by Lyn Walker
“I’ll get you out again tomorrow.” I promised so he turned to investigate his food tray.
We were surprised to see how many cars were already parked over in the paddock next to the farmhouse, smoke was already rising from the barbecue area. We hurriedly had our showers and changed our clothes. As I arrived back at the caravan from the shower block, Becca passed me carrying the camera.
I was surprised. “Are you going to take photos tonight?”
Becca stopped at the car and raised the back, “No I just want my camera out of sight it costs too much to loose it or all the photos I’ve taken, I haven’t been able to download them here. Come on lock the ‘van door and lets go meet some locals.” Becca urged.
The first one to greet us even before we even arrived at the barbecue area was none other than Troy.
“Hi Becca.” His grin was as wide as his face.
“Hello to you too.” Becca replied with an equally wide grin.
Feeling a bit invisible I left them to it and wandered off to the farmhouse. I wandered into the kitchen and found Emma.
“Do you want some help?” I asked
“No you go get some food and mingle, you are a guest tonight.” Emma said as she pushed me out the door.
I accepted a glass of wine from a young man who looked at home behind the temporary bar drink table. He toasted me with his beer bottle as I left him and headed for the food table. This table was overflowing with cooked meats and salads all in a variety of bowls and dishes. I could see everyone who came to this barbecue had arrived with a plate of food and added to this wonderful feast. The smell of meat cooking on the barbecue was making my stomach growl.
“Here Dear have a plate.” I looked into the kind eyes of Amelia Brown.
“Hello Mrs Brown, thank you.” I accepted the plate she handed me. “You must be relieved the person found in the Gorge was not your granddaughter.”
Amelia’s eyes clouded. “I am, yes there’s still hope for my Amy I suppose.”
A woman dressed in a pressed jacket and slacks grabbed Amelia’s arm. “Have you enough food on your plate Mother we are sitting over at that table.” She hurried Amelia off over to a table set up away from everyone else.
I filled my plate and carried the plate and drink over to a table where I spotted Madge from the Caravan Park. “May I sit here?” I indicated the empty spot.
Madge patted the seat “Yes plenty of room, you need to eat after doing all the animal chores. Emma is good at delegating jobs.”
I smiled, “Oh we are enjoying the work, the animals are lots of fun and very interesting.” I looked around me as I ate. “I think I recognize quite a few faces, there’s the local constable and Jim the helicopter pilot and his mechanic and of course Troy the Park Ranger.”
Madge nodded. “Yes Emma’s fund raisers are popular, the animals benefit from the extra funds and we all enjoy an excuse to get together, of course the young ones love to party. We always put up notices in the caravan park, so we get a few tourists along too.”
A few of the men and ladies had formed a band and now live music began and nearly all the younger crowd and even some older dancers joined in the frolic. I watched as Mr Brown grabbed hold of one of the young men dancing with an attractive girl who’s blonde hair swung with the music. The poor young man was dragged off to a Range Rover which immediately drove off in a cloud of dust. I just saw a wave of a hand from Amelia Brown as the car disappeared down the driveway.
“Not a very social lot except for Amelia.” I observed.
Madge grunted, “At least we have their money first, I don’t think many will miss them except that girl who just lost her dancing partner.”
I looked at Madge. “Did Sally mix with any of these boys here?”
“Well now you come to mention it I can remember the exact same thing happening to her once when she was dancing with the precious son. I can see what you’re thinking, but I can not see that young man being a killer he is too much of a Mummy’s boy!” Madge shook her head as she gathered up the used dishes and headed off to the kitchen.
I sat there sipping my wine and pondering on our conversation, suddenly I was bumped in the back, I turned round to see a girl holding the mechanic’s hand push past and move off towards the dance area to join in. There was certainly a crowd here tonight.
Constable Mathews took Madge’s place, he had two bowls.
“Here Chloe have some of Emma’s delicious pavlova, it’s worth coming here just for it.”
“Well thank you Constable, you’re spoiling me.”
“Oh just call me Chris, I’m off duty now.”
I tasted the sweet desert, the meringue just melted on the tongue and the fruit was just the right contrast to the sweetness of the cream and meringue. “You’re right this is delicious.”
The bowls were soon empty. Just then the band stopped for a break and everything went strangely quiet. A loud squawking could now be heard coming from the animal enclosures.
I sat up straight. “Is that Cracker?”
Chris stood up “Who?”
I jumped up and ran towards the aviaries with Chris close behind. A dark figure ran off from between the Car and the Caravan. I ran over to Cracker’s Cage to check him. “Cracker are you alright?”
Chris was peering in the open door of the caravan. “Someone has been in your caravan.”
Troy and Becca arrived in a hurry and both asked in tandem, “what’s wrong?”
I hurried over too and we all peered in the door to see our clothes and things tossed onto the floor and tumbling out of the doorway.
I groaned, “What was he looking for?”
Chris was examining the back of the car closely, “he’s tried to open the car boot too.”
Becca ran over with key, she opened the boot. “Thank goodness the camera is still here.” She looked over at Cracker, “thanks Buddy!”
After checking through everything and tidying up, we all sat down with a cup of coffee.
Chris looked at Becca and Me, “are you sure you don’t want a proper investigation?”
I shrugged my shoulders, “I’m pretty sure the person I saw had on gloves and a dark cap, so I can’t identify him and nothing is missing anyway.”
Becca sat up, “Looks like he was after my camera, do you think the killer wanted to see the photos of the body, maybe he is getting worried. But when would he have heard us talking?”
Troy frowned at Becca. “You two just have to stop asking questions I think you could have stirred up a hornet’s nest.”
Chris joined in, “This is more likely a random robbery attempt, we don’t know everyone here, quite a few strangers were amongst the crowd. Its too late to question people now, more than half of the people have left now. So we won’t let our imagination run wild.” He rose to go and Becca and I both did a mock salute and in unison said “Yes Constable.” Chris laughed and waved as he left.
Troy turned to face us. “I still think you have rattled the killer somehow, would you like me to camp out here tonight?”
Becca grinned at him. “As much as I’d like that we don’t have any room here for a third person and its not necessary, there is two of us.”
I had an idea. “I think I’ll go and ask if we can put Cracker into the portable cage and place him outside our door for an early warning system.”
Becca clapped her hands. “That a great idea.”
I headed over to the house to ask Emma and Troy stayed with Becca at the caravan.
Emma came back with me, she was all flustered. “Oh my goodness what a terrible thing to happen on our property.”
Troy helped Emma to set up the cage outside the caravan door. I walked back with Cracker on my shoulder and he hopped into the smaller cage and sat up tall, looking as though he was quite happy to do Sentry Duty.
Emma looked pleased, “I’d offer the dogs too but I don’t think the rescue animals would be happy with them here so close. Are you right now girls, you make sure you loc
k your door, Good night.” Emma left for the house.
Troy gave Becca a quick hug and waved as he also left, his car was the last one to leave. I closed and locked the door.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A day to recover
The next day dawned with no further disturbances. We all slept in, including Cracker. By the time I woke up enough to open my eyes Becca was up and having breakfast. I sat up and yawned and stretched, “What are you doing?” I could see Becca was making a list. “We can’t shop today its Sunday!”
Becca added another item to her list. “ I know, this is not a shopping list, this is a suspect list.”
I rose out of bed and looked over Becca’s shoulder. Becca continued. “To get on my list the suspect has to have been in this area five years ago, strong enough to carry a body into the Gorge and be still here now if we accept that our caravan visitor is the killer.”
1. Boyfriend
2. Ranger Troy
3. Constable Chris
4. Chef George
5.Mr Brown Senior
6. Mr Brown Son
7. Helicopter Mechanic Randall
8. Pilot Jim
9. Madge’s husband
10. Emma’s family
I made myself some tea and poured a bowl of cereal and sat down to look at the list. “Oh surely not Troy or Chris.” I spluttered through a mouth full.
“Well I just wanted to write Troy’s name.” Becca blushed, I rolled my eyes. Becca crossed out numbers 2 and 3. “Well they fit the criteria but I agree this is our list so I’ll cross off number 10 as well, I can’t imagine anyone who takes such care of our wildlife being a killer of young girls. I’ll cross off Madge’s husband too I just remembered Madge saying he broke his leg badly about six years ago and was out of action for about a year. Thats why he has that limp. I’ll start a new list.” Becca tore up her list and started another one.
1. Boyfriend
2.Mechanic Randall
3. Mr Brown Snr
4. Chef George
5.Mr Brown son
6. Pilot Jim
Becca sat back. “I’ve put them in the order of most likely in my opinion.”
I pointed to number two. “This mechanic Randall have you noticed he’s always hanging around listening. I think I even saw him in the cafe in town after we were interviewed by the police. We didn’t know him then but I felt I’d seen him before the day we went on the helicopter ride.”
Becca looked shocked. “You are right, if he saw us looking at the photos from my camera maybe he decided he needed to see for himself especially if he heard us talking about the necklace. He may have forgotten all about that. The Browns were in town too they could have got all the information out of old Amelia.”
I sat back and shuddered. “If you go with your idea that the killer is the person who broke into here, then you have to cross off the two Browns as they all left early and the boyfriend hasn’t been sighted here for five years.”
Becca nodded. “Yes you are probably right the boyfriend is out because no one has seen him since, but I’m not ruling out the Browns, one of them would have been able to sneak back, after all their property is right next door even if that is a few kilometres away.”
Becca rose and tore up the new list and threw it in the bin too. “We don’t want any lists found here in case he comes back.”
After breakfast it was time to feed the animals again, it was very restful after the previous night. When that was finished Cracker hopped onto my shoulder and we all went over towards the farmhouse to help with the barbecue clean up to find only Emma at it, no sign of any men.
“Its amazing.” Emma said with a shrug. “How quickly men disappear when there’s cleaning to be done. Did you two get some sleep after all your troubles?”
I smiled. “Yes no more loud noises from Cracker, I slept well actually.”
Just then to prove me wrong Cracker started squawking and flapping his wing and jumping up and down I quickly moved him to the back of a chair, his claws really hurt when he got excited. We all turned to see what he was making such a fuss about.
Jim the pilot walked around the house and walked over to us. “Hi how are you all after last night, it was a great party.”
Emma responded. “We are all well just have a lot of cleaning up to do.” She looked at him hopefully.
Jim smiled back. “Actually I need to borrow some tools is Joe around?” Emma pointed to the back shed and went back to the clean up.
I looked at Becca. “Apparently this is women’s work in these parts.”
With all three of us working the place was soon neat and tidy again. We stopped for a well earned coffee, then Emma led us back to the wombat enclosure for the photo shoot. Whilst Becca took some photos in the enclosure of the little whiskery nose sticking out of the burrow. I helped Emma set up a temporary fence around a nice patch of grass, Emma pointed out some native grasses in the area which the wombat loves. Emma went in and managed to catch the wombat joey with Becca recording the whole thing.
I stroked the wombat’s fur whilst Emma had hold of the joey. I exclaimed, “the fur is so soft I was expecting it to be much coarser.”
Emma nodded, “I have never cared for the common wombat we don’t see them here but I believe the Northern hairy-nosed wombat has softer fur and bigger ears. There are so few left and this one is a female we have to take extra special care of her. They have set up a new area for them down south near St George to try and build up the numbers and to prevent complete extinction because of a disaster like fire in one area. So this girl will go there when she is ready for release.”
Emma placed the wombat onto the new patch of grass and Becca was waiting poised with her camera, but the subject was so delighted with the change of scenery and new grass clumps she took off with a gallop and raced around and round the fenced off area with Becca in pursuit. Emma and I enjoyed a good laugh and Cracker flapped his good wing and squawked in delight. Finally the little wombat settled down and as she munched away at the grass Becca was finally able to get some good close up shots of the baby. When Becca had enough, Emma gathered up the Wombat and took her safely back to her enclosure. We gathered some of the native grasses and put them in there for her to eat later.
Emma looked at her watch, “I have to go into town to pick up my daughter from the bus stop. She has been away at college doing a business course. You can use the temporary fence to photograph the wallaby if you like he could do with a hop around and a nibble on the grass too.”
We had a break for afternoon coffee, then Becca brought Magpie the wallaby out to the fenced patch. I settled down with my sketch pad and Becca took more photos of the wallaby when the wallaby wasn’t trying to get into her pullover. I was just finishing a sketch of the Wallaby when I heard a voice behind me.
“That’s good, the sketch captures it’s fragility.”
I turned around to see a young lady with long blond hair standing watching the activity. “You must be Carol, Emma told us about you, pleased to meet you.”
“Yes but please call me Caz it is bad enough having a Christmas birthday without being called Carol too!” Caz bent over to pat the Wallaby her necklace slipped out of her shirt. My eyes were attracted to the shiny silver and blue.
I moved closer. “That is a lovely necklace may I have a closer look.”
Caz moved closer and held out the necklace. “This is a boulder opal and silver one-of-a-kind necklace and earrings to match, my boyfriend gave them to me.”
I called to Becca. “Come and have a look at this lovely necklace and earrings Becca.”
Becca hurried over “Well that’s beautiful you have a generous boyfriend.” Becca took a photo of Caz.
Caz blushed, “yes Randall doesn’t say much but he is very sweet.”
I looked up “Randall the Mechanic?”
Caz smiled, “yes we only started going out together a few months ago, he gave me this for my birthday I haven’t told Mum they were from Randall y
et, I don’t think she is too keen on Randall.”
Becca and I locked eyes and nodded. “We won’t say anything, well I’ve got enough photos have you finished the sketch Chloe?”
I put my drawing things down and picked up the Wallaby. “I’ll put Magpie away, I will see you back at the Caravan.”
Caz turned and headed back to the homestead she waved. “Bye, I’d better go and help Mum.”
By the time I arrived back at the van Becca was on the phone to Constable Chris.
“I’m telling you the necklace is identical to Sally’s and there were only six made, all sold to one man. Her boyfriend is Randall the mechanic.” Becca rolled her eyes at me. “What do you mean you need more proof! Okay I’ll wait for a call from Detective Grant.” Becca put down the phone. She looked at me “They are not convinced, but I know you are thinking what I’m thinking. Caz could be the next victim!”
I plopped down on the seat. “Chris is right the earrings are not enough proof but what can we do?”
A roar of a powerful engine and a cloud of dust appeared coming down the long drive. “Is that Randall’s car.” Becca asked. “It does look like one I saw at the helicopter shed. Speak of the Devil.” I agreed. Becca jumped up. “I’m going to talk to young Randall.” Becca strode off, I hurried to catch up, I was worried about what she was going to say to him.
Becca reached Randall before he could get to the farmhouse door. “Well you do scrub up alright, I didn’t see you up close last night, you are much better looking without the grease,” Schmoozed Becca.
Randall eyed Becca warily. “Ma’am.”
Becca continued quickly. “Caz showed us her necklace, its just darling, I would love one like it myself, where did you get it?”
“Oh.” Stammered Randall. “Er, I got it off Jim, I found it in a box in a drawer, Jim said he didn’t need it, don’t tell Caz she thinks I bought it just for her.”
“Well where did he get it?” Becca insisted.