Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2023 09:10:39 +1000 From: max dowling Subject: Kasey with a k / chapter 68/ can you post this first please i made a mistake Adam 68 Maxieplus We had a good poke around then dad had to get back. I slipped him the memory stick and told him to watch it with mum. Back at the salon, I was confronted by Kasey, he had turned up to see if I needed help with hanging the poster. "Where have you been?" "Sorry, I grabbed dad and we went to look at the top floor of the fed building." "It's huge isn't it?" "You saw it?" "Yes Adam, I went there when I had business with Mick and his team. Did you organize some lunch?" He's hungry. "I'll send Lynnie over the road, pies okay with you?" "Yes." He grinned. I did that and ordered two for Kasey I know he loves his pies. "So what did you think of it?" "Museum Adam, can't be anything else its too big, and to put more offices into the space would be sacrilege." "I agree, so do we get in touch with the museum or go walkabout in the alleyways?" "Let's go talk to Sylvia, she may know something about it." "Okay I will call back a little earlier than three, we can get onto it today." "Did you look at apartment one?" "Yes, it is perfect for what I want." "I will have a look on the way home." Lynnie arrived and he rummaged through the cupboard to find the tomato sauce. "Is Sam okay?" "Yes, he had his story to tell everyone and was pretty excited." "They will get sick of him soon." "No, they love his tales, whether they believe him or not is the question as you already know. But I do believe he tells a good story." He grinned. "School?" "I have recommendations from the kindy, there are only two he can go to in our area, One is three streets behind our building the other is a little further away. The ladies said that most of the kids will go to the nearer one." "We had better check it out and book him in then." "I have brochures and their website for you to look at." "So there's nothing for me to do then?" "Yes I have plenty for you to do," He rubbed his crotch. "I see." That I will do with pleasure. Trish arrived with Gloria they were having lunch together today. "That bloody Marko is a genius Adam," Gloria said. "Is he creating again?" "Yes, four loose plaits fanned out to make big curls, it took him twenty minutes and looks superb." "I must go have a look then." I walked out into the salon and saw his newest creation, it was beautiful. The customer was in awe and Marko had the biggest grin on his face. "Just toying with an idea Adam." "Toy away Marko, but don't ever leave me." "I won't, James is still here." I winked, and this is where James is going to stay. There was very little teasing with this style and I looked closely at his work, it was secured fast and a light spray took care of the loose hair. I think I will film the next one and put it on YouTube. Kasey left and I went to retouch a lady's roots, Lynnie was excited about something today, I think by the way James was talking she's found a boyfriend at last. I hope it's not another Mitchell situation, which reminds me I haven't seen him for ages. I did my appreciative client then talked to Trish for a moment. "They are doing a great job on the museum movie Adam, I am so happy for Chloe she's overjoyed at the results." "So she should be, she's so natural in that movie, I hope it continues." "We watched it twice and again when she and Linda turned up." "Well she rang me and I told her it was all your and Kaseys work but for some reason, she thinks I did it all." "She likes you Adam, and I told her it was your project." "It's your's Trish, take some credit you did very well to get it off the ground." "I didn't do as much work as Kasey," Point taken, but it was her idea. "Now two things I need to know, firstly Lynnie?" "She has a boyfriend, not from the club an old friend has come back into her life. She's smitten with him because she's always liked him." "Okay, as long as it's not another Anne situation, and talking about her have you heard anything about Mitchell?" "Yes, he's been banned from the gay clubs. Miss Lucy has him back in college but for how long is anyone's guess." "Might be a good thing Trish it's a shame he is a great looker." "That he is." Just then Joe walked in with the biggest bunch of flowers in his arms, they kissed and went to the tea room. I could hear laughing and felt very good about this relationship. Kasey poked his head in and I was ready to go see some friend's, and to pick up our son. "I don't know whether Sylvia can help us or not, but hopefully she will know something." We walked down the alleyways and once again Kasey threw a twenty into a vet's hat, one day he will do something about that he said. "Hi Sylvia, we need your expertise again." "Hi Kasey. Adam, good to see you both. Have you found some more costumes?" "No, a whole heap of builder's plans, drawers full of them mainly the buildings around Brisbane, some overseas and interstate. Adele's husband and father in law were builders, and the top floor of the federal building is crammed with all their work." "A bit out of my area Adam, let me make some calls and I will ring you tonight." "Okay other than that we will get the museum involved. Take a looked at this when you have the time." Kasey gave her a copy of the movie. "Is this the filming?" "Part one of six maybe, it goes for an hour and a half." "I can't wait to see it, I will get the gang together for a special viewing. I take it this is confidential?" "No Sylvia, Adam has it on rotation at the salons and it will have its launch at the Myer city store next week or the week after so it will be shown there also. We are in negotiations with the ABC to screen it." "Wow, you have been busy. I will watch it here and then with the others. I don't know about the builder's offices Adam, can I look at them first?" "Of course, you can, go into Davis lane, and there's an entrance with a lift to take you to the top floor. I will pick the key up tomorrow." I placed the set of keys on her counter. I looked around the store a little because we had time, nothing jumped out at me so we continued on to our destination. She will go have a look at the top floor sometime soon, maybe she will have some ideas. Sam was very happy to see us and he told us he hasn't stopped talking all day, we were asked by his teacher if it was true, and we reassured her that all his stories were true. He was placed on Kasey's shoulder and needed to get home so he could watch the rest of Chloe's movie. "Not all of it?" "No daddy I have other things to watch." "Okay I forgot, sorry." He giggled. Back at home we sat with him and watched the last thirty minutes, Kasey was a little agitated but I know what that was all about, sex. He screamed at the ending, Chloe was all made up and her fishtail swished around the room as the jewellery sparkled in the mirrors. She was readying herself to go out for the evening. Mick was at our door wanting to see me, so Sam let him in. "So how did we do?" "Perfect, just perfect Mick, well done to you all." I said. "It was amazing uncle Mick." Sam told him. "Thank you Sammy, we had fun doing it." "Well you did extremely well for your first time." "We have had some practice Adam, the military use us to do their promotional stuff so we do know a thing or two." "We will probably have a new project for you soon, the top floor of the fed building is a builder's paradise." "Has it been cleaned up?" "Cleaners come in once in a while, but nothings been touched since the sixties. It's eerie but so awesome." "Leave it, just film the documentary don't move a thing it is a window into the past. People love that, it was different with Adele's it had to be all set up but if this place is what I think it is, touch nothing move nothing." "Okay, but it all has to be cataloged somehow." "Do that, but place everything back where it was last placed." "How far along is the second movie?" Kasey asked him. "Just credits, but we have a problem we need to do another one so there will be seven." "Are there things being left out?" "No, I think that it's all covered. But we will need to do one separate on the jewelry, they feature but are not talked about in detail. Maybe another six." He smiled. "Do you think that's a good idea, every thief in town will be looking at the museum for a quick fix." "Not unless the security fails Kasey, the guys did a good job on that. Plenty of museums have loads of jewelry in them, no one is interested in robbing a museum the stuff is hard to sell." "Okay we will talk to Jimmy then, it does sound nice though." "We have the provenance of every item Adam, we found the listings Adele made so we can go from there. Your mum's ring is from the Maria Callas auction." "Really? she will be happy to hear that." I think mum will be very pleased to hear it, she can go to the library to research it now. "Now what do I buy Trish for a wedding present?" He asked. "The date hasn't been set yet, I think it will be a fair way away." I laughed. "Typical her, I get the feeling she won't do it until she is ready to start a family." "Yes, she is having too much fun at the moment." I looked at Kasey, he's not having fun at the moment, his balls must be bursting. When Sylvia rang later on, she was of the same opinion as Mick, leave it as a time capsule, she also said we needed expert preservation and we can only get that from the museum itself. I thanked her and said we will talk to Jimmy. She also said to look in the large desk drawers she had spotted something in the bottom drawer under a folder, I was to keep it to myself because she has an idea what it is all about. This got me interested and also I haven't seen Kasey's new office, so I announced we were all going for a walk. Sam wasn't impressed but he does like his lift rides still. "Where are we going?" Mick asked. "To have a look at Kasey's new office space." "Are you moving out of the big apartment Kase?" "I am thinking it would be okay not to go too far, and this place is ideal." Three bedrooms a kitchen and a bathroom with a separate guest toilet. No balcony but a wall of windows that backed onto the alley. It was big and I thought it was ideal. "What do you think Kase?" "It's perfect for a Law office Adam, it's the entertainment company I have to think about also." "Entertainment company?" I asked as Mick walked away with Sam to look through the flat. "If it all goes to plan Adam, we won't stop at Adele's museum, we should do movies on all the famous buildings around town, and there is Chloe to look after." "Chloe?" "She will be a star, and she needs a management company to look out for her." "My god, and when do you think you will do some lawyering?" "I wanted to talk to you in private baby, later on." "No chance handsome, there is no way you are doing all that. You are becoming a lawyer, end of discussion." "Adam?" "I said, end of, Kasey." I wasn't mad I knew he would be thinking along those lines, being a producer, a manager, all that stuff is in his mind now, in fact, most things that need to be organized, are in his head. We locked up and decided we may as well eat downstairs tonight. Mick had to go and Sam wasn't to disturbed because they will put his cartoons on for him. He will have his usual chips and nuggets and Kasey looked at the specials board. He kept looking at me and I started giggling. "You do my head in sometimes Lance Casey you really do." "It makes sense to me, Banks Casey lawyering and entertainment business under the one roof." "I guess you will be signing up Chloe and looking for work for her?" "You guessed right Steven Sutton." he grinned. I ate my meal which was as always delicious, Joe and Trish spotted us on their way in so they joined us. Trish's ring sparkled in the downlights and she looked at it more than once. Joe was all smiles and fussed over her a bit. I told them about the fed building and Kasey's new office, he told Joe to keep it under his hat but he has big plans for Chloe career-wise. "Mum is worried she will change and will move to Hollywood." "Not if I have something to say about it. I have a clear path planned for her, this documentary is the first step then she has to go to acting school." "Do you think she needs it?" I asked. "No, but she needs to do it so her fellow thespians don't think she hasn't done the hard yards." "Like you Kase." I put on my biggest fake smile. "Like me." he relented, he won't win an argument tonight. Joe was in conference with Kasey so Trish and I decided to watch the show again, Sammy sat with us and he slowly shut his eyes and went to sleep on my lap. "When do you think you will get married?" "Everything is moving too fast for me Adam, I would like to get to know him a lot better, maybe in a year." "That long?" "Yes at the most, I kind of like what we have now. I think having a big wedding and then settling down to wedded bliss is not for me at the moment." "How does he feel?" "He wants to get married straight away, I have told him to hold off for a while there's no hurry I'm not going anywhere." "Okay so is he rushing you?" "Not yet but I do get the feeling there's some urgency in tying the knot. I think he's dreamed about getting married a lot and thinks that's the only way to go." "Makes sense, he should cool it for a while. You will know when the time is right." "There's something I have to tell you." "What now?" She looked at me. "I have Cody designing your wedding frock." "You what?" "I don't think Adele's design is quite right for you, I sent him a photo and asked him to update it to a more now kind of dress." "Thank you." She went back to her viewing. "You don't mind?" "Not at all. I can leave it in your capable hands and I know Cody will do a fine job on it." "He will." I picked Sam up and his head flopped onto my shoulder, he's getting heavy. I undressed him and placed him into his bed then kissed him good night after I told him I loved him for the last time. The movie had finished, and that will be the final time I will watch it, I don't want to overdo it. Joe was still deep in talks with Kasey and Trish had now joined them. They were talking about him taking over the finances of the dairy which included the exporting side of it. "If I heard Kasey say he will consult once, I heard him say it ten times but Joe went on and on. "You need to learn to listen Joe, he's already said he will help." I smiled. "Yes but I want him full-time." "He won't do it." "Why not?" "Because I won't let him." "And will that make any difference?" "Yes, because I am his boss. Now goodnight and go home I have needs to attend to." He nearly fell over his feet getting up he laughed so much. I started looking at the school Sam will be enrolled in when I went to bed, Kasey was having a shower. It all looks so nice in the brochures but I had better go have a look for myself, he came out with just his baggy greens on. "Did you lock up?" "Yes." He then jumped into bed and took them off, he's expecting a big night tonight. Kasey had come into the salon three days later and insisted I walk him back to our building. I told Trish I wouldn't be long and I will let her know what the big secret is when I get back. The secret was he had moved into the bottom flat, his filing cabinet and a chair were the only things in the place. "I will do some shopping for coffee and biscuits, and I will need a sofa for the waiting area and maybe a tv." "Take my vintage set Kase, nobody is using it anyway." "I did think of that." "Internet phone lines and your business name printed on the door and a plaque out the front of the building." "I didn't think of that, sorry." "Let me know when it's all finished and I will come back." I laughed. He went to the door and locked it then spun around undoing his zip at the same time. "I see it's not the office you wanted me to look at, it's your dick." "Yes." He giggled. I didn't think he wanted my input he is usually one or two steps in front of me, but I don't mind. I got to do what I got to do. When I got back I smiled at Trish. "False alarm?" She lifted her eyebrows. "Definitely a false alarm, he has only moved his filing cabinet down." She rolled her eyes, I looked at Ethan he was looking me up and down so I went over to him and unbuttoned two top buttons on his shirt, I then patted his chest and said. "That's better kid." I walked into the tea room before I started laughing, Gloria was in there. "What did you do?" "I gave Ethan a handy tip, he looks more relaxed now." "I bet you undid some buttons." "Yes no one does buttons up to their neck." She started laughing and said. "I was just about to go out and tell him that." "Well between you and me we will get him organised." "Yes we will." She winked. I made coffee and went back to my station, my next client was a sailor wanting a good shave and haircut, he said he had been away on maneuvers so now he wants a good makeover before he sees his girlfriend. I fixed him up and did a couple of sets and tips then my husband's big grin poked in the door. "Let's go see Sam's new school." "Is it far?" "No, two streets down, we can get some pizzas for dinner on the way back." "They will get cold." "We order them and get them delivered at the appropriate time." "I can ring them." "I know, but I want to see where they are made." He is being difficult today. After picking Sam up he was carried across town to the new school, then we had to explain to him that this is where he will be going next year. "Will my friends be here?" "Most of them baby, you won't get lonely." "It's big daddy." "You will love it here." "Okay." He sighed, then he spotted the swings and slides. It was a big school but I didn't spot any grass to play on, we found out later they walk to the football oval and use that when they need to. The play area was concrete and asphalt. I didn't expect too much in the city. When we got in he had to ring Billy and tell him all about it, he was comparing it with his school. Billys has fields to play in being out of town a bit. I once again sat at the table and thought, are we doing the right thing. I was watching Kasey do his schoolwork, he told me he heard from Canberra and they were sending his files back for some adjustments. At the moment he is talking to his mates about opening a city office. "So what are their plans?" "The ones in this area have already been offered jobs with big firms." "Why not you?" "Because I am contracted to the military." "But you can do ordinary legal stuff it's in your contract." "Yes, but at the moment I am doing the border laws." "And the UN stuff?" "Not going to happen, I'm glad they thought of me but I don't want to get involved. Adam it means endless hours sitting on planes back and forth. They have offered to move us to New York, but I have declined I don't want to move you and Sam overseas." I looked at him and knew he was telling me the truth, I have become good at reading him. My lounge was taken down to his office and when we got home I had to take photos of his plaque and front door, a list of the businesses in the building was attached to a wall by the lift and only three of them were mentioned. Adeles museum, the restaurant, and Kasey's business. "I have asked for Mick to be shifted here as my secretary." "He will be missed by his team." "He comes with the team, like me anything to be done by the military he will still be involved. I don't envisage I will be that busy here, but Joe's becoming a problem so I will put him on the books and sort out any messes he gets into. The border laws I am revising now thank god they didn't want too many adjustments." "The entertainment business?" "I will contract Chloe for now, but I won't take on any more theatre types." I raised my eyebrows. "Well maybe one or two." He laughed. We were on our way to the Myer city store, Trish said she will meet us there at eleven. She told Joe not to appear until Chloe does in a few days, just the poster will tease the crap out of the Revlon counter girl. I am dying to see her face when she notices it. Kasey looked through the store and I think he was ticking things on his list to buy on the way out. Trish arrived with her dark sunglasses on, she kissed us both and pulled her phone out. "Roger, we are here." Seven minutes later the big lift opened and a trolley was moved into the space with the poster on it. Three maintenance men secured it to the big pillar and I stood way back to take it all in. I was also watching a young lady in the makeup department stand and stare at Chloe's photo. An old man in a wheelchair came by and was looking at it, he said something and I turned and looked at him. "She looks stunning Adam." I did do a double take and on the second viewing, I could see the false beard and Joe's face. I couldn't stop laughing and when Trish and Kasey appeared, she gave him such a talking to even my ears were blushing. Of course his nurse Chloe wasn't far behind, Marko had done a good job on her wig. People milled around, some took photos some stared for ages, and it didn't go unnoticed that Christine was still anchored to the spot not taking her eyes off the poster. "Take that bitch." I heard Chloe say. "We had better go Adam, I have some shopping to do." He loves his shopping especially when it involves the underwear department and he also needs a couple of new suits and shirts for work, but I will steer him to Cody's shop at my other salon. In all the fuss I did think Christine was a beautiful girl she had good features, but I guess she was a tad ugly inside. I wanted to tell Trish and Chloe to hold off on her, she lost the game and Chloe is so much better than her, she really should be rising above all that. I loaded up the car with our purchases and drove to my other salon. I like it here it's more relaxed than the city one. The music was loud and the boys were dancing, thank god there were no customers. It was immediately turned down when I approached. "Sorry boss just letting off some steam." "That's okay boys I'm certain you know what you're doing." I laughed because I sure did know what they were doing, I grabbed Kasey before I lost him to my staff and guided him into Cody's shop. "He needs two suits for work, plus shirts and ties thank you my good man." I smile at Benny who works this shop for Cody. "Two business suits shirts and ties coming up sirs." He measured Kasey up and went to look in his stock room. Kasey started looking in the underwear and swimwear rack, he didn't take long to start selecting the ones he needed. "I won't be long Adam." He slipped into the change room and naturally had to give me a show. The guys in my salon had to come and have a look also. His ass was on show in his new hipster bathers one thing about my Kasey he fits the bill perfectly, front and back. Benny arrived back and he stared at the boys. "No work today?" They scooted off to do something. "Now try these pants on please Kasey." He gave him the pants and Kase slipped them on. They were a perfect fit, and they featured Cody's signature hipsters, wow wow and wow. The jackets were perfect and he matched up the shirts and ties. We dropped the better part of two grand and even that was heavily discounted. He looked through the kids wear and found a cool t-shirt and shorts for Sam, they were so cute so we have to have them also. I carried the suit bags out to the car and he carried all the small stuff, it was nice to see the boys were getting busy again but I did notice the music had been turned up a little. I don't mind in the least, they take good money in this salon and I never interfere in its day-to-day running. We picked Sam up from kindy and Kase drove us home, no piggyback rides today. When he opened his present he ran around the room screaming, his top and shorts were covered in bears, now he has loads of them to look at. The next day was maybe one of the worst days I have ever had, even Kaseys disappearance was more bearable if you could call it that. I was at work doing a customer's long mane, she only wanted the ends done and her eyebrows shaped a little better, I was thinking about Sylvia's comment the other day but in the confusion of the Myer thing and Kasey's new office, I had forgotten to go and look. I told Trish I would be five minutes away and headed for the alleyway that took me to the top floor of the building. It was eerie and I kept expecting something to jump out at me from the shadows. I thought about opening a window but I didn't want to disturb the place so I walked over to the big old desk, it was grand and for some reason it looked like it was going to consume me wholly. I checked the old leather chair for dust but there was none. Opening the biggest drawer along the bottom, I spied many envelopes and folders which I started stacking onto the desktop. As I moved to the bottom I saw it and it laughed at me daring me to read it. Top Secret. Lieutenant John Banks. I lifted the thick folder out it was jammed packed with paperwork all stamped top secret. The first of many shocks I read was a letter from the Australian forces, I opened it and lifted out the pages inside. Dear Mr Banks, These are the last remaining medical notes on your son John Banks, as you can read he has good days and bad days, the doctors are doing everything possible they can for your son. As I read the next letter and the next, it was clear that Johnny didn't die in the blast, it was a year later he passed away. Amongst the paperwork were many military transport orders for Fred Banks to fly to France regularly, he was being kept in a military hospital over there. Adele and Jimmy didn't know this, neither of them was told Johnny was still alive, for what reason I didn't know, maybe his injuries were so horrific his father thought it best he not tell them. When I searched Fred Bank's death date in my phone, it was one month after his son's official passing, did Fred commit suicide, did my Adele know? I took a deep breath and moved the office chair around so I was looking out at the dusky sky, then I let fly curling my legs under myself and praying no one ever reads this, I grieved once again for my Adele and her Johnny as tears rolled down my cheeks to end up being soaked into my shirt. I cried bitterly for ages, it would not stop and I did not need to try and stop it. There will be more shocks to come but for now, I get the gist of the ordeal, Fred must have gone insane keeping that secret, and now it's my task to do the same. My bottom lip started again and I had no control over it as it brought on more tears. I was exhausted and eventually I went to sleep, because that was the only way to stop the pounding in my head. It was about nine by the time Kasey found me, he had been frantic because Trish had told him I had to go out only for a minute. I heard the lift movement and when it opened on my floor he yelled out for me. He held me in his arms and kissed my cheeks. "Now what's got you all upset and bothered today my Adam with an a?" "I can't talk about it now Kasey, it's too awful, can we just sit here for a moment please?" "Of course, we can." He knelt on the floor and placed his arms around my waist then buried his head into my body. I left it at that for now, he has to know but I wasn't in the mood to tell him what I found. "Kasey, will we ever be happy, or are our lives deemed to be full of tragedy and grieving?" "We will make it Adam, no question about it. I take it you have found some loose ends that need clearing up?" "Yes, but you have to promise me, Jimmy is not to know anything about it. Kase can you have a look around and see if you can find an empty briefcase?" I stood up my legs were sore from sitting so long, he found a Tan leather one that was empty and I filled it with the paperwork. I will place it in the safe where no one can look at it for the moment. "Are you hungry?" "No thank you Kasey, is Sam okay?" "He will be asleep by now, Joe and Trish are having a sleepover." I looked him in the eyes and my tears began again. After I took a deep breath and patted his chest then nodded. "I have decided we have to talk Kasey, this talk will be our final one, you have to promise me something, Lieutenant Kasey. My wonderful champion and rock, if I need to ask you to give something up can you do it without any hesitation?" "Anything my Adam with an a." "I want you to quit the military, I want you to quit the military for me, Sam, for dad, and for Billy." He stared at me and he does need an explanation. "In that briefcase is the true ending to our story, no one is to know what it's about and no one will ever know why you had to quit." "Adam?" He whispered. I patted his shoulder and nodded. "Johnny didn't die in the blast, he lived a further year, his father made regular visits to a military hospital in France. Kasey, when Johnny eventually passed his father passed the very next month, I have no answers at the moment but I think he suicided out of sheer grief. He never told Jimmy or Adele Johnnie was still alive, so they were none the wiser." He kissed my burning eyes and said. "I will read it all Adam and give you the facts, in the meantime, let's get you home to bed." "You have the promise me our military story ends right here. Fred took his Johnnys story too far and I can't let that happen to us, I can't let Adeles or our stories finish with that awful nightmare." I hugged him. "I also can't be responsible for our son being bought up in the military, what if there is another war what if Sam is mixed up in it, what if we have to make Fred's ultimate sacrifice of our son? You must leave the military Kasey I will encourage dad to do the same, Billy is just a little kid he doesn't know any better he can't be dragged into all this heartache." He understood and nodded. I stood erect and looked around one more time and because of what I found I had almost decided to lock this mausoleum up and never let the public disturb its rest. Maybe now Kasey will understand why I am in a constant state of fear for him. Maybe now he will get it and stop the madness that invades my simple life. He's going to be a lawyer I'm going to do hair, it's a simple combination of two people in love. You plan then execute, there is no need to do anything more as long as you both are happy. At one stage today I had thought I might let Kasey have his head but not now, not ever, he can't do this to me and Sam and he has to realize there will be no more government or any UN work for him to do, not ever. I took his arms and pulled him in to kiss him. I think he understands, if not now, he will when he reads the whole story. "I will give you six weeks." He nodded his understanding. maxieplus@hotmail.com Donations are gratefully accepted by the Nifty site