~ Nothing Is As It Seems ~

~ Nothing Is As It Seems ~

The latest chapter for Lindi Brandon’s series in Dark Harbor Magazine needed to be finished and turned in by noon tomorrow. She had been hard at it all day and was almost finished. Just needed a viable way for Dot to escape the horde. She glanced at the time on the computer screen. Lord have mercy. She was still in her baby blue silk pajamas and her tribe of kids, her Loveies would be home from school soon and ravaging a fresh batch of their favorite sweets, homemade Lamingtons. Mitch was working late, so she was on her own making dinner. A concern, a vague warning was invading the back of her mind. Really needing a break anyway, she pulled the clip from her blonde hair and shook it down. When she stepped out into the sunshine for some air, Lindi was overwhelmed by the sight of police cars with flashing lights surrounding the house and crouched cops pointing their Glock 17’s at her. A TRT team rushed her front porch.

**********

Later that night, Mitch Brandon gestured for the tall lean gentleman in a blue merino wool suit and holding a stuffed file folder to sit at the dining room table. “Deputy General Smith of the ASIO, this is my Solicitor and family friend, Willow Badger.”

Smith shook hands with her and sat. The big horned rimmed glasses on her hard but not unattractive face, seemed looming. She looked like trouble. “Sorry to come so late but it has been a long day. For all of us, I’m sure.”

Ms. Badger addressed him with heated zeal. “The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation? Cut the shit Smith, if that’s even your real name. Why would the ASIO arrest a mom from in the suburbs? I was not allowed to see my client, bail has been denied and Lindi has not even been charged with a crime. You have violated her due process in every way possible.”

“Calm down Solicitor. We’re working on all of that. You must understand that Lindi Brandon is not only a flight risk, but extremely dangerous as well.”

Mitch stood angrily. “That is ridiculous!”

Ms. Badger put a restraining hand on his arm. “Sit down Mitch. Smith, that is insane. Lindi is a wife and mother. She is a writer. She has no prior history of criminal activity for Christ’s sake.”

“It’s true that Lindi Brandon has been dormant and residing peacefully for many years. That is why I came here tonight. I normally do not interact with families in these situations. But I felt that, under the circumstances, you (he nodded to Mitch) and your children deserve some explanation. Technically this information I’m about to give you is highly classified. But even if you shared it publicly, it would be denied, no one would believe you anyway, and you could be arrested for treason, so keep it between us. Ms. Badger, Mr. Brandon, Lindi is not who you think she is. In a previous life her name was Bindi Mabarn. She was raised by the Aboriginal Martu in the Great Victoria Desert out west.”

Mitch was floored. “What the hell are you talking about. Lindi is white. She’s from New Zealand. This is crazy. She has no previous life. We’ve been married for 22 years. We have 5 children.”

“Yes. It’s hard to process, I know. Bindi, or Lindi, is wanted for multiple counts of murder, as well as kidnapping, arson and possession of illegal drugs.” He slid the folder across to the Solicitor. “It’s all in here.”

“Willow?” Pleaded Mitch shaking his head.

“Give me a minute Mitch.” She leafed through the pages, then eyed Smith. “Go on.”

“Willow! You’re not buying this bullshit, are you?”

“Mitch wait. Smith, tell me. How did you find her?”

“My father, he’s retired. He read her book and recognized her right away and contacted me.”

“What?” questioned Mitch.

Willow Handed Mitch a picture from the folder. It was Lindi’s smiling photo from the back of her best-selling novel, Recipe for Ivory and Glass.

“How did your father know her? Tell me everything.”

“My Pop was a policeman in the town of Leinster, right in the heart of the Western Desert. He was also the government liaison to the many regional indigenous nations. Once on a routine visit to the Martu, he spied a White Girl living among them. One of the Elders that Pop was friendly with told him an amazing story. Many years before there was a crash in the desert. The Elder described it as a ship from the stars or Karrpa as they called it.” An emotionless voice from his watch corrected his pronunciation. “The Elder showed Pop pieces from the ship they had preserved as Holy Relics. The Aboriginal have a whole history of dealing with Sky People and such. He claimed that the Martu found many beings on board. All were dead but one. A baby in an incubator of sorts with wires and tubes attached to her spine.”

Willow interrupted. “Mitch. Lindi has those scars on her back.”

“Stop it Willow.”

Smith went on. “The baby looked human. They dubbed her a Sky Child and named her Bindi. The Martu raised her as one of their own. She was exceptional in every way. Trained as what the indigenous call a Marrngiti?” Again the watch voice corrected him. “I apologize, but the Aboriginal languages are more art than science. It means Clever Man in English. It’s a kind of a witch. A Healer and wielder of Bush Magic. She was also a master instructor of the Marn Grook.”

Mitch said, “I’ve heard of that. It’s just a children’s game with a ball.”

“That’s a common misconception among non-Aboriginal cultures. It starts as a game to introduce the concepts to young children. But my Pop explained that it is actually an ethnic phenomenon that teaches all Aboriginals about society, Clan rules, resolving conflict. Over a lifetime, it encompasses philosophy, history, hunting and survival skills, even combat. Think Spartan Agoge training or maybe an Aboriginal version of a Samurai. The Elder introduced them and Pop was quite taken with her. Then he did something he regrets to this day. In a monthly report to the government, he mentioned Bindi. Within days, two Men dressed in black suits arrived with “researchers”( he made air quotes) and an SAS unit armed to the teeth. Pop had no choice but to lead them to the Martu village. The Men-in-Black produced multiple warrants for confiscation of the Relics, the illegal drugs used in their religious ceremonies and the arrest of Bindi Mabarn. The Elders flatly refused and ordered the Feds to leave. The situation escalated and then exploded. Almost a dozen Elders were killed as well as one old woman and an infant. The MIB took the drugs and Relics, but Bindi was not to be found.”

Mitch stated, “I’ve never heard of some massacre of Indigenous in the Western Desert.”

“It was completely covered up by the Government. My Pop was threatened with prison if he ever spoke of it. Two days later, Bindi showed up in town and surrendered to my father. The MIB arrived the next day and took her away. One week later, Bindi was in the news. Wanted for destroying a Federal building in Canberra and the deaths of many Federal employees inside at the time. That was the last anyone heard of her.”

“That’s quite a story Mr. Smith but there is no way that woman your describing is my wife.”

Smith pulled a polaroid from his pocket and slid it to the solicitor. She showed it to Mitch. On either side of a White Woman was an Aboriginal Elder and a White Man in a uniform, their arms around her waist. It was Lindi, Mitch’s wife.

“That is a picture of Bindi with my father. It was taken when he was in his late twenties and I was only 7. I just turned 58 years old last month.” They both looked at him in disbelief.

Mitch tossed the picture back. “This looks just like her but it can’t be Lindi. Willow?”

“He’s right Smith. This woman is about the same age that Lindi is now. That would put Lindi in her seventies at least. You’ve seen her, right? This proves it’s not her.”

“We confirmed her DNA before the arrest. It’s her.”

“How could you have her DNA?”

Willow put up her hand for Mitch to wait. “I have you now Smith. They didn’t know about DNA 50 years ago.”

“True. We didn’t know but the Men-In-Black did.” He turned to Mitch. “We took her dirty dishes and silverware from Hungry Jack’s last Sunday when your family ate there for lunch.”

“Willow! Can they do that?”

“It’s a complex legal issue but technically yes. Though I don’t think these people would really care if it was legal or not.”

Smith stood and took back the folder. “Can’t leave this with you. You understand.”

Mitch sounded frantic. “Wait, Smith. When can I see my wife?”

“I’m sorry Mr. Brandon. Odds are, you will never see your wife again.”

Smith’s face went hard as he turned and left.

“Wait. You can’t just… Willow, say something!”

She hollered, “ I’m suing you to high heaven!” He kept walking. “I’m going to the media. Come back here you son-of-a-bitch!” They heard the front door slam.

**********

Mitch didn't put the kids down for the night until 1:00 in the morning. He didn’t know what to tell them, so he lied about their mother’s absence. He would try to explain the truth tomorrow but for now, he needed to think. He tossed and turned for hours, not able to sleep as the days demented events went through his mind over and over. As he finally began to drift off, he heard his name, spoken softly. It startled him. He sat up and in the light of the rising sun creeping through the window, he was shocked to see Lindi standing there. Barefoot and wearing a police utility belt with a pistol in the holster and a boomerang and hunting knife shoved into the other side. She held a backpack and was still in the blue pajamas from the night before, except the silk top was spattered with what appeared to be blood.

Mitch began, “Lindi is it true? Smith said.”... But she cut him off. “Mitch I know this has thrown you for a loop. I know you feel confused and betrayed. But I don’t have much time so listen carefully.” She spoke as she rummaged through the backpack. He saw clothes and cash as she fished out a key and offered it. “This is for a safety deposit box in your name at Union bank. It has money. Lots of money. And an explanation.”

Mitch took the key reluctantly and put it in the night table drawer. “Is it true, Lindi? You murdered people and burned down a building?”

Lindi paused, then sighed. “Yes, it is true.” She reached for him and he pulled back.

“Why? How?”

“They came there for me, the Sky Baby of our village. He told you of the people they murdered?” Mitch nodded yes. “What monsters could take the lives of good people so recklessly. And in the name of what? Science? Progress? They were my people Mitch. My family. The woman they murdered was my foster mother. She raised me. One of the Elders they shot down like a an animal was my husband. They baby they trampled was my son.” A tear rolled beside her nose and stalled on top of her lip. Her voice turned cold and her wet eyes glazed. “They had no idea who they were dealing with. What they had unleashed. I turned my self in, knowing they would come for me. Knowing they would take me back to their cesspool, to their hive of evil. Call it justice. Call it revenge. Call it what you will. With no regrets, I killed them all and burned it to the ground.” She wiped the tear away and zipped up the back pack. “I have to go. In the deposit box is also a letter to you. It explains everything in detail and has instructions on getting me a message. If you don’t contact me again, I will understand. Tell my Loveies they are always in my heart.”

“Oh shit Lindi, the kids. You should see them before you go.”

“I’ve been here too long already Mitch. By now they will know I’ve escaped and this is the first place they will come looking.”

Mitch suddenly heard a distant siren growing louder and glanced out of the window. When he looked back, Lindi was gone. Vanished like a ghost.

**********

Mitch and Willow faced each other at the Greyhound Australia bus terminal in Sydney. “Sorry I’m late Mitch. I came straight from the office. I just got confirmation. The divorce is officially final.”

“My last tie to Lindi. Like she never was.”

“So. Moving all the children to Perth. It seems so extreme. Like the other side of the world.”

“I think it’s our best chance for a normal life. A fresh start. We just exist here now. It’s not home anymore. Hasn’t been for months.”

“How are the kids reacting?”

“They have mixed feelings. Excited but sad to leave their friends. Except Jack. He is a complete mess. This whole Lindi thing and then her disappearing has crushed him. His grades went to hell, he’s not going to graduate. He hangs out with a bad bunch. He’s getting in fights all the time. His therapist says he is in a PTSD related depression.”

“He’s a good boy deep down. Don’t worry he’ll come around. Mitch, are you sure you have to do this? I hoped that… With the divorce and all. Mitch, Lindi was my best friend but you and I have been through so much.”

“Willow. I could never have made it this last year without you. I’ve grown to care for you, but…”

Her eyes were wet. “I know. Lindi was the one. That’s life.” She sniffed and smiled sadly.

With nothing more to say, they hugged until Jack approached and interrupted. “Dad. The brats and our bags are on the bus. Let’s just go if we’re going.”

As they walked away, Willow called out, “You two take care.”

Both waved without looking back.

**********

The bus pulled into a petrol station in a small dusty town in Western Australia. Jack mumbled, “On a bus to nowhere and we have arrived.”

“What?” Questioned his father.

“Nothing.”

The drivers voice gave instructions. “We need to fill up. Feel free to exit the bus. There are snacks and facilities at the milk bar. For those going on to Perth, we leave in one hour, sharp.”

Mitch stood and stretched. “Come on kids, let’s go look around. This town is near where your mother grew up.” That caught everyone's interest. They had not heard their dad mention their mother in a long time. As they disembarked, he asked the driver, “Is it okay to leave our stuff on the bus while we check this place out?”

“Sure. One hour, remember.”

After a few minutes of walking, Jack cantankerously commented, “I didn’t think anything could be hotter than Sydney in the summer. Dad, this is just a dodgy little town. What are we looking for?”

“We’re just strolling. You know guys this officially became a town in 1976. Most of the people who live here are Miners.”

“Where did Mom live,” asked Sadie, the youngest.

“She lived more out in the desert. With Aboriginals named the Martu. She was…” he stopped, peering intently. The kids followed his line of sight and all went quiet. A woman was approaching them.

As she came closer, they all recognized her. Except for shorter hair and a deep dark tan, she looked the same. Joyously the kids cried out, “MOM!” in unison and ran to her. Kissing, hugging and fervent chatter ensued for several minutes. It was Jack’s first smile since she disappeared.

The children settled down and the man and the woman locked eyes. With tempered anticipation she said, “Hi. My name is Rikki. I see from that band on your finger that your married.”

“I used to be. Recently divorced. It didn’t work out. She wasn't who I thought she was."

“Then your available.” Her face bloomed into a smile. “What’s your name?” She held out her hand to shake.

He gently lifted her hand and kissed her knuckle. “My friends call me Wally.” And then laughed with tears in his eyes.

Still fixed on each other, Nikki declared loudly to shouts of delight, “I just made Lamingtons. Who’s hungry?”

Jack pulled his father into a hug. “Come on Dad. Let’s get our stuff.”

**********