Murderer's Thumb

by Beth Montgomery

  ‘How did it happen?’

  ‘I was running with a billiard cue, chased my mate upstairs, fell on the cue and…poked my eye out.’

  Snake’s face lit up. ‘Gross!’ he said.

  ‘Doctors put it back in again. I had months of checkups and eye exercises.’

  ‘Have you got double vision all the time?’

  ‘Pretty much, but my brain overrides it. I can shut it out, until I get stressed or tired, then I can’t fight it any more. I get a massive headache and have to sleep.’

  ‘So if I wanted to slow you down all I have to do is throw a handful of marbles at you and you wouldn’t know where to walk.’

  Adam laughed. ‘Yeah, I reckon I’d be fucked.’

  They sat silent for a while before Adam said, ‘Did I get it wrong or is that copper, Barry, up himself ?’

  ‘Sounds like an accurate description.’

  ‘I just wondered if somebody, like Lina, or say Matt, knew someone was breaking the law or doing something dodgy, would they tell Barry about it?’

  ‘Depends. Don’t reckon Matt would. Barry used to give him a hard time.’

  ‘Why? What about?’

  ‘Thinks Matt’s an idiot, doesn’t he?’

  Adam frowned.

  ‘I mean, you have to admit, Matt’s kind of weird…a few sandwiches short of a picnic. And Barry can be a prick sometimes…specially if he’s had a beer or two. He plays practical jokes on Matt at the footy club…when Colin isn’t around.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Whips his towel off him or tells him there’s a phone call in the clubrooms, when there isn’t. Shit like that.’

  ‘So Matt doesn’t trust him?’

  ‘Dunno. Matt’s always pissed off when he finds out he’s been tricked, but it doesn’t stop him falling for it next time. He’s real gullible.’

  ‘What about Lina? Would she have spoken to Barry?’

  ‘What are you getting at?’

  Adam stared over the hills at a small shack in the distance. Should he tell Snake about the diary? If only he could be certain that Snake wouldn’t blab. He decided to go with the half-truth again. ‘I’ve found a note,’ he said, ‘telling me to look for a missing diary.’

  Snake sprung off the verandah as if he’d sat on an ants’ nest. Old Sarge snorted, swung his head sideways and stamped. Adam thought Snake was about to be trampled, but his friend pushed into Sarge’s flanks and stroked his neck, soothing him. ‘Jesus, Adam, that means Lina’s diary must exist! Was there a clue? Where do we start looking?’

  Adam coughed. ‘We?’

  ‘Yeah, I’ll help. I know the terrain around here.’

  Could it work? Snake would be a valuable offsider, someone with local knowledge. Adam relented. ‘Sure,’ he said. ‘I’ll need you to get some information.’

  Snake nodded, eager as a puppy.

  ‘I want you to find out from your dad everything you can about that night, especially about when he took the girls home, what they talked about, how they seemed. If I’m right, your dad was the last person to see Emma alive…well, perhaps the second last.’

  ELEVEN

  As soon as Adam got on the bus, he saw Toot watching him. Her face was hard to read. Was she scowling or pursing her lips? Was that tilt of her head a challenging expression? The corners of her mouth twitched as he approached. ‘Hi,’ she whispered.

  He grinned at her and felt a rush of satisfaction as she looked up, exposing her neck. Her lips had the trace of a smile.

  Adam took a deep breath and lurched down the aisle. What was it with his friends? First Brock and now Snake had fascinating sisters.

  Snake beckoned from the back of the bus.

  Adam slid in beside him. ‘How’d it go last night?’ he asked.

  ‘Good. I wanted to call you straight after I talked to Dad, but I still don’t have your number.’

  ‘It’s the best way, believe me.’

  Snake raised his eyebrows. ‘Suit yourself. Anyway, he was a bit suspicious, but I told him I was really curious because of what’s been on the news and that…’

  ‘And?’

  ‘He reckons there was an argument near the stables. Emma was crying and Lina looked really pale, which was a strange thing to say because I reckon she always looked like that.’

  ‘Pale?’

  ‘Yeah, but he said she was shaking, like shivering.’

  ‘Maybe she was cold,’ Adam said.

  ‘Dunno, but they told him they wanted to go home and when Emma rang home, no one answered.’

  ‘No one at the house. What time was that?’

  ‘About a quarter past ten. So Dad offered to drop them back to the farm. When he got to the Thackerays he dropped Lina off first, then went down to the new house and dropped off Emma. He reckoned Mrs Thackeray was home because her green sedan was there and the house was lit up. She must have got in just before them.’

  Adam nodded. ‘But where were Colin and Matt?’

  ‘Colin was at the pub, heaps of people saw him there and he didn’t leave till closing. Dad said Matt is a mystery. When the police first questioned everyone, Matt reckoned he was home but his ute wasn’t parked outside the house. Bit suspicious I reckon.’

  ‘Did Matt say where the car was?’

  ‘Wouldn’t say anything. Apparently he did the old “change the subject” routine.’

  ‘So how come the police didn’t arrest him?’

  ‘Dad reckons they had nothing to go on. Matt wasn’t at the house, but he swore he was on the farm somewhere, just never said where or what he was doing.’

  Adam gazed out the window. The bus was winding its way down the last of the hills. Through the screen of remnant bush, the paddocks were yellowed and dry, waiting for the big rain.

  Waiting, waiting. Had Olwyn Thackeray been waiting up for Emma? Why wasn’t she home twenty minutes earlier when Emma rang? And where was Matt that night? It wasn’t like he had mates or anything.

  ‘Who took them to the party?’ Adam said.

  ‘I didn’t ask that one. What Mrs Thackeray told my mum afterwards was that she’d been to a church meeting or something and got home at about twenty-five past ten. Emma said she had a headache, a cold or something. Mrs Thackeray cried her guts out, saying she was ashamed that she didn’t get to talk to Emma one last time.’

  ‘And did your dad say anything else?’

  ‘Only that when they were in the back of the car together, Emma was sniffing a lot and that Lina was really angry and said she’d “get back at the bastards”. Emma got really upset then and was telling her not to do it, whatever it was.’

  ‘And that’s all?’

  ‘Yeah. Nothing else. Dad never gets involved in any of that girl carry on. Ask Toot…Anyway I reckon Matt’s the problem. The police questioned him for ages but he couldn’t give a straight answer.’

  ‘You think Matt killed his own sister?’

  Snake looked at the floor and rubbed a large pimple on his neck. ‘Well, Matt is a bit…unhinged…simple, you know.’

  Adam didn’t think so. Matt was probably brighter than he seemed. Perhaps he was hiding something and that’s what Snake had picked up on.

  Later that afternoon Adam grabbed his footy bag and water bottle and fled out the door. Matt was waiting for him, engine running.

  They headed down the driveway. Adam tried to make light conversation. ‘Do you read much?’ he asked.

  ‘Only about birds…and the sports pages.’

  ‘I hear you’re a bit of a greenie, making nesting boxes and things.’

  Matt glanced at him, frowning. ‘Who told you that?’

  ‘Er, I dunno…someone…must have been Snake,’ he lied.

  There was a long silence before Adam spoke again.

  ‘Did you know the girl who lived at the house when Emma disappeared?’

  Matt’s face lit up. ‘Yeah, that was Lina. Her real name was Melina.’ He was blushing again. ‘She used to joke about how our initials were th
e same.’

  ‘Ahh.’ Adam nodded. So that explained the initials. ‘Is she the one who gave you the key?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah. I nev…never saw her again.’

  Adam suddenly felt uneasy. MT’s message showed she was frightened for her life. If she had died, Adam had the only link to the truth: her diary. He should show it to the police, but there was something about Barry Timothy that made Adam hesitate. He didn’t trust him, though he couldn’t say why.

  ‘Do you know what happened to Lina?’ Adam asked.

  ‘Nuh,’ Matt said, then he pointed to a far paddock. ‘There are wood ducks over in that dam.’

  Adam sighed. He followed Matt’s finger and tried to look interested. He was beginning to understand Matt’s strategy. If the topic got too hard to handle, talk about what you know: birds, football and farming.

  They arrived at the oval soon after six and took their bags to the changing room. A handful of blokes were already jogging around the perimeter. By the time Adam joined them he was beginning to think football training in February was a new form of torture. The air was hot and oppressive. If he didn’t end up with sunstroke, he’d surely have shin splints from the rock-hard surface.

  When they came off the field and headed for the clubrooms, his skin was red, his fingers swollen and trembling. He downed the contents of his water bottle. The one-minute cold shower was heaven, instantly sucking heat from his body. If only there weren’t water restrictions.

  Back at the bench Adam towelled off and dressed beside Snake. They stood with their backs to the rest of the group.

  ‘I’ve had an idea about where the diary might be,’ Snake said.

  Adam glanced around nervously.

  ‘She must have hidden it at your house or somewhere on the farm. What if she hid it inside another book. I saw it on one of those detective shows, how this old hardback was hollowed out and a smaller book was stuffed inside.’

  Adam nudged his friend and signalled behind him with his thumb. Mongrel was right at their backs. ‘Could be,’ Adam said, lowering his voice.

  ‘We could look for it in Thackerays’ bookshelves,’ Snake continued, unaware.

  Mongrel smirked at him. ‘No need, you loser. I’ve already looked through ’em.’ Then he spoke to Adam. ‘I hear you’re weak in the guts. Bet you’re a one pot screamer.’ His voice was slow and theatrical, loud enough to stop conversations around the room. Even though he was shorter than Adam, he made up for his lack of height with an overdose of arrogance.

  Adam tensed, trying to control his response. ‘What are you on about?’

  ‘It’s all over town. Loody’s been doing impersonations of you spewing.’

  Adam fumed. Why were the bastards having a go at him? He felt Snake’s restraining hand on his shoulder.

  ‘Easy. He’s just winding you up.’

  Adam glared at Loody who was coming back from the shower, all smiles. ‘What’s the matter, Stats?’ Loody said, in mock innocence. Then his eyes bulged and his shoulders heaved. He doubled over, making exaggerated vomiting noises.

  Everyone in the changing room erupted in laughter.

  Adam had to smile, laughing with the rest of them, but it hurt.

  ‘Bit of a celebrity now, aren’t you, Adam?’ Birdie said.

  ‘Bet the girls are onto you now, mate…’ Mongrel declared, slapping Adam on the back.

  Adam glanced at Snake.

  ‘Like I told you. I didn’t say a thing,’ Snake said.

  Adam looked about the group, searching for Matt. He was under the shower with his back to everyone.

  Loody was animated, recounting the incident again to the guy next to him.

  ‘What’cha feeding out to the cows now, Adam—skeleton grass?’ one of the guys yelled.

  Everyone cracked up.

  ‘Brings new meaning to the term “blood and bone”,’ another player added just as Matt emerged from the shower.

  Everyone grew silent, watching Matt approach the far bench where Adam sat.

  Matt looked around and blushed.

  A couple of people snorted. Someone coughed. People started to talk about other things.

  Mongrel gripped Adam’s shoulder. He spoke in low tones, ‘I heard you boys talking about that girl’s diary. Course if you find it, there’s people around here who’d want it, be willing to pay for it. You read me?’

  ‘And you’d be the last person we’d consider,’ Snake said, his voice wavering.

  ‘Keep out of this, Patterson, ya poof,’ Mongrel sneered. ‘Unless you want to step outside and make an issue of it.’ He pushed Snake against the wall.

  Snake flung his hands up in surrender.

  Adam saw the way they looked at one another: sheer hatred. He grabbed Mongrel by the shoulder, spinning him around. ‘If you want a diary that bad you can get one at the newsagent,’ he said.

  Mongrel flinched. His piggy eyes glared at Adam as he shrugged him off. ‘Funny bastard, eh? You’ll keep,’ he snarled, and walked out of the change room.

  TWELVE

  Adam spent most of Wednesday night staring at the sky through his telescope, worrying about what had happened in the change rooms. Mongrel picked on Snake because he wasn’t a macho prick like him.

  Well, Adam had to admit, Snake’s horse-riding had been a surprise, but there was nothing wrong with wanting to be a chef. It was clearly his uncoordinated style and over-the-top enthusiasm that set him apart for ridicule. Even so, the taunts and criticism didn’t seem to bother him. Snake was pretty gutsy in his own way. The more Adam went over it, the more he thought he could trust Snake.

  Mongrel, however, was a deadshit. A first class moron. Why else would he snap so quickly, bullying his own teammates? It must have taken real guts to confront Mongrel like Snake did. That was a true mate, someone who stood up for you. But he didn’t have to. Adam could handle himself. His height alone cooled most arguments. Even if someone did come on all aggro Adam’s turned eye unsettled them—he couldn’t be eyeballed.

  At school the next day as they walked back to their lockers at the beginning of recess, Adam quizzed Snake again.

  ‘So what’s Mongrel’s story? Why does he want Lina’s diary?’ Adam said.

  Snake shrugged. ‘Reckons it’s worth a bit. It’s like a local legend. And he’d know where to get the best price too. He’s always making a quick buck.’

  ‘Sounds like bullshit to me. It wouldn’t be worth anything.’

  ‘Well Mongrel reckons heaps of people want to lay their hands on it.’

  ‘Yeah, right. I’ll ask him about it Friday.’

  Snake gave him a questioning look.

  ‘I’m going spotlighting.’

  ‘What? With that dickhead?’

  ‘I couldn’t put him off.’

  ‘Oh come on!’

  ‘I’m not looking forward to it, but hey, it’s something to do isn’t it? It’s pretty boring round here on weekends. Not much night life.’

  ‘He’s a fair dinkum arsehole,’ Snake said shaking his head.

  ‘I’ve worked that out. And I reckon he’s full of shit. If heaps of people are after Lina’s diary, how come they aren’t digging up Falcon Ridge looking for it? And anyway, how does everyone know it exists?’

  ‘It’s Loody. Lina told him about it and said she was going to hide it. Loody talks a bit.’

  Adam nodded, recalling how animated Loody was in the change room when everyone had been talking about the body. What a prick he was too, making fun of him vomiting. If Snake was right, then Loody was the one he couldn’t trust.

  Snake continued his theory, ‘When people thought they’d both been killed everyone wanted to know where Lina’s diary was. But it was obvious Lina had cleared off. The bus driver remembered her getting on the bus to the city with a backpack full of stuff, including the diary probably. That’s what I reckon, anyway, otherwise someone would have found it.’

  ‘What did her relatives say?’

  ‘Apparently Jane was upset
that Lina left but she couldn’t stop her. She didn’t know anything about a diary.’

  ‘Did the police try and contact Lina?’

  ‘No one knows where she went. She didn’t write back or anything. Another missing person, Barry said.’

  Adam took a deep breath. ‘I think I know where the diary is.’

  Snake stared at him. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I’ve found it.’

  ‘Bullshit? Where?’ Snake shouted.

  ‘Shh!’ Alarmed, Adam looked around but no one seemed to be listening. Kids bumped past them, engrossed in their own conversations. He continued in a low voice, ‘In the house…kind of. Well…I’ve found part of it. From what I can work out, Lina must have known who killed Emma. She was terrifled of that someone coming after her, so she ran back to the city where she knew she could hide. But she left her diary on the farm in pieces, hoping someone would find it, then it would be proof…evidence of who killed Emma.’

  Snake bounded beside him, ‘What’s it say? Does she say like…who the murderer is?’

  ‘Not in the part I’ve got.’

  ‘So where is it? Give us a look!’

  ‘It’s at home…safe.’

  Snake grabbed Adam’s shoulder, forcing him to stop. ‘Would you sell it to him?’

  ‘Who? Mongrel? Piss off! I want to find it all first. And anyway, it’s like my first big investigation. Now I know what my grandfather must have felt like following clues. I want to find it myself!’

  ‘What was your grandfather’s name anyway?’

  ‘Witold Statkus. He was tenacious. He definitely would have tracked it down.’

  They continued walking.

  ‘The police probably want it,’ Snake said.

  ‘When I find the whole thing, they can have it. But I’ve got to get it first.’

  Snake sighed. ‘What I can’t work out is why she didn’t give it to the police in the first place?’

  ‘I bet she was scared because she didn’t trust Barry. And she knew the murderer was watching her. Makes sense, doesn’t it?’

  They reached their lockers. Adam placed his books in order, from tallest to shortest, folders to the left, neat and upright. When he looked in Snake’s locker he couldn’t believe the mess: loose sheets of paper, textbooks, plastic food wrappers, magazines, folders and rulers, everything in a heap.