The Accidental Bystander

Sky Whittaker passed an approving final check of herself in the cheval mirror that took pride of place in the corner of her bedroom. It was a practice she did daily.

The fifteen year old liked what she saw, looking back at her. She made a slight adjustment to the light blue scrunchie tightly holding her long blonde hair into a pony tail.

She straightened the wrinkles from her white short-sleeved, button-up shirt, then smoothed her hands down her royal blue sports skirt that revealed way too much of her slender, tanned legs.

Sky turned slightly to favourably examine her rear view. Her no-show white socks, hidden inside her black school runners, further accentuated her long, shapely legs. She smiled her approval at her reflection.

Although it was only a boring school uniform, her appearance was important to the attractive teenager, genetically gifted with model-like features she says she inherited from her mum.

She loved, possibly craved the attention she received from the boys at school, and probably the odd male teacher, or two, so everything in her appearance had to be faultless. And to her, it was.

Satisfied with what she saw in her mirror, she lifted her school backpack, slung it over a shoulder and exited her bedroom.

As she casually strolled into the kitchen, her focus lifted to the wall clock showing 7.55am. Her mum stood at the sink.

‘Ready to go, Mum?’ she asked.

Joy glanced over a shoulder at Sky entering. She took a final gulp of her tepid coffee then discarded the dregs into the sink.

After she placed her cup on the sink drainer, her focus returned to her daughter. She silently regarded Sky’s school uniform with a disapproving glower.

‘I don’t consider myself over conservative, Darling…’ she began. ‘But I’m sure that skirt of yours is getting shorter and shorter. Surely the school doesn’t approve of you girls wearing skirts that short. They’re way too revealing… and suggestive, for that matter.’

Sky’s examining eyes fell to her uniform mini skirt. She frowned. It looked pretty good to her when she checked it out earlier, in her bedroom.

‘What’s wrong with it?’

‘What’s wrong with it…? If you lift your arms at all, your entire hoo haa will be exposed. That’s what’s wrong with it. It’s way too short.’

Sky rolled her eyes. Criticism of her appearance was never received well. She lifted up the side of her skirt. ‘I’m wearing black booty shorts, Mum…see. So you wouldn’t see anything, anyway.’ Her tone oozed condescension.

Joy shook a disapproving head. She lifted the car keys from the kitchen bench, paused to silently regard Sky’s uniform, then punctuated her disapproval with a further shake of head.

She motioned with her keys in hand. ‘Come on, then,’ she said with reluctant acceptance at what passed as suitable school uniform standards these days.

As she strolled to the front door, she continued over a shoulder. ‘Back in my day, when I was your age, our skirts had to be two inches above our knees… No more. No less.’

Sky rolled her eyes. ‘Times have changed since you were fifteen, Mum…’ She smirked to herself as she followed her mum out to their car. ‘Thank God,’ she muttered under her breath.

While sitting stationary at a congested round-a-bout, deep frown lines formed on Joy’s forehead. She scanned the long line of cars in front of her, all waiting to merge in, then checked her watch.

‘What time does your bus leave?’

Sky glanced at her watch. ‘Ten past…’

Joy rubbed a concerned hand across her mouth. It was only a short drive to the bus stop, but it was made all the more challenging by the ever increasing morning peak-hour traffic.

Since Covid, the population in their home town of Cable Beach had grown considerably with the migration north of people from the southern states.

It was no longer the quiet coastal city on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast that it used to be, strongly evidenced by the increasing number of cars that now clogged the roadways.

Joy approached the bus stop situated on The Esplanade, which was the main road through the town. It ran parallel to the beach, with retail shops on one side and the popular surf beach on the other.

The tension in her shoulders eased when she noticed the bus had not yet arrived.

She pulled over just short of the bus stop. ‘Have a great day, Darling,’ she said.

Sky leaned across and kissed her mum on the cheek. ‘Thank you. I will.’ She pushed open the door with her foot and held it there while she lifted her backpack then slid out of the car.

Timing couldn’t have been better. As she waved goodbye to her mum, the bus arrived immediately after her mum’s departing car. Its airbrakes hissed and the door swung open.

Sky shouldered her backpack and moved to stand at the back of the large group of commuters waiting to board the bus.

She waited until the last person boarded before she confirmed her mum had long left the area. Satisfied all was clear, she waved on the bus driver.

While the bus pulled away from the stop, Sky quickly made her way across Rounders Park, a large expanse of beachfront lawn between the main road and the beach.

The lawn area of the park was the perfect location for kids to play ball games, or for families and couples who preferred the no-sand alternative, to lounge while still soaking up the coastal vibe of the beach.

While on Sundays, the park’s manicured lawns transformed into a gypsy-like camp site of pop-up tents for the weekly Sunday markets.

Sky dissected the lawn area to the nearby public toilets, for a quick clothing change.

By the time she emerged, the fifteen year old school girl who entered the toilets had transformed. Her long blonde hair, previously tightly restrained in a pony tail, now fell freely over her shoulders. It framed the natural beauty of her face.

The school uniform’s white button-up shirt and short skirt had been replaced with a more casual ensemble of provocative, butt-cheek hugging, cut-off denim shorts, a white mid-riff exposing t-shirt that sat just below her breasts and wedge sandals.

Eye liner, mascara on her long false eye lashes and a blended shade of eyeshadow now highlighted and emphasized her large blue eyes. Last to be applied was a dark shade of lipstick.

Following an approving glance in the mirror, Sky was ready. She lifted her mobile and thumbed out a message. When she was done, she shouldered her backpack and exited the toilet block.

Within five minutes, a mysterious black BMW X5 SUV, complete with dark privacy windows, pulled into the kerb.

A smile filled Sky’s face as she hurried over to the car, opened the rear door and slid into the back seat. She smiled to herself as she sunk back into the soft leather seats.

No words were exchanged with the two men in the front seats, each of whom wore dark suits and dark sunglasses that accompanied their secret-service style, dour expressions.

Neither man’s focus shifted from forward of the car. Neither man welcomed, or in any way acknowledged their young passenger.

Sky closed the door, concealing her behind the passenger door’s dark privacy glass as the car quickly merged into the slow moving Esplanade traffic.

The black BMW hadn’t travelled far before it disappeared into the underground car park of the Grand Excelsior Hotel.

The towering hotel situated on The Esplanade was Cable Beach’s premier hotel. Offering a range of opulent five and six star suites, the rooms boasted uninterrupted, elevated coastal views of the region’s pristine coastline.

Once the BMW was parked in a remote corner of the underground car park, the front-seat passenger alighted first. He opened Sky’s door and stood by the door, chauffeur style, waiting for her to alight. No words were exchanged. They had each been through this many times before.

From the car park, they boarded the elevators to the top floor. Sky’s two escorts stood forward of her, facing the elevator door. No words were exchanged.

When the doors sprung open, one of the men exited, while the other held the elevator door open, then gestured to his left; a silent instruction for Sky to exit before him.

Sky followed the first man. No words were exchanged. Anticipated excitement now filled her face.

As if under personal security escort, Sky strolled the brightly lit hallway with one man in front and the second trailing close behind.

The lush carpets were soft underfoot. Calming, low-level instrumental music and the bright coastal themed décor of the wide hallways, exuded a level of opulence befitting the luxurious high-end hotel.

After a series of left and right turns, the hallway terminated at high, wide, double timber doors with prominent gold furnishings.

The inscription, “Penthouse Suite” was tastefully engraved into the gold plaque beside the door.

Sky’s excitement levels peaked when one of her escorts gently knocked on the door.

A smile illuminated her face when the door opened.

The room’s occupant, a stylish grey-haired, suit-wearing man in his late fifties, with salon styled hair, smiled at Sky. ‘You look gorgeous, Sweetheart,’ he said.

Sky smiled her approval as she hurried inside. The man nodded once to the men, then he closed the door.

The two dark-suited men, who strangely still wore dark sunglasses inside, stood side-by-side in silence with their backs to the door, like two sentries. Their hands were clasped in front of their groins.

Inside the luxe penthouse suite, Sky was excited as she traversed the room to the ceiling to floor, picture frame windows, overlooking the picturesque Cable Beach coastline.

The view was mesmerizing. She loved to look down on the people going about their daily lives, from her luxurious elevated perch.

‘Drink?’ Her host asked.

Sky spun around to her host. A huge smile illuminated her young face. ‘Yes please,’ she said with a hint of excitement in her voice.

‘I’ll add a drop of orange juice… like we drink at chicken and champagne breakfasts.’

‘Sounds lovely…’ Sky smiled her approval, although at fifteen, she had never experienced a chicken and champagne breakfast. But it sounded good.

She watched her host move to a well-stocked bar and lift a bottle of champagne from an ice bucket.

He tore away at the foil wrapping, untwisted the wire muselet, then edged out the cork. A defined pop resonated throughout the suite. Champagne fizzed from the bottle.

Sky clapped her hands in child-like excitement as she watched her host pour two glasses of champagne, topped up with OJ.

‘Take a seat, Sweetheart,’ he said over a shoulder.

Sky excitedly lowered herself onto the luxurious, white leather lounge. She bounced briefly on the well-sprung couch.

Her older male host handed one glass to Sky, then he lowered himself onto the lounge, beside her.

‘Cheers,’ he said. He offered his glass up to Sky.

Sky clinked her glass. ‘Cheers,’ she said, then took a sip. ‘That is sooo yummy,’ she said. She loved being treated like an adult.

‘Are we going on a party boat today?’ Sky asked with a youthful excitement in her voice.

‘Maybe later…’ Her male host said. He lied.

‘Oh. OK.’ Sky’s response resonated disappointment.

Sky placed her drink on the coffee table. She smiled at her male host. ‘Ahh. I know what you want, first…’ She slid from the lounge and knelt in front of the male. She fumbled with his fly.

The man grabbed her hands. ‘No. No. First…’ He guided her back onto the lounge, beside him. ‘I want to have a chat about what you told me on the phone, last week. Is that OK with you?’

Sky lifted her drink and sat back on the lounge. ‘Sure. Yes, of course.’ She took a sip, then examined her glass. ‘That is so nice…’

‘How did you find out?’

‘That I was pregnant…?’ Her host nodded. ‘I missed my period, so I did a test, you know… a pregnancy test.’

‘I see. And that was positive, was it?’

‘Yes.’

The man nodded. His mind worked overtime. ‘You said you were taking contraception, though…’

‘I am. It was my mum’s idea, actually. She wanted me to be on the pill because she said…’ Sky lifted quotation fingers. ‘I’m at a sexually active age…’

‘So… Do your parents know about…?’ He flicked a finger at Sky’s stomach. His tone was tentative.

She firmly shook her head. ‘No way…’ Sky snapped. ‘No. I can’t tell them, not yet, anyway.’ She placed a hand on her stomach. ‘I suppose it won’t be long before I start to show, though… so I guess I’ll have to tell them, eventually.’

The man’s face tightened. ‘How do you know it’s mine?’

Sky frowned at her host. ‘Who else’s would it be…? I haven’t had sex with anybody else…’

‘How do I know that’s true?’

‘Because I just told you,’ Sky said, defensively. ‘Why would I lie?’ She held a firm glare at her male host. If nothing else, she was convincing. ‘Anyway… Boys my age are so immature.’

‘That’s OK. I just had to be certain…’ He gestured to her glass. ‘Drink up and I’ll get you a refill.’

Sky emptied her glass and handed it to her host. He returned a short time later with two refreshed glasses and handed one to Sky.

‘What would you like to do today?’ he asked, while he lowered himself in beside her.

‘Is anyone else coming, today?’

‘No… It’s just us today. I thought we could spend some time together.’

‘That would be nice. I’m wearing that lingerie you like…you know the one you bought for me.’ She smiled seductively at her host.

His eyebrows arched. ‘The black number…? Ooh, I like that one. I love that black G-string on you…’

Sky nodded. ‘I know…I know exactly how they make you feel…’ She giggled as she placed a hand on his thigh and slowly slid it up towards his groin.

He lightly grabbed her hand. ‘Let’s not rush ourselves. We have all day…’ the male said.

Disappointment, maybe even a sense of rejection filled Sky’s face. ‘Oh. OK,’ she said. She sipped her drink.

Her host gestured to Sky’s glass. ‘Do you like that one?’ he asked.

‘I do. It’s very nice.’

‘It’s a Bollinger…’ If he was trying to impress his young guest, that name meant nothing to Sky. She showed little, to no reaction, so he continued. ‘It’s over four hundred dollars a bottle.’

That impressed Sky. She examined her glass. ‘Wow… That’s expensive, isn’t it? It almost seems a shame to mix it with orange juice, doesn’t it?’ Sky’s face tightened. ‘But… I thought you said, all the champagne we drink was expensive.’

‘It is… but this one is a little more expensive. I wanted it to be special for you.’

‘It’s always special when I’m with you.’

‘I guess there wouldn’t be too many of your friends who drink four hundred dollar bottles of champagne, would there?’

‘No. I guess I’m pretty lucky, aren’t I?’ Sky’s face tightened.

‘Are you alright?’

‘Is it hot in here, or is it just me…?’

‘No. It’s a comfortable twenty-two degrees in here.’

She placed a hand to her head. ‘I must’ve had too much to drink… I’m getting a little bit of a headache.’

The man eased Sky’s glass from her hand and placed it on the coffee table. He didn’t respond. He continued to monitor Sky.

‘Agghh!’ She screamed. She grabbed her head with both hands. ’I feel like my head’s gunna explode.

Sky started to pant. Beads of perspiration formed on her forehead. She placed a hand on her chest. ‘I… can’t… get… any… breath…’ she panted. ‘My... chest… feels… like… it’s… going… to… explode.’

The man stood from his chair and continued to monitor Sky.

‘Help… me... Please.’ She reached out her hand to the man, but he took a step back, out of her reach.

Sky overbalanced and fell heavily to the floor. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Her body started convulsing violently.

The man did nothing to help. He watched Sky fighting to take her final breaths.

When the convulsing stopped and the light had faded from Sky’s eyes, the man checked for a pulse. He tried a different location. Same result each time. No pulse.

The man moved to the room’s exit door and dragged it open. The two Men in Black standing sentry, quickly turned to face the man standing in the doorway.

He flicked a finger back into the room. ‘Get rid of this fucken bitch…’

The more senior of the two men flicked a hand down the hallway. ‘Go and grab that housekeeping trolley we saw down the hall there, earlier,’ he said to his colleague.

The senior man from the security detail entered the room and approached Sky’s body, which was still on the floor in front of the lounge, to assess the risk.

The Man in Black scanned the room, then he approached the bar to examine it closely. He removed a pair of latex gloves and snapped them onto his hands.

‘OK…’ He said, thinking out loud. He disappeared into the bedroom and returned a short time later with a hotel provided, white coloured plastic laundry bag.

He lifted a small plastic bag containing a white powder. ‘Do you want to keep this…?’

The older man arrogantly waved the back of his hand at his minder.

The Man in Black disappeared into the bedroom where he emptied the white powder into the toilet, then flushed the toilet twice.

He returned to the main living room, wiped the bag clean, then he dropped the small plastic bag into the laundry bag.

After seeking permission from his boss to discard the remaining contents of the champagne bottle, he emptied the bottle’s contents down the small round, bar sink.

He did the same with the contents of the OJ bottle, then he placed the OJ plastic container and the champagne bottle into the laundry bag.

Next to go into the bag were the champagne flutes. He scooped up the cork, the bottle’s foil wrapping and the wire muselet and dropped them into the laundry bag.

Using a dish cloth he located under the bar sink, he wiped down the bar area then the coffee table. By the time he was finished there was no evidence of any alcohol, or drugs being present in the room.

Next, was Sky’s body. He had to ensure there was no trace of her being in the room.

The second of the security detail returned to the room pushing a housekeeping, soiled linen trolley.

‘How’s this…?’

The senior of the two Men in Black emptied the soiled sheets and towels from the trolley’s linen bin, to check the size.

‘That should work nicely,’ he said.

The colleague who retrieved the trolley glanced into the empty linen bin. His frowning focus shifted to Sky’s body. ‘How are we gunna fit her…’ He jabbed a thumb at Sky. ‘In there?’ He gestured into the trolley’s linen bin.

’What’s that… about ninety centimetres by sixty centimetres wide and about ninety deep…? The senior of the men, estimated. ‘It’ll work,’ he said.

‘Just get her the fuck out of here,’ their boss barked.

The two Men in Black lifted Sky and lowered her into the trolley, feet first, allowing her knees to bend naturally under her weight, with the intention for her resting back on her haunches, in the trolley.

‘Her legs are too fucken long,’ the junior of the two men announced. ‘She won’t fit that way.’

The senior Man in Black gestured up with his hand. ‘Lift her out…’

Once they had removed Sky’s body from the trolley, the senior Man in Black suggested they lower her into the bag, butt first.

‘Grab her legs…’ he ordered his junior colleague.

The senior Man in Black lifted Sky by her arms. With her legs and arms being carried, her torso sagged with her hips lowest.

When the men lifted Sky into the trolley bag, they lowered her butt first, into the linen bag.

Sky was placed in the bag, folded at her waist in a “V” formation, with her legs up near the opening of the bag and her butt at the bottom of the bag.

Her feet protruded from the top of the soiled linen bag, from the ankles down, or in this case, up to her feet.

The senior of the two men lifted Sky’s backpack and dumped it on top of her. He then dropped in the laundry bag containing the evidence he’d earlier cleaned up.

His colleague lifted the soiled linen from the floor and dumped it on top, to cover Sky’s protruding feet.

‘Get rid of her…I don’t care what you do, but make sure she is never found. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Crystal, Sir,’ the senior of the two men said.

‘This cannot come back to me… in any way. Got it?’

‘Yes, Sir. Leave it to us. We’ve got this.’

‘Let’s hope you do.’ He flicked an arrogant hand towards the exit door.