by Sarah Bailey
‘We really hope you find her,’ says Min, her hand back at her throat.
‘Yes, we hope so too.’ I battle a wave of frustration: I’m trying. ‘If you remember anything, especially about that Tuesday shift in February, please let us know.’
‘Yes, of course. We’ll do whatever we can to help. Des joined the search last Sunday.’ Min’s chin wobbles as she looks at her husband. ‘I kept thinking, My god, what if they find her out there somewhere? And then I heard about her boyfriend and, well, it’s just awful. I don’t really know what to think. I mean, who would do something like that? It can’t be a local.’ She begins to cry. ‘I know everyone is saying it was her dad but I can’t bear the thought he would hurt her.’ Min looks at me and then at Lane. ‘Like that,’ she adds.
I let a silence settle over the room for a few beats before I say, ‘We need to talk to the rest of your staff, especially anyone who regularly worked shifts with Abbey.’
Min’s face pulls tight, and her eyes dart around the room nervously. ‘It’s mainly Erin who works with her. They’re pretty friendly, I think. Taylor sometimes works Saturdays with her. You can talk to them now if it’s one at a time. We can easily manage the tills with two people.’
‘Thanks.’
Taylor’s heavy make-up weighs down her thin face. She enters the room as if she’s walking the plank. I give her a reassuring smile when she takes a seat opposite.
Initially I let Lane take the lead. He’s good with Taylor, lulling her into easy conversation and explaining we need to gather as much information as we can. She noticeably relaxes and even cracks a smile. Then he gently asks her about Abbey.
No, she doesn’t know her very well even though she’s known her since—well, forever. Yes, they chatted occasionally but they barely had shifts together. Taylor has mainly worked during the day since she left school two years ago, so their paths only cross on Saturdays and it’s usually too busy to chat. Taylor thought that Abbey seemed nice enough. Taylor’s younger brother is friendly with the Clark twins, but her parents never let him go to their house because everyone knows Daniel is crazy. Taylor last saw Abbey just over two weeks ago and thought she seemed a bit down but nothing especially stood out.
I stay in the tearoom while Lane walks Taylor out and fetches Erin. In contrast to Taylor, she is fresh-faced with womanly curves I imagine she oscillates between loving and hating. She is far more insightful than Taylor but also much more upset.
‘Me and Abbey are pretty good friends,’ she says. ‘I left school last year but I still do the afternoon shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday ’cause Min already had people during the day. I didn’t really know Abbey at school but we chat here. Sometimes it’s not that busy, especially in winter, so there’s a lot of time to kill.’
‘Who else is she friendly with?’ Lane asks.
Erin picks at the quick of her fingernails. ‘Some of the other girls at school, I guess. And obviously she was with Rick.’ She pulls a piece of skin away from her nail, bright red blood pooling in her cuticle. ‘I can’t believe he’s dead.’
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘We are still in the very early stages of that investigation.’
Erin nods and starts combing through her thick hair with her fingers.
‘Were you at the party on Saturday?’ I ask.
‘My brother and I went together—he’s friends with Beth Kinlon, whose house it was.’
‘Did you speak to Abbey that night?’ says Lane.
‘A bit. My brother and I got there late, ’cause we were watching a movie at home with Mum and Dad first. It was pretty wild by the time we turned up. Everyone was off their faces, and there were heaps of people I didn’t know. I saw Abbey in the backyard, I said hi, but she was talking to Rick.’ Erin’s eyes flicker to the floor.
‘You didn’t like Rick?’ I ask.
She lifts her head, but I notice her jaw is shaking. ‘I’m sad he died, but he was a bully. Not, like, physically or anything. More emotionally.’ She presses her hands against her knees. ‘That probably sounds dumb.’
‘It doesn’t sound dumb at all,’ says Lane kindly.
The corners of her mouth turn up. ‘Yeah, well, he used to be a real jerk to my brother when they were at school together.’
Lane makes a few notes, sympathy on his face.
‘Did you notice anything at the party that seemed odd?’ says Lane. ‘Was Abbey talking to people you didn’t know or acting differently from usual?’
Erin makes a frustrated whimper. ‘I’m trying to remember but I just don’t know. I guess I wasn’t really paying attention. Like I said, I saw her talking to Rick outside. And later in the night I saw her talking to some backpackers, they’ve been into the shop a few times. One of them kept asking her out, but I think he was just, like, mucking around. Abbey and I were laughing about it the other day.’
Lane and I exchange glances at this.
‘Do you know his name?’ asks Lane.
Erin begins to look worried. ‘No, sorry. I know they were English but I didn’t really talk to them.’
‘When did they come into the shop?’
‘A few times over the past few weeks. I think they came in last Tuesday afternoon.’
‘And it was definitely the same guys you saw her talking to at the party?’
‘I’m pretty sure.’ Erin sneaks a look up at me through her long lashes. ‘I was a bit of mess, to be honest though. We drank on the way and my brother pretty much had to carry me home. I think we got in just after eleven.’
‘Did Abbey like the guy who kept asking her out?’
Erin shrugs. ‘I don’t think so. She just thought it was funny how full on he was. He picked her a flower the other day, which she thought was sweet.’
‘Did she seem like she wanted to talk to him at the party?’
‘I don’t know. I just figured she was trying to make Rick jealous.’
‘Was that what their relationship was like? Making each other jealous?’
‘I don’t know. I guess I always thought Abbey would get out of Fairhaven and move to the city. I don’t think she was as serious about Rick as he was about her.’
‘Did she ever say anything to you about breaking up with him?’ I ask.
‘No, not to me.’ Her eyes fill with tears. ‘Do you think someone at the party hurt her?’ Erin’s voice drops to a whisper. ‘Or that Rick did? My mum reckons Daniel killed him because he found out he hurt Abbey.’
‘We can’t comment on that,’ I say gently. ‘But, Erin, I’m wondering whether anything ever happened at work to upset Abbey?’
‘No, I can’t think of anything.’
‘What about on Tuesday the twenty-second of February? Was that maybe when the backpackers came into the shop?’
‘Um, it might have been. I’m really not sure, but they weren’t, like, mean to her or anything. They were just being funny and flirting with her.’ Erin’s smooth forehead wrinkles. ‘That was about a week after Valentine’s Day. Me and my boyfriend broke up in early Feb, so we didn’t go out like we were supposed to, but then we got back together and he wanted to see me that night. I had to be home straight after work, but Abbey said I could leave early so I could see him for a bit. She said she didn’t mind.’
‘So she was left alone to close the shop?’
‘Yes,’ says Erin meekly, ‘but that wasn’t weird. One of us would usually do a final clean and close once the money was in the safe.’
‘What time did Mr Fererra leave that night?’
‘He normally leaves at 7.25 pm so he can get home to watch the 7.30 Report. He and Min live one street back from the shop so it only takes them a few minutes to get home.’
‘So Mr Gordon left at 7.25 pm that night?’
Erin lifts her shoulders. ‘He was definitely gone when I left at nine-thirty. I don’t know the exact time.’
‘Where did you and your boyfriend go?’
She flushes deeply. ‘Just for a drive up to one of the lookouts. You know, we
talked and stuff. Then he dropped me home.’
‘Okay. And before you left nothing happened that upset Abbey? She didn’t say anything?’
‘No, she seemed fine.’
‘She and Rick were fine?’
‘Yeah, though maybe he’d been, like, coming in a bit less than he used to, but Abbey didn’t say anything was wrong.’ Erin leans forward slightly, her face slowly returning to its normal colour.
‘Do you know if she met him after her shift that night?’ I ask.
‘No idea, but I doubt it—during the week she just rides her bike straight home.’
‘And what about since then? She never mentioned anything was upsetting her?’
For a few moments Erin doesn’t reply. ‘She didn’t say anything but she did seem a bit weird.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘It’s hard to explain. Like, she just seemed on edge.’
‘Did you ask her about it?’ says Lane.
‘I tried. About two weeks ago we were closing up and I said she seemed out of it but she just fobbed me off.’ Erin chews the inside of her cheek. Her eyes dart around as if she’s looking for the answers on the shelves above us. ‘I just figured she’d had a run-in with her dad or something. Or Rick maybe.’ Erin takes a deep shuddery breath. ‘And she seemed a bit . . . I dunno.’
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Ignoring it, I let a hint of impatience into my voice. ‘Erin, if there’s anything you know that will help us find her, you need to tell us. It’s really important.’
Tears bud in Erin’s eyes and run down her cheeks when she blinks. ‘I don’t know anything, I really don’t. It’s just, something happened last week that seemed strange but maybe I’m just being stupid.’
Lane is sitting on the edge of his seat, looking intently at Erin. ‘It doesn’t matter if it seems silly. Little details can end up being really important.’
Erin takes a tissue from the box on the table. ‘Well, it wasn’t anything she said, it’s just that I saw her last weekend.’
‘The one before she went missing?’ I say.
‘Yeah. Mum was driving me home after netball on Saturday night, and I saw Abbey standing next to a tree near the police station, at the start of the driveway.’
‘What was she doing?’ I say.
‘I don’t know. She was just, like, standing there staring at the station. I don’t think she saw me.’
Lane leans forward, his elbows on his knees. ‘She was just standing there?’ he echoes.
Erin tucks her hair behind her ears, then repeats the motion a few times. ‘It was just, she looked really nervous. Maybe she was even crying.’ A pained expression washes over Erin’s own tear-stained face. ‘It looked like she wanted to go into the station and ask for help.’
Wednesday, 13 April
1.28 pm
I grab a plastic cup of fruit salad from the supermarket’s Fresh 2 Go section and join Lane on the park bench across the road. He wolfs down a sweaty sausage roll smeared with sauce from the petrol station, following this up with swigs of chocolate milk. He’s gone very quiet and I suspect the intensity of our investigations is starting to take its toll. I pick unenthusiastically at the cubes of fruit before replacing the lid and returning the missed call from the station.
Noah answers. ‘Hi, Detective Woodstock. I was just passing on a message. Someone from the forensics team in Byron called to say nothing turned up on the possum. Does that make sense?’
I had all but forgotten about the possum but now I picture someone placing the bloody carcass outside our door, metres from my sleeping son, and feel a surge of anger. ‘Yes, and thanks for passing on the message. Is everything else going okay?’
‘All good here. There have been quite a few calls about the Fletcher murder but I don’t think there’s much that’ll be useful for you. Most callers have just wanted to talk about when they last saw Rick or how scared they are that something like this might happen again. None of the callers so far have information about the attack.’
‘Okay, well, thanks for holding the fort. I’ll see you later.’
I stretch out my legs as I try to pin down the theory that’s been rattling around in my mind following our conversation with Erin and my interview with Freya.
Lane’s phone rings and he wanders off, standing under the shade of a huge gum. I call Tran. Her greeting is frosty but I just launch into my updates, trying to paper over the awkwardness I feel after hanging up on her yesterday.
‘The thing is, if Rick and Aiden were dealing, I would have expected to find something at the house. Anyway, we’re seeing their parents shortly, so we’ll question them about it too. If the caravan park owner is right about them being involved in drugs, maybe they know more than they’re letting on.’
‘Make sure you’re very careful, Gemma,’ says Tran curtly. ‘They have just lost their son.’
‘Of course.’
‘How did you go with Daniel’s car?’
‘He had no issue with it being searched,’ I say. ‘We won’t get anything official back until next week but the techs say there wasn’t any obvious blood residue or evidence of a recent clean.’
‘I guess that would have been asking too much,’ says Tran with a sigh.
‘Nothing came back on the possum either,’ I say.
‘I guess it would have been a long shot. Either way, I’m glad we have you at the Gordons’ house.’ She pauses. ‘Gemma?’ she says finally, surprising me by sounding a little nervous.
‘Yes?’
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’
‘Yes, I’m fine. Why?’
‘I spoke to Tommy earlier. He said he thought you were a bit overwhelmed.’
‘I’m not,’ I say, my chest compressing. ‘I work cases like this all the time.’
‘I know how experienced you are, of course, but we need real focus on this. I’ve been made aware of your recent circumstances, and I have to say it has me a bit worried about your current ability to lead something like this properly.’
I grip the phone so hard my knuckles crack. ‘Tommy needs to mind his own business. He’s dosed up on so many painkillers he wouldn’t have a clue what’s going on.’ I know I sound petulant but I can’t help it, the fury pouring from my mouth like lava. ‘How dare he come running to you like a schoolkid. That is such bullshit.’
‘He’s just concerned,’ says Tran, without a hint of emotion.
‘Concerned my arse,’ I retort. ‘I can’t believe you’re not seeing this for what it is.’
‘I can only go on what I’m being told, Gemma, and Tommy’s concerned.’ Tran sounds almost evangelical. ‘And he obviously has a vested interest in his squad. I have no doubt he’s a bit put out with you replacing him on two of the biggest cases to hit the town in years, but he’s well respected and has a lot of local knowledge. I’d be using him as much as you can.’
It’s all I can do not to throw my phone onto the road.
Lane returns, plonking himself back down on the bench. I tell Tran that I will speak to her later and end the call. I turn to Lane, seething while trying to hide it. ‘Is everything alright?’ I ask, noticing his expression.
‘I got a text back from one of the Brits, William Mayne. I guess he’s the one the caravan park staff reported to Kate for taking those videos. He said he and his mates are out on one of the fishing trawlers and barely have reception. They are back late tonight. He confirmed that Robert Weston is their mate and that he was staying with them, but he left for Sydney on Monday, so at least we know it’s the same person. I said they need to be at the caravan park at nine tomorrow morning to meet with us. That will work, won’t it?’
I sigh. ‘I guess it will have to.’ I press my fingers into my temples. ‘Actually, that’s good. I’ll try to speak to Dot before that. Her shift at the caravan park starts at 8 am.’
‘Do you give much weight to what Erin said?’ Lane ventures. ‘You know, about seeing Abbey near the police station? It’s not very conclusiv
e—she could have been doing anything.’
‘It’s certainly not hard evidence, but maybe that’s what Saturday night was actually about. Maybe Abbey was planning on coming to you for help and then chickened out at the last minute and made up the story about the stolen bike?’
Lane looks doubtful. ‘I guess it’s possible but she seemed pretty genuine to me.’
I sigh again. ‘She probably was. It’s just, that bloody bike really bothers me. It doesn’t make sense. Plus, if Freya’s right and something did upset Abbey recently, she might have had a reason to go to the police. I wonder what it was.’ I look back over at the supermarket. ‘Maybe a customer said something, or Weston was hassling her.’ I shake my head. ‘But then why would she write back to him? That was only last week.’
Lane exhales heavily. ‘I reckon it was probably just her dad. He was definitely getting worse and maybe she didn’t want to go home after the fight they had. I’m starting to think she just hitchhiked out of town or something.’
‘That’s possible.’
Lane’s hands have curled into fists but I don’t think he’s noticed.
We all find this hard, our inability to protect the most vulnerable against such a blatant abuse of power. The betrayal the victims feel is extended to many cops, they end up feeling betrayed by the whole system. I certainly know I have felt this way over the years.
I clear my throat. ‘You attended the last two calls out there, didn’t you?’
‘Yeah. It’s such bullshit. How he can act like that and no one can do anything about it.’
‘I know,’ I say with a grimace. ‘Did Abbey ever try to talk to you about what was going on?’
His eyes go to his shoes. ‘Not really. It was obvious she was worried about her mum and her brothers. I think that’s why she never said anything—she was terrified of what Daniel might do to Dot and the kids. She basically had to be the adult. It was such a mess.’