Presumed Missing

by Fiona Tarr

  ‘I am very sorry. The front gate was locked.’

  ‘Yes. That’s why I know you are trespassing.’ The man was ageless with grey eyes and long hair, tied back in a ponytail. Liz rarely struggled to put an age on someone but this guy would have been anywhere between late thirties and early sixties.

  ‘I’m Liz Jeffreys. I’m sorry to intrude, but I really needed to see the property owner? I’m looking for someone.’

  The music continued to play, the smell of weed growing stronger by the minute, the smoke now puffing from one of the windows like a steam train. Liz smiled at the thought of joining in but decided now wasn’t the time.

  ‘Who are you looking for?’ The tone was gentle, but there was a wariness in his stare.

  ‘Gemma Richardson.’ The man’s posture changed.

  ‘The Police have already been here.’

  ‘I’m not with the Police. I’m trying to help her mother find her. She’s just worried. If Gemma is here and safe, I’m sure her mother will be relieved. She isn’t looking for trouble, just answers.’

  ‘I told the Police. She was here, for a little while. But she is gone now.’

  Liz gauged the timing carefully. ‘Do you know where she might have gone? Who she left with?’

  ‘No.’ The answer wasn’t delivered harshly, but Liz got the distinct feeling she wasn’t getting any more information out of this guy.

  ‘Is her boyfriend still here?’ The man’s eyes opened widely, but quickly returned to normal. She’d struck a chord. Someone here was dating Gemma. It had been just a hunch, but why else would a young woman travel all this way unless she knew someone here? Liz had guessed that the person was more likely male, than female.

  ‘Can I just speak with him?’

  ‘Look, we aren’t some crazy cult here. The kids that are here, can come and go as they please. I just help feed them.’

  ‘And provide their dope.’ Liz smiled and the man grinned sheepishly.

  ‘I didn’t say I was their social worker.’

  ‘Look, don’t let the fancy clothes fool you. I’ve been where Gemma is. I left home at sixteen.’ Those grey eyes widened again, this time in disbelief.

  ‘Elizabeth born and bred. The place has had a face lift since then.’ Liz considered how much to tell this guy, but she knew that if he genuinely looked after runaways, he’d want more. ‘My mum’s boyfriend had more than a wandering eye, if you know what I mean.’ The man studied her, as if gauging if she were telling the truth. ‘I really just want to make sure Gemma is safe, so her mum doesn’t have to worry.’

  ‘David might know more than he’s letting on. Give me a second. I’ll go get him.’ He turned and placed his hand on the wooden door of the old building before stopping and turning back. ‘I’m impressed you climbed the gate in that outfit by the way. I can see your aura. Very determined.’ He turned and opened the old dope den door. Liz waited, adjusting the key in her bra so it didn’t stick into her breast.

  ‘Aura.’ She said aloud, shaking her head. She never believed in all that spiritual, astral travel garbage. He didn’t need to see any aura to know she was determined. She judged people by their actions, by the way they treated others, not by any colour of any mysterious air that hung around their head.

  At least he wasn’t trying to enlist her into his tribe, now that would have been funny. She would have shown him a thing or two about free love and the Kama Sutra, that’s for sure. She was still smiling at her internal joke when the man returned with a younger guy, about late teens early twenties. He had thick long black hair with curls just at the end.

  The boy looked her up and down and a shy grin crossed his lips. It seemed sex appeal had no age boundaries. Liz returned the grin, but then remembered the kid was stoned, so she probably looked like a goddess to him, no matter what she looked like in reality.

  ‘Is he in any state to answer any questions?’

  The man shrugged. ‘Worth a shot, I guess. I’m Rick by the way. Sorry if I was rude earlier. We get all sorts of people out here complaining about what we do.’ Rick guided David to the back veranda of the old house. Another teen was sitting on a worn sofa, the fabric torn, the stuffing missing in spots.

  ‘Mandy, can you grab our visitor a drink of water? I’m guessing that hike up the path in those shoes wasn’t easy.’ Mandy put down the book she was reading and went inside without a word.

  ‘Another runaway?’ Liz asked but it was David who answered.

  ‘We aren’t all runaways. Rick is a great mentor in free thinking.’

  ‘Really?’ Liz looked past David to Rick.

  ‘I used to lecture at Adelaide Uni. I’ve worked in Social Services too. It’s left me a little bitter I’m afraid. Too much wasted money and not enough help where it is really needed.’

  Liz had a sudden admiration for the guy, but forced her attention back to David. ‘David. Were you and Gemma dating?’

  ‘Sort of.’

  ‘Sort of, what does that mean?’

  ‘Look, she was only here for a week or so. I found her thumbing a lift in Mount Barker. She’d managed to hitchhike that far, but I was pretty certain her luck was going to run out so I offered her a place to crash. She sent her mum a message to say she was safe and staying here.’ He swept his arm around the commune like it was heaven but all Liz could see was an old farm barely held together with wire and baling twine.

  ‘So you weren’t sleeping with her?’

  ‘Whoa! I don’t think that is any of your business lady.’

  ‘It kind of is, if she is found harmed, or when I catch up with her, she says you raped her.’

  ‘Ms Jeffreys, is that really necessary?’ Rick held a hand up between her and David protectively.

  ‘Look, I’ll be honest with both of you. You’ve been a social worker Rick, you should already know. Teenage girls don’t run away from home for no reason. On top of that, they are super vulnerable when they do. I’m just trying to follow up on what happened to her.’

  David bit his lip. ‘She offered, but when I touched her, she flinched. That’s not what I was looking for. It was like she thought she had to pay me, with, you know.’

  ‘I know.’ Liz knew only too well. No money, nothing to trade. What else would a young girl offer someone who had helped her out?

  ‘When did she leave, and do you know where she went?’

  ‘She said something weird. “No point running away from the inevitable.” I really don’t know what that meant, but she left last Friday.’

  ‘Did you speak with her at all Rick?’

  ‘No, I didn’t know she was here until Thursday. I had just started trying to get her to open up when David said she’d left. It was a shame. I could tell she needed help, but I’ve done my years as a social worker. You have to take baby steps and that takes time.’

  Mandy arrived with a glass of iced water. Liz took a long gulp, not realising how thirsty she was.

  ‘Did anyone else get a chance to speak with her?’ Liz asked and both men shook their heads.

  ‘She was pretty quiet. I don’t think so.’ David answered and Rick nodded in agreement.

  ‘I’ll ask the others though. If we hear anything, do you have a number we can call?’

  Liz had left her business cards in the car. ‘I’ll write it down for you. Do you have a pen and paper?’

  ‘Inside. I’ll go get them.’ Rick got up and moved toward the back door. He stopped when he realised Liz was following him. ‘I’ll bring them out for you.’

  ‘I’d like a tour, if you don’t mind?’ Rick frowned, rubbed his chin and considered Liz’s request. ‘I’m not here to judge. I might even be able to help. I’ve worked in youth rescue myself. Of a different kind.’

  Rick nodded and opened the screen door that had holes and likely didn’t keep flies or mosquitos out anymore.

  ‘Do you get any government funding, grants?’ Rick laughed.

  ‘We aren’t orthodox enough to meet the criteria.’

 
‘You know that, or you assume that? I know a few people, philanthropic type stuff. I’ll chat to them after I leave, if you don’t mind.’

  Rick stopped and studied Liz carefully. ‘You can do that?’

  ‘I can try. Show me around and we’ll keep in touch.’

  5

  Liz got back in her car and waved at Rick as he did a three-point turn in the old Land Rover with the missing canopy, and made his way back to the house.

  There were fifteen kids living in that hovel. Old mattresses and bunk beds and bean bags on the floor were all they had, but at least they were safe. Liz spoke to the sullen Mandy and found another couple of kids in the lounge room who were helping each other study for end of term exams.

  This was no commune. This was a refuge and each of the kids deserved a chance at finishing their education and making the most of their future. Rick was overworked, not paid at all and doing everything he could to help the kids out. All they had for money was what government assistance the kids were legally entitled to, which fortunately put food on the table and paid the power bills but that was about it.

  Liz had a few ideas, including organic gardens, funding for internet and online education and more, but she’d need to pull a few strings and contact a few clients to help make it happen.

  Liz pulled the key out of her bra and opened the rental car door. Her mobile still sat on the seat, but it was flashing blue to show a missed call. She jumped in and put on her seat belt before starting the car so she could put the air-conditioning on. She then picked up her mobile and checked the missed call.

  It was Max. He’d texted a message to say he and Jack had been worried and to call as soon as she got the message. She dialled Max’s number and waited a few rings before he answered.

  ‘Where the hell have you been?’

  ‘Following up leads. What’s so urgent?’ Liz kept her voice calm. A tap on her window made her jump. A Police officer indicated she should wind down her window, which she did.

  ‘We ran the commune and the teachers. You shouldn’t have gone out there alone.’ Max sounded almost frantic.

  ‘What can I do for you officer?’ Liz asked as the window lowered fully.

  ‘What are you talking about?’ Max was confused.

  ‘I’m talking to the Police officer who just tapped on my window Max. Did you and Jack send out the cavalry or something? I’m fine, honestly.’

  ‘You’ll need to turn off the engine and put that phone down madam,’ the officer spoke, his tone rather annoyed.

  ‘No, we didn’t send anyone out but the commune is under surveillance.’

  ‘Madam!’

  ‘Max, I’ll have to call you back.’ Liz hung up as requested and turned off the car. ‘What seems to be the issue officer?’

  ‘Well. We’ll start with using a mobile phone while driving?’

  ‘I wasn’t driving. I was stationary.’

  ‘The engine was on madam.’

  ‘Yes, but only to run the air-conditioner.’

  ‘What were you doing at the commune over there?’ the Officer nodded toward the building beyond. ‘You looked pretty chummy with the owner.’ Liz’s eyes narrowed and Max’s words came back to her.

  ‘You have the place under surveillance obviously. Allow me to get my card.’ Liz leant over and opened her briefcase. ‘I’m investigating a missing girl. Maybe you know the case?’

  ‘Keep your hands where I can see them madam.’ Liz stopped and looked at the officer opened mouthed. Did he honestly think she was carrying a weapon?

  ‘I don’t have a weapon officer. I know being stationed out here might be a little boring and watching television cop shows might be what you fill the time with but the likelihood of me carrying a gun is as likely as this place getting rain today.’ Liz surveyed the desert around her.

  ‘Please step out of the car.’ Liz sighed and undid her seatbelt before opening the door. The officer frisked her, and she rolled her eyes at him.

  ‘Really? Does it look like I can hide anything in this outfit?’ Liz indicated the tight-fitting skirt with her hands. ‘Look, just ring Detective Cunningham at Major Crimes in Adelaide. He’ll tell you why I’m here. I was just on...’

  ‘I’m going to have to take you in for questioning. You have the right to remain silent.’

  ‘For fuck’s sake. Seriously? Just get my wallet out of the car and I’ll show you my business card. I’m the principal partner at Fox Investigations. I’ve worked with Detective Cunningham before. Call him.’

  ‘This is an ongoing investigation. We’ll take you in to the Murray Bridge Station for holding.’

  ****

  Max drove the hire car while Liz sat in the leather bucket seat of Jack’s BMW, heading back to Adelaide. She was way too angry to drive, her hands still shaking from adrenalin.

  ‘He’d better not be smoking in the rental car,’ Liz said to Jack but didn’t expect an answer. Max was a chain smoker. Of course he was smoking in the rental car and she’d have to pay for the additional clean.

  ‘The place is under investigation for growing drugs,’ Jack explained. ‘Your visit just got them even more suspicious. Fancy lady, hire car, out of town visitor maybe? I can see how they joined the dots.’

  Liz fumed at Jack. He couldn’t see her face in the darkened car, but as each set of oncoming headlights lit the interior she saw he snuck a quick look. She’d spent hours in the holding cell waiting for Jack to come and get her. Apparently, his word over the phone wasn’t enough to get her released and of course, her record for solicitation when she was nineteen hadn’t helped her case.

  She took a deep breath. ‘Where did they get that information from? There was no way they had a hydroponic crop in that place. Rick showed me around.’

  ‘Rick?’ Jack’s tone wasn’t as flat as he thought it was and Liz grinned in the dark, her anger slowly abating.

  ‘The guy who runs the refuge. It’s not even a commune. The cops have it all wrong, or whoever informed them does.’

  ‘And you saw inside all the outbuildings?’

  ‘No, sure, the kids were smoking dope and playing music too, but I saw inside all the house. If they were growing dope, they wouldn’t be living in near poverty conditions. There are fifteen kids there with three bunk beds, two sofa beds and a heap of bean bags to sleep on.’

  Liz fell silent and Jack didn’t push her.

  ‘Does anyone know who tipped the cops off?’ Liz finally found her voice again.

  ‘No. Anonymous.’

  ‘And that doesn’t strike you as strange, considering we are looking for a missing girl who was living there?’

  ‘Maybe.’ Jack conceded. ‘How are you and Max getting along?’

  Liz wondered if it was a deliberate change of subject or was her history with Max the reason for the question? She hoped Jack cared enough for it to be the latter.

  ‘Pretty good really. It was weird at first, but then we’ve had Jackie over a few times and it’s been good.’

  ‘How did you answer the ‘where did you meet dad’ question?’ Liz could feel Jack’s grin in his words.

  ‘That was a hard one. I told Max not to give away too much. I’ve still not told Jackie about my career, well my new one yes, my other one, no.’

  ‘Are you going to tell her?’

  ‘Yeah sure. Oh, by the way honey, I was a prostitute when I had you and oh yeah, I still am, just a well-paid one now.’ Liz almost spat the words out.

  ‘If you don’t like the job, why keep doing it?’ Jack moved into the right-hand lane and overtook a truck.

  ‘I like it. I’m a bit bored with it at times these days, but I still like the work.’

  Not exactly what Jack wanted to hear but not a surprise. ‘Is it the money or something else?’

  Liz didn’t really need to think about the answer, just whether she wanted to share it with Jack. ‘The money and the power are pretty addictive. It’s not the money anymore. I’ve invested well. It’s not really the power an
ymore either, it’s more that I can see how it can work in with Fox Investigations and I have contacts, lots of them, that I don’t really want to let go of. So who would want the refuge shut down?’ Now it was Liz who changed the subject.

  Jack chuckled. ‘Back to business. Whoever wants to cut off Gemma’s support network?’

  ‘Bingo. That was my thought, but where else would Gemma go if she was in trouble? If she was running away from someone? ... do you think they caught up with her?

  ‘Look, there isn’t enough for me to jump into this officially yet, but let me know if you strike anything that will. I trust your instincts Liz. If you think this is funky, then I’m here to help.’

  ‘Partners again then,’ Liz offered.

  ‘Partners again.’ Jack answered and cringed at the wistful tone in his voice.

  6

  Liz watched the silver-grey Mazda pull up outside her apartment building. Max hadn’t wasted any time getting his new wheels. The car was immaculate, with the MG looking grill and sleek lines. It looked sporty, but still had space for four large adults. She opened the passenger door to a big toothy grin she hadn’t seen on Max since they were kids.

  ‘You like?’ he asked.

  ‘I’m impressed Max. Yes. I like.’

  It was seven thirty and Max was unusually chirpy for this time of the morning. Two take-away coffee cups sat in the cup holders at the front and Max tapped the top of the one closest to her.

  ‘This one is for you. Just how you like it.’

  Liz gave him a look and he shrugged. ‘What, I can’t get the boss a coffee in the morning?’

  ‘You can.’ Liz wanted to say more but forced herself to play nice.

  ‘Look. It’s my way of saying thanks for the car.’

  ‘I’ll take it. You still on for dinner tonight with Jackie?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Don’t forget her adoptive mum is coming.’

  ‘Oh, yeah.’ Max suddenly looked uncomfortable.

  ‘Just keep our history brief. No old stories, just we were young, but we caught up on a case recently when a friend of mine died. Got it?’