Thin Blood

by Vicki Tyley

  “Craig has just rung here looking for you,” Jacinta said, neglecting to mention how het-up he had been. Nor that she had hung up on him without saying a word.

  Narelle sighed. “It was probably stupid of me to think he might stay asleep until I got home.” She went on to say that when she had arrived home the night before, Craig had been passed out on the couch, a whisky tumbler clutched in his hand. After removing the glass and throwing a blanket over him, she had gone to bed, leaving him to sleep it off. He was still snoring when she left the house that morning.

  Narelle didn’t volunteer the reason for her doctor’s appointment and Jacinta didn’t pry, assuming it was to confirm, or otherwise, her suspected pregnancy.

  Relieved that Narelle was in no immediate danger, she took a deep breath, relaxing back into her chair. Jacinta’s news of her new job with Alvico Media lightened the tone of the conversation considerably. Narelle congratulated her, sounding genuinely delighted, even suggesting a celebratory drink when things settled down.

  What things, Jacinta wasn’t quite sure. But the mere fact that Narelle had made the suggestion at all had to be a good sign, and the first step in taking back control of her life. After securing a promise from Narelle that she wouldn’t think twice about ringing her any time of the day or night, for any reason whatsoever, Jacinta rang off.

  She returned to the kitchen sink, the now cold and grey dishwater not enough to dampen her spirits. She had a new job to look forward to. Brett and she were back together. Narelle’s problems, while still there, didn’t appear quite so dramatic in the clear light of day.

  Even the radio station she was listening to was in sync with her mood. She found herself singing along at the top of her voice with the chorus of a long-forgotten dance hit from the late 1980s, ‘The Only Way Is Up’. The only way was up, and it felt good.

  She finished washing up, planning the rest of her day as she wiped down the benches. First stop: The Acacia Tribune to thank Anthea for the job reference and, if she could persuade her to leave her desk for long enough, a catch-up over coffee. Then lunch with Brett, if he was free. Broke as she was, any shopping, with the exception of window-shopping, was out of the question. Perhaps then a leisurely stroll through Fitzroy Gardens. She could certainly do with the fresh air and exercise.

  In the throes of hanging up the tea towel, the doorbell rang. Still singing along with the radio and without much thought as to who it might be, she went to answer it.

  DS Renee White, prim and proper in a dark, tailored trouser-suit, was the last person Jacinta expected to see. But her bewilderment soon turned to dismay as she caught sight of the detective’s partner. Instead of the insolent DC Mark Fratta, she was staring straight into the dark eyes of Daniel Lassiter. She gasped, her attempt to slam the door thwarted by a well-placed black boot.

  “Ms Deller,” said the DS, her foot still implanted between the door and jamb, “can we please have just a few minutes of your time?”

  The sergeant’s request, while polite enough, didn’t touch on the reason for the visit. Surely Daniel wouldn’t have had the DS fronting for him if it had been strictly personal. Official police business? Then again, what could they possibly want with her?

  With curiosity tempering her instinct to keep the police – and more so, her stepbrother – at a distance, she relented, taking the pressure off the door. Journalist or not, she doubted she would ever lose the innate inquisitiveness that had led her to choose that career in the first place.

  “Jacinta…”

  She froze, unable to breathe; Daniel’s deep liquid voice, his father’s voice, piercing the armour she had spent years erecting around herself.

  “Jacinta,” he repeated, taking a step forward, his hands out in front of him. “You’re shocked, and I apologise for that. This wasn’t the way I saw us meeting up again after all these years, either.” Puzzlement flashed across his face. “Did you get my letter?”

  She nodded dumbly, her power of speech deserting her. If she hadn’t known better, she would have sworn she’d been transported back in time. Daniel’s resemblance to his father was startling: the same espresso-coloured eyes; the same strong, square jaw; the same chiselled cheekbones; the same wide mouth. Even his dark, wavy hair, though he had more of it, was identical.

  “You two know each other, then?” said DS Renee White, one eyebrow arching as she glanced back and forth between Jacinta and Daniel.

  “Yes,” replied Daniel, not elaborating any further.

  His eyes didn’t blink. “Good to see you again, Jacinta. It’s been a long time.”

  She found her breath. “What do you want?”

  His mouth opened, but before he could speak, the sergeant cut in. “It would be better if we talked inside.”

  What choice did she have? Releasing the door, she stepped aside, pressing her back up hard against the wall. Her eyes closed as Daniel brushed past, the warm muskiness of his aftershave unsettling her.

  She closed the door, paused, took a couple of deep breaths and turned to face him and the DS.

  “Thank you for your time, Ms Deller,” said DS White.

  “Jacinta, please,” blurted Jacinta, countering the disquieting formality. “Come through.”

  She led them through to the living room, seating them together on one sofa before claiming the far end of the other for herself. She shivered, folding her arms tightly over her chest.

  Perched on the sofa edge, Daniel looked as ill at ease as she felt. He cleared his throat. “Jacinta, even though I would like to spend some time catching up with you, unfortunately we’re here on official police business. Perhaps we could get together later.” She opened her mouth to protest. “Of course, I’ll leave that entirely up to you,” he added quickly, not giving her any leeway.

  Her mouth closed, the clunk of her teeth sending vibrations through her jaw. Would the Daniel of old have been as deferential? She didn’t know. Somehow he had her doubting her own memories.

  “Here,” he said, taking a pen from his shirt pocket and writing on the reverse of one of his business cards, “these are all my contact details, including my home email address. Wendy, my wife, and the boys would love to meet you.” He handed her the card, but when she hesitated, laid it on the coffee table.

  Jacinta blinked. With everything happening so fast, it all felt surreal. She glanced at the business card, wondering if he had forgotten that he’d enclosed one with his letter. Perhaps the suave Daniel Lassiter wasn’t quite as in control as he would have liked her to think.

  “DS White happened to mention you were at the Edmonds house when she and DC Fratta called on Narelle Croswell last week.”

  “So?” replied Jacinta, looking to Renee White for an explanation. Stony-faced, the detective returned her stare.

  “I’m sure you’re aware that Craig Edmonds was charged with the murder of his first wife, Narelle’s sister.”

  “So?” she repeated, before she could stop herself, her belligerence acting as a defence mechanism. “What could that possibly have to do with me? I wasn’t even in the country.”

  Daniel gave a low sigh. “We’re not here to make trouble. Nor are we out on a witch-hunt. Simply put, new information has come forth that may or may not relate to the Edmonds case. I was hoping that you might be able to help us get to the truth, whatever that may be.”

  “What new information?”

  “I’m sorry, we’re not in a position to divulge details at the moment. Investigations are still ongoing.”

  Cop-speak for it’s none of your business, thought Jacinta. “I still don’t see where I come into the equation.”

  “How long have you known Craig Edmonds and Narelle Croswell?”

  She stiffened. “Not long,” she replied, deliberately vague.

  “Days? Weeks? Years?”

  “Days.”

  Daniel’s right eye twitched. “How did you meet?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “I know it probably seems irrelevant,
but experience tells us that we can’t overlook any detail, no matter how insignificant it might appear at the time.”

  As long as she didn’t betray any confidences, she couldn’t see any harm in answering his questions. “My boyfriend and Narelle are work colleagues.”

  Again, his eye twitched. “Can you tell us how you came to meet Craig Edmonds?”

  “First,” she said, unfolding her arms and planting her hands on her knees, “please tell me what all this is about.” If they wanted information from her, they were going to have to barter for it.

  “That’s not how—” began Renee White.

  Daniel took charge, dismissing his sergeant with a reproving glance. She scowled, looking like a petulant child when he dispatched her to the kitchen to make coffee.

  “Now,” he said, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “I’m only telling you this because I trust you to keep it confidential.” He held her gaze. “I can trust you, can’t I, Jacinta?”

  Her journalistic antenna shot up. She nodded, fully aware that it was his way of trying to endear himself to her. And, at the same time, test her. Breaking police protocol wasn’t a gamble she imagined he would take lightly; if it backfired, it could cost him his career.

  He studied her face, shaking his head as if having second thoughts.

  “Jesus, Daniel, don’t start playing games with me. Either you have something you can tell me, or you don’t. Whatever it is, I assure you it won’t make tomorrow’s headlines.”

  He laughed. “Placid as ever, I see.”

  She glowered at him, already regretting letting him into her house. Didn’t he understand what it took for her just to be in the same room with him? Poking fun at her wouldn’t help.

  He reached out his arm, laying his palm on the coffee table in front of her, his tone suddenly serious. “It’s not public knowledge yet, but more remains have been uncovered in the Toolangi State Forest.”

  “More?”

  Before he could elaborate, Renee appeared in the doorway, balancing a black-and-white-patterned mug in each hand.

  “Thanks, Renee,” he said, as she crossed the room and set the steaming mugs on the coffee table. “My sister and I were just catching up on old times.”

  The DS’s eyes widened, her head jerking from one to the other as if the concept was entirely outside the realms of possibility.

  “He means stepsister. For a short time his father was married to my mother,” said Jacinta, adding the word unfortunately in her mind.

  “Jacinta, if you’re free later on today, how about we continue our conversation then.”

  She picked up the cue, realising she would learn no more about the remains found in the Toolangi State Forest while Renee was in earshot. “Sure, I could meet you somewhere in the city.” Meeting in public would be less daunting than being alone with him in private.

  Niceties dealt with, at least on the surface, Daniel and Renee pressed on with their queries about her relationship with the Edmondses. She answered their direct questions, not proffering more than was strictly necessary. When it came down to questions involving her thoughts and opinions, she shrugged and pleaded ignorance.

  By the time Daniel and Renee left, they only knew for certain that Brett and Narelle had worked for the same company for three years, that the Edmondses had attended a dinner party hosted by Jacinta and Brett, that Narelle and Jacinta had seen each other a couple of times since, and that the Edmondses had few friends.

  What she didn’t tell them about was Narelle’s admission that the gold and sapphire cross found with the original unidentified skeletal remains could be her sister’s. Nor did she tell them about Narelle’s fears for her husband’s state of mind, or even that she was more than likely pregnant with his child. Jacinta didn’t see it as her place.

  Of more import was Grace’s assertion that she and Kirsty Edmonds had been lovers. True or not, why had she not mentioned that?

  CHAPTER 25

  The garage door closed. Taking a deep breath, Narelle tilted her head back against the headrest and sighed. The air smelled faintly of concrete and detergent.

  She stared unseeing at the car’s windscreen. Cocooned in the quiet and gloom, she felt oddly disconnected from the world. Her emotions in limbo, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Worse still, she didn’t know how Craig would react to the news of her pregnancy.

  She released her seatbelt, removed the keys from the ignition and gathered up her handbag from the passenger seat. As she went to open the car door, it was wrenched from her hands.

  “What the fuck has been going on? Where have you been?” An ugly vein bulged above Craig’s right eye, his face beyond red. “And don’t lie!”

  Narelle shrank back, her arms protecting her head. He advanced, breathing fumes of soured whisky into her face. She tried to close the car door, suddenly scared about what he might do. No contest. He overpowered her easily, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her from the car.

  Treating her like a wayward child, he dragged her into the house and down the hall to the bedroom. She didn’t have the strength to resist. His last shove sent her flying. Her body curled into a protective ball as she landed on the unmade bed.

  She lashed out with her feet, kicking nothing but air. “Stop!” Bringing her knees up, she rolled on to her back, shielding her abdomen with her hands as she scooted backwards. “What the hell has got into you?”

  Craig’s chest heaved, his trembling hand suspended in front of his face. “Oh, Christ, I didn’t mean it. You know I would never hurt you,” he said, dropping to his knees beside the bed.

  “Stay away from me!”

  He froze, his unshaven face contorted with bewilderment as he registered her fear. Breathing hard, she stared into his bloodshot eyes, looking for the man she loved.

  “Narelle, I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He reached out tentatively, watching for her reaction. “I love you.”

  She hugged her knees, her body tensing as he touched her bare foot. “I love you, too.” Her arms tightened around her knees. “But I’m worried sick about what’s happening to you. I—” She paused, correcting herself. “We can’t go on like this. Bottling it up is doing neither of us any good. Whatever it is, I’m here for you.” She forced a smile. “After everything we’ve been through, we can’t give up now, can we?”

  His bottom lip quivered. “Please forgive me. I can’t help myself. I’m just so scared of losing you. You mean everything to me.” His eyes pleaded with her.

  She swallowed hard, fighting the ball of emotion welling in her chest. With him exposed and vulnerable like that, she knew she could forgive him almost anything. She loved him with an intensity she couldn’t explain.

  Unlocking her arms, she slid her left hand down her leg to meet his fingers. “I’m not going anywhere, but things do have to change.”

  His gaze never left her face as, giving her foot a light squeeze, he moved from kneeling on the floor to sitting on the edge of the bed. “Anything. Just name it.”

  “We need to put the past behind us, where it belongs. Kirsty is gone and nothing we do will bring her back. We’ve grieved long enough. Can’t you see that living like social pariahs is unhealthy? I want us to be a normal family, living normal lives.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “Especially now…”

  “Yes, yes. Any—”

  She didn’t let him finish. “Craig, I’m pregnant,” she blurted.

  His face seemed made of rubber, his initial look of complete incomprehension morphing to one of excitement and back again. “A baby?”

  She nodded, watching his face, not knowing what to expect. Early on in their relationship, they had agreed that children weren’t on the agenda. Neither had brought up the subject since.

  “A baby?” he repeated.

  She nodded again, her lips twitching in a hesitant half-smile.

  A broad grin spread over his face as in one fluid movement, he bounded from the bed, taking her with hi
m. Holding her close, he danced around the room. Even though his reaction more than told her he was pleased, she still had to ask.

  “Happy?”

  Coming to a standstill, he looked straight into her eyes, his own bloodshot ones sparkling. “Mrs Edmonds,” he said, the elation in his voice smashing any doubts she might have had, “you have no idea how much.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Jacinta took a deep breath and pushed against The Quadrangle Bar’s huge, barn-like door. As it swung inwards, she gasped. Flooded with natural light from the vast expanse of skylights high above, the cavernous space looked large enough to house a Jumbo 747. Until Daniel had suggested The Quadrangle as a place to meet, she hadn’t known it existed. Certainly, its nondescript street façade belied what lay inside.

  Laughter and voices, competing with the music for dominance, bounced off the brick and corrugated iron walls. A young woman wearing bronze dangly earrings that looked more like wind chimes brushed past in a cloud of perfume. The woman’s glazed eyes and supercilious grin told Jacinta she had been there for a while.

  Then she saw him, his hand raised in a wave as he picked his way around and through the parties of people congregated amongst the maze of couches, chairs, low tables and tall trees.

  Her flight instinct kicked in. She wanted out of there. She should never have come in the first place. It was all a mistake.

  Instead she froze, her strappy-sandalled feet glued to the bar’s polished concrete floor. The closer he came, the faster her heart beat. She glanced over her shoulder at the door, and then back at her advancing stepbrother. He waved again.

  Within seconds he was at her side, propelling her along the route he had just come, one hand lightly resting in the small of her back. She gritted her teeth, refusing to let the familiarity and intimacy of his gesture unnerve her. The strained, high-pitched laugh she heard was her own. Laughing on the outside but screaming on the inside.

  Eventually they reached a nest of tan leather armchairs, a solid pale-timbered table at its centre. A white tented ‘Reserved’ sign sat on one corner of the table, along with what looked to be extensive wine and cocktail lists.