by Jennie Jones
‘You drank it!’ Mary said. ‘You haven’t asked for a nip since 11 am.’
It was now close to dusk.
‘I wasn’t with you at 11 am.’
‘You were. Come on, Freda, hand that flask over and I’ll keep it for you until we get home.’
She made a move towards Mrs Frith, who shot backwards. ‘You pinch this, Mary, and you’ll regret it!’
‘Freda!’
Everyone turned at the sound of Mrs Arnold’s voice in the doorway.
She walked over to Mrs Frith, hand out for the hipflask. ‘Why don’t I take this now and fill it up for you?’
Mrs Frith clutched her flask against her chest. ‘You’re not having it. It’s mine. You’re not my father and I’m not a child anymore. He can’t hit me like he used to do. It wasn’t just your father who hit,’ she told Mrs Arnold. ‘It was mine, too.’
‘That’s not true, Freda. Your father was a good, loving man.’
‘He was a hitter. He punched me.’
‘Oh, Freda!’ Mary cried. ‘That’s not true. It was Amelia’s father, not yours—don’t you remember?’
‘I don’t lie. I’ve never lied in my life. You’re the liar. Both of you,’ she added, for Mrs Arnold’s benefit. ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! Stealing a woman’s whisky.’ She stuck her nose in the air and pranced out of the office.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Mary spoke. ‘Do you think she’s doing it on purpose?’
Mrs Arnold turned her gaze to Jax, then looked at Donna, and back to Mary.
‘Amelia?’ Mary prompted. ‘What is it? What’s happening?’
Mrs Arnold inhaled, a look of despondency in her eyes. ‘I think our friend has a bigger and sadder problem than we’d realised, Mary.’
Nobody moved, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
‘Let’s pack up and get her home,’ Mrs Arnold said.
‘We’ll have to let her have a nip,’ Mary said, her tone showing her discomfort and apprehension. ‘We can’t not let her. It wouldn’t be fair. She’s done so well, with only one little nip an hour …’
‘We will,’ Mrs Arnold agreed, with a nod. ‘And tomorrow we’ll make an appointment with a doctor in Kalgirri.’
Mary straightened her spine and lifted her chin. ‘We’re lifelong friends,’ she said to Mrs Arnold. ‘You, me and Freda. Whatever’s wrong with her, nothing will part us.’
For a moment, Mrs Arnold’s eyes watered. She nodded acknowledgement of Mary’s words. ‘We’ll do for each other whatever needs to be done,’ she said, with a catch in her voice.
She took Mary’s hand and led her out of the office.
Jax drew a long breath and wiped a hand over her eyes.
‘You’re worried about Mrs Frith?’ Donna asked.
‘Aren’t you?’
‘Yes, but I’m now also concerned about you.’ Donna stepped forwards and perched on the edge of a desk, facing Jax. ‘You okay? You’ve gone sheet-white.’
Jax looked up at her friend. ‘It was the talk of fathers hitting their children. It got to me for a second.’ It had happened to Frances, although not in the same manner as it had happened to Mrs Arnold, whose father had been notorious in town, years ago before his death, for his underhand physical abuse of his wife and daughter.
No wonder Mrs Arnold was as strong and commanding as she was. She’d learned lessons the hard way. Yet she’d come through with valour. Always a little scary to approach, with stern headmistress-like qualities, and always demanding politeness. Nevertheless, she was a good person, and obviously a valued and trusted friend.
‘Let’s talk about Jack,’ Donna said, shifting the belt on her waist as though easing the pressure.
‘Jack? Why?’
‘I want to get some colour back in your face. He’s in love with you.’ She hardly paused a beat. ‘Has he made any suggestions about what he’s going to do? Because you can’t leave Mt Maria. This is your world, and it’s also now your daughter’s world.’
Jax was swamped with love for this woman. So female, so cop, so let’s-sort-you-out. ‘I’m still considering everything,’ she said cautiously.
Donna lifted a corner of her mouth in a knowing smile. ‘You need love, companionship and sex. You need Jack. Admit it.’
Jack stared at the CCTV monitor in his darkened office, and found a disgruntled sneer.
He’d just arrived back after hours on the road, and hadn’t yet bothered to switch on his desk lamp. Light from the hallway and the front office was enough. He wouldn’t be in the office long anyway.
In cell 4, Bivic was lying full length on the concrete seat, hands behind his head, calm as you please, not a scratch on him. Jack half-wished the man had hurt himself in the back of the arrest van. Maybe choked on vomit, or had a heart attack. But no. One of the most dangerous men around, responsible for dealing drugs to kids who’d never before had a hankering for them, looked like he was resting easy, catching up on some shut-eye.
One thing that did concern him was the news about Freda. It was possible the op wouldn’t be able to use the information she’d given. But at least, from that intel, they could investigate, interrogate all concerned, and discover the evidence. The op detectives had already spoken to Robert and Damon Baxter, plus the two guys on curfew, and determined their roles in Bivic’s organisation. Once they began to assemble all the intelligence, the ball would roll, and keep rolling until Bivic had nowhere to go but jail. He wasn’t so sure how the Baxter boys would be reprimanded, but he hoped they too would see jail time. They’d acted irresponsibly and aggressively in a criminal manner, putting human and animal lives at stake.
A noise down the hall made him turn, but it was only Donna, waiting her turn to talk to the detectives. They’d likely leave it until the morning, but Donna, being Donna, wasn’t going away.
Jack had a brief thought that she was here because she was showing him support. Giving him backup.
The phone in the front office rang and he heard her pick up.
‘Jack,’ she called a few seconds later. ‘It’s Luke.’
After everything he’d been through and seen that day, some of the tension fell from Jack’s shoulders and he even discovered some humour. He picked up the phone. ‘You’re going to try and tell me the sultry beaches and a beautiful woman at your side aren’t enough to keep you off the phone to me?’
‘What the hell’s going on?’ Luke demanded, sounding apoplectic. ‘I called earlier and Jimmy said the cells were full and he’d have to call me back.’
‘We had a search and rescue incident.’
‘Hikers? Game shooters?’
‘A lamb and two chickens.’
‘What?’
Jack held on to his laugh. The job was done. Louie was going to make it. Johnson was sleeping peacefully at home. This was Jack’s chance at payback for a number of things, like telling the Agatha Girls that he’d have trouble with the paperwork. ‘No cause for alarm,’ he said in an even tone. ‘The bull’s safe and we got the goats before they were curried. The lamb didn’t do too much damage in your office, although the rooster shit in your filing tray.’
‘What rooster?’
‘It’s all under control, mate. Look, gotta go. I’m still trying to figure out the password for Twitter.’ He cut the call and waited.
‘Jack?’ Donna called a few beats later. ‘Luke’s on line two.’
Jack grinned. ‘Tell him I didn’t kill anyone. His town’s safe.’
As Donna, professional to the end, filled Luke in about Louie, and everyone else, Jack slapped some of the dust off his trousers.
He needed a shower, he wouldn’t have said no to a beer, and most importantly, he wanted to see Jax. He hadn’t even been able to call her, only being able to use the sat phone for police business, although Donna had told him three hours ago that she and Frances were at the café, waiting for him. He’d asked Donna to drive them home, and tell Jax he’d come out to the house as soon as he was able.
I’m back. All good. Miss you like crazy. Be there as soon as I’m able. Wait up for me, would you?
Are you sure you’re all right?
Promise.
I’ll be up. I’ll wait for you.
He smiled at the phone screen. It was going on 9 pm and he reckoned he’d be at the station another two hours, minimum, but she was going to wait for him.
‘Donna,’ he said quietly a few minutes later when he headed into the hallway, pausing when he saw her, still at the front desk. ‘Go home.’
‘Clarrie’s at Jax’s place. She’s having a sleepover with Frances. It’s working out well; they get on like a house on fire. Anyway, I’m not going anywhere until you leave too.’
Jack looked at her as she smiled at him insolently. ‘One day, Murray, you’re going to be Superintendent.’
‘Me? Unlikely.’
‘Just remember, mate. I knew you when.’
Her light-hearted laughter filtered down the hallway as Jack turned. It was time to front up to the op detectives.
He took a breath and pushed open the charge room door.
Expectancy and anticipation had been flying through Jax for hours. Getting dinner made for Frances and Clarrie had helped, but it had been hard to concentrate on the game of Monopoly they’d played afterwards. Jax had been to jail a dozen times and had lost every property she’d bought or won.
She hoped the bad luck wasn’t an omen.
She’d been pacing from the kitchen to the living room since the girls had gone to bed two hours ago and it was now after midnight, but Jack had just driven up the driveway.
She checked the girls’ bedroom door one more time. They’d taken a little while to fall asleep, Clarrie asking Frances questions about the dogs because she’d never had one of her own, and Frances asking what it was like to have a mum who was a police officer.
Overjoyed to help Donna out by looking after Clarrie, which she’d done any number of times, Jax had found an opportunity to have a quiet word with Frances before Donna dropped Clarrie off, and had asked her not to talk about what had happened today, as she didn’t want Clarrie worried.
Frances had pulled a frown and said she totally understood, because Clarrie was only nine. Then she’d surprised Jax by adding, ‘I’m a little older than her but I won’t talk down to her. Kids don’t like that.’
Jax had bitten into her smile, proud that Frances was so grown up, even if she didn’t quite believe that yet.
There was no noise from the girls’ bedroom door, so she headed for the front verandah, desperate to see Jack with her own eyes, because so far, she hadn’t quite believed that he was okay.
She’d left the far verandah light on for him. Like a candle in the window.
The night air sent fleeting goosebumps across her skin. There in an instant, gone the next. The evening smelled of the desert landscape, with a hint of rosemary and lavender from her garden beds.
He was in uniform, but without the heavy belt she was now used to seeing him wear, so he was unarmed. Apart from the charm of him. That shot through her like a punch to the heart.
He looked like he was coming home, and she was grateful for the vision. Grateful that she had Frances and Clarrie tucked up, fast asleep, with Bella, Kirby, Winston, and now Petal too, protecting them on dog beds at the foot of the bed.
Tomorrow, she’d be vacuuming dog hair all day. Tonight, she didn’t care.
‘Hello,’ she said lightly, almost tentatively, as everything welled inside her: relief, love, happiness at the sight of him.
Jack’s grin was wide, his eyes shining as he strode up the steps to the verandah. Within seconds, he’d hooked an arm around her waist, pulled her against him and lifted her up and off the ground.
‘Jack!’ she cried, as a whoosh of air left her lungs when he twirled her around.
‘Good to see you,’ he said. ‘How’s it going?’
He was filthy, covered in red dust, the creases around his tired eyes filled with dirt too. His shirt was wrinkled, he’d lost his police cap somewhere and his hair was peppered with dust. He’d never looked more masculine and handsome.
‘I’m so glad you’re safe.’
‘Talk about going out with a bang,’ he said on a smile. Then he dropped her to her feet, took a firmer hold, and kissed her.
Her toes curled, her body buzzed with adrenaline, and she melted inside as she settled into the kiss, holding him and kissing him as firmly as he held and kissed her.
‘Marry me,’ he said when he released her, looking directly into her eyes, challengingly.
She took a breath, still giddy. ‘Jack, you’re on a high.’
‘You’re my high. Marry me. I’m not asking again.’
She couldn’t halt her laughter; it bubbled out of her. She ran her hands over his face, the dust gritty on his cheek and in his hair. ‘I love you, Jack.’
His eyes darkened, his features showing surprise. ‘That’s a start, at least,’ he said softly, pulling her closer against him again. ‘I’m a lucky man to have such a chance.’
Her eyes felt hot, but she took the time to let him hold her, and to hold him right back, loving the moment, thankful for it.
As the moon shone above them, released from behind cloud cover, every joyous expectation of just seeing him again disappeared and a reality check hit home.
She pulled from him. Not from his arms—she didn’t want to leave his embrace; she simply wanted to look at him and evaluate everything that had happened to him, and might happen to both of them.
‘What now?’ she asked. ‘With your role? I presume you’ve spoken to your operation detectives.’
Jack grimaced. ‘I just had a chat with them.’
‘Will everything be okay?’
He raised an eyebrow, looking like he was hoping so. ‘Walkertown cops picked up the three who were on the run with Bivic out at the roadhouse. We’ve got Bivic, and enough intel on him to pursue charges. Mrs Frith helped us with that one.’ He frowned, his eyes taking on a serious depth. ‘I heard about Freda. Donna told me.’
Jax drew a breath, still trying to work it all out in her head. ‘I’ll help in whatever way I can. We all will.’
‘Do you think it’s dementia?’
Jax sighed. ‘It looks that way, but we can stay hopeful until we know for sure.’
He nodded, obviously thinking about Freda before speaking again. ‘I’ve informed the op of the possible scenario. They’ll talk to her, of course, but I’ll make sure she’s not alone.’
‘Donna?’
‘And maybe Amelia.’
Jax nodded. ‘She’d be the right person. I think it’ll be too strenuous, emotionally, for Mary.’ She had a sudden thought. ‘When it’s happening, I’ll be with Mary. Frances and I will look after her at the café, so she’s close to the station.’ She’d hate being left out, but Jax doubted she’d get through such an interview without getting upset. ‘Although they’ll want to talk to them all, won’t they?’
‘Yes. Again, I’ll ensure it’s easy for them.’
‘They get into such trouble,’ Jax said on a shaky laugh. ‘I hope I’m just like them one day.’
‘I hope you’ll be with me when that day comes.’ The skin at the corners of his eyes creased in amusement. ‘I have policing experience, but I may ask Luke for some tips on how to handle you, since he’s got a stubborn strong woman at his side too.’
‘Don’t leave Donna out.’
‘Murray will have other things on her plate. I doubt she’ll be as worrying as you and Rachel.’
‘How come?’
‘I think she’ll go high within the force. If she allows herself the chance.’
Jax felt immense pride for her friend.
Talking of friends … ‘Will Luke be called back? Will they send you to Kalgirri?’
‘How many questions have you got before I can kiss you again?�
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‘Dozens.’
‘Just so I know.’ He tightened his hold of her, linking his arms at her back. ‘If Luke legs it here, I’m going to be super pissed off. Next week alone, I’m booked solid. I’ve got a drugs talk at the youth centre, and I’m handing out Stellar Awards to the primary school kids. It’s gonna be a helluva week.’
She smiled at his offhandedness. He was on a high, and she couldn’t blame him for it. ‘You’ll stay here as OIC until Luke returns?’
‘Affirmative. As planned.’
Which meant they had four weeks to get acquainted with their situation.
Jax swallowed hard, still wondering how all this was going to pan out, for all of them.
‘I don’t know what it is you’re worried about,’ Jack said, leaning back so he could see her since she’d dropped her chin and her gaze. ‘Is it the nursery rhyme thing?’
She laughed again, looking up at his amused gaze.
He leaned in and whispered in her ear, ‘I want you to take a walk with me, up a hill. I’d like to fetch a pail of water with you.’
A thrill rushed through her, and this time, as the night air brushed her skin, the goosebumps stayed.
‘I’m leaving the force, Jax.’
The headiness of having been kissed so thoroughly only minutes ago left her as the seriousness of what he said sunk in. ‘But what will you do?’ This was her second concern, almost as important as her first: how would Frances deal with a sudden marriage in her suddenly brand new lifestyle?
‘I’ve got an idea. A few ideas. I’ll need to run them by a couple of people I know, and also Solomon, believe it or not.’
‘You’re going to work with Solomon?’
‘Maybe.’ He smiled again. ‘What is it you’re really worried about? Is it Frances and how she’ll take it if we tell her we’re getting married?’
‘I think she loves you already,’ she said, not answering his question directly, but giving him an indication of what was worrying her. She couldn’t drop her love for either Jack or Frances, but she felt torn regarding the responsibilities to each. She had to think rationally, and what was best for Frances came first. But, oh, how she hoped she wasn’t the woman who would end up hurting Jack.