take it?” said Sebastien.
Tracey gave him a wiley smile as she passed. “Golfing actually.”
“But seriously, what are they going to do with him Tracey?” There was a little concern in David’s eyes.
“Like I said. They will walk him to the next town. Jimmy’s got transport from there to the airport. I figure it will give him time to reconsider some of his actions of late. Don’t worry. Apart from a few blisters I expect he will be unharmed. Unless of course he gives the boys a hard time.”
“So what do we do now?” Carlos was still a little shaken by the whole ordeal. It was a side of Tracey none of them had seen. “He will be after our heads when we get back to England.”
“I don’t think so my Latin lover. There will be a boardroom full of legal heavy weights for him to contend with when he gets back. I meant it when I said that you needed to take your future into your own hands. I’m just giving you a little push is all.” With that Tracey left them to return to her own cottage.
David went to go after her but Simon stopped him. “Not a good idea to chase a cyclone mate.”
“Well I think I will put the kettle on.” And Sue drifted in to the kitchen.
“I reckon a cold beer would be good about now.” And Simon winked at the others. They all agreed.
Just then Darrell came in. “I heard shots…..What’d I miss?”
They all laughed.

Jimmy and his friends had indeed marched Jarrod West to the next town. Once he had regained his composure Jarrod had demanded that he be taken back to the property. They kept walking. At one point he turned around and began to walk back himself only to be stopped by two of the men. They kept walking. After a while Jarrod stopped shouting and they kept walking.
Just on the outskirts of town the group took a small road off the main one. Although he never spoke Jarrod was a little nervous. He was under no illusion that the men he was with could hurt him in ways he’d rather not think about. As they came round a bend he saw it, a helicopter. Not the usual commercial helicopters but a military one. One of the men made a signal with his hands and it fired up. This was how they were going to get him back to the airport.
Again in silence they all boarded. Apart from the raging noise of the helicopter it was a very silent and icy trip.
It occurred to Jarrod as they landed on a specific site at the airport, where others waited for them, that this would have all been pre arranged. Someone knew he was coming and were going to make damn sure he was leaving. He was escorted from the helicopter across the tarmac, through a small building and found himself boarding and international plane via the catering lift. Still surrounded by his five companions plus the two new guards that had just joined them. He was escorted through the empty plane to first class and Jimmy pointed to a seat. Jarrod sat. Well at least it was first class. All but Jimmy left the plane. He sat next to Jarrod.
“You coming with me? Make sure I don’t try and get back.” Jarrod said a little too venomously for Jimmy.
Jimmy’s steel, dark eyes unnerved Jarrod. “No mate. My part of the assignment ends here. But we do have others on the plan that will be keeping an eye on you.”
Jarrod protested “That’s outrageous, you can’t do that. I have rights.”
Jimmy was calm in his reply “Now you see. You went and upset Tracey. That’s not a good thing to do.” Jimmy handed Jarrod a business card. “Call him when you get back to the UK. He will be happy to let you know just who you upset. And I am sure Tracey will have already put a few things in motion. All waiting for you. Mr West, From what I saw of those lads when they arrived, you’re lucky their families are not suing you. Now, sit back and enjoy your trip.”
“Who are you? Some secret arm of the SAS?”
Jimmy smiled “It’s something we do.” He left, but one of the others took his place along side Jarrod.
Jarrod was silent.

Jarrod West did make a phone call when he got back to his office. How was it that Tracey Coleman could circulate through some of the most influential circles in England and the world and he had never heard of her? He had been speaking to the CEO of one of the largest international banks doing business on the shores of England. Jarrod hung up, remembering Jimmy’s words. The CEO had referred to her as Cyclone Tracey and told Jarrod it would be a good idea to put things right or she could make life very unpleasant for him. He’d seen it happen, Tracey did not like injustice and she would do her best to fix it.