A Light in the Dark (Taylor's Bend, #3)

by Elisabeth Rose

  ‘He barked at me when I first arrived but he’s inside at night. Who lives across the road? I’ve seen a car going in and out and heard a baby crying.’

  ‘That’s a new family. They only moved in at the beginning of the year. He’s a teacher at the primary school and she’s just had their first child. Georgia probably knows her.’

  ‘Not the types to dump dead rabbits in the neighbour’s house.’

  ‘Nope. One of them might have seen something if they were up with the baby.’

  ‘Can we ask?’

  ‘Better let Rupe handle it.’

  Mia drew in a breath with a disapproving sound to it but didn’t say anything. She pulled her scarf closer around her neck. ‘You weren’t kidding about zero, were you?’

  ‘No. Maximum is eleven today.’

  ‘Does it snow here?’

  ‘Not since I’ve been here but it could do. We’re close to the mountains. Autumn is a beautiful time of year. Stunning colours.’

  ‘Pity I missed it,’ she said.

  ‘There’s always next year.’

  ‘Send me a photo.’

  There was no reply to that.

  She produced her phone and dialled a number. ‘Hello, Lauren. It’s Mia Petros. I’m sorry but I have to cancel our eleven o’clock meeting today. Something’s come up. I’ll call you to rearrange. Thanks. Bye.’ She slipped the phone into her pocket. ‘I’ll have to replace that carpet near the kitchen doorway,’ she said. ‘It’ll stain and stink. Dammit.’

  ‘You could put down wood flooring in that area and the hallway to the bedrooms instead. You can get slabs and they lay it like carpet.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yep. It looks good and it comes in different styles and colours.’

  ‘Sounds okay.’ She eyed him for a moment without breaking stride. ‘You’re a handy person to know. Are you this helpful to everyone you come across?’

  ‘Only the ones I like.’

  ‘And the ones who have a story?’

  ‘That too, but it helps if I like them.’

  ‘I feel more helpless than I’ve ever felt in my life.’ She shoved her hands in her pockets and hunched her shoulders. ‘I hate that feeling.’

  ‘I know. I felt the same when I was sick.’

  ‘But I’m not sick. You really were helpless.’

  ‘It was still horrible having to rely on people to look after me. Especially when I was over the danger period but still too weak to do much.’

  ‘We like to be independent.’

  ‘We do.’

  ‘How do you think you’ll cope having Riley with you?’

  ‘Curbing my independence?’ He sent her a wry smile.

  ‘Yes. A child is a big responsibility.’

  ‘I know. We were together for quite a few years.’

  ‘Sorry, of course you know.’

  ‘It’s okay. I didn’t take on much of it back then. That was the problem. Debra felt like a single mother most of the time.’

  Mia stopped in front of the house. ‘Here we are.’

  The sound of a wailing baby carried across the road.

  ‘Good lungs,’ Arlo said.

  ‘I hear that occasionally but didn’t know where it was coming from.’

  He walked up the path and sat on the verandah steps in the weak sunshine. Mia wandered about the front garden. Patches of frost in the shade of the house crunched under her feet. She disappeared down the narrow side path between her house and the Wang’s. The side gate clicked open and closed. He waited. A couple of minutes later she reappeared on the driveway side and joined him on the steps.

  ‘Anything changed?’ he asked.

  ‘Not that I can see.’

  A woman came out of the house across the road pushing a stroller. Wisps of short blonde hair escaped from under a red beanie pulled down over her ears and a red scarf flapped over a black coat. Arlo leapt to his feet and hurried out to the footpath with Mia right behind him.

  ‘Good morning, it’s Vanessa, isn’t it?’

  She stopped and smiled uncertainly. ‘Hi, yes, it is.’

  ‘I’m Arlo McGuiness and this is Mia Petros.’

  She relaxed and the smile widened. ‘Arlo from the paper?’

  ‘Yes. Mia owns that house.’

  ‘I know. I meant to come over to see if you needed any help but Damien has been grizzly lately and I didn’t want to take him out in the wet.’

  ‘Of course not,’ Mia said. ‘We were wondering … did you hear anything or see anyone around here last night?’

  ‘No … I … what’s happened? Have you been burgled?’

  ‘No, no.’ Mia glanced at Arlo.

  ‘A visitor came to the house while Mia was out and she’s wondering when that was.’

  Vanessa’s brow furrowed as she thought. ‘I was asleep by ten. Bob was up a bit later. He may have seen someone but he didn’t say anything this morning. Jack from up the road came by with his dog about five-thirty. He does that most evenings.’

  ‘I’ve seen him,’ said Mia. ‘He’s about ten.’

  ‘That’s right and the dog’s a Labrador. Jack’s in Bob’s class at school.’

  ‘Thanks, Vanessa.’

  ‘No worries. Pop over sometime, Mia. Are you here for long?’

  ‘I’m moving into The Crown soon because I’m having some work done and the painter is coming in.’

  ‘What will you do with the house?’

  ‘I think I’ll sell it.’

  ‘Oh, well, if you do we’re in the market. We’re renting but we do want to buy. How many bedrooms are there?’

  ‘Three.’

  ‘Keep us in mind.’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘Thanks so much. I’d better get a move on. I have an appointment with Doc in five minutes.’

  ‘See you later. Thanks,’ Arlo said

  Vanessa hurried away.

  ‘I don’t think Jack is the culprit,’ said Mia as she started back to the house.

  ‘No, although the dog could have found the rabbit.’

  ‘How hard is it to find a dead rabbit out here?’

  ‘Not very,’ he admitted.

  ‘It’d be good if they bought the house. Do you think they know about it?’

  ‘For sure they do. She didn’t seem worried.’

  ‘Plenty of people live in houses where someone has died.’

  He had to admit the truth of that statement but somehow it still sounded callous. Mia was certainly an odd mix of vulnerability and pragmatism. And what about the dream? What did that mean?

  Rupe pulled up in the police car and got out. Arlo and Mia rose to greet him. She handed him the key and he went in alone. The smell wafted along the corridor in all its glory.

  ‘Good God,’ he said. ‘That’s foul.’

  Minutes later he came out with his handkerchief pressed against his nose. ‘No signs of a break-in. Who has a key?’

  ‘I thought only me. I have two. Dad’s, and Glenda’s parents left her keys with me on her keyring. She had a car key and the house key.’

  ‘They could have made a copy or she might have given them one.’

  ‘Maybe. Yes. But why would they do this?’ asked Mia.

  ‘I’ll have a chat with them. See if they can help.’ Rupe gave Arlo a stern look. ‘Don’t you go asking questions.’

  ‘Can I get this thing out of here now?’ asked Mia.

  ‘Yes. I doubt whether our perp left fingerprints. You wouldn’t handle that thing barehanded.’

  ‘So all you can do is ask around and hope someone owns up.’ Mia’s expression said it all. ‘That’s not going to happen and no-one’s likely to dob someone in, are they? Not when everyone in this town knows everyone.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Rupe. ‘I’ll do my best but it won’t be easy.’

  ‘Got a shovel, Mia?’ said Arlo.

  Chapter 9

  Mia went through the house opening windows after Rupe had gone. He and Arlo stood on the footpath for
a few minutes talking—about her and her attitude probably—but she didn’t care. She sucked in a lungful of fresh air through the spare room window and charged past the carcass to the back door. She left it wide open and hurried down the steps to the yard, the shed was behind the carport. It had a padlock but she’d left it unlocked because she’d been in and out over the last few days sorting things.

  Her dad had two shovels. She took the smaller one and surveyed the backyard for a likely burial place. At least the ground was soft from the rain and the patches of frost had melted away as the sun’s warmth took hold, meagre though that was.

  She chose a spot under a lemon tree on the opposite side of the garden. Ivy grew on the fence from next door and was making advances on her side. She shoved the blade into the soil and it lifted easily. It needed to be deep but the classic six feet under was a bit much especially as a blister was already forming in the vee of her thumb and forefinger.

  Arlo found her studying the red patch of skin.

  ‘I’ll finish it,’ he said.

  ‘Thanks.’ No argument from her. ‘What should we put it in?’

  ‘Got a bin liner or a carry bag?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Okay we’ll shovel it into that.’

  Arlo finished digging. ‘That’ll do.’

  Fifteen minutes later the job was done. Arlo laid a few rocks on the newly turned soil to put off any dogs and let out a rush of air.

  ‘I’ll have to pour disinfectant on that bit of carpet,’ Mia said. ‘How long before the smell goes, do you think?’

  ‘A few hours if you leave everything open. Lock all the screens.’

  It was after ten when Mia and Arlo returned to his office.

  In the bathroom Mia scrubbed her hands and sniffed at her clothes hoping the smell hadn’t permeated the cloth. As far as she could tell it was clear but the thought made her shudder and wrinkle her nose. What would she have done without Arlo’s assistance? He might only be helping her to get a good story but right now she didn’t care. Burying a stinking rabbit wasn’t in the brief and he didn’t have to help.

  ‘I just rang the school and I’ll have to go over to Willoughby to enrol Riley,’ said Arlo when she joined him in the kitchen. She left her suitcase in the living room ready to take to her car.

  ‘I’ll move to the hotel today. Thank you for helping this morning.’

  ‘No worries.’ He handed her a mug of coffee and sat down.

  ‘Is there a carpet shop in Willoughby?’

  ‘Yes. Want to come over with me?’

  ‘No, thanks. I can go by myself.’ Mia studied him. ‘Do you think it was Paul and Lorraine?’

  ‘The rabbit?’

  She nodded. ‘They could have a key. I can’t think who else would. Glenda might have given them one ages ago.’

  ‘Lorraine wouldn’t do it.’

  ‘Paul?’

  ‘See what Rupe says. He’s pretty good at reading people and they’re not hardened crims used to being interrogated by the police.’

  ‘He’s asking questions, not interrogating them.’ Mia snorted. ‘He didn’t sound as though he expected to solve this.’

  ‘If anyone can, he will. Don’t underestimate him.’

  She shrugged. ‘Okay.’

  ‘Mia, a country town isn’t the city. It doesn’t work the same way.’

  ‘Criminals do.’

  ‘Yes, but policing is different here.’

  ‘Mmm.’ Arguing with Arlo about the efficiency or otherwise of the local cops wasn’t going to solve anything. She drank the last of her coffee and stood up. ‘I’ll get going. Thanks for the bed and the entertainment last night.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’

  ‘See you.’

  ‘I’ll call you with an update on Barry.’

  She collected her suitcase and let herself out the back door. First the hotel then a trip to the carpet shop.

  ***

  Arlo arrived at the bridge before Barry, having filled out forms, met the headmaster, a friendly enthusiastic man who seemed delighted to have a new student, and enrolled Riley faster than he expected. He parked off the road and got out. The water level had dropped slightly but there was still more than enough to disguise the depth of the holes. He’d been waiting about ten minutes when a black Porsche roared around the corner and slowed. The driver crossed the bridge, avoiding the potholes carefully. He parked opposite Arlo.

  Barry was a big man, both in height and build. Reasonably good-looking, with dark hair greying in exactly the right way, he looked like a model in a happy retirement home advertisement. A tan, natural or otherwise, and a ready smile which displayed perfect teeth any dentist would be proud of, completed the image. All he needed was an attractive, fit, smiling wife holding his hand as they ran on the beach.

  He’d had one of those and cheated on her. Bastard. Had he killed her and her new husband in a fit of jealous rage?

  Arlo held out his hand. ‘Thanks for meeting me, Barry.’

  The grip was firm. ‘Glad to be of help.’

  ‘What’s your opinion of the council? Are they easy to deal with?’

  ‘They need a bloody rocket under them. Road maintenance isn’t the only area they’re slack in, I can tell you. Try getting planning permission. You wouldn’t believe the problems we had trying to get our projects off the ground.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘We try to do everything by the book but sometimes it makes you wonder why we bother. Nothing but roadblocks all the way—and slow!’

  ‘Roadblocks such as?’

  ‘You name it. Local farmers, of course. Environmental impact statements are all the go these days. Bend so much as a blade of grass and you’re in trouble. Being eco-friendly, using renewable energy, watch out for endangered lizards, rare plants of one description or another, avoid sacred indigenous sites. Next it’ll be right of way for wombats. I ask you!’

  ‘Interesting.’

  ‘It was a bloody nightmare. Objections left right and centre from all sorts of people.’

  ‘So why didn’t you pull the plug?’

  ‘There was too much money invested in this to back out. Our backers would have had our guts for garters and we’d lose any chance of their support for any other projects.’

  ‘Sounds tough.’

  ‘It was, believe me it was. But it’s all sorted now, all systems go.’ The beaming smile appeared.

  And how had that happened? Whose bank account benefitted there? Who applied pressure to whom? Or was he too jaded and cynical?

  ‘So in your opinion, the council isn’t doing its job properly. In regard to this, I mean.’

  ‘Bloody obvious, isn’t it? This whole road is a disgrace and should never have got this bad. They should have had a team out here six months ago.’

  ‘So why didn’t they, do you think?’

  ‘No money, they say. Blame the federal government for lack of funding. I reckon they had other priorities.’

  ‘Do you know what they might be?’

  ‘Whatever pet project they have going. New offices was one of them.’

  ‘That was a few years back.’

  ‘Yes, but it’s an example. The old ones were perfectly fine.’ He pulled back his sleeve and looked at a large gold watch. ‘Sorry, mate, I have to dash. Nice to meet you.’

  ‘Likewise. Thanks for your help.’

  ‘Call me if you need anything else.’

  ‘Will do, mate.’

  He swung the Porsche in a tight U-turn and waved as he accelerated away.

  Arlo put his notebook in his pocket. He drove across the bridge and turned in the side road leading to Rupe and Abbie’s house.

  How much of Barry’s rant was fact and how much innuendo and sour grapes? Why had all his planning difficulties suddenly melted away? Who, apart from Barry’s company, had benefitted from the approval? Council accounts should be on public record but if some sort of financial wheeling and dealing had been going on it would hardly show
up in the minutes and reports.

  And was any of this connected to Tony and Glenda? They didn’t even live in Willoughby although Tony worked there. In real estate. A tenuous link at best.

  And apart from any of that was Barry a murderer? Somehow he didn’t fit that frame, not when he walked out on Glenda in the first place and by all accounts was still on reasonable terms with both her and Tony.

  Back at the office he pulled Barry’s words into some semblance of order without defaming the council but still maintaining his disgust with their lack of action. Then he called Rupe.

  ‘Hi, mate. Arlo. Any joy on the rabbit?’

  ‘G’day. I left a message with Mia to give me a call. Is she with you?’

  ‘No, she went to Willoughby. She’s probably in the car. And why would she be with me? She’s not staying here. She moved into The Crown.’

  ‘You two seemed close, that’s all.’ The casual expressionlessness said more than an actual question.

  ‘We only just met, for God’s sake. I helped her out. So would you have in the same situation.’ And he was overreacting in a manner anyone with half Rupe’s perceptive abilities would pick up on.

  ‘Yeah, of course.’ Rupe laughed, having had his little bit of fun. ‘She’s a nice woman.’

  ‘She is and she’s having a hard enough time as it is without some looney leaving dead animals in her house.’

  ‘You’re right.’ The laughter left his voice. ‘Paul wasn’t home. Lorraine denied any knowledge but I think she may have been lying.’

  ‘You think she did it?’ Arlo couldn’t hide the surprise.

  ‘I doubt it. I think she knows or suspects who did.’

  ‘Paul?’

  ‘Or Graham.’

  Glenda’s brother. That made sense. He was far more likely. He owned a property growing lucerne and other feed crops out past Jindalee and he’d been very vocal with his condemnation of Tony at the time. Fond of a beer too. This was the sort of thing that might seem like a good idea after a few too many. The speeding white car flashed into his mind from last night. Graham?