by Helene Young
‘See you, Dan. Have a good day.’
The door swung shut and she watched him until he was inside the school gate, enjoying the rare opportunity to see him with his mates. He raised his hand in farewell before joining his group of friends. Around her, other mothers were doing the same. She smiled at a couple she knew. This rhythm of her son’s life was new to her; it was Julia who usually went to parties and school functions, did the rounds of the seasonal sports. Many men must live their lives like this, Kait thought, not comfortable with that idea. Tomorrow she would be back at work, slotting into the familiar ‘four days on, four days off’ roster. Maybe Julia was right and something had to change.
She drove home via the supermarket, checking behind her constantly. If a threat was headed their way she wanted to see it coming.
When she got home Julia was in the kitchen, the benchtop covered in cooling cakes.
‘Yungaburra markets this weekend,’ she said evenly when Kait frowned. ‘You know I always supply cakes for the CWA stall.’
‘Right.’ Kait chewed her lip. ‘Do you think it’s a good idea this week?’
‘Kait, we have no idea if this threat is real or not. I, for one, am not changing my routine just because your boyfriend has some security issues.’
‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ Kait retorted. ‘And I didn’t invite him into our home in the first place.’
Julia flushed. ‘Yes, but Dan and I didn’t end up between the sheets with him, either.’ Her raised eyebrow was more eloquent than words.
‘This is ridiculous.’ Kait was angry, but now was not the time to argue with the one person she knew she could trust. ‘I just want to keep us safe. I’m sorry if that annoys you.’
‘But you can’t, Kait.’ Julia’s face softened. ‘And that’s the one thing you’ve never accepted. You weren’t responsible for Stephen’s death or Chris’s actions, whatever they were. You shouldn’t hold onto that responsibility. It’s crippling you.’
‘It’s not. We’re here, we’ve made a new life.’
‘Dan and I have, but you’re still an island, keeping everyone at arm’s length.’
‘And look what happens when I let anyone in. They turn out to be trouble as well.’
‘Not if he’s a policeman. Ryan dropped by when you were out. I said you’d be home soon.’
‘I don’t want to see him.’ Kait knew she sounded petulant, but she didn’t need to face any more emotion right now.
Julia shrugged and turned back to her icing bowl. ‘That’s very mature of you, dear,’ she said, her tone neutral.
Kait stalked off to her room and started up her computer. Admitting Julia might have a point was never easy. Several times over the last forty-eight hours Kait had dialled Morgan’s number, but each time she held back. She’d deliberately made few close friends when they moved north. There were fewer lies to tell, fewer questions to answer if no one got under her carefully constructed guard. Morgan and Lauren were two exceptions. You couldn’t work that closely with people and not confide in them. They knew why Kait had moved north.
What Kaitlyn had never shared was her pain. Not just the pain of the devastating fires or the guilt over her husband’s suspected crimes, but the pain of losing her father, the gaping hole his death had left. The troubles of the last few weeks had dredged up that sadness, opened those old wounds. Her heart ached and she had nowhere to turn. All she could do was focus on something she could control.
Whatever it took, she would get to the bottom of the Chris Jackson mystery. The trail had become clearer, but she didn’t have a definitive answer yet. Kait worked steadily through her list, hearing the garage door open and close. Julia hadn’t said goodbye. She must be ticked off.
The phone rang. Rubbing her tired eyes she peered at the caller-ID. Ryan again. She picked up the receiver and disconnected the call without a word. What good could talking to him do? She slid the volume control down to silent.
Yesterday morning she’d passed on her suspicions about Speedy to her friend in the Federal Police. Bad luck if she trod on Ryan’s toes. And she didn’t trust the local coppers to do the right thing. Why would they believe her? Speedy was too well liked. The Feds would follow it up.
Kait checked her emails. A reply from Martin. He confirmed that the ute she’d seen at the house in Kairi was registered to Chris Jackson. No surprises there. But Martin had gone one better and attached a copy of Chris’s driver’s licence. Pay dirt. Would she recognise the photo? She opened the attachment and almost cried out.
Pressing the palm of her hand against her sternum, she could feel her heart trying to force its way out of her body. It couldn’t be. Could it? Dizzy with shock, she clutched at the desk.
Speedy was Chris Jackson? The man she suspected of being the arsonist was pretending to be her ex-husband? How did that happen? What was the connection? She should have realised he lived at Kairi. He’d always said he lived near the lake and she’d never asked where exactly. Now she even knew which house.
Did Ryan already know? Was that why he’d befriended them in the first place? She felt sick. How could he have done that to her? But then, he was an undercover, so why the hell not. Chances were, it had all been deliberate. Was she a suspect or an accomplice?
Her stomach rolled with a wave of nausea. Danger and liars. They followed her wherever she ran.
Her family was in jeopardy again. She stumbled to the bathroom. The water running over her wrists sent a shudder through her, but didn’t ease the fierce fire in her body. She sluiced it round her neck, rinsed her mouth, cleaned her teeth. None of it could wash away the nausea of betrayal, the flush of fear.
She straightened and glared at her reflection. Her face was pale and mottled, her eyes red, but determination tightened her jaw. It was her problem and she had to fix it. Maybe she should send Julia and Dan away until she did.
Should she confront Speedy? No. She shook her head, her hair an angry cloud around her face. It might make her feel better, but it would be unwise.
Her pager beeped.
No! Not now. She looked at the message. RFB training night tomorrow.
The phone had five missed calls on it when she picked it up to respond to the pager.
‘Sorry, but I can’t make training tomorrow night,’ she told Stan.
‘That’s okay. You know what you’re doing anyway. We’re hoping to get some more volunteers. Speedy wants to do a drive with the local services clubs.’
She sucked in a breath. ‘Right. Good idea. Look, I’ve got to run. Can you cross me off the list for the rest of the week, Stan? It’s a bit hectic with work right now.’
‘Sure. Whatever you need, Kait. You’ve been busy the last month.’
Amazing. She’d managed to have a conversation concerning Speedy and sound normal. But she sure as hell couldn’t cope with him – or Ryan – in person.
But there were other measures she could take. First things first. Get Julia and Dan out of harm’s way. Port Douglas. She’d send them there for a week. She found a three-bedroom apartment near the beach and booked it for the following night. Not soon enough, but she knew Julia wouldn’t drive there this afternoon.
She sent an email back to Martin and one to her friend in the Feds. Someone needed to take action, even if she couldn’t.
The kettle had just boiled when she heard the roller door go up. She’d missed lunch altogether.
Dan spilled into the house. A sleepy Nero wriggled with delight as Dan hugged him.
‘Hey, Mum, we’re ready for the concert tomorrow night. I’m playing the piano by myself.’
She plastered a smile on her face. ‘Really, honey? That’s fantastic. When did you find this out?’
Julia came in on the tail end of the conversation. ‘We knew yesterday, but we were going to surprise you, weren’t we, Dan?’
He looked crestfallen. ‘I forgot. Sorry, Nana.’
‘No, it’s better this way,’ Kait assured him. ‘That’s wonderful. I’m so proud of y
ou.’ She wrapped her arms around him, feeling her stomach relax with the feel of her boy, safe in her arms. The most precious thing in her world. She let him go. ‘Tea, Mum?’
‘Sure. Ryan flagged me down at the end of the road. He thought you were out. Were you asleep?’ Julia asked.
‘No, busy working.’ Kaitlyn kept her back to her mother as she ladled tea leaves into a pot.
‘Oh, I see.’
Kait registered the tone, and knew her mother would wait until later to slip something in.
‘I thought we could all do with a change and go to Port for a few days. What do you think?’
‘Port? Cool, no school. Can Nero come too?’
‘Maybe not with us, but he can stay with Morgan or Lauren. He can have a holiday too.’
‘Really?’ Julia’s voice had an edge to it. ‘Since when?’
‘I found a special on the web. Thought it would be nice for a change. Go swimming.’
‘Dan, how about you go and get out of your uniform and bring your homework through. Smoothie?’
‘Banana?’
‘If you like.’
‘Yep. Come on, Nero, come on, boy. Let’s go.’ He scampered out of the room with the excited dog.
‘Kaitlyn, what’s going on?’
‘I want you and Dan safe, Mum.’
‘But Port?’
‘I was sending you tomorrow and I’ll drive there from work. Looks like it will have to be the day after, once Dan’s done his concert.’
‘But why?’
Kait straightened her back, then faced her mother. ‘I think I know who killed Chris and Dad. He’s here. Here in the Tablelands. He’s the arsonist.’
‘How can that be?’
Kait opened her computer and turned the screen to face her mother.
‘Who is he, Mum? You tell me.’
Julia covered her mouth with her hands. ‘Oh no. Surely not.’
‘Oh yes. It’s Speedy, and he’s using the name Chris Jackson.’
Julia’s eyes filled with tears. ‘How could he do that to us?’
Chapter 40
RYAN yanked on the park brake and sat for a moment before he turned off the ignition. It had taken ten frustrating minutes to find a park on the Esplanade. He looked across at the Angsana Resort where the shrink was staying. Typical, only the best for Leila. Palm Cove reminded him of Noosa ten years ago. A little laidback, a little shabby-chic, but in the tropics. The only thing missing was surf. The Great Barrier Reef made darn sure the only waves that slid up the white, coarse sand barely managed to break.
Ryan dragged a deep lungful of salty air in through his nose. Relax, he told himself. Just get the meeting over and done with and head home again. He rolled his shoulders, his hand reflexively rubbing his upper arm. He’d kill for a surf right now. Paddling a board had been crucial in rebuilding his damaged arm and, if he was being honest, critical in getting his sanity back. He missed the power of the waves and the exhilaration of the ride. He missed the solitude of the early-morning break, the water silver in the sunrise. Missed the anonymous camaraderie of a group of surfers hooting their way down the face of a wave in the heat of the day. He missed the quiet times when he was Ryan, just a bloke on a board with no hidden agenda, no cover identity to remember, no hello phone to answer.
He shook his head as he got out of the car, flicking the remote. But his boss and Leila were wrong about his mental condition and he resented being dragged down here for a counselling session. He was pissed off they’d decided he was spending too much time at his neighbour’s house and was therefore in danger of unravelling.
As far as he was concerned, he was as stable as he ever had been. Ryan understood what his boss and Leila seemed to ignore: you had to be nuts in the first place to stay undercover so long. It messed with your head in a way you couldn’t understand if you hadn’t done it. You were cut off from everything that was real.
He’d been crazy when he joined the Federal Police. If he walked away he’d still be crazy. And right now he’d still be crazy about a woman with red hair who was refusing to take his calls or answer her door. Kait had every right to be annoyed. He’d fucked up big-time. Let his guard down and endangered them all and now he had to fix it.
‘Ryan? Are you trying to rub that arm off?’
‘Leila.’ Damn, she’d been watching him and her observations would be added to his file. He smiled as she walked up to him then slipped back into the role he always played with her. Cat to her wary mouse. ‘You’re looking as gorgeous as ever.’ His voice had a husky edge and his eyes were hooded as he ran his gaze over her, knowing full well it would unsettle her. He caught the flash of annoyance and something else in her eyes before she had her professional smile back in place.
‘You’re late.’
‘Sorry.’ He was unrepentant and she knew it. He gave her a peace offering. ‘There was some sort of hold-up on the Kuranda Range Road. I think they were clearing up from an earlier accident.’
‘Right.’ She walked ahead of him and he couldn’t help but admire her long legs and swaying hips. She really was too good-looking to be a hardnose shrink. But then he’d just turned into the sexist pig his partner kept accusing him of being.
He stifled a sigh. It probably came from having a mother who had no interest in anything except her next hair appointment, lunch engagement or charity ball. God help her if she ever noticed she had a son. Between her and his career-obsessed father, it was no wonder he was happy pretending to be someone else.
The coffee shop nestled on the corner of Williams Esplanade, next to a gallery and a row of trendy boutiques. Wooden shutters, low couches and brightly coloured cushions gave it an ambience of tropical decadence.
Surprisingly, Leila made for one of the low couches and sat on one end, patting the cushion next to her. Since he’d forced the compromise of a coffee shop rather than a meeting room in the hotel he’d expected her to ensure there was a table between them, to keep some distance. ‘Coffee, or do you need food as usual?’
‘Coffee and you is enough for me,’ he teased, enjoying the pink that flooded her cheeks. She picked up the menu, studying it as if it were a policy document, her trademark double frown line appearing between those arching brows. A month ago, he might have tried to talk his way back to her suite. It would be sure to have a wide, soft bed, just perfect for a lazy day of delicious sex. But for once, the thought didn’t pique his interest. Not even a whisper of stirring.
‘Don’t go there, Ryan. I’ll remind you once again we have a professional relationship. I have no intention of sleeping with any of my clients. Ever.’ The sweet tone didn’t disguise the steel.
‘Very happy to prove the exception to the rule, babe. This meeting was your idea, not mine.’ He stretched an arm out along the back of the couch, his hand resting mere millimetres from her shoulder.
She snapped the menu closed and smiled at the wild-haired waiter who had appeared with notepad in hand. ‘Soy latte for me, thanks, and raisin toast, lots of butter. My friend will have a double-shot flat white.’ He hid his smile. Leila must detail everything in his case notes. They’d had one early meeting in a coffee shop when he’d still been physically recovering and refusing to cooperate. He’d told her some shit about strong coffee and raisin toast helping his mental state.
‘Actually, I’ll have a pot of Earl Grey, thanks.’ Ryan winked at the man. ‘Not good to become too predictable, is it? Then they take you for granted.’
The man grinned back and left with their orders.
‘Tea. Hmm.’ Leila leant back, studying him. ‘Is that what Brad Ryan drinks?’
‘No, that’s what Kaitlyn Scott drinks and since you are no doubt here to discuss the charming widow, I thought I might as well have her on the table. Metaphorically speaking, of course.’ He raised an eyebrow at her as he unfolded his legs and stretched them towards her.
‘She’s older than you.’
‘Biologically, she’s got eleven months on me. In life years,
compared to me she’s barely out of nappies.’
‘I wouldn’t say that. Here.’ She slid a buff-coloured envelope across the table. ‘Everything you should know about Kaitlyn and Daniel Scott before you get in any deeper.’
‘Who said this is anything but gratuitous sex?’ He didn’t touch the envelope.
‘I do. You know —’ The waiter returning with a brightly coloured teapot and a coffee interrupted her. Leila smiled at him, her dimple just appearing.
‘The toast won’t be long,’ the waiter said.
‘Thank you,’ she replied, and he disappeared again.
‘I understand you, Ryan. I know you think I don’t, that I’m just a new kid out of uni and you’re the seasoned professional who’s been there, done that, but I understand you. Right now, you’re up to your neck in doubts because this woman has got you. She’s everything you’ve never had. And I don’t doubt she cares about you. But if you think you have baggage, she’s got a trainload hidden away and it’s tied up in your current case.’
‘Really,’ he drawled, feigning boredom and ignoring the line of sweat in the middle of his back. He tipped sugar into his cup and topped it up with a dash of milk, pleased his hands weren’t shaking. ‘And you’ve come all this way to tell me that?’
‘No, I’ve come all this way to have a holiday with my boyfriend. But because your boss thinks there’s a situation developing I agreed to do this meeting as a one-off so they wouldn’t have to knock you out and drag you down to Sydney. You should try to remember some of us have regular normal lives.’ She didn’t need any inflection in her voice.
‘You’ve got a boyfriend? Since when?’ He wasn’t going to admit her words had hit home.
She shook her head and sipped her coffee. ‘Irrelevant. The boss wants a report and he’ll get one. You get the benefit of someone neutral pointing out the issues.’
‘Really?’ Now she had him intrigued. ‘You’ve gone out of your way for me?’
‘No, for Crusoe. He’s worried about you. If he’s worried, then the boss is worried, and I’m worried.’