A Place to Stay

by Jennie Jones

  ‘My sister fancies him,’ Jax said, interrupting her thoughts. ‘She’s been after him since she came home for a long visit. But he wouldn’t say yes.’ Her blue eyes filled with merriment. ‘Much to Rosita’s despair.’

  Rachel packed her sandwich into her bag, hoping she wasn’t looking flustered. She’d always thought Luke would have no problem getting female company but hearing it might have happened with someone she knew—an attractive young woman—did funny things to her heart.

  ‘How’s the Laurensen place?’ Jax asked.

  ‘It’s looking a lot better now than before.’ At least it would be in a fit state for the next person who took it on.

  ‘Well, thank you for renting it. For the sake of the animals.’

  ‘The wildlife sanctuary?’ Rachel asked. ‘Do you know where it is and when it opens? I’d love to visit.’

  Jax beamed. ‘You’re too cute, Rachel. It isn’t housed anywhere. A number of us pitch in. I run it, though, which is why I’m thanking you for the rent.’

  Rachel’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You started it? How does it work if it isn’t … anywhere?’

  ‘Anybody finds an injured animal, domestic or feral, they either look after it if they can’t find an owner, or call one of the wildlife volunteers.’ She pointed at herself. ‘Me, mostly. But obviously, I’m away from home all day so I can’t keep many animals at my place, only the dogs waiting for rehousing. They look after themselves until I get home—got a big, shady, fenced back paddock. And I’ve got a few birds.’ She turned and pointed to the rear of the café. ‘But I’ve got my daycare shelter set up out the back. People bring the animals in to me, I do what I can for them until I can get them housed with another volunteer, unless there’s reason to call in the vet from Kalgirri. But that costs.’

  Rachel rested her bag on the counter. ‘How do you manage? I mean with all the animals coming in and with running the café.’

  ‘Make do. Although I’m glad Rosita came home for a visit when she did. I’d lost one of my waitresses, and without that third pair of hands it was getting difficult to look after the animals and the café.’

  ‘I’d like to help,’ Rachel offered, without thinking. ‘I only have forty minutes for lunch but maybe after work—’ She could have bitten her tongue off for speaking those words. She might not be here long enough to make a difference.

  ‘Sadly for you, Rachel, I’ve just made you my new best friend.’ Jax’s smile was bright and endearing, with a definite won’t-take-no-for-an-answer lift to it. She held out her hand.

  Rachel shook her temporary best friend’s perfectly manicured hand and ignored the spread of regret creeping inside her. She was surprised by her reaction to the offer of friendship. She let it sink in, enjoying it, then reminded herself that she was no longer able to make friends in Mt Maria in case she couldn’t stay. She’d never had a friend. She’d moved too much to make any tentative friendships work.

  ‘Uh-oh.’ Jax nodded to the front window. ‘The Agatha Girls are out. Well, two of them.’

  Rachel turned to the window. Mrs Arnold and Mrs Frith were across the street, a measuring tape strung between them, having a conversation. By the look of their tense expressions and rapid-fire mouth movements, they were bickering.

  ‘They’re checking the distance between the plant pots,’ Jax explained. ‘Tidy Town planning. Pots have to be within fifty centimetres of the business doors, or else.’

  ‘Or else what?’

  ‘Or else Amelia gets her car-jack out.’ Jax grinned. ‘Someone threatened her once so she carries a car-jack handle around in that voluminous straw handbag.’ Jax looked back through the window. ‘Word on the street is that they’re up to something. They had a meeting yesterday evening and a few people saw them all huddled on Mrs Arnold’s doorstep.’

  ‘Five-oh-seven pm,’ Rachel said. ‘Mrs Arnold summoned them.’

  ‘They’re the generous sort. Harmless—unless Amelia’s back is up, then watch out. Anyway—what’s your number?’ Jax asked, handing Rachel a business card from a pile on the countertop and then picking up a pen.

  ‘I—I left my phone at home. Sorry. I haven’t memorised the number.’ There was no need for more people than necessary to have her number. She’d ditch the mobile if she left anyway, or leave it for Luke, who’d given it to her in the first place.

  ‘No problem.’ Jax put the pen down. ‘We all know where to find you.’

  Which was fine, so long as Peter didn’t know where to find her.

  Rachel said goodbye, then stepped outside. She glanced up and down the street. There was no sign of Luke—although the marked police wagon he usually drove was sitting out the front of the station. When she saw him, would she have to mention anything about the kiss? But how to mention it without appearing overly keen to mention it? Unless he mentioned it first. And how to explain? She hadn’t been alone in reaching for the kiss—he’d bent to her a moment before she’d raised her face to him. Then she’d messed the whole unexpected situation up by wanting more. Wanting his arms around her. It felt now as though something had gone right then wrong.

  Her temper had surprised her too. She’d been furious and angry and emotionally torn numerous times over the last two years but always when she was on her own. Alone, where no-one could witness her meltdowns. Now she’d have to somehow explain her reaction.

  She stopped, rifled through her bag for her sunglasses and found them at the bottom, beneath her purse, her lip gloss, two bottles of water she’d brought from home and the sandwich she no longer had an appetite for. She put the sunglasses on and the glare of the bright day lessened.

  ‘Hello, Rachel.’

  ‘God! You frightened me.’ She put a hand to her chest, then laughed in embarrassment as she looked up at Luke, her heart beating madly.

  ‘Just wanted to know how you are today.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Now what? She had to appear normal, not nervous. She looked behind and pointed at the café. ‘I’ve promised to help Jax with the animals. And I bought my lunch.’

  She flinched when someone bumped into her. A group of businessmen had come out of Breakers and were dispersing into various groups of three or four. She hadn’t noticed any of them before now.

  Luke put his hand out, indicating she step out their way. ‘They won’t bother you.’

  ‘No. I know. Of course not.’ She pushed her sunglasses more firmly up the bridge of her nose, grateful she was wearing them. Without them he’d see the anxiety in her eyes. Not about the men but about how she was going to make him believe she was still the same Rachel as yesterday.

  ‘They like to look though,’ he said. ‘I can’t do much about that.’

  ‘I don’t expect you to.’ She swallowed and took her courage in hand. ‘Thank you for yesterday. For being in town. In the street. And for getting to me so quickly. I’m sorry I caused a disturbance. And I’m sorry about the kiss.’

  His smile broke, although he looked surprised by its appearance. He nudged the brim of the cap. ‘You didn’t cause it. And I’m glad I was in town, and in the street.’

  ‘I thought I’d better mention it. In case you felt awkward. I was more taken aback than I’d thought.’ She forced a laugh.

  He peered into her eyes—or her sunglasses. ‘By the disturbance or by the kiss?’ he asked.

  She coloured instantly but admitted it. ‘Yes. The—not the disturbance. Well, that too, of course.’ She was nodding too much, so she stopped. ‘I hadn’t expected it.’

  ‘Neither had I,’ he said, and something in the way he lowered and deepened his voice made her think he regretted having done it—or regretted his participation.

  ‘So, twice a week, I think,’ she said. She wasn’t supposed to be feeling sorry for herself, she was supposed to be acting normal and checking that he was still acting normal, so she could get an indication on whether or not he’d run a check. Because if he had, she’d have to leave town tonight. But—she didn’t want to leave. She’d found Jax
. The Agatha Girls. Mary—Luke. She liked them. Liked all of them.

  ‘I’ve got a lot to learn though,’ she said, trying to get her head back into the moment.

  He frowned.

  ‘I’m free after work—well, of course I am. What else do I do?’ She was talking too quickly. She ordered herself to slow down. ‘That’s the best time for me. Although I’ve got weekends. I could do it then too. I need to read up on it and see if I can perfect the experience I already have. Which isn’t much, to be honest.’

  ‘Learn how to do what?’

  ‘Look after an animal that isn’t a dog or a cat.’

  His features brightened with a smile. ‘I thought you were still talking about kissing.’

  She smiled too, but lowered her gaze to the ground.

  ‘I don’t want to bring up a touchy subject,’ he said, the sudden temperate tone making her look up at him again. ‘But I want to ask whether or not you want to take things further regarding that guy yesterday.’ He held his forefinger and thumb together, not touching but with hardly a gap. ‘He was this close to thumping you.’

  A shiver crawled up her spine, like an oversized spider with eight spiky legs taking a joyride along her fear. ‘I don’t want any trouble, Luke. Please don’t make me do it.’

  His concern deepened, furrowing his brow.

  ‘I’m not trying to be awkward.’

  ‘I know that,’ he said. ‘But you were distressed by it. Something wasn’t right—not just the fact that you’d slapped him and he was about to hit you. Something more. Or maybe you didn’t realise you could make a charge. Do you know how these things work?’

  Was he fishing for information? He might have seen the letters after all, addressed to Rebecca Smithfield. If he’d run a check on Rebecca he might have found everything else. Changing her name from Rosalind Fletcher to Michaels to Rebecca Smithfield wouldn’t halt the information the police had. They knew. It would be recorded somewhere, although she didn’t know what he’d have access to.

  ‘Of course I don’t know how it works,’ she said. ‘Why would I?’

  ‘I’m just asking. But if you don’t want to do anything about it—well—you don’t want to and that’s that. They’re out at the museum,’ he added. ‘They’re part of the builder’s crew. I’m trying to get in touch with their company—I have to follow through on this.’

  She looked up at the sun, then had to squint. It was harsh, even behind Polaroid lenses. She lifted her hand and used it to shield her eyes, glancing down the street. Looking at anything but Senior Sergeant Weston. ‘I had … I had a problem with my family once.’ Stay as close to the truth as possible. She was less likely to make mistakes that way. ‘Someone in my family was like that man.’ She didn’t wait for an answer. ‘And I didn’t like it.’ She looked up at him, then took her sunglasses off so he’d see her eyes. ‘That’s why I don’t want trouble.’

  He took his time assessing her, meeting her gaze steadily. She held her ground. She might not have even blinked.

  He nodded, and the firmness in his mouth relaxed. ‘Understood. I’ll sort it out my end.’

  * * *

  Luke studied her while she went through whatever thoughts were tumbling in her head. She’d mentioned her family and a problem she might have. That was progress. Of sorts.

  ‘So you’re going to be helping Jax out with the sanctuary?’ he asked, not ready to let her go; wanting to look at her a bit longer before he made a decision on what he was going to do. He still hadn’t given Jack an affirmative on his involvement, but he’d let him know that Rachel was still in town, and that he was watching her. He’d pulled an overnight off-duty shift last night to sit in the scrubland opposite her house and think—and protect. Jack had said he’d give him until mid-afternoon today, then he’d be coming into town to do the job himself. Luke didn’t want to picture that scenario—Jack Maxwell, the man who could have a woman just by glancing at her, getting cosy with Rachel.

  ‘Sorry. I should have acknowledged the animal thing when you mentioned it,’ he continued, and even managed a smile. ‘But I got distracted talking about the—about the disturbance.’ And the surprising intimacy of the kiss.

  ‘I could muck out or clean the feed bowls or something,’ she said. ‘She’s nice, Jax.’

  ‘My favourite café owner. She’s a great person.’

  ‘I don’t think her sister was there today.’

  ‘You wouldn’t miss Rosita if she’d been there.’

  ‘I have met her—or seen her. You couldn’t not look at a person like Rosita. Mary told me who she was. I understand Rosita might have a thing for you. Or that you nearly, you know …’

  He stilled. Who’d told her that? ‘No. Well, not on my part.’ He’d been tempted but only for two seconds. Surely that didn’t count? ‘That is, it could have happened but it didn’t,’ he explained. ‘I didn’t want it to. So there’s nothing between me and Rosita. Absolutely nothing. Not even a quick—you know—disturbance.’

  She gave him a small smile. ‘A disturbance? Are you telling me you didn’t even kiss Rosita?’

  ‘Bloody right, I’m telling you that.’ Although why he was trying to cover up his actions, he didn’t know. But whatever happened he didn’t want her to think he was a player. She’d be wrong.

  Her smile broadened. ‘I’m teasing you.’ She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and stifled her laugh.

  ‘You’re teasing me?’ For the first time in his life he thought he might be looking a bit red in the face.

  ‘Am I getting a ticket?’ she asked.

  He cleared this throat. ‘I’ll let you off with a warning.’ He checked his watch. How long did embarrassment last?

  She laughed again.

  He tipped his head. ‘Are you flirting with me, Rachel Meade?’ He smiled, but his thoughts were darker. She’d taken the flirty route with him to get him off the subject of her family problems. ‘Because if you are, I’m thinking it means dinner with me is on the cards.’

  Her smile hadn’t moved but she shook her head. ‘I’ll think about it,’ she said, and laughed lightly once more as she moved off. ‘See you.’

  Luke crossed the street. In the doorway to the station office he pulled out his phone and called Jack Maxwell.

  ‘And?’ Jack asked. ‘What’s your decision?’

  Luke paused. If he went through with this he’d be up to his neck in it. If he didn’t, he’d be out.

  ‘Send me access to the files on Fletcher, everything on the op I’m allowed to see—plus everything else you think I need to know.’

  ‘You got it.’

  Eight

  ‘It’s hot, Mary. But it’s also sticky. I think it’s the cloud cover.’ Rachel took her seat at the counter and pushed her bag beneath it.

  ‘You must be getting used to being out here if you’ve started commenting on the humidity level and clouds,’ Mary said.

  ‘Looks like I am.’ Rachel took her computer out of sleep mode.

  ‘Jax said you’re going to help her with the animals.’

  Rachel paused. ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘She just rang me. Everybody’s been ringing me. To see how you are after that horrid episode yesterday. What’s happened with the man?’ Mary’s voice flattened to her shocked-community-member tone. ‘It’s been the talk of the town.’

  Which is what Rachel didn’t want.

  ‘Why won’t you press charges?’

  She could give Mary the same family story she’d given Luke, which would enhance the little she’d told Mary in the first place, but wasn’t that just exacerbating the lie?

  ‘I just prefer not to—and it wasn’t actually an assault. He didn’t hit me.’ Although he would have if Luke hadn’t arrived.

  ‘We like to look after our own,’ Mary said. ‘And I think of you as our own. Have you thought about staying in Mt Maria for longer than the year? I’m sure our CEO would extend your contract.’

  Rachel wasn’t sure Donal
d Wiseman would extend her contract. He didn’t like her—although he didn’t like anybody who was, as he might put it, beneath him—but as she’d thought earlier, something about his dislike of Rachel Meade made her nervous. He couldn’t know anything about her history so maybe she ought to think more rationally instead of getting more worried. Although given the history she had, who would blame her?

  ‘I haven’t made up my mind how long I’ll stay yet,’ she said carefully.

  ‘Everybody’s so unhappy for you,’ Mary said. ‘This sort of thing doesn’t normally happen in town. Not anymore. Not since Luke took over. We only had six police officers once, now we’ve got twelve of them, plus a senior sergeant—senior,’ Mary reiterated, as though Luke was king of the castle that was Mary’s world.

  But Rachel was more concerned with the fact that people were calling Mary to talk about the new woman in town.

  ‘And Barbara Bennett rang too—she said she’s going to come in and persuade you to join the Youth Centre committee. Will is the Youth Resources Officer.’

  Rachel suppressed a sigh. She was becoming embroiled in all her lies.

  ‘Did you see Luke while you were at lunch?’ Mary asked. ‘He’ll be very concerned for you.’

  ‘I did see him, actually.’

  Mary’s face brightened. ‘And are you taken with him? He’s serious about you.’

  Her heart bounced at the thought. ‘I do like him.’ There. She’d admitted it. He’d been kind and attentive just now, but reserved. Not his usual self. No jokes—apart from those about the disturbance and another jibe about taking her to dinner, but it hadn’t felt right.

  ‘How wonderful,’ Mary said, her smile twinkling in her eyes. ‘Just wonderful.’

  ‘Was he born here?’

  ‘Oh, no. Further north—he’s a farm boy.’ Mary leaned along the counter and lowered her voice. ‘And I don’t know if you’ve heard any gossip about him but if you have, take no notice.’

  ‘Gossip?’

  ‘About why he’s here. He doesn’t talk about it. He was a detective in Sydney. In Homicide. Dangerous undercover stuff, probably. I don’t know—and I don’t ask.’