When he and Suze had interviewed Natalie Alvarez yesterday evening, the woman kept getting on her soapbox and preaching at them. Suze had managed to redirect the questioning each time. But when Suze explained that the missing Bella was the daughter of Dr Martin Ross, Nurse Natalie had leapt to her feet, kicking the chair over in the process.
‘Charge him with murder!’ she yelled. ‘He’s done it again!’
‘Please sit down, Ms Alvarez. We need to ask you some more questions.’
‘The police and the hospital inquiry got it wrong. That man should have been arrested.’
‘Ms Alvarez, can you tell us where you were on Thursday morning?’
‘You think I had something to do with this? Are you crazy?’ The woman slapped her hands down on the table.
‘Can you tell us where you were?’ Suze repeated.
‘Where I was?’ Nurse Natalie cackled. ‘Have you turned on a TV lately? I was protesting at Parliament House. There’s plenty of footage of me.’
‘Did you know Martin Ross was living in Canberra?’
‘Last I heard he’d gone into hiding in England. Proving his guilt. Are you going to arrest him this time?’
Caruso had written down a list of fellow protesters—people she’d been with on Thursday and four years ago. A few of them had lasted the distance and would know about Martin Ross. But it seemed a long shot. The voluntary assisted dying bill was due to be introduced into the House of Representatives on Monday and the protesters would want as much coverage as possible of their objections to the legislation. Not Bella’s disappearance on the front page. Still, it was another line of inquiry.
Meanwhile, investigations into the CCTV footage in Civic hadn’t turned up anything. None of the shop assistants remembered the pair. Perhaps it was simply a mother and daughter who looked like Bella and Lexie. They’d got additional footage from a nearby petrol station. A similar white car with two kids in the back seat—a boy and a girl. Could be the same mother and daughter or another family altogether. However, when he’d checked over Brendan Parrish’s townhouse, Caruso had noted a white Subaru high-performance sports car in the garage with a similar body shape to the one on the tape. But the CCTV footage only showed the passenger door, with no marks to identify the make of the car. Parrish had said he was at school all day, from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon. Suze was going through the six sets of security tapes from the Merrigang shops again to see if Brendan Parrish had been captured on film at any point.
Hassan had got the info back from the hospital. The ER notes indicated that only the father had brought Bella into Emergency on the afternoon she’d broken her wrist. Mrs Parker did not accompany them nor did she receive medical treatment for her injury. And the information from Chatswood police station showed the Parkers had lied by omission.
Caruso was keen to rule out individuals so they could narrow the focus of their investigation. Natalie Alvarez had an alibi but they needed to check on her colleagues. He also wanted to speak to Brendan Parrish’s colleagues—had any of them actually been with him during the school recess time when Bella had disappeared?
This morning, though, Julia Fleming was first on his list. Could the playgroup organiser shed any light on the Parkers’ relationship and their deceased child?
Caruso and Suze parked outside Julia’s house. The Flemings were doing all right for themselves: a large two-storey house in Merrigang with a pool, the front garden manicured, hedges trimmed. Julia appeared in a white blouse over a denim skirt. Short brown bob, round face and heavily pregnant. Her husband had taken the kids to swimming lessons so she was home alone, resting.
Inside, Caruso and Suze both accepted a cup of coffee. Caruso cast an eye over the leather lounges and glass dining table. The kids were obviously banished to another part of the house as there was no evidence of them here, apart from the huge pictures on the wall. Black-and-white photos printed on canvas showed the children and parents in different poses. One girl was around seven or eight years old, while Morgan was a similar age to Bella. Were the photos taken by Brendan Parrish?
‘I saw the newspaper,’ Julia said softly. ‘Is it true?’
Caruso didn’t answer, hoping that Julia would share her thoughts. Was it possible that Julia didn’t know anything about the Parkers’ first child? Before Thursday, he’d never been inside a playgroup. How did the relationships work in this secret women’s club? His silence was rewarded.
‘I don’t understand why she wouldn’t tell us. Imogen had a miscarriage and she shared that. Everyone was so caring when my dad died. Our playgroup was always supportive. Why wouldn’t Lexie say?’
Shrugging, Caruso prepared to ask a question but the woman was on a roll.
‘Did she think she couldn’t trust us?’ Julia sounded indignant now. ‘She should have told us. And now it makes her look guilty. All the time, behind that perfect facade was this …’
Caruso finally got a question in: ‘So, she didn’t seem depressed or unable to cope?’
‘Not at all. She just didn’t open up like the rest of us. We’d be telling each other everything—and I mean everything—and she’d sit there without speaking.’
Despite being a bloke, Caruso could understand not wanting to discuss your dead child with a group of mums who had healthy babies. Interesting that Julia thought it made Lexie look guilty. In what way? Did she really think Lexie could have abducted Bella herself? If so, then how had Lexie done it? She’d have needed an accomplice. The shop assistants in the supermarket and the charity store both corroborated her story and her timing. One hypothesis was that Lexie could have hidden Bella in her car after she’d arrived back from the shops.
‘Poor Lexie.’ Julia dabbed at her eyes with a proper handkerchief. His mum would be impressed by that. ‘Maybe she has that condition, Munchhausen by proxy, and she made the first baby sick and Bella go missing because she craved the attention.’
Her theory didn’t make sense, though, because apparently Lexie hadn’t told anyone about the first child. Caruso took control of the interview.
‘Can we go through that morning at playgroup again, please?’
Julia shifted her weight in the lounge chair and rubbed a hand over her belly.
‘I picked up Tara because I wanted to try out my new baby capsule with Daisy in it. It’s a convertible one. Ridiculously expensive but we can use it till the baby is eight.’
‘Right. Did you see Josh at the house when you picked up Tara?’
‘Josh? No. He would have been at work by then.’
‘Did you see him come into playgroup on Thursday?’
‘No. What was he doing there? Why wasn’t he at work?’ Julia harrumphed. ‘Those two, honestly. They don’t seem to understand the concept of working to pay the bills.’
So Josh had stayed out of sight; only Mel had seen him.
‘How well do you know the other mums?’
‘I was at school with Imogen; she’s the sweetest friend you could have. It was nice we had kids at the same time, but I wanted some quieter playmates for Morgan. That’s why I set up the playgroup.’ Julia let out a quick laugh. ‘Well, actually, I wanted some playmates for me, too!’
Caruso had heard his sister complain about being lonely at home when the kids were younger, which meant his mum had decided to go and stay with her. A playgroup sounded better. A time each week to catch up with other mums while the kids played.
‘And how well do you know the other mums?’
‘Tara is married to my husband’s cousin, so I invited her along. She’s lots of fun but a bit wild. Sometimes Tara should stop and think before she speaks.’
The detective nodded for her to continue.
‘Lexie joined about six months ago and Mel not long after her. Lexie’s older than the rest of us and Mel’s younger, but we all get along. Mel has so much energy and is great with kids. She looks after Morgan when I’m at work. We did make sure that she wasn’t an anti-vaxxer—she’s from Byron Bay
, you see. That area has one of the worst immunisation rates in Australia.’
‘And Lexie?’
‘We all like her. Tara thinks she looks down on us because she’s lived in Sydney and England, but I don’t think so. She’s quieter than everyone else. Oh my God, I can’t believe this has happened.’
Caruso categorised Julia as one of those people who was always certain about things, whether it was toilet training a child or setting up filing systems at work or the intricacies of a friendship. She led an unambiguous life.
Suze began asking about the photo shoot with the schoolteacher.
‘Brendan Parrish is my daughter’s teacher. He’d been telling me about his photography and I asked if he’d like to do our playgroup.’
‘Right. So has Mr Parrish been to the playgroup since then?’
‘No. And the photos were taken on the ridge, so he never came to the playgroup at all. But he has a Working with Vulnerable People card, of course, because he’s a teacher. I wouldn’t have invited a stranger to photograph our kids.’
‘Of course not,’ Suze agreed. ‘And did Mr Parrish see Lexie and Bella again after that?’
‘Oh, wait, he did come into the playgroup. Sorry, I forgot. He came to show us the photos. He presented a few printed ones to us before he emailed the other ones. He wants us to drum up business for him, but I hope it doesn’t affect his focus on teaching the class.’
Interesting … Brendan Parrish had not mentioned going into playgroup to show off his photos, nor buying a coffee for Lexie as Tara Murphy had recalled. Both times he would have seen Bella. Was something going on between Brendan Parrish and Lexie Parker?
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[Deleted by Admin at 10 am]
Spencer Dohl > Help find Bella Parker
6 am. Just seen the Telegraph story. I don’t trust those parents.
COMMENTS (311)
– Did the police investigate the brother’s death?
– The mother must have done it.
– Can you link to the newspaper article, Spencer Dohl? I’m in France.
– Why weren’t the parents arrested the first time around?
– Did the guilty parents set up this FB page?
– I don’t think any of this is helping. Bella is still missing and we need to find her.
– I just saw a little girl in Rockhampton wearing a pink coat. It’s weird because it’s so hot up here. Do you think it’s her?
– There are two sides to every story. Stop judging!!! Ignorant fools. God help us if you all end up on a jury one day.
– Admin, please get on here quickly and delete these terrible comments.
– The Government has already failed in helping Bella. She should have been taken away from her parents after her brother’s death. We need to protect at-risk children and get them away from their abusive parents.
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Please keep all comments related to the search for Bella.
Contact the ACT Police with any information. Bella needs our help. Thank you for your support.
29
MARTY
CHRIST, THE NEWSPAPER HAD DONE A JOB ON THEM. SPOUTING NURSE Natalie’s accusations word for word. How could it print this shit without checking the facts? I should be finding a lawyer and suing for defamation.
Marty had put Lexie back to bed. He’d wondered if he should insist on her taking half an antidepressant. After their son had died, she’d struggled on through the grief and the terrible morning sickness. And then, when Bella was born and it was in the media again, the GP had prescribed Paxil because she was breastfeeding. Marty didn’t want to think back to that time. Focus on Bella. The angel who had landed on earth to save them.
Sitting at the kitchen bench, Marty had four tabs open on his laptop: the newspaper article about their son; Nurse Natalie’s anti-euthanasia website; a White Pages search for Brendan Parrish’s address; and a Merrigang school newsletter profiling the teacher—Mr Parrish had said how happy he was to live so close to the school and to be part of such a friendly village community.
A knock on the glass sliding door made Marty look up. Mr Whitlaw, the neighbour from along the street, stood on their back deck, his large dog by his side.
‘Martin, I just wanted to check in to see if we could offer any help. The wife has baked some lasagne.’
The old man handed over a baking dish covered in foil.
‘That’s very kind. Please thank her for me.’
Marty kept his fingers on the handle, ready to close the door.
‘Can I do anything for you, Martin?’
‘No, thanks.’
‘Any jobs around the house? I’m good at fixing things.’
‘Nope,’ Marty barked.
How could the old man think of maintenance jobs at a time like this? Or did he just want to get inside?
‘How’s Lexie holding up? Can I pop in and see her?’
The man’s gaze shifted upwards to the bedrooms, then over Marty’s shoulder towards the kitchen and finally back down to the dog. Mr Whitlaw scratched his dog behind the ears. Avoided eye contact with Marty.
‘She’s resting. But I’ll pass on your kind thoughts.’
‘Let her know that we’re here if she needs us. Bella is a delightful little girl. We’ll do anything we can to help. Napoleon is missing her cuddles.’
Mr Whitlaw patted the dog again and Marty wondered how much time Bella had spent with Napoleon and his owner. And what was the man doing here, in their garden?
‘Why did you come to our back door, Mr Whitlaw?’
‘Haven’t you seen out the front, Martin? Television crews everywhere. They want to film your every move. Thought you’d appreciate a bit more discretion.’
Just what they needed—their every move caught on tape and broadcast on the six o’clock news. Would Janice across the road be furious at the intrusion or making cups of tea for the camera operators and spreading gossip? Maybe she could tell them that he did a good deed, digging a grave for her dead chickens. Digging a grave. Fuck, that would be a headline in five seconds flat.
‘It’s a dreadful, dreadful situation.’ Mr Whitlaw fiddled with his glasses, took them off and put them on again. ‘I don’t understand it. We were all there at the shops when it happened.’
A small community. So small that someone must have seen Bella; someone must know where she was.
‘Who exactly was at the shops, Mr Whitlaw?’
‘I was dropping clothes into the charity shop—Sheila was rostered on that day. I saw Deirdre and your neighbour Janice. The Bridge Club women were having morning tea at the bakery. My granddaughter’s teacher was picking up a coffee. A couple of the farmers—Stan and … I can’t recall the other one’s name. And all the usual staff in the shops and the doctors in the surgery.’
‘Wait—which teacher?’
‘That young fella. We met him at Grandparents’ Day at school. I don’t know his name but he needs a haircut. It’s over his collar. Scruffy blond hair.’
‘Do you mean Brendan Parrish?’
Marty checked in on Lexie; she was still asleep in their big bed. Curled up in the foetal position, his wife seemed tiny, defenceless. I’ll find her for you. I’ll bring her home and our lives will be happier than before.
Parrish—a paedophile masquerading as a teacher? The hospital’s child protection unit had seen some terrible cases, one of them a primary school teacher preying on a kindergarten child. Was Parrish one of them? The man had lied; said he’d been at school. Bella liked him, talked about him, thought he was ‘funny’.
Marty pulled on his Nikes and set out, taking the long route to the ridge, down through the paddocks behind their house and looping back around. No cameraman would spot him.
When they’d first moved to Canberra, Marty had got back into running. The cool air, the mountain view, the beat of his feet, the rush of endorphins—it wa
s addictive. Now, as he jogged up the streets to the ridge, he noticed blankets and food containers placed by a few letterboxes. Warmth and sustenance left outside for Bella, in case she wandered this way.
After the community read today’s newspaper article, he’d lose everything—his reputation, his private patients, probably his job. When he’d been interviewed for the position, Marty had explained the situation to the hospital admin and his change of name. They understood the necessity for anonymity. Now, the whole hospital would be buzzing with the news. Elissa would hear the gossip and that would be the end of that. A crazy hope-against-hope sprung in the back of his mind. Maybe she’ll have sympathy for me? A friend in need and all that crap. No, sunny Elissa would be thinking the worst of him.
Marty scanned the bushes and the rocks as he jogged. Every ten metres, he stopped, cupped his hands around his lips and yelled: ‘BELLA!’
They’d all been taken from him—Bella, Elissa, Lexie in a heap again, his reputation in tatters. Marty clenched his fists and kept running, the blood pumping through his veins. That fucking teacher must have something to do with Bella’s disappearance. It would explain why the bastard lied about where he was on Thursday morning—and why the police had been asking Lexie about him …
Halfway along the ridge, Marty left the track and followed one of the many paths that led down into a cul-de-sac. His Nikes pounded the footpath. His thighs pumped. His thoughts pulsed with the rhythm of his feet: Bella lost—thud—Elissa gone—thud—reputation destroyed—thud—Lexie distraught—thud …
When his mobile rang, he stopped and stared at the screen for ten seconds before deciding to answer.
‘Dad, thank God you answered, I’ve been desperate talk to you. Any news?’
Marty had been avoiding Victoria so he didn’t have to turn down her entreaties.
Six Minutes Page 18