Cold Valley Nightmare

by Anna Willett

  Damon took the laptop case from her grasp and grabbed the suitcase handle. As he leaned around her, she got another blast of shampoo. “If I told you I was hanging around the window waiting for you to arrive, would it make me seem desperate?”

  “Yes.” She laughed both because the idea of him pining at the window was funny and in only a few words he’d put her at ease. With her momentary awkwardness alleviated, she followed him into the room. “But in a good way.”

  Ten minutes later, Damon had the laptop set up on the bed and the clip running while Lucy sat cross-legged on the floor. She watched his brows draw together as he viewed the footage. Without seeing the screen, she knew he’d reached the last few seconds and was watching the moment the woman in the yellow dress bent to retrieve the balloon.

  “Strange.” He turned his gaze on her, looking down at her from where he was seated. “There could be a few possible reasons why she’s wearing a fake belly. But discounting things like fancy dress my guess is to seem harmless.”

  Lucy nodded.

  “That was my thought,” she said. “When I watched the clip I took in she was female and pregnant and didn’t give her another glance. Not until Tim spotted the fake belly.” She tilted her head to the side. “Why would someone go to that much trouble to be inconspicuous?”

  Damon looked back at the screen. “She’s hiding in plain sight.”

  “What’s the other reason?” She thought she knew the answer, but hoped she was wrong. “You said there were a few reasons why she’d be wearing that thing. What’s the other one?”

  He ran a hand over his chin. “There have been cases where women desperate to have children faked being pregnant. That sort of desperation can lead them to do shocking things.”

  Lucy’s legs were tingling, not because she’d been sitting on the floor for too long but because her limbs were cold. She stood and ran her hands over her thighs. She couldn’t help but picture the woman in the yellow dress beckoning Clem as he appeared at the gate next to his house. “You mean like snatching a child?”

  “Sometimes.” He sounded unsure. “But in the cases where women fake pregnancy, targeting a newborn would make more sense. Clem doesn’t fit the pattern.”

  Lucy wrapped her arms around herself and sat down on the bed at Damon’s side. “We need to find this woman.”

  * * *

  At six o’clock Damon picked up a pizza from a restaurant on the main street. In spite of the chill they decided to eat at a picnic table on the banks of the Hotham River, which ran behind the motel. Without the buzz of the news helicopters, they could hear the gentle rush of the river’s currents and the stirring of insects as dusk faded to darkness.

  “Maybe we should knock on Brock’s door, see if he’s hungry,” Lucy said.

  Damon flipped the pizza box open and pulled out a slice. The aroma of cheese and bacon overtook the night air. “He said something about grabbing a burger and having an early night. This isn’t the first missing child case he’s worked on. I’ve got a feeling he wants to be alone.”

  Lucy glanced over her shoulder to where the motel stood amidst the trees. As night drew in, the building looked isolated; an aging square surrounded by darkness with yellow light spilling from only a few windows. One of those lights came from Brock’s room.

  When she turned back, Damon had already devoured a slice and was working on his second. “Do you think he’s okay?” she asked.

  The bench sat under a weak outdoor light that hung from a recycled timber pole.

  “You mean Brock?” Damon said.

  His face was shadowed, but she could make out his features and the look of surprise.

  She nodded even though she wasn’t sure if she was asking about Brock or Clem. “I know he’s the strong silent type, but…” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “If the police find a body in the forest, I’m sure it never gets easier.”

  Damon pulled a stack of napkins out of a pocket in his jacket then tucked them under the pizza box. “He’ll be okay. Sometimes being alone is better, especially when you’ve got ghosts to settle.”

  Lucy almost asked what he meant by ghosts, but Brock and Damon were partners. If they confided in each other, it wasn’t her place to push for information. Instead, she contented herself with a slice of pizza that turned out to be surprisingly rich and tasty.

  In the gloom, Damon’s eyes looked dark and his stare intense.

  “It’s good,” he said, wiping his mouth with one of the napkins as he watched her demolish a slice.

  She could hear the smile in his voice and couldn’t help grinning. Whatever ghosts haunted him, he wanted her with him as they settled. Knowing this somehow made staying at a rundown motel far from home seem like the only place in the world she wanted to be.

  Before she could say anything else, his phone chimed and he stood and took a step away from the table. The food now forgotten, she listened to one side of the conversation. Without hearing a name, she knew the call came from Larson and judging from Damon’s responses the news wasn’t good.

  A few seconds ago she felt warm and safe. Now all she could think about was Clem and how small his hands must be. On the other side of the river the trees were a dark smudge against the night sky. What, she wondered, would drive someone to hurt a child.

  “The cops found human remains.” His words hit her like a punch to the gut, making the pizza she’d swallowed moments ago surge and jump in her stomach.

  The idea that Clem’s little body had been dumped in the forest like an old shopping bag sickened her to the point where she had to clap a hand to her throat to keep from crying out in protest.

  “Adult remains.” Damon was still talking, but the only word that made sense was ‘adult’.

  She shut her eyes, taking a second to process this information. “Not a child?”

  Damon tucked the phone back in his pocket and sat beside her. His arm encircled her as the warmth of his body rested against hers, giving her something solid to lean into.

  “No.” His chin brushed the top of her head. “Not a child.”

  She felt his chest move as he let out a deep breath.

  “Larson’s contact said the cops found four shallow graves, all comparatively fresh and all adult. That’s all he could find out for now, but definitely no trace of a child.”

  Lucy pulled back and looked Damon in the eye. “I need to talk to Sadie,” she said.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The front lights were on when they pulled into the driveway. Mimi glanced over at Smiley, but his features were in shadows. His mood grated on her nerves, making her wonder how much longer it would be before she had to make a break or he ended up back inside and she was left to survive on her own.

  Mimi let her hand rest on her belly, enjoying the swell of the bump. She loved Smiley. Or at least she used to. Not in the way she’d seen in movies, but more of a twisted longing mixed up with a desire for sex and family. But she was a mother now, so her priorities had to change. The things they did together didn’t shock or surprise her. Not much surprised her, but keeping her son safe was the only thing that mattered. And if that meant ditching Smiley, she’d do it one way or another.

  “If she’s not home, I’ll go in through the back and let you in.” His voice in the darkness made her shiver.

  “She’s old. I told you she doesn’t go out, so...” The car door slammed behind him, slicing off her words. “Fuck.” She glanced into the backseat where Jake was sleeping, his small body slumped on the cracked vinyl seat.

  Jake needed her. He needed her to take him away from this miserable life where people used you up then kicked you down. She had to guard her son from the men and women that made you feel like a dirty convenience. She pushed her sleeve back and dug her nails into the soft flesh of her upper arm. The pain was instant and sharp enough to make her feel alive. Alive and in control, she told herself.

  Without further hesitation, she climbed out of the car and followed Smiley to the hou
se.

  Aunty Elaine looked older and smaller, her face was collapsing into something that looked like a dried up apple. She was sick. Mimi wasn’t sure how she knew about her aunt’s illness; the news might have come from Marina or someone in Cold Valley. There was confusion in her aunt’s eyes as they flickered between her and Smiley.

  “It’s Mimi, Aunty. I’ve come for a visit.” Mimi lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Elaine’s frail shoulders. The smell of urine and porridge rolled off the woman, making Mimi want to gag. “I’ve missed you, sweetie.” Mimi made her voice cheerful and coughed as though fighting back tears.

  “Mimi?” The old woman pulled back and regarded her with blinking eyelids.

  “Yes.” Mimi nodded and gestured towards Smiley. “This is my husband, Smiley. We’ve come for a visit.” She pushed on before Elaine could answer. “My little boy, Jake, is in the car. Wait until you see him. He’s the image of me.”

  “Fucking hell.” Smiley let the words out around an angry puff of air and brushed past Elaine, making her stumble into Mimi’s arms.

  “Come on.” Mimi pulled her aunt out of the doorway, ignoring Smiley as he strode into the house. “Come and see my little boy.”

  Jake’s face appeared in the back window, his now dark hair a sharp contrast to the pallor of his skin. Mimi opened the door and pulled the boy into her arms, lifting the child and propping him above her belly. Holding him against her and feeling the weight of him upon her stomach, she felt a tug at her heart: a sense of fullness, an emptiness being occupied.

  “We’re going to be staying here with Aunty Elaine. Isn’t that nice, Jake?”

  It didn’t matter that Jake turned his face into her neck and refused to speak or that Elaine looked bewildered and more than a little afraid. Everything would work out now that she had a child and a home. Mimi would make it work.

  Elaine’s house smelled like sour milk, and the dated furniture seemed grimy as though the old lady’s illness had seeped into the very fabric of the chairs and curtains. But after days on the road and camping in the bush, all Mimi cared about was a bed and somewhere to keep Jake away from prying eyes.

  “This place is a tip.” Smiley kicked a chair, sending it flying across the kitchen.

  “Shhh.” Mimi glanced down the hall toward the living room where Elaine sat dazed in front of the TV. “Calm down.”

  He was winding himself up into a rage. She knew the signs all too well. If she didn’t think of something soon, he’d go off on one and Elaine would tell them to go.

  “It’s isolated. We’re safe here.” She reached out a hand and touched his bicep. “Why don’t you drive into town and get some smokes.”

  His muscles bunched under her fingers.

  “Maybe call Dale and tell him we’ve found a place. Once we’re set up, we can make some money here,” she said.

  Smiley’s head snapped in her direction and his eyes, the colour of fog, narrowed. She’d said the magic word: money. The vein that wormed its way up his forehead seemed less engorged as his mind ticked over with the idea of cranking up the operation. There was a certain yearning in his expression that made him look desperate. It was all Mimi could do not to laugh in his face. He’d once been her hero, but now he was just another dirty thug, easily manipulated and quick with his fists.

  “Okay.” He pushed himself away from the sink. “But keep your mouth shut.”

  Standing over her, he stood with his legs apart and dipped his head so he was closer when he looked into her face. “No more shit about a husband and a kid.”

  She could smell him, perspiration and musk mingled with tobacco. “Don’t be like that. I was just messing around and–”

  His hand moved with lightning speed, fingers gripping her cheeks, mashing them against her teeth. “No more.” He spoke slowly through gritted teeth. “Nod if you understand.”

  There was blood in her mouth. As he jerked her chin up and down, his fingers pressed into her cheeks. His grey eyes burned into her with something she’d never seen before, but recognised as hatred. She’d been wrong to think Smiley could be reasoned with. The boy she once knew was gone, replaced by a monster. When he finally released his grip, she let out a gasp and clamped her hand to her burning cheek.

  “And take that fucking thing off.” He jabbed a finger into the bump underneath her shirt before storming out of the kitchen, his boots clomping an angry beat on the worn wooden floor.

  Still rubbing her face, Mimi’s gaze landed on Jake. The little boy’s eyes were enormous in his small face as he cowered under the kitchen table.

  “It’s all right, Jakey.” Her voice sounded shaky as she squared her shoulders. “Mummy will make everything better.” She ran her hand over her belly. “I’ll make the bad things go away.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “I knew it wasn’t Clem out there.” There was relief in Sadie’s voice and something more. Maybe anger, but it could have been the static on the line that made the woman’s voice sound scratchy and curt.

  “Yes, we need to keep our focus on finding him. That’s why I’m calling.” Lucy looked to where Damon was standing, his broad frame blocking the window. The news that Clem wasn’t among the bodies in the forest made calling Sadie all the more important.

  “On the second clip there’s a pregnant woman.” Lucy forced herself to take a breath and slow down before she continued. “You’ve listed her as Milly or Maddie with a question mark. Is there any way we can find out more about her?”

  There was silence on the other end, broken by crackles of static. “Sadie, are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here.” The anger had left Sadie’s voice and was replaced with excitement. “Do you think she took Clem? Is that why you need her details?”

  Lucy leaned forward, almost tipping off the edge of the bed as she propped her elbows on her knees.

  “No.” She made her voice smooth and calm. “Nothing like that. It’s just that because she’s pregnant she might be hyperaware of young children.”

  She had rehearsed the lie before making the call. While she didn’t like misleading Clem’s mother, it was better than giving false hope or worse, information that could be passed on to the police. If the cops got a whiff of what was on the clip, they’d be all over Cold Valley and the pregnant woman might panic and get rid of Clem. If she even has him, Lucy reminded herself.

  “I’d just like to talk to her and see if she noticed anything suspicious.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Sadie’s enthusiasm ebbed. “Good idea. The two clips came from my friend Janice Cutter. She works at Boddington District High School. I’ve only known her for a year or so, but she’s very kind and knows everyone in Cold Valley, Boddington, and Quindanning.” Sadie gave a joyless chuckle. “Janice was born in Cold Valley, so she’s a bit of an expert on local history, as well as who used to go out with who, why they broke up, and all the gossip. But not in a cruel way, just…” Sadie’s words slowed. “It sounds so pathetic now, being interested in gossip with those poor people in the forest and... Is it connected to Clem’s disappearance, do you think?”

  Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “I honestly don’t know, but I’d really like to speak to your friend Janice.”

  “Yes. Oh, sorry. Hang on a sec.” There was rustling on the line and then Sadie spoke again. “Have you got a pen?”

  * * *

  It was almost 7:40 p.m. when Damon decided to go next door and let Brock know about the discovery of the bodies. He didn’t say, but Lucy guessed Damon wanted to put his partner’s mind at ease. While the news was grim, the fact Clem wasn’t among the dead was something to hold onto. She hoped it would help Brock deal with whatever ghosts he was wrestling with.

  Lucy seated herself at the small table under the motel room’s only window and jotted down a few questions on her notepad. Satisfied she knew the direction she wanted the conversation to take, she called Janice Cutter. After a brief pause during which the woman asked her h
usband to turn down the television, Lucy introduced herself.

  “Sadie told me about needing the clips, but she wasn’t clear about why.” Janice had a calm voice that reminded Lucy of her year two teacher.

  “I’m doing some work for an investigations company. We’re looking into Clem Scott’s disappearance.” Lucy chose her words carefully, not wanting to reveal too much. Cold Valley was a small community. The last thing they needed was for the woman on the clip to get wind of outsiders asking about her.

  “Did it help? I mean the footage from the fête. Did it help your investigation?”

  Lucy had a pen in her hand. Without thinking she flipped it around and held it between her fingers like a cigarette.

  “Yes, it was really useful.” She waited a beat then added, “I know Sadie is very grateful for your help and so am I.” Experience had taught her that it never hurt to show gratitude, especially when a witness is willing to be open and helpful.

  “Oh, that’s okay.” Janice’s voice softened, sounding less like a teacher and more like a mother. “I can’t imagine what Sadie’s going through. I’ve got two kids of my own. Grown up now, but still…” She made a clicking sound with her tongue. “The thought of anyone hurting a little one gives me chills. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

  “Yes, well, you’ve already been a big help. I just have a few follow up questions, if that’s okay?”

  There was rustling on the line, an echo of footsteps, and then the click of a door. “Yes, as I said, anything I can do.”

  “In the second clip there’s a group of girls dancing on stage. Do you know the name of the dance school?” This was a decoy question, a way of concealing what Lucy really wanted to know by pairing an unimportant query with something vital.

  “Hmm. I know it’s not in Cold Valley.” Janice spoke slowly as though sorting through her memory. “I’ll have to check, but I think it’s a place in Boddington… Miss Evelynn’s or something like that.”

  “Great. I can follow that up.” Lucy put a tick next to the first question on her pad. “There are three women on the right side of the stage, watching the dancing. You’ve given the names of the first two, but for the third you’ve put Milly or Maddie.” Lucy was careful to keep her tone casual. “I don’t suppose you’ve remembered the woman’s name?”