Deadly Secrets

by Sarah Barrie

  ‘I’m just trying to eliminate her as a suspect. I can’t do that if she won’t cooperate.’

  Harry’s look was pure disbelief. ‘A suspect? Jordy? That’s ridiculous!’

  ‘Actually it’s not. Not with what she was caught with during the accident investigation. Which is why I have to go through the process. If I don’t do that quietly, someone else will come in and interrogate her officially.’ He leaned against his desk and folded his arms. ‘We’re on the same side, Harry.’

  Harry seemed to consider that a moment, nodded. ‘Then I’ll tell you that not only are you wasting your time, but from a purely tactical perspective, muscling in on Jordy’s about the stupidest thing you could do.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘You’ll put Joel Tanner offside. See, Joel and Carol are practically Jordy’s family. Joel’s also just about the most influential man in town — kind of an unofficial mayor. People look up to him; he has a lot of influence. So does Carol; she heads the CWA around here.

  ‘If you want some advice, you should come to the club on Friday night. It’s the weekly social event. You’ll meet all the locals and get a better idea of the flow of things. It might give you a chance to get a foot in the door before the whole town decides they don’t like you.’

  ‘I’ll think about it, thanks.’

  ‘Were you going somewhere?’

  ‘Taking a break.’

  There was a thoughtful pause. ‘Heading down to the café?’

  ‘I’ll probably end up there.’

  ‘Great. Pick me up one of Mary’s blueberry muffins, would you?’

  Reid found himself sighing in relief. ‘It’s hard to get along with you, Harry.’

  ‘Forget to bring me back that muffin and you might think so,’ Harry called over his shoulder as he wandered out.

  Jordan headed straight for the café. She wanted to have some time to herself — at least until she calmed down — but she’d only have to come back later and clean Mary’s fish tank. It didn’t make sense to go home and come back. And she needed that twenty-five bucks more than she needed to indulge her mood.

  Mary straightened from wiping down benches when Jordan stormed in. ‘You okay, Jordy?’

  ‘’Course.’ She smiled at Mary and Joel and headed straight for the cleaning supplies.

  ‘Don’t let him get to you, love,’ Joel called after her. ‘City boys don’t know a thing about how it is in the country.’

  ‘And to think I was nice to the man.’ Mary sat on a stool next to Joel.

  Jordan grabbed the bucket of equipment and reappeared, moving past them to the tank. ‘I should have shot him — just for the fun of it.’

  ‘What?’ Mary and Joel asked in unison.

  Jordan dropped the bucket, lifted the lid off the tank and shook her head. ‘Long story.’

  ‘Best you start at the beginning then,’ Joel said in a tone Jordan knew only too well. ‘What did you do, and how much trouble are you in?’

  ‘I’m not. And it’s fine.’ She ran them through it as she cleaned the tank. Mary, at least, seemed to find it amusing. Joel wasn’t so quick to laugh.

  ‘Jordan, you’re nearly through all this, you —’

  ‘I know, I know…I’ll be good.’

  Joel got to his feet and shook his head, but his expression was indulgent. ‘Just…behave.’

  ‘Yes Joel,’ she promised in a conciliatory tone.

  ‘I need to get back to the shop. If you need anything, just holler.’

  Mary watched Joel walk down the road. ‘He’s worried about your probation. He’s never felt right about any of it. You know that.’

  ‘I know. But there wasn’t any choice. We all know that.’

  ‘We do. But this new probation officer is — coming! Well…he’s got a hide!’

  The way Mary was staring at him almost made Jordan smile. Then Reid pushed through the door and Jordan turned back to read the pH level in the tank.

  ‘Well if it isn’t our friendly new probation officer! You want to order something, I suppose?’

  ‘Coffee, thanks. Oh, and a blueberry muffin — take away.’

  ‘Arresting Jordy worked up your appetite?’

  Jordan’s face split into a grin, but when she turned around it was composed and, satisfied she was done, she scooped up the equipment and headed to a back room.

  Reid slid onto a stool and sent Mary an enquiring glance. ‘Something you want to say?’

  ‘You’ll make very few friends around here picking on Jordy.’ She carelessly tossed a fat, juicy muffin into a paper bag. ‘It’s already right ’round town.’

  ‘My love of small towns just increases by the second. Are you going to tell me I should feel sorry for her, too?’

  Mary let out a short, sharp sound of amusement. ‘I don’t imagine that’d go down well. Made of strong stuff, Jordy.’

  ‘No kidding?’

  ‘Soft as marshmallow in the middle though.’

  Reid bit back a laugh of his own. ‘I’ll take your word for it.’

  Jordan reappeared and took a chocolate doughnut from the display with a cheeky grin. ‘I’m off, Mary.’

  ‘Thanks, Jordy.’ Mary smiled in response. ‘See you Friday night, eh?’

  ‘Unless I get tied up with the cattle. See ya.’ She smiled again, sent Reid a cool look, and with a cursory nod, headed out.

  CHAPTER

  4

  The Local was a stately building, as old on the outside as it was modern and comfortable on the inside. There was a decent-sized stage, mostly used for Friday-night karaoke and the local primary school’s monthly drama group. A small dance floor spread out from the front of it, a Chinese restaurant filled the nearby kitchen, and behind a partition of lattice and potted palms were a couple of dozen poker machines, two billiard tables and a grand old jukebox. The tables, inside and out in the courtyard, were large and round — designed for groups of people that knew each other. That’s just how it was.

  And Friday night at The Local was a tradition. It was about discussing the working week, doing deals over a beer or two, catching up with stock prices and relaxing with old friends. Right at that moment, Jordan sat with Madi and Matt, waiting for more of their friends to put in an appearance. The kitchen had started up and the scent of Chinese food wafted through the large room, reminding Jordan she hadn’t stopped for lunch.

  ‘I hope the others get here soon. I’m starving,’ Matt informed them, mirroring her thoughts.

  ‘You’re always starving,’ Madi teased before turning her attention to Jordan. ‘You going to drink that beer or just stare at it?’

  ‘Sorry…big week.’ Jordan yawned then smiled.

  ‘Hmm. Another one?’ Madi looked at her friend critically. ‘I know this sale is important but —’

  ‘As soon as it’s over I’ll relax. Hell, you can throw me a party.’

  ‘We will be…oh yum. Who’s that?’ she asked out of the blue.

  Jordan followed her gaze toward the doors and swore. She supposed she should have figured he’d turn up. Cautiously, she slid her arm across the table, pushing her beer in front of Madi.

  Madi reluctantly dragged her eyes from the newcomer and took note of the move, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion before her eyes widened into saucers. ‘That is the personality-challenged Hitler?’

  ‘Correct.’

  ‘That, is a walking orgasm,’ Lillian, a petite, pretty redhead and one of Jordan’s closest friends purred, appearing at their table. ‘And who needs a personality when you look like a god?’

  ‘Never said he was ugly…’ Jordan muttered. ‘Where’d you come from?’

  ‘Came through the courtyard. David’s on his way — said to go ahead and order dinner.’

  ‘Thank you, David!’ Matt exclaimed. ‘Who’s up for some food?’ Matt took a pencil from the Keno holder and, turning over a coaster, took orders.

  ‘Reid, how lovely to see you here!’ Jordan watched covertly as Martha waved him d
own and he wound his way to a nearby table. The Steiners were sitting with Joel and Carol and three other couples, and the spare chair she assumed was assigned for him was right next to Joel’s.

  ‘Good one, Martha,’ she muttered. Her lips twitched in appreciation when she saw Joel merely grunt a greeting. Carol frowned slightly at her husband and turned and spoke to him.

  ‘Mum’s going to suss him out,’ Madi decided.

  ‘Oh, here comes Daisy!’ Lillian alerted them with glee.

  Daisy Calper, the town gossip, was a plump, elderly woman with an inexhaustible wardrobe of very proper, plain cotton dresses, a hairspray-laden, purple-rinse hairdo and a permanently pinched expression.

  ‘And I suppose this is him then?’ the woman broadcasted to the room in general. ‘And Joel Tanner sitting right next to the man that put our Jordy in handcuffs!’

  ‘It’s alright, Daisy.’ Carol put a quietening hand on Joel’s arm. ‘We’re just getting to sorting that out.’

  ‘Oh, well.’ She gave Reid a disapproving stare. ‘Nothing wrong with the look of you,’ she told him briskly, ‘but you need to learn some proper manners.’

  Reid regarded the woman solemnly. ‘Well I’ll…certainly keep that in mind ma’am.’

  Clearly not sure whether he was patronising her or not, Daisy turned her attention to Harry. ‘I really only came over here to tell you, Sergeant, that young hooligan Michael Callahan has been at it again. Really, he needs a darn good hiding.’

  ‘What has he done now, Daisy?’

  ‘As you well know with my old oak tree fallen in that last big storm, my clothesline is clearly visible from the main road. Well, the Portsmouth Garden Club was out front on Tuesday laughing their silly heads off when I wandered home with my shopping. Now what do you suppose I found blowing freely on my very own clothesline for all the world to see?’

  Harry chewed the inside of his cheek and glanced around the table. ‘Oh…Daisy, I wouldn’t hazard a guess.’

  ‘Well, I’ll tell you. No less than three pairs of bright red bee-strings!’

  ‘Bee-strings?’ Harry scratched his head, then it hit him. ‘You mean g-strings? Bright red g-strings?’

  ‘Great dangly bits of nothing! And for all the world they were big enough to drive a truck through!’

  ‘Oh, well, now…’

  ‘I found the boxes in my garbage bin. Says they were edible. Edible. Why on earth would anyone want to eat their own underwear? I got the longest stick I could find to get them down. I put them in the trash, then we got that dew overnight and now they’re stuck to the bin like concrete. Whole place smells of some strange strawberry concoction.’

  Harry cleared his throat as every person listening struggled for composure. It didn’t last.

  Mary exploded and it was a good couple of minutes before the group managed to pull themselves together.

  ‘Oh yes, joke of the century it is, embarrassing me like that! And it’s not just me. Three days ago he filled Mavis Dawson’s letterbox with tomato sauce. Well, I heard the poor woman scream from four doors down! I expect you to do something about it, Sergeant!’

  ‘Top priority, Daisy,’ Harry managed through his own laughter. ‘My word on it.’

  As Daisy huffed again and walked off, Jordan watched with a small grin as looks were exchanged and Martha said something to Reid that she couldn’t catch. Reid laughed and looked over and their eyes locked.

  She felt a rush; an unwelcome awareness washing over her that she just knew would put colour in her cheeks. She wanted to drop her gaze but when a hint of challenge touched his expression she instead raised an eyebrow, returned the stare, and held it.

  ‘Wow,’ Madi began, pulling at her clothes as though they were sticky. ‘Is it getting hot in here?’ she enquired to Lillian.

  ‘I’ve been hot since the guy walked in,’ Lillian murmured, watching the silent battle with interest.

  Matt and David came back, breaking Jordan’s line of sight and with relief she welcomed the diversion. Yeah, it was getting hot in here, she admitted, and thought again how unfair it was that the least likeable man she’d met in a long time had that kind of effect on her baser instincts.

  ‘Catch Daisy’s show?’ Matt asked.

  ‘And the rest.’ Lillian continued to stare blatantly at Reid.

  Madi rolled her eyes. ‘That’s Jordan’s new probation officer.’

  ‘And Lil’s next conquest by the sound of it,’ David muttered.

  Jordan flopped back in her chair. ‘Good luck with that.’

  ‘Why thank you,’ Lillian sighed happily, deliberately missing the sarcasm.

  ‘I’m going to the bar.’ As David strode away, Jordan and Madi looked deliberately at Lillian.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Do you really not see it, or do you not want to?’ Madi asked.

  ‘See…?’

  ‘David, Lil. David.’ Jordan spoke as though addressing a small child. ‘Stop torturing him.’

  ‘Torturing him? You think…? No,’ she scoffed. ‘David and I are best mates. There’s nothing…’ Her eyes narrowed as she followed his progress to the bar. ‘No.’

  Jordan exchanged glances with Madi. Both shrugged. ‘Whatever you say.’ She reached for her beer, then remembered. ‘I have to go get a Coke.’

  As he pretended to listen to a conversation on the benefits of silage over hay, Reid watched Jordan get up and head to the bar. She was wearing well-worn jeans just tight enough to make a man salivate, though he doubted she wore them for anything other than comfort. Her boots were long, and her shirt was relatively loose, yet still it managed to outline her slim waist, the gentle curve of her breast. She looked and moved like a dancer, he thought, not a…what was she anyway? She certainly didn’t gel with his idea of farmer.

  But did she gel any better with his idea of drug dealer? She should fit the profile perfectly. So why was he having such a hard time believing it? He’d thrown in the drug-dealing murderer comment at the meeting just to see how she’d react. He was used to reading how guilty people took that sort of thing. But her expression hadn’t been defensive, smug, snide or any of the usual reactions he’d seen from people that actually fit the description. It had been shocked, hurt, and he’d quickly concluded the tag just didn’t fit.

  So she probably wasn’t a dealer. Still, the amount she’d had on her had only just scraped within the personal use limit, and while it was unlikely she’d be using while she was being routinely screened — that’s if she was, he thought with a wry grin — she must have been at one time. And she’d sourced them from somewhere. If he could get her to tell him where, he might be able to make some real headway on his case. He’d just have to convince her to tell him.

  As evening progressed, Reid relaxed into the easy atmosphere and spent much of his time putting names to faces. He observed the comings and goings, the people, the dynamics. At one point Brett strolled in and acknowledged him with the faintest of nods, before turning his attention to the bar and a small group of men clustered around it. He saw Brett buying a round of beers, doing his part to get the singleted party to loosen up. They both knew from experience how much looser tongues could become after a bit of fun and a few drinks, and Brett had a job to do.

  A band started up as yet another plate of food arrived. Reid saw, with something akin to disbelief, what he assumed was sweet and sour pork, and wondered where any of them were going to put it. How many dishes had they worked their way through? It seemed countless. Not even wanting to consider more food, he turned his attention back to the stage. The young woman singing had a pleasant enough voice and Reid discovered he was enjoying himself. As the time slipped away people around him who had been drinking for a while started getting rowdier and a mock fight broke out behind them, ending in an affectionate slap on each back. It was so casual and easy. He’d never experienced this kind of close-knit community, and though the thought surprised him, he briefly found himself wishing he were here under different circumstances.
>
  A few people clapped as the band’s vocalist left the stage, and the jukebox started up with a well-known Taylor Swift track. A woman raised her voice to announce the karaoke would be starting in ten minutes.

  ‘What do you think? Up for a go?’ Martha asked Reid.

  Reid looked at her with mild disbelief. ‘Not unless I want the place to myself.’

  Most people did have a go, unashamedly belting out everything from sixties classics to latest hits. He recognised many of them, including each of Jordan’s friends, and Reid shared in the applause or laughter as each turn warranted, again catching himself enjoying the easy small-town ambience and familiarity.

  ‘I’m surprised at how good most of them are,’ he commented to Harry, as Matt bowed and left the stage, following a rousing rendition of ‘I’m Too Sexy’.

  ‘People around here all grew up with this sort of thing,’ Harry replied, still chuckling. ‘Lots of campfires and guitars and singing. That’s about the best form of entertainment a kid’s going to get out here. Different to the city.’

  ‘No one else tonight?’ the announcer asked, scanning the room. ‘No? I’m sure we’re one short…anyone seen Jordy?’

  Jordan was out on the veranda being nudged. ‘Go on!’ Madi prodded. ‘You always have a go. It’s tradition.’

  Jordan played with the straw in her drink. ‘Right now that’s an unfortunate tradition. I don’t feel like it.’

  ‘It’s not like you can’t sing, Jordy,’ Lillian added, popping a chip into her mouth. ‘Go in and show off. He’s hot. If you don’t want to be friends, I will…’

  ‘Surprise, surprise,’ David commented wryly. Lillian studied him thoughtfully and Jordan covered a smirk. ‘Go on, Jordy,’ David seconded.

  ‘I don’t want to show off.’

  Matt returned to the table. ‘Yeah, you do.’ He turned back towards the doorway and whistled loudly. ‘She’s out here!’

  Jordan groaned, slamming her hands down on the table. ‘Fine.’

  ‘Do something sexy.’ Lillian wiggled her eyebrows.

  ‘You’ll be lucky to get “Mary had a Little Lamb”.’ Jordan plastered a grin on her face.