by Sarah Barrie
‘Here to help.’
She tipped her head to the side, smiled. ‘You’re forever bringing me food. You didn’t have to come all the way out here, you know.’
‘Yeah, I did. You want your burger?’
She took another long look at the pony before nodding and slipping through the gate. ‘Just a sec.’ She disappeared into the stable block.
Almost immediately, the pony pawed at the ground, dropped his head and buckled at the knees. Jared placed the takeaway on the ground and jogged across the yard. ‘No, no. You’re not supposed to do that,’ he said as it lay down and kicked its feet in the air. ‘Come on, buddy. Get up.’ He pulled on the halter and the pony fought the tug, dragging Jared forward a few steps before reluctantly getting up. ‘Good boy, now stay on your feet, okay?’ He let the pony rub on him, stroked a hand along its sweaty neck and talked about silly things because his voice seemed to hold the pony’s interest.
Tess came rushing back in. ‘Sorry, I was just getting a couple of chairs.’
‘It’s no problem. He’s cooperating. Sort of. Come on, bud, let’s move.’ The pony began walking. ‘Why don’t you go eat your food?’ he said to Tess. ‘We’ve got this.’
She hesitated. ‘But you—’
‘Predicted this was going to be a tag-team effort and ate my quarter pounder on the way over.’ The look she sent him made the indigestion worth it. ‘Go, eat.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’ She went back to the gate and slipped through, opened up the folding chairs she’d brought out of the stables and sat in one before digging into the bag. ‘How much do you know about horses?’ she asked as he walked the pony past.
‘A bit. My mother showed ponies.’
‘Do you ride?’
‘Not since I was seven and discovered dirt bikes,’ he said.
‘Bikes are fun. Horses are better.’
‘You ride bikes?’
‘We’ve got some Yamaha 250s in the shed.’
‘Is that another one of those activities you take visitors out on?’
‘Occasionally. Along with mountain bikes, kayaks, hiking, quad-bikes, skiing …’
‘What can’t you do?’
‘Abseil,’ she answered immediately.
He laughed but shook his head. ‘Quit giving yourself a hard time, Tess. You’ve—’
Her gaze swept away from his to the pony. ‘Stop.’
‘I think you need to hear it.’
‘No, I mean stop walking,’ she said with a laugh and put down her food, coming back into the yard and around to the side of the pony as it groaned and lifted its tail.
Jared heard a splat, then another, then an explosion of it.
‘Good boy!’ Tess crooned, coming to the front to stroke the pony’s face and kiss his forehead. ‘Good job. I bet that feels better.’ She turned her face up to Jared’s and gave him a massive grin. ‘He pooped, yay.’
‘Evening highlight? You did say it was never boring.’
‘Feel free to leave in disgust now if you like. I won’t hold it against you.’
‘I would but … I haven’t finished my shake.’
Still smiling, she walked back to the gate. ‘I should keep an eye on him a bit longer.’
He followed her, picked up their drinks. ‘Well, it’s not the sort of thing I’d usually toast to, but we can celebrate the explosion,’ he said and handed her a large shake, tapped it to his. ‘Cheers.’
‘Cheers back.’ Her expression softened, warmed. ‘Jared … thanks.’
He took a chance and reached out, tucked some escaped tendrils of hair back behind her ear. ‘Not exactly a romantic first date.’
‘Actually, driving all the way out here to feed me a cheeseburger while I wait for a horse to poo is probably the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.’
‘Then you’ve had rotten dates.’
‘Honestly, I hate fancy restaurants. I mean, other than ours at the lodge, I don’t feel comfortable in them. I’m not a wine and dine, flowers and chocolates type. If that’s what you’re after, I’m not it.’ She looked so damn anxious about it all of a sudden he felt the need to get her to lighten up.
‘I think I just fell in love with you,’ he said, then laughed at her expression. ‘Turn off the cling-o-meter, Tess. I’ll restrain myself from proposing.’
She grinned, relaxing back into her chair, and lifted her shake in the air. ‘Keep this sort of thing up, it could be you running for breathing room.’
He looked into her sparkling eyes and decided he wasn’t messing with her quite as much as he’d made out. ‘I highly doubt that.’
The moment was broken by the sweep of headlights and the approach of a car. ‘Sorry, guys!’ Indy called out. ‘Jared, we’ve got a report of a break and enter. I thought you’d want to know.’
‘It’s only just after seven!’ he said.
‘You want to take the chance it’s a different POI? House belongs to a single white female.’
He looked at Tess apologetically. ‘Sorry.’
‘Nah, don’t be. Go get the bad guys.’
‘We’ll have to do this again sometime.’
She flashed him a big smile. ‘Minus the sick horse, and you’re on.’
‘Bye.’
‘Bye.’
‘Jared!’ Indy called.
‘Yep,’ he said, dragging his attention from Tess to jog to his car. With difficulty he got his head back in the game. ‘Where?’
‘Follow me.’
He did, and Indy drove fast. It took less time than it should have to get back into the suburbs, where they pulled up at the end of the street behind a parked police car. Surely by now it was all over and done with? But Roberts got out and approached them, showing no sign any arrest had taken place.
‘You said to watch and wait. We have cars at either end of the road and a man watching the house, and two on the street behind in case he takes off over the back fence.’
‘He’s still in there?’ Indy asked. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yep. Got a report a couple of minutes ago of movement inside.’
‘What the hell is he doing?’ Jared said. ‘I’m going in.’
‘I’ll go front, you go back,’ Indy said.
He approached the house, noticing a light was on somewhere inside. As Indy went up the front step a sensor light illuminated the front veranda. Jared hurried around the back, his foot crunching on broken glass from a window. He looked up just as someone barrelled through the window and straight into him, knocking him to the ground. He got a hand on the offender’s shirt and copped what might have been a fist or an elbow to the face but managed to pull the offender under him.
‘Stay down!’ he ordered, hearing Indy’s footsteps running to his assistance.
‘Okay! Okay!’
The voice was remarkably familiar, the fumes coming off her pure spirits.
‘You’ve got to be joking!’ Jared snapped and dragged the thief up with him. ‘Ruby, what the hell are you doing?’
Ruby lifted her head just enough to see the team of police surrounding her and threw her arms up in the air, almost smacking him in the face in her haste. ‘All this for me?’ she cried out. ‘Guns! Why do you have guns?’
Jared cuffed her, too pissed off to be gentle. ‘You’re under arrest.’
‘I just needed some cash,’ she said as they followed the narrow concrete path back around the side of the house to the waiting police car. ‘And they had this chockers bar. JD and Johnny, just sitting back with a coupla drinks, whole place lights up outside like Christmas. Had to get going, legs didn’t wanna cooperate. Just needed some cash. Wasn’t hurting anyone.’
He helped her in, sent her back to the station with a couple of officers.
‘She’s really in for it this time,’ Indy said, watching the car disappear. ‘Sorry to ruin your night.’
‘The pony was recovering when we left. I think it’s going to be okay.’
‘Nice date.’
A neigh
bour emerged from the house across the street. ‘I called it in,’ he explained. ‘Did you get the guy?’
‘Yes, thank you.’ He didn’t bother to explain the guy was a woman.
‘Was it the one from the news?’
‘Too early to say. Thanks for your assistance.’
‘I’ll meet you back at the station,’ Indy promised, and took off ahead of him.
He went into the house, made sure everything was under control and left Roberts in charge. By the time he got back to the station, Indy was already grilling Ruby.
‘You know how this looks, Ruby?’ she asked as he walked in. ‘We’ve got a spate of serious break-ins in the area over the last few weeks and we’ve already caught you with stolen goods you claimed landed in your lap.’
‘I never stole nothing else!’ Ruby was in tears, her face flushed and damp. ‘I just needed some cash fast. I got to go back to court on Tuesday ’cause you arrested me over that other thing. Lawyer reckons I could be lucky, get a suspended sentence and a huge fine. But if I can’t pay it, I have to go to jail. I can’t go to jail!’
‘I think you’ll be going to jail, Ruby,’ Jared said. ‘After this, anyway.’
‘Oh come on, Detective Handsome! Please. Can’t you cut me a break? I shouldn’t have got stuck into the JD. But I needed the cash. I gotta stay out of jail! I’m no thief, you know that!’
‘Evidence is pointing to the contrary,’ Indy muttered.
‘I panicked. That’s all. Not fair—if you’ve got money, you can pay your way out of this stuff.’
‘Sometimes,’ Indy said, ‘life’s not fair.’ She indicated with her head for Jared to join her outside.
‘I’ll charge her. You should ice that eye.’
‘I got hit by a very small woman who can’t punch. I’ll live.’
‘I can see it bruising.’
‘You don’t really think this is anything more than what she’s saying, do you?’
‘Nope. Different time of night, different method of entry. No gloves, no hiding her tracks and only after cash. If I could charge her with it, her biggest crime would be stupidity. There’s no point both of us hanging around. Go.’
‘Fine. Thanks.’
Bloody Ruby. What a waste of a night. He’d been enjoying his unconventional evening with Tess more than he’d expected to. It was certainly more memorable than a simple dinner in town. Even as he told himself not to push, he wondered when he could see her again.
Instead of heading for home, he turned onto the road that led to the waterfront, made another stop when he noticed a hunched figure emerging from a carpark off to the side of the yacht club. The man had a canvas bag slung over his shoulder, a fishing rod in one hand and a plastic bucket in the other. He stopped and watched Jared suspiciously as he climbed out of his car and approached.
‘Evening!’ Jared called out. ‘Detective Jared Denham. Nice night.’
‘Bit windy. Is there a problem?’
‘You’d have heard about the murder that happened on a boat moored out here last weekend?’
‘Heard something about it.’
‘I’m looking for witnesses. Were you out here early last Sunday morning, between one and four?’
‘I’d been fishing out the end of the rowing club. Packed up my stuff about two or a bit after. I’d parked in the carpark by the beach over there,’ the man said with a wave of his fishing rod. ‘Did see a couple of young hoons having some fun spinning their tyres as I went back to the car. Didn’t see or hear any trouble on any of the boats though. Bit far away.’
‘Hoons, huh? Did you get a look at them?’
Old guy screwed up his face. ‘Nah. I don’t know. One sat a lot taller in the car than the other.’
Jared showed him the sketch of their suspect. ‘Did one look like this?’
‘Maybe. Not sure. But could be they lost their boat. Saw a little dinghy floating out on the water. ’Less they pinched it. Often get the kids street racing and the like. Bit of a shitbox of a car though. Orangey colour, I think. Little hatchback. Week before kids came round in a hotted-up Datsun. Much nicer wheels. Did some decent donuts. Little shits.’
‘Right. Thanks. Hey, if you remember anything else, would you give me a call?’ Because the man didn’t have a free hand, Jared slipped his card in the fishing bag. ‘Thanks for your time.’
He considered calling Indy with the new information, but it was late. Maybe tomorrow. Or maybe he’d call in to the lodge, speak to her in person and see if Tess was around while he was at it. He’d have to work out a way to make his early exit up to her.
CHAPTER
22
Tess sat down hard against the enormous buck the filly performed as two steers barrelled past to avoid the portable yard. ‘Steady, madam,’ she murmured. ‘We’ll get ’em next time.’
She brought the edgy filly back to a walk around behind the watchful steers. As they took off again, the filly lunged after them, ears pinned back, then spooked when one spun around to face them. Tess clung to the saddle and laughed. ‘Oh yeah, you’re so brave. Not.’
‘You okay?’
At the sound of Jared’s voice, she pulled the filly up and turned around. He was standing by the gate. ‘Fine! She’s amazing. Just young. She thinks she knows what to do, then isn’t so sure when it doesn’t go the way she wants it to.’
‘That’s a nicer explanation than the one I had in my head.’
What was he doing here? Had he thought about last night, decided to tell her in person he’d changed his mind about them? She’d been half-expecting something like that all morning. She moved the filly in his direction and he opened the gate to let her through.
‘She’s pretty.’
‘She is. I have to think of a name for her.’
‘She’s new?’
‘Logan gave her to me. Thought I could use a new challenge. Flash is getting on and I’d like to have another go at putting her in foal.’ She slipped from the saddle, patted the filly’s neck, then smiled up at him, trying to read what was on his mind. ‘Hi.’
‘Hi. Don’t let me stop you.’
‘That’s okay, she’s had enough.’ They walked back to the stables and she began unsaddling. ‘You should have let me know you were dropping in,’ she said. ‘I could have finished quicker. And—’ she looked down at her filthy clothes with a grin, ‘—changed.’
He leant back against a stable and watched her work. ‘I don’t expect you to drop what you’re doing just because I felt like calling in.’
‘Appreciated.’ She put her gear away and came out to find Larissa talking to Jared as he stroked the filly’s neck.
‘She’s a bit of a sook,’ he said.
‘A hot and sweaty one. Let me clean her up.’
‘I can do that,’ Larissa offered. ‘Logan wanted me to give her a proper bath this weekend anyway.’
‘Okay then, thanks.’ Then to Jared, Tess said, ‘Do you want to come up to the lodge? I could use a cold drink.’
‘Sure. I have my car. I’ll drive us back.’
She got in beside him and decided she had to know. ‘So what brings you out here?’
‘I’ve been speaking to Indy about the case. She told me you were down here with your latest love so I came down to chase whoever it was off.’
Tess laughed, and part of it was relief. ‘And I was just getting used to her.’
‘Then I guess we’ll have to timeshare.’
‘I’m a bit surprised you came back,’ she admitted. ‘I thought maybe last night might have been enough reality for you.’
‘I had a great time. Sorry again for having to rush off.’
‘There’s nothing to apologise for. It’s your job.’
He pulled over in the parking area by the lodge. ‘It takes more than a sick pony to scare me off,’ he promised her. ‘How is it doing?’ he asked.
‘Much better, thankfully.’ They walked up the path to the front steps. ‘He’s a legend with nervous kids. He’s getti
ng on in age, but hopefully he’s got a few more healthy years ahead of him.’
When they got back inside she realised her mistake. ‘Ah … there’s a guest birthday going on down here. You might not mind the dusty jodhpurs, but the well-dressed party at the bar might. Sorry. I’ve got drinks in my apartment?’
‘Fine by me.’
Because she hadn’t been expecting company, she walked in first and performed a nervous sweep of the area. The kitchen, which flowed into the lounge and dining area, was relatively clean, her favourite handcrafted bowl on the kitchen bench containing most of the mess. In the lounge area leaf-green cushions sat tidily on the deep mocha sofa, and the dining table wasn’t too laden with horse equipment.
Jared came in behind her and headed straight for a line of large prints along one wall, a series of her riding Flash: Flash flying after a trio of steers; Flash crouched in a tight turn as she spun around after another.
‘These are incredible photos,’ he said when she came to stand nearby. ‘I think I’ve heard of the photographer. How did you get these?’
‘Mia’s a friend of Indy’s. She and her husband Ben spent a week down here when Indy and Logan got married. That huge framed one of Calico Lodge down in the foyer’s another one of hers. It was their wedding present.’
‘The subject is pretty impressive too.’
Not sure what to say, Tess ran her hand lightly over the glass framing the horse and deliberately misinterpreted him. ‘Yeah, this new filly’s going to have to work hard to be a touch on Flash.’
‘I meant the rider.’
The simple compliment had her momentarily tongue-tied. ‘The amount of riding I’ve been doing lately, I’ve got some serious work to do too.’
‘Then what? You’ll go to campdrafts with Logan?’
‘Some. I used to compete all the time.’
‘I’d like to see you in action.’
She smiled, took a deep breath and walked back into the kitchen. ‘I only have the basics, I’m afraid. Lemon squash, juice, sparkling water, tea, coffee?’
‘Whatever you’re having is fine.’
She took out a couple of glasses from the cupboard. ‘So, you’re off to Melbourne tomorrow?’