‘Hope to see you again, Tippy,’ Pete said by the door.
‘You too.’ It turned out Pete wasn’t a bomber. He’d been my dad’s friend and had lost someone close, just like me.
Devon gave him another hug goodbye, as did Uncle Pike. We climbed back into the ute. Pete left the doorway and came over. Devon wound down the driver’s window and Pete leaned in.‘Please beat our record of twenty years,’ he said to them. ‘It goes too fast.’
Devon switched on the engine and The Corrs drowned out my uncle’s response.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Dalrymple’s driveway felt much longer and bumpier as we drove up it. I had wanted to discuss the case, what we knew, but The Corrs made it impossible. The house popped in and out of view between the trees, too quick for me to see if anyone was watching from the windows. Devon parked in front of the double garage and switched the engine off, thankfully killing The Corrs’ ‘Forgiven, Not Forgotten’. Both roller doors were down and it didn’t look like anyone was home.
‘What are we going to do if it is him?’ I said. A mass murderer. I shuddered. Even if I had worn my crimson anti-kidnapping jacket it would hardly be helpful here, with no one around to spot me.
‘Let’s just have a chat and suss it out,’ Uncle Pike said, struggling to open his door. I think the vodka and the drink at Pete’s were finally having an effect. ‘He doesn’t know what we know. We are just the Markles back for a visit.’
I nodded. ‘Just checking on how he is doing after his—’ I was going to say accident ‘—attempted suicide.’
Devon rubbed my arm. ‘I don’t know about this, Tippy. It doesn’t seem very safe. Maybe we should call Barry?’
My uncle fell out of the ute. His hand shot up and he laughed. ‘I’m okay.’
‘No one asked,’ Devon called out.
I hopped out. ‘I’ll have Barry’s number ready.’ I helped my uncle up. As scary as it was being here, we were also so close to finding out the truth.
We knocked on the front door. No answer.
Uncle Pike tried opening it but it was locked. ‘That’s strange,’ he said. ‘No one locks their place in the country.’
‘How would you know?’ Devon said. ‘Are you a farmer now?’ He pulled his pashmina tighter around his shoulders, then sniffed his shawl and gagged.
‘Rendering plant?’ I asked as he ripped it off.
Devon screwed up his face. ‘And the stink from Mr Tulips’ hallway.’ He ran and flung it on the back of the ute. ‘The dog can have that.’ Even Fabulon dodged it.
Uncle Pike rattled the roller doors as he tried to open them, but they were both locked. I untied Fabulon and he jumped off the back of the truck, while Devon jogged on the spot, which then turned into a high kick dance routine.
I wondered where to start looking for clues first. Behind a hedge were some farm sheds; maybe he made the bomb there. ‘Let’s try over here.’ I opened a wire gate and Fabulon pushed me out of the way.
‘Wait!’ Uncle Pike said urgently. ‘Car’s coming. Quick, hide.’
Devon ran towards me and we bolted through the gate and hid behind the hedge.
‘What about the ute?’ I said to Devon.
He put his arm around me and squeezed tight. ‘It’ll be okay.’ He craned around. ‘Where’s that silly old cow gone? Pike!’ he yelled.
‘Shh,’ my uncle hissed at him. Uncle Pike hid behind the ute, watching the driveway through its windows. He flapped his arm in our direction. I think he meant for us to stay down. Either that or he’d farted.
I held my nose and waved my hand in front of my face. Devon giggled and Uncle Pike rolled his eyes. A small silver hatchback came into view. It was Lorraine.
She pulled up behind the ute and got out. ‘Good hiding spot,’ she said to my uncle. ‘Not.’
Uncle Pike stood up, and Devon and I joined them. Lorraine glared at me. ‘What did I tell you? Dalrymple’s off limits. Leave him alone.’
I pulled on my beanie. She nodded towards the house. ‘Take it he’s not here?’
Devon shook his head.
‘At least we don’t think so,’ Uncle Pike said.
‘Whatever,’ Devon muttered and did lunges across the drive.
‘Whatever yourself,’ Lorraine said. ‘Looks like Raewyn did steal the drugs. Vet told me off the record. She never reported it, but was going to fire her when the explosion happened.’
Lorraine kicked at the gravel, then stopped and frowned at Fabulon. He was chomping on something fleshy in the grass. I felt sick in my tummy. I hoped he wasn’t eating someone.
‘Get out of it!’ Uncle Pike roared at the dog, who ignored him.
I dragged myself over to investigate. Instant relief and revulsion. Fabulon was munching on a skinned possum. ‘Bad dog!’ He took no notice of me and put his paw on the carcass and ripped off another piece. I found a stone in the grass and threw it beside him. He gave me a sour look.
‘Here, puppy,’ Uncle Pike said.
Fabulon picked up the dead possum and trotted over to my uncle.
‘Lovely,’ Uncle Pike said. He distracted Fabulon with a stick in one hand while he grabbed his collar. ‘Come on.’ He opened the passenger door and Fabulon reluctantly hopped inside. My uncle shut the door after him. Uncle Pike groaned as he bent down to pick up the carcass. ‘Yuck!’ He chucked it away and the dead possum hit Lorraine in the thigh.
‘Don’t throw shit at me,’ she said. She picked the carcass back up and hurled it at Uncle Pike, striking him in the head.
‘Ow!’
I left them to it and walked around the back of the double garage, trying to get as much investigating done before Lorraine bullied us out of here. A red door led inside the garage. I called out but Uncle Pike and Devon were arguing, no doubt still flinging around the dead possum. I tried the door and it swung open.
From the doorway, I could see the back of an old green Land Rover, and beside it was a yellow car. I left the door open behind me for light and ventured inside the garage. It was hard to see in the gloom as I moved around the back of the car and along the wall, stumbling over some gardening tools and nearly smacking myself in the face with a rake.
Finally, I found a double switch near some carpeted steps that led up to the house. I tried the door but it was locked. I pressed both switches on and the roller doors began opening, letting in the daylight. I thought about putting them back down, but as I couldn’t spot the actual light switch, it was better to have them open. I would put them back down before we left.
I ran my finger under the edge of my beanie. I would start my search with the Land Rover then move to the car. A shiver ran down my back and I spun around. Outside, Uncle Pike, Devon and Lorraine were staring at me. I waved, and even though Mr Dalrymple wasn’t here, I trod quietly towards the back of the Land Rover. In the distance I heard a vehicle.
I froze and strained hard to listen but couldn’t hear any engine noise again. I tried the Land Rover’s back door. I remembered Nancy doing this to the robbers’ car in Secret Clock—if only I’d find treasure like she had. The door was unlocked. On the boot’s floor were a pair of worn black leather gloves and a large metal tool box.
Around the side I tried the driver’s door and it opened. The keys were in the ignition. I climbed inside and switched on the cab light. After a quick search of the glovebox, I found a tax invoice from Riverstone Auto Repairs for a service. I checked the date—Monday, 18 April.
No. I felt the blood drain from my face. I grabbed my tablet out of my backpack. I searched under #RiverstoneExplosion and found the @velvetpurse89 video. I played it. On the screen, rather than focusing on the billowing smoke cloud, flames and orange glow towards Main Street, I watched Rata Street where the woman, @velvetpurse89, had stopped and filmed, standing across from us on the corner by the Bully. It didn’t take long before an old green Land Rover appeared, driving away from the blast. I hit pause and expanded.
My skin crawled as I slowly climbed out from the driver’s seat, tryi
ng not to touch anything and went around the front and checked the licence plate.
I screamed.
‘Tippy!’ Uncle Pike said as he and Devon came running in.
I stood at the front of the Land Rover, shaking. ‘It is him. It is him. He did it.’ We’re alone at a mass murderer’s house.
My uncle took the tablet from my trembling hands. He glanced at the video, then the Land Rover’s licence plate. ‘Fuck,’ he said and showed Devon. Lorraine joined us.
‘We need to get out of here,’ I said as she took hold of the tablet. But we need evidence. I climbed back inside the Land Rover and grabbed the Riverstone Auto Repairs’ invoice. I showed them the invoice. ‘John Dalrymple’s Land Rover was at the mechanics at the back of the alley. That was how he got away.’ Bile rose in my throat. ‘He was the passenger in Mr Tulips’ van, when he drove past us on the road that morning. I think maybe he made Mr Tulips give him a ride back after dropping his Land Rover off?’ My stomach clenched. ‘He must have put the bomb in that day.’ Saliva rushed to my mouth and I ran to the side of the garage by the car and spewed. My eyes watered. One thought was running through my head. He must have planned this for ages.
Devon kneeled in front of me, holding my trembling hands. ‘Hey, we don’t know that. But all of this is a pretty bad look. Let’s call Barry.’
‘You can call him,’ Lorraine said. I glared up at her, snatching my tablet and shoving it in my backpack.
‘Seriously, this isn’t enough for you?’ Uncle Pike said to her. ‘Why would Dalrymple be picking up his Land Rover just after an explosion at 4.30 a.m.? And how did he get to Riverstone? Walk? Tippy Chan, you’ve cracked the case—’ He put his hand on my shoulder when outside came the sound of a motorbike approaching.
‘Listen!’ I yelled over the top of him.
We all looked at each other. Before we could hide, John Dalrymple parked in front of us on his quad bike. He switched the engine off. It was silent except for the ticking of the bike’s engine cooling. None of us moved.
John Dalrymple kept his eyes on us as he put on the handbrake then stood up and swung his leg over, getting off the bike. He wore a blue and black checked bush shirt, with the sleeves cut short, and a green army hat. Under the brim, his face was flushed and his eyes scrunched up, but then maybe he was a permanent squinter.
He stood beside the front of the bike, holding onto a wooden carrier box. He stared at us and leaned back, opening the box and reaching inside, fishing around for something.
We all collectively shuffled towards the yellow car’s boot. Uncle Pike and Devon stood on either side of me, protecting me, with Lorraine to the front.
Dalrymple still hadn’t said a word. Slowly he shut the box. Hat brim dipped, he walked slowly towards us, each step scraping his hobnail boots against the concrete. One arm behind his back. I leaned against the cool metal of the car. He stopped at the garage opening and put one hand on his hip. Blocking us. Something wasn’t right about how he was dressed. ‘Can I help you, Markles?’ His gruff voice sounded like helping us was the last thing he wanted to do. ‘Lorraine.’ He lifted the brim of his hat. ‘Pleasure as always.’ His thick lips reminded me of raw steak.
She nodded towards the Land Rover. ‘Busted, John.’
Then it hit me: his wrist. His bandage was missing. I stared but couldn’t see any scars. He noticed me checking it out and held up his arm for me.‘Fast healer.’ He shrugged and smirked at Lorraine.‘Small town, just tell the right people what they want to hear, aye, Lorraine.’
All my muscles cramped as fury surged through me. My body was suddenly too hot. He pretended that he had attempted suicide. Our life the past year. Dad’s anguished face the last time I ever saw him. And Dalrymple pretended? My vision narrowed, black creeping around the edges. Mocking other people’s pain? Mocking my dad’s death? I gripped the car boot behind me and leaned forward and screamed, ‘Fuck you!’
Beside me Devon and Uncle Pike gasped, but I didn’t care. Uncle Pike gripped my shoulder.
Lorraine stepped forward and put her arms out, shielding me. ‘I’m not protecting you anymore, John.’ My breath hitched, anger morphing to shock. We Nancys all looked at each other. Lorraine is part of this? I moved away from her.
Dalrymple pulled at his hat.‘Well, I’m surprised at you, Lorraine, bringing all this here.’ He nodded at us. ‘You know the deal, there’s no “I” in team.’
‘But there’s a “u” in cunt.’ Lorraine clenched her fists. ‘Raewyn? Fuck you.’
Dalrymple sucked air in through his teeth. ‘She wasn’t supposed to be there.’
‘We covered your arse about the affair,’ Lorraine said. ‘Couldn’t have the Councillor’s wife chasing after her lover in his car.’
‘You knew?’ Uncle Pike said.
Lorraine didn’t take her eyes off Dalrymple. ‘Only that. We’ve covered for him for years, all those domestic violence rumours.’ She held her throat. ‘Oh my god, they were true weren’t they? We helped you … You fucker!’ She pushed him in the chest. ‘Was that how you got Raewyn to steal from the vet? Coercive control?’
Dalrymple snatched Lorraine’s hand and pushed it away, hard, causing her to stumble.
Uncle Pike caught her and shielded her with his body. ‘Don’t you fucking touch her.’
Devon stepped forward. ‘Did you give her the black eye?’
Lorraine pulled Devon away from Dalrymple. ‘He didn’t give it to me.’ She moved further back beside my uncle.
I glanced behind me, searching for a weapon, anything to protect us. Against the garage wall was the rake. I inched towards it. ‘Chuck says he saw you that night,’ I said, bluffing. ‘You left the van and went past him, down the alleyway.’
Dalrymple’s smirk vanished for a second or two then it was back. ‘You’re listening to that drunk? Good luck with his word against mine.’
‘You’re not denying it?’ Lorraine said. ‘You were always jealous of how popular Will was, weren’t you? Always scared he would run and take your place on council, even become Mayor.’
‘Why would you do this?’ I said. ‘Because Mr Tulips fell in love with Raewyn?’ His expression didn’t change but I noticed the arm that he held behind his back twitch.
Lorraine stabbed her finger at him. ‘Destroy his reputation, buy his land, all while getting Raewyn back in line for good. How twisted are you? Getting your wife to steal the drugs you then used to kill her lover.’
‘Except Raewyn didn’t stick to your plan, did she?’ Uncle Pike said. ‘She spent her last minutes trying to save the man she loved from you.’
Dalrymple stood his ground and crossed his arms. ‘That tulip-fucker deserved everything he got.’
‘Tulip-fucker,’ Uncle Pike said. ‘So it was you who trashed the place?’
Devon covered my ears with his warm hands. ‘How do you even fuck a tulip?’ he asked Dalrymple.
Lorraine frowned at Devon. ‘Are you telling a joke?’
‘Graffiti on Jansen’s house,’ Uncle Pike told her. ‘Oh my God,’ he said to Dalrymple. ‘You shat in his hallway.’
‘Eeew!’ I said.
The Councillor took a step back and balled his fist.
‘You shat in his hallway?’ Lorraine echoed.
‘Why?’ I said. ‘Why would you do that?’ I was nearly close enough to grab the rake.
‘Didn’t say I did,’ Dalrymple said. ‘Ask your friends, sounds like they’ve got it all figured out.’
‘I don’t think we do,’ Uncle Pike said. ‘Jealous husband blows up town doesn’t have the right ring to it, does it?’
‘And shits in wife’s lover’s hallway,’ Lorraine said.
Devon nodded. ‘Actually that part makes sense.’
My uncle crossed his arms. ‘And what about you and Hornblower?’ he asked Devon.
‘Nothing happened,’ Devon said.
Dalrymple sneered and moved closer to Uncle Pike. ‘So you do know what it feels like to be shafted.’
&nb
sp; ‘No, that’s what you think,’ Uncle Pike said to him. I lunged for the rake. It all happened in slow motion, like Dalrymple was swatting a fly. His arm moved across and hit my uncle in the chest, then he pulled it away and stepped back out of range.
‘What the fuck?’ Uncle Pike said, rubbing his chest. I froze.
‘I think you’d better leave, don’t you?’ Dalrymple said.
‘Lorraine?’ My uncle’s voice sounded funny, like he was drunk or something. ‘Call the—’ He landed on his knees hard and leaned forward on his hands so he was on all fours.
‘Pike!’ Devon yelled and ran to him.
Dalrymple moved in behind them and smacked Devon on the back. ‘Looks like your girlfriend’s having a heart attack. Tick-tock.’ Lorraine backed away from Dalrymple, her phone to her ear.
I screamed and ran towards Dalrymple, hitting him so hard the rake broke. He didn’t even flinch or turn towards me, instead he sprinted to the Land Rover.
Devon kneeled beside Uncle Pike. I screamed again. Tick-tock. He was going to blow us all up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Dalrymple reached the Land Rover. It was too late to run. Time slowed. I turned to look at Uncle Pike and Devon. The engine revved and Dalrymple took off, passing the quad bike. Relief spread through me. He didn’t blow us up. Then I saw Uncle Pike on the garage floor. I crouched and kissed his mad snowy-haired head. ‘Don’t die. I love you, please don’t die.’
He clumsily patted my arm. ‘I won’t … promise. Love you.’
Devon kneeled beside me and hugged him. ‘You’re my Charlie’s Angel.’
‘Gold pen, gold glitter,’ Uncle Pike slurred. ‘I meant that … not gold digger.’ Devon held my uncle’s face. ‘I’m not finished with you, like, forever.’ He kissed him and my uncle closed his eyes.
‘Go!’ Lorraine shouted at me and Devon. ‘I’ll take care of him. The ambulance is on its way.’
I felt stuck to the spot.
‘Now!’ she said. ‘The note, he might be blowing up the bridge!’
I yanked Devon’s arm. We sprinted to the ute, but Devon seemed slower than usual.
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