***
Abbie’s eyes popped open. Something had woken her. A noise outside. Could have been a possum, but somehow she doubted it. This was more like scraping. She waited, ears straining. Silence.
A board creaked. In the house? She sat up, heart hammering, staring at the paler rectangle of the open doorway in the dark room. Waiting.
‘Who’s there?’ she called.
Silence.
The breath she’d been holding whooshed out and she sucked air back in with a deep gasp. Her heart galloped like a mad thing. Should she get up? Turn on a light? That would mean whoever was there would know where she was. But they’d already know because she’d spoken. A clammy sweat formed on her skin.
If she stayed in bed she was helpless, trapped.
She lifted the doona carefully and slid her legs out, standing as quietly as she could, grimacing when the fabric rustled. Barefoot, she crept to the door, the hair on her neck prickling.
The scraping noise came again but it was outside, and then the thunder of possum racing sounded on the roof overhead. Never had she been so pleased to hear that sound. Weak with relief, she went back to bed. No way was she telling Rupe how scared she’d been.
***
Rupe called in at Laurie’s store for a carton of milk and a chat on Friday morning. The chat was an obligatory part of shopping there, not that Rupe minded. If anyone did mind they’d go to the supermarket instead.
He leaned his hip against the counter as Laurie rang up the milk.
‘I’ve been trying to call Abbie,’ Laurie said. ‘Phone’s not working. Could be the wires are down after the rain the other night.’
‘Have you reported it?’
‘Nah, not yet.’
‘I’ll do it.’
‘It’s just she wanted this order that’s just come in. Paints. She said call her and she’d come in and collect it.’
‘I can take it out to her this afternoon. Half-day shift today.’
‘Okay. I reckon I can trust a policeman. You’ll have to sign for it though.’ Chuckling, he disappeared into the backroom and came back with some mail and a box. Rupe signed the form and tucked the parcel and letters under his arm.
‘Marlene was in this morning. She said Abbie didn’t turn up to their book group last night.’
‘She had visitors the day before, maybe they stayed on. Thanks, Laurie. See you later.’
Back at the station he tried calling Abbie then, getting no response, reported the fault. He phoned Tim to see if their line was down. Connie answered.
‘It’ll be the line to her house. It was very windy for a bit along with the rain, probably a branch came down on it.’
‘Righto. Thanks.’
After lunch Rupe changed out of uniform and drove his own car out to Abbie’s. Her gate was locked so he parked, balanced the box on the gatepost, climbed over and walked. A few puddles still lay on the track. She needed to get a grader in and level it, or at least mow the long grass between the wheel ruts.
The phone line ran from a post near the gate and continued parallel to the track until it disappeared in the trees when he rounded a curve. Looked all right. Might be worth taking a detour on his way back and checking where it was down.
No more reports of a prowler had come this week but perhaps he’d moved areas. Was pulling down a phone line part of his modus operandi? No damage reports had come in from anywhere else so this was unlikely to be connected.
He crested the rise and the house came into view, peaceful in the sunlit clearing. The lilacs along the side wall were past their peak now but still put on a show and already, after the rain, the grass had a fresh green tinge.
He clumped up the steps and knocked on the door.
‘Who’s there?’ She sounded cautious. Still frightened after the odd incidents?
‘It’s Rupe. I have your paints.’
The lock clicked and the door opened to reveal Abbie smiling with far more welcoming enthusiasm than he expected.
‘Hi.’
‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Laurie has been trying to phone you about this.’ He held out the box and the mail and she took it.
‘Thank you! Come in.’
‘Your phone’s not working,’ he said as he followed her through to the kitchen.
‘I know. It stopped yesterday, or maybe it was the night before.’
‘Must have been the storm. Anyway, I reported it for you but who knows when they’ll get over here to fix it.’
‘Thanks. It’s a nuisance because I have to go up the hill or down the road to use the mobile.’ She put the box on the table. ‘Where’s your car?’
‘At the gate.’
‘There’s a key on a tree. You told me to put one there.’ She grinned.
‘I forgot.’ He returned the smile. ‘Doesn’t matter. It’s a nice walk. How were the visitors?’
She hesitated. ‘Kaelee is sweet but her boyfriend … not so keen on him. He was a bit weird.’
‘Weird how?’ He knew he was frowning and consciously relaxed his face muscles, but the natural suspicion of coincidences was hard to shake. Why would those two turn up right now?
‘He was pissed off when I wouldn’t let him see what I was working on and after that he was … odd. He made me feel uncomfortable. He didn’t seem to want to leave.’
‘They’ve gone though, haven’t they?’
‘Yes, after I insisted.’
‘How did he take that?’ Definitely not normal behaviour.
‘Not particularly happy. I don’t think people say no to him very often. Kaelee certainly doesn’t. But tough; I have work to do.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Aaron. I don’t know his other name.’
‘Hmmm.’
‘What does hmmm mean?’
‘Is it a coincidence they should turn up straight after the other thing?’ he asked cautiously.
‘You said that before and I think it was. Coincidences do happen, you know.’ Her voice had tightened.
‘I know, but still …’
‘And do you think the phone line being down and me being sick is connected too?’
‘When were you sick?’
‘The night before last. They cooked dinner and I threw up in the night. They weren’t sick so it couldn’t have been the food.’
‘What was it, then?’ Three out-of-the-ordinary things on top of an extremely odd occurrence? Surely she wasn’t ignoring a possible connection.
Abbie shrugged and turned away to the bench. She opened a drawer, took out scissors and ran the blade along the tape holding the box closed. ‘No idea. Could have been anything.’
‘Abbie …’
‘I’m fine now. I got rid of whatever it was and that was that. Don’t worry.’
‘It’s hard not to, a bit. You out here on your own …’
She looked up sharply and suddenly he was gazing into her eyes, barely breathing with the intensity, the surprise, the intimacy. The moment stretched … thoughts whirled in his head but the overwhelming one was kiss her … now … he leaned forward and touched his lips lightly to hers. She didn’t move but she also didn’t respond.
‘Sorry.’ He shrugged and tried a smile, stepped back.
‘It’s okay. You surprised me.’ A little wrinkle appeared in her brow.
‘I surprised me.’
She smiled then. ‘It’s been a long time.’
‘Yes. For me too, I mean.’
‘Thank you. I’m flattered.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He laughed and shook his head. ‘Age makes me cautious. Twenty years ago it would have been different.’
‘Twenty years ago I was married with a baby so yes, definitely different.’
‘You know what I mean.’
She sighed. ‘I do. Age and experience.’
‘I’m not sure if that makes things better or harder.’
‘Instincts don’t change, now we just think first.’
‘I didn’t, not really.’<
br />
She tilted her head, the smile widening. ‘And after you’ve thought?’
‘I doubt it would make much difference.’
‘Oh, really?’ Challenging him, laughing. Flirting.
He moved closer and his hand lifted all by itself and cupped her cheek, soft and warm under his fingers.
A sudden torrent of banging on the front door startled him, focused as he was on the lips he was about to explore in more detail. ‘Who on earth is that?’
‘Definitely Rita.’ Abbie groaned. ‘She can complain to you this time. Come on.’
Rupe followed, cursing under his breath, but it was probably just as well they’d been interrupted; no telling where this would have ended. Kissing Abbie was nice and she didn’t mind, that was clear, but where would going down that path lead? To problems, and problems in a small town became common property, a prospect neither of them would enjoy. A kiss was one thing but he wasn’t ready for a relationship.
Abbie opened the door and stepped outside.
‘Hello, Rita. How are you?’
The narrowed eyes flicked to Rupe, who pushed the screen door wide and stood next to Abbie on the verandah.
‘Good morning, Rita.’
A pair of dark eyes glared at him from under a shapeless woollen hat. She pulled her battered anorak tighter across her bony frame.
‘I hope you’ve come to follow up my complaints and tell her to stop knocking my fences down,’ she growled.
‘I haven’t been near your fences,’ said Abbie. ‘It was the storm. My phone’s not working and it’s probably a branch down.’
‘Hardly a storm, a bit of rain and wind. It’s not a branch or the power would go out too. It’s on the same pole. My phone’s working. Think I don’t know the difference between a branch and someone deliberately knocking a post over? I’m not from the city. I know what goes on.’
‘Was that what you came over for?’ asked Abbie. ‘You mentioned the fence a few weeks ago.’
‘No, it’s not. You tell your friends not to cut through my land.’
‘My friends? I don’t know who you mean.’ Abbie flung Rupe a surprised glance.
‘People. Walking through my paddocks as if they owned them. You tell them to keep off or I’ll get out the shotgun. Trespassers get shot. You tell them that. Bloody city people. Got no respect for anyone.’
‘Rita, you can’t go shooting people. There other ways of dealing with this. Calling me is one, talking to them is another,’ said Rupe. ‘Did you talk to them? Ask what they were doing? Get their names or their car rego number?’
‘No. Couldn’t see them properly, they were too far away and I didn’t see any car.’
‘What makes you think they were my friends?’ asked Abbie.
‘Who else would they be? They weren’t mine.’
Abbie exhaled and shook her head. ‘Rita …’ she began, but Rupe interrupted before she could get going.
‘How many people?’
‘Two or three. Maybe there were more.’
‘How old? Men or women?’
‘Young. One man, maybe another, maybe a woman. Dunno.’
Where were they?’
‘Up in the top paddock.’
‘I’ll come over and take a look around.’
‘Don’t bother.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yeah, they’ve gone now.’
‘When did you see them?’
‘Yesterday morning.’ A bony finger with a blackened, dirty nail waggled at Abbie. ‘Just you tell your friends to keep off my property.’
‘Will do.’
Rita grunted, gave them both a final glare and stomped down the steps and away to the left along a path almost invisible in the grass.
‘Goodbye,’ called Abbie.
‘Is there a gate between your properties or does she hop over the fence?’ Rupe asked.
‘She climbs through. It’s only strands of wire.’
‘Who do you reckon she was talking about? That couple who visited you?’
‘I’ve no idea but I doubt it was them. They weren’t the types to go walking about in the bush, and why would they?’ Abbie opened the screen door. ‘I have work to do.’
‘Right. I’ll get going.’
‘Oh sorry. I don’t mean to be rude but I really am behind. Thanks for bringing the paints out.’
‘No worries.’
She stepped inside and turned, still holding the door wide. ‘Okay, well, thanks. Goodbye.’
‘See you later.’
At least he knew why she’d missed the book group meeting. Rita had made a good point about the power. When he reached the trees, he made a detour across to where the phone and powerlines emerged from the bush. The phone line hung lower than the electricity wire. Both were slung between two poles and connected to the house. No problem there. He pushed his way through the undergrowth underneath the line as it headed for the road. Two poles farther along he found the break. A fallen branch wasn’t the cause. From what he could tell by the severed end of the short piece of line dangling from the pole and the other longer piece trailing on the ground, it had been cut. Deliberately cut, probably with pliers. Whoever did it wouldn’t have wanted to risk electrocution by touching the other one.
Chapter 6
Rupe stared up at the pole. The electricity wire ran high with the phone line looping lower, but not low enough to reach from the ground without a ladder. He walked to the left and within a minute stepped out onto the driveway. Easy to park here out of sight of the house. If someone of reasonable height had those long-handled pruning shears it could be done in minutes. Could be the prowler had changed tack and changed area. Was that who Rita had seen? But why would the prowler cut one specific phone line?
Deep in thought, Rupe walked back to the car and drove home. Should he tell Abbie? He’d ask a few questions this afternoon. Questions about strangers in town and if anyone had bought shears, although that was unlikely. Everyone had tools around here.
That pair of visitors Abbie had taken in scratched at the back of his mind like a grass seed in a sock. They’d have access to her sheds and could easily have found something to cut the wire. He’d swing by and ask who they were at the motel. One of them would have had to give a name when they checked in; with any luck it’d be Aaron. They’d spent one night there at least, and if they hadn’t he’d increase the radius and ask farther afield.
He wouldn’t say anything to Abbie. For a start he’d have to drive out there again and disturb her. She was already annoyed by his inference that they weren’t innocent students and interrupting her work would put her right over the edge.
And he’d promised another kiss. The uninterrupted one. She didn’t seem to mind the first or the start of the second, but she would if that was his sole reason for turning up. Weird how that impulse had completely overwhelmed him. He’d never thought of her that way before, not until she was close and their eyes had connected. The window to the soul …
When he reached town, Rupe drove straight through and out the other side. There were only four places visitors could stay; The Crown Hotel, otherwise known as the local pub, the Riverview Motel, which didn’t have a river view, the Traveller’s Rest Motel twenty k’s west on the junction with the main Sydney/ Melbourne highway, or Betty’s Farmhouse B&B. His money was on the Riverview.
He pulled up under the awning by reception. The forecourt in front of the twelve rooms was empty, which wasn’t surprising given the season and the time of day, but Mal was in the office on the phone. He lifted his free and hand and smiled at Rupe as he walked in.
Rupe nodded and perused the map stuck to one wall. He studied the road out to Abbie’s and where he judged her property boundary was in relation to Rita’s and the Benson’s. The national park area was shaded a darker green and stretched around behind everyone’s land. Access would be fairly easy there if someone wanted to come in unobserved. Rita’s trespassers, for example. Might be worth taking another run out ther
e tomorrow and following one of the fire trails to the east. See what he could see.
Mal finished his conversation. ‘G’day mate. How’s it going?’
‘Pretty good. You?’
‘Quiet, but that’s normal this time of year. Lorraine and I are closing for a week come Sunday and taking off for a holiday up north. Cairns.’
‘Nice. I’ve never been up there.’
‘Neither have we. Be back in time for the first training session though.’
Rupe grimaced. ‘I reckon we’ll all be a bit creaky.’
‘This’ll be my last season as keeper. The knees aren’t up to it any more. Too old. Why don’t you give it a shot?’
‘My knee’s no good, remember? I’m enjoying the bowling. Spin’s not so hard on the body.’
‘Yeah. I can’t bowl worth a spit so I’ll be in the field.’
‘Mal, why I called in ––have you had a young couple staying here this week?’
‘Yeah, why? Are they in trouble?’
‘Not that I know of, no. The girl’s a friend of Abbie’s.’
‘Yeah, she said.’ As he spoke he tapped a few keys on his computer. ‘Kaelee Strong from a Sydney address.’
‘That’s right. Who was the bloke with her?’
Mal shot him a curious glance but didn’t comment. He frowned at the screen and scrolled down. ‘Don’t know. She made the booking and paid with her credit card.’
‘But you knew the two of them were staying?’
‘Yes, but I don’t need both names.’
‘Right. You didn’t happen to catch it, did you?’
‘No, I barely saw him. He stayed in the car and never came in to reception. They checked out the next morning.’
‘Would Lorraine know?’
He shook his head. ‘She’s been doing the accounts this week. I’ve been on the desk.’
‘Okay, no worries.’
‘What’s this about, Rupe?’
‘Probably nothing. Thanks mate. Say hi to Lorraine for me. Enjoy the break. See you at training.’
‘Thanks, mate. See ya.’
Aaron, the mystery man. Rupe drove home slowly, this new information revolving in his head. Superficially it wasn’t odd, and if he tried to explain it to anyone it would sound ordinary, but there was something strange going on with that pair.
The Secrets that Lie Within (Taylor's Bend, #1) Page 7