‘Did she say they had a key?’
‘She was vague about it. Said they might have one somewhere. I’ll speak to Paul later. Ask him about Graham.’
‘Ask him what sort of car Graham drives. Mia and I saw a white sedan speeding down the main street while we were walking home last night.’
‘Graham has a white Toyota.’
Arlo sighed. ‘Sounds as though you’ve found the culprit.’
‘Possibly, but don’t jump to conclusions and start spreading it round, Arlo.’
He ignored that slur. It wasn’t the sort of thing he’d put in the next issue. He listened but didn’t add to the gossip round town. ‘Will you tell Mia what you suspect?’
‘Yes. She has a right to know. She may not want to press charges if it turns out to be one of them.’
‘She’s pretty angry about it.’
‘She has every right to be but she’d understand where this was coming from and that it’s not some random hate thing. Sorry, I have to go, Arlo.’
‘Thanks, mate.’
The next task was to access the financial reports of the shire council for the last few years. They were available online and made dull reading. He downloaded them for later scrutiny, not that he expected anything to show up as dodgy but it would be interesting to see what sort of money they were handling and who funded the projects they had going. Mia, with her job in a finance company, would no doubt find them fascinating. He dialled her number.
Voicemail. He left a message.
What did Rupe think was happening between him and Mia just because they’d spent time together in the last few days? There was a good reason for it, one Rupe didn’t know, and what else could he do but offer her a bed last night? Neither of them were in any state to drive out to the motel and she wouldn’t have got much sleep at The Crown with karaoke in full swing. It was obvious, wasn’t it?
***
On the advice of the carpet shop woman Mia chose hardwood flooring that came in pieces and slotted together.
‘You could do it yourself,’ she said enthusiastically.
‘No, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. When can you send someone out?’
‘George will be in Taylor’s Bend this afternoon so he can pop in to measure up. About four? We have your choice in stock so we can have the men there next Wednesday.’ She beamed at Mia.
‘That’s fine. Thank you.’ With any luck the pong would have faded by four so as not to knock George out when he arrived with his tape measure.
Mia called in to the real estate agent to talk to Lauren about tradesmen for the kitchen but she was out. The boss was there instead. Carl Stoddart remembered her father well and had been at the funeral although had only exchanged a few words with her. He was full of praise and sympathy.
‘I couldn’t believe it when I got the news,’ he said.
‘Neither could I but I hadn’t seen him for over a year. Did you think he was depressed?’
‘Tony? No, not depressed. He was concerned about something though. Preoccupied for a week or so before … not sure what that was about.’ He paused tactfully then brightened and forged on. ‘No effect on his work at all. He was always professional and had great sales figures. He’d been excited about the new estates that were in the wind. Thought it would be a great boost to the economy and the town but they’d hit a few snags with getting permission from the council.’
‘The Greenhill ones?’
‘Yes. They’re going ahead now. He would have been delighted.’ He drew a deep sorrowful breath and exhaled in a sigh.
Mia drove back to The Crown turning his words over in her mind, eager to compare notes with Arlo and give him this latest little snippet of information. On impulse she swung into her street to check the smell in the house. A few hours had passed since the burial. As Arlo suggested she’d left the front and back doors open and those windows with lockable flyscreens.
She stepped inside holding her breath in anticipation of an olfactory whack on the nose but surprisingly the smell was a faint memory. With any luck George would barely notice anything amiss later this afternoon. The house was bitterly cold, however, which probably helped suppress the smell but she closed the windows and the front door in an effort to retain a tiny bit of warmth.
On her way to the car, next door’s big dog ran up to the fence wagging his tail. He’d barked the first time she’d arrived but smart boy that he was he knew her now.
He looked eager for company so she walked across to greet him. ‘Hello.’ What was his name? Started with B. She tried a few. ‘Brando, Brian, Brandy, Bruno.’ At Bruno he pricked up his ears and gave a little yip.
‘Bruno.’ The tail wagged harder. ‘Good boy.’
He sat down and stared at her hopefully but she had nothing more to offer.
‘Bye bye.’
She drove back to The Crown and parked in the small area behind the building. Arlo was right about staying here. It was much more convenient than the motel and her room was spacious, very comfortable, done up in an old style to suit the age of the hotel but with a modern bathroom and other conveniences.
She sat at the little writing desk and called Arlo. He suggested meeting at Hannah’s for lunch. Her phone rang.
‘Mia, it’s Rupe. Senior Constable Perry.’
***
Mia hadn’t ventured into the café previously preferring to keep out of view as much as possible, but that was pointless now having been to the karaoke night. Ten minutes after Rupe’s phone call she pushed open the door and went in. The place was busy but a few tables were empty and not spotting Arlo she took one at the side of the room. Curious eyes watched her as she passed.
A waitress hurried up with a menu and a bottle of water. ‘Hello, are you having lunch?’
‘Yes.’
‘Would you like anything to drink first?’
‘No.’
‘I’ll be back shortly.’ No sign of recognition or curiosity there.
Mia glanced about the room. A few eyes strayed towards her but hastily slid away, and a few heads bent together muttering. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of looking ashamed or embarrassed about something that wasn’t her fault. Gossips.
She focused on the menu.
Arlo came in and sat down opposite after saying hello to most of the occupants and a grey-haired woman behind the till who smiled and gestured towards Mia.
‘Hi.’ He sat down. ‘How did you get on?’ His smile enveloped her like a warm blanket. His blues eyes locked onto hers and she couldn’t have broken away if she tried. Which she didn’t. How had he managed to do that to her in two days? She must be vulnerable at the moment.
‘Fine. You?’
He leaned closer and lowered his voice as he told her about Barry and his trouble with the council.
‘What made them change their minds?’
‘Good question. I downloaded the financial reports for the last few years but couldn’t see anything amiss. You might. Barry reckoned the council is hopeless and basically wastes money on pet projects.’
‘Like what?’
‘He couldn’t say when I asked him.’
‘Sounds like he’s pissed off with them. I dropped in to the real estate agency where Dad worked and talked to Carl Stoddart, the boss. He said Dad was very much in favour of those developments. Thought it would be good for the town and the economy.’
‘Especially if they got to handle the sales.’
‘Of course.’
‘We need to find out what the problem was with the approval,’ Arlo said.
‘Do you know anyone on the council?’
‘No, but I do have a contact in their offices.’ He sat back and poured himself a glass of water, topped up hers.
Mia handed him the menu but he shook his head. ‘I want. Soup. It’s minestrone today. My favourite.’
‘I’ll have it too.’
‘Has Rupe called yet?’ He lowered his voice again.
‘Yes. He told you?’
‘What do you think?’
‘I think it’s probably her brother. It’s the sort of thing he’d do if he was pissed.’
‘Does he drink a lot?’
Arlo nodded. ‘Gets into the odd fight.’
‘Do the parents know, do you think?’
‘They will now that Rupe’s been around. What will you do if it’s him?’
She’d asked herself the same question. Rupe had said to think about it while he confirmed his suspicion.
‘Leave it. The last thing I want is that sort of publicity. Half the town would probably think he did a good thing.’
‘I doubt it.’
‘I don’t want to hang around while that goes through the legalities. I want to get this house fixed up, put it on the market and go home.’
The waitress reappeared with her notepad and took their orders.
‘I’ve been thinking about what you said, about Riley coming,’ Arlo said. ‘Maybe I should look at renting a house while he’s here.’ His brow furrowed and for the first time he looked unsure of himself. ‘I don’t want to mess things up.’
‘You could rent my house for a while.’ Had he had the same idea but thought it inappropriate to ask? Or didn’t he want his son to live in a house where people had died so recently?
‘Don’t you want to sell it as soon as possible?’ Arlo asked.
‘Yes, but if you want to rent it, why not?’
‘What about Bob and Vanessa?’
‘If they really are interested six months won’t make a heap of difference. It’ll give them time to get themselves organised financially.’
‘What if I want to buy it after six months?’
‘Will you?’
‘I don’t know but what if I do? What will you do?’
‘If it comes to that and they are really serious about it I’d give them first refusal. It’s totally hypothetical, Arlo. They might not be able to get a loan, they might hate the place. Anything can happen.’
‘Okay. I’ll see what Riley thinks. Thank you.’
‘Of course, he may not want to move. And if he does he might like to help find somewhere.’
‘How come you know so much about kids?’
Mia grimaced. ‘I know nothing about kids. I observe and I listen to people talk, that’s all. And in this case it’s what I’d like in a similar situation.’
‘Ever wanted kids?’
‘No, not really. I haven’t had the opportunity and now I doubt I will so …’ She shrugged. ‘I’m okay with that.’
Arlo looked ready to comment but didn’t.
Mia said, ‘People with kids always assume everyone else wants them and there’s something wrong with people who don’t. Especially the women. I get these sympathetic looks and it makes me cross.’ She drank some water. ‘I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.’
‘I’m a good listener,’ he said. ‘And I started it by telling you about Riley so I could say the same thing. I don’t know why I’m unloading all my stuff onto you.’
‘I’m a good listener?’ she said with a smile.
‘You are but it’s not just that it’s …’ He straightened as the waitress slid a bowl of soup in front of him and moved round to serve Mia. ‘Thanks, Renee.’
What had he been about to tell her? Mia nodded her thanks and picked up her spoon but it seemed the moment had passed because he didn’t continue. Renee returned with a basket of Italian bread and a small bowl of parmesan cheese. ‘Can I get you anything else?’
‘No, thanks.’
‘Enjoy,’ she said and went away.
‘It’ll be a while before the house is ready,’ Mia said. ‘I haven’t rung anyone about the bench tops and I need to buy a new fridge.’
‘You’ll need to go to Wagga for that or go online.’
‘I’d prefer to see for myself. I’ll go tomorrow.’
The soup was homemade and bursting with flavour. What a surprise to find food like this in a place like this.
‘Who’s the chef?’
‘Hannah. She’s the owner. Makes the bread too,’ said Arlo as she took a second slice. ‘I’ll call in and see Carl about Tony. Get a few comments from him. He might know more about those developments. The rumours and so on.’
‘Have you talked to the gun club people yet?’
‘No, and I meant to look up the guy who introduced Tony to it. Carl might be able to help there. He was a client.’
She looked up sharply. ‘I didn’t know that. How do you know?’
‘Rupe told me.’
‘So he must be a local.’
‘Unless he was selling up and leaving.’
‘When can you do that?’
‘I have a fair bit of work to do on the paper sorting out what Georgia has sent in. I’m meeting the local MP in the morning. I’ll go to Willoughby after that.’
‘A photo op with a pothole.’ Mia grinned.
‘They love it, they’ll do anything.’
‘The council won’t love it.’
‘That’s the plan.’
Arlo watched Mia enjoying the last of her soup. He’d been completely wrong about her. She was much more like Tony than he’d first thought. That quiet sense of humour and the sharp comments showed a shrewd mind beneath the initially aloof façade. He already knew she was clever but the more time he spent with her the more she displayed the real woman she was—determined, resourceful and warm-hearted but also frightened, vulnerable and in need of help. For some reason she’d chosen him to trust with her secret and looking at her now, he swore to himself he wouldn’t let her down.
‘I suppose you’ll be busy with Riley this weekend,’ she said.
Riley! He hadn’t done a thing at home about clearing space. ‘I guess so. I have to get his room ready.’
Thursday already. He’d have to get onto it tonight or tomorrow night. Shouldn’t take long but he’d have to find somewhere for the things he’d be moving out of the cupboards and drawers in the spare room. And boxes to put them in. His face must have given him away.
‘Don’t worry, he’ll understand. He did spring it on you.’
‘I could have said no.’ Should he have said no? Would he manage? How well did he know his son? The teenage version not the biddable, sweet little boy he’d left countless times with his mother. The one thrilled to see his daddy when he returned home. The one who was five when his parents divorced.
‘But you didn’t. That will be a point in your favour.’
‘I hope so.’
‘He wants to be with you, Arlo. Remember that.’
He smiled into her dark brown eyes, drawing on the calm she radiated. ‘Thanks.’
‘I remember how much my dad meant to me when I was a kid. He had no idea about bringing up a daughter. How could he? We had some real battles over goodness knows what but underneath it all I always knew he loved me and would be there for me.’
Arlo grimaced. ‘I’m not sure Riley knows that about me.’
‘You’ve already done something by letting him come here.’
‘I don’t want to disappoint him.’
‘You won’t. The one thing my dad always did was talk to me and listen to me.’
‘My dad didn’t. He gave orders and we all obeyed them.’
‘Where are your parents?’
‘Adelaide.’
‘Do you see them?’
He shook his head. ‘They don’t really approve of me.’
‘Why?’
‘When Debra and I divorced they thought I should have tried harder, been a proper husband, stayed home and done something better with my life. Been more responsible.’
‘What about when you were ill?’
‘They visited me but when it was obvious I was going to recover they started making comments to the effect that it was my fault I got sick and if I hadn’t insisted on being so selfishly reckless I wouldn’t be in the situation I was in.’
‘Jeepers
.’
‘Anyway. I haven’t seen them since.’
‘What about Riley?’
‘They see him once or twice a year and send him birthday and Christmas gifts and cards. They get on better with Debra than me.’
‘Got any brothers or sisters?’
‘A sister living in London. She married an Englishman and they have two daughters. I used to visit her a lot when I was there. Her name’s Sibyl.’
‘Can I get you something else? Dessert? Coffee?’ Renee was there beside him to clear the table and he hadn’t noticed her appear so engrossed had he been. He hadn’t spoken as openly to anyone for years. Got out of the habit. He was more used to probing other people’s minds, making them reveal secrets they didn’t know they had or would rather stay hidden.
‘Flat white, please,’ said Mia.
‘Black,’ he said.
When Renee had gone he said, ‘Sorry.’
Mia shook her head. ‘Don’t be.’
‘For some reason I find you way too easy to talk to. Are you a reporter by any chance?’
She laughed and produced the lovely wide smile that had so surprised him the first time he’d seen it. Now it was straight out entrancing. He wanted to kiss her, right there in the café in front of everyone. He didn’t but it took all his self-control.
Chapter 10
On Friday morning Janine, Arlo’s contact in the council offices, came from her office to meet him wearing her habitual jovial smile and one of her vast array of hand-knitted jumpers. This one had eye watering slashes of purple, hot pink and lime green. She led him to an empty meeting room.
‘What can I do for you, Arlo?’ She settled herself on one of the office chairs around the table and pulled a chocolate bar from the pocket of her voluminous black skirt. He declined her offer to share.
‘What was the problem council had with those Greenhill company developments, do you remember?’
‘That was last year,’ she said.
‘Yes, according to Barry Greenberg they had all sorts of problems but suddenly everything went away and full approval came through.’
She raised a couple of painted on eyebrows. ‘Are you implying dodgy dealings?’
‘I’m wondering what the problems were in the first place.’
A Light in the Dark (Taylor's Bend, #3) Page 10