by Sarah Bailey
‘Yes, and Rick had promised her he’d have nothing to do with Cam after he assaulted Abbey in the supermarket stockroom.’
‘How much did she know about the drugs?’
‘I don’t think she knew anything—I think she just freaked out. Lane had just betrayed her, then she found Rick going behind her back with Cam.’
‘So how did she escape?’
‘When Cam started chasing her, she ran around the side of the petrol tanker and threw her shoe into the bushland, hoping he’d look for her in there—which he did. She climbed in between the truck and the fuel tank to hide. That’s when she cut her leg. She heard Rick yelling out her name for a few minutes. She doesn’t know where he went after that, but he must have made his way to the beach to meet his sister.’
‘I wonder what he wanted to tell us when he called,’ murmurs Tran.
‘I think we can assume he figured Cam had done something to Abbey, so I’m guessing he was planning to dob him in. Whether he was going to tell us about the drugs too, I have no idea.’
‘How long did Abbey hide there for?’
‘Almost two hours. She was terrified Cam would come back.’ I look over at the twins, who are spraying each other with water from the drink tap. ‘She thinks she got back to the house at about 3 am.’
‘What made her go to the caravan park?’
I shrug. ‘Access. She took her mother’s work keys and all the cash she had in her room.’ In my mind’s eye I see Abbey, frantic and exhausted. Her leg throbbing, her heart broken. ‘She wasn’t thinking long-term. She managed to steal some food from the rubbish bins on Monday night, but by Tuesday she was getting pretty desperate. She saw Dot when she turned up to work and took the risk of calling out to her when she walked past the west wing.’
‘And that’s when they formed the plan to implicate Daniel in Rick’s murder?’
‘Dot told her about Rick, and I think Abbey genuinely believed her father was responsible. Even though Dot was almost sure he hadn’t left the house, I think she allowed herself to get swept up in Abbey’s conviction. Abbey probably coached her on what to say, although obviously all the historical abuse is true.’
‘God,’ says Tran. ‘From one mess to another.’
‘I know.’ I sigh. ‘They’re both still determined to press charges against Daniel. I think he’ll serve time.’
‘Yeah, well, they all might,’ says Tran, glancing at the twins. ‘I just can’t believe she was so close the whole time.’
‘I know. It’s surreal.’ I try to suppress the conflicting emotions that flare in my chest. ‘She has a tough road ahead. She’s lost a lot of people she cared about.’
‘And she’s only a kid,’ adds Tran. She rubs her eyes and gives her head a little shake.
There’s a swishing sound behind us as the double doors through to the consulting rooms swing open. Abbey walks out flanked by Dot and Eric. He says something to Abbey and she nods. There’s a bandage looped around her thigh. It’s obvious she has been crying. Eric gestures to me and mouths that he’ll send through the report before disappearing back through the doors.
Tran and I stand up and walk over to them, the twins chattering noisily behind us.
Abbey hooks her hair behind her ears and stares at us from beneath her dark lashes. ‘What happens now?’
Tuesday, 19 April
11.55 am
‘Phones off, please.’ The flight attendant eyes me pointedly.
‘Yep.’ I send a quick reply to Tran telling her I’ll call her later.
Sally and Greg have been found. Their skeletal remains will be exhumed today, then submitted to a post-mortem and forensic testing tomorrow. Despite what Cam said about Sally’s accidental death at the pub, Mick Lamb’s initial assessment of her body suggests that she was shot in the head, just like Greg.
Meanwhile, Tran’s team have linked Cam to the body found in the bush last week. Dale Marx, twenty-three, had worked at the same Sydney hospital as Cam’s brother; no doubt he was collateral damage in their elaborate network.
I arch my back and check my messages again before I switch my phone to flight mode. Still no word from Mac. I have been trying to call him since last night; I left him a message this morning about Ben and I returning to Smithson, but he hasn’t replied.
Dread prowls my stomach. I fuss with the contents of the seat pocket in front of me, trying to ignore it.
We came straight to the airport from the hospital in Byron. De Luca is pale and weak, but she’s through the worst of it. The doctor has told her she’ll probably be able to go home in a fortnight.
Her girlfriend, Louise, took Ben to look at the fish pond in the garden while we talked.
‘I can barely remember anything once we got to the house,’ she told me, her face creasing with frustration. Even without make-up, her features were striking.
‘I don’t think that’s such a bad thing,’ I said. ‘There’s a lot I wish I couldn’t remember.’
‘I still can’t believe what Lane did.’ Her voice was uneven but her eyes were dry. ‘Preying on Abbey and lying to us all. But also that he jumped.’
‘And he shot you,’ I added.
‘You know, it’s funny, I’ve barely even thought about that. I just keep picturing him jumping off the cliffs.’
‘Me too,’ I admitted.
We sat in silence for a few moments. It felt oddly peaceful. I barely knew her, but we would be forever bound by what happened at the Clark house that night.
‘Aiden Fletcher turned up this morning,’ I told her. ‘He’s fine.’
‘What? Where?’
‘Hiding out in the house. Apparently he snuck in there on Tuesday night after the forensics cleared out. I guess he figured Cam wouldn’t return.’
‘And is he talking?’
‘Like a canary,’ I said with a smile. ‘He’s not holding back on Cam, or his own involvement for that matter. He’ll be charged. Same as his parents.’
‘Wow.’ For the first time since I met her, de Luca seemed genuinely shocked.
‘So, do you think you’ll go back to the squad?’ I asked her, just as Louise and Ben returned.
Louise looked at her witheringly, tossing her long blonde ponytail over her shoulder. ‘Yeah, Eddie, what are you going to do?’
De Luca sighed. ‘I’m a cop. What happened hasn’t changed that, but Lou’s worried about me going back to the Fairhaven squad. A change of scene might be good anyway, so was I thinking I’ll look into a transfer. We’ve talked about moving—Lou’s work is flexible.’ She glanced back at Louise, whose arms were crossed at her chest. But her expression was full of love as she looked at her girlfriend.
‘Do you have family around here?’ I asked de Luca.
‘Dad’s dead,’ she replied bluntly. ‘Mum lives close by but we’re not really in contact. It’s a long story, but she sided with my father over a whole lot of stuff. Even once he died, we couldn’t seem to get on the same page.’
I recalled her outburst the day I met the Clarks and what Tran said about her mother refusing to come to the hospital the night she was admitted. And the scars I’d noticed on her arm.
‘What’s Tommy going to do?’ she asked me.
‘Well, he’s extended his leave, and Tran said she organised a full-time CI for the next few months. Tommy’s got some stuff to work through.’
A hint of steel crept into her gaze. ‘I wouldn’t work for him again,’ she said. ‘That’s for sure.’ She gestured to her bandages. ‘It’s weird—I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck, but I also feel strong. Lots of things suddenly seem really clear.’
‘I’m so glad you are okay,’ I said as I hugged her goodbye. ‘Stay in touch. I mean it.’
As the plane peels off from the runway, I glance at Ben’s profile. He astounds me; I am so in awe of his strength. He leans forward to see the wing through the little window. His hair is wild and curly like mine, and his eyes are the same light green, but the shape of his face, the curve
of his lips are all Scott. My heart cramps cruelly. I feel so guilty that Scott won’t be able to see Ben grow up. I remember what Scott said to me just before he died, about looking after myself for Ben’s sake, and briefly consider how badly the last fortnight could have turned out for both of us. Overwhelmed, I find Ben’s hand and squeeze it, making a silent promise to Scott in my head. Better late than never.
‘God, I’m starving,’ I say, swallowing back tears.
‘Vanessa put some muesli bars in my backpack before we left. You can have one. You probably should—you didn’t have any breakfast.’
‘Thanks.’ I bend over to get one out of his bag, and I smile at him as I chew.
I already know our relationship is going to be a little unusual, that we will take turns looking after each other. If I’m honest, he’s been doing it for years.
‘I spoke to Jodie,’ I say. ‘Do you want to hang out with her and Annabel tomorrow?’
‘At Dad’s house?’
‘Um, yeah.’
‘Sure. I bet Annabel’s grown heaps since we’ve been away. Babies grow really fast, you know.’
I swallow past a huge lump in my throat and circle my hand around his. Outside, the world is a blur of green and blue. The past two weeks feel completely surreal. I wonder whether I will ever come to Fairhaven again, whether I will ever see any of those people again.
I kiss Ben on the top of his head. ‘You’re right,’ I say. ‘They do grow fast.’
Thursday, 21 April
10.52 am
‘Jesus Christ, Woodstock,’ booms Jonesy, ‘trust you to solve three murders for the price of one.’
I blush as several officers spin around to gawk at me, standing in the doorway of Smithson Police Station.
‘I haven’t submitted my paperwork yet, so at this point I won’t be getting paid at all,’ I quip awkwardly. ‘Plus, it’s actually four murders if you count the other teen Cam killed.’
‘Well, bloody good work anyway.’ Jonesy clamps his giant hand around my shoulder and glares at his staff, implying their lack of miraculous case breakthroughs is a sackable offence.
‘In you come,’ he tells me, guiding me toward his office. ‘This way, this way.’
Nostalgia hits me as we walk down the corridor. It feels like yesterday. It feels like a million years ago. I spy a portable fan in the corner that I’m pretty sure was on its last legs when I first made detective.
Jonesy directs me to the couch and closes the door, easing himself into his worn leather chair.
He hinges forward and peers at my face. ‘Seriously, Gemma, I couldn’t believe it when I heard what happened. Is the constable going to be alright?’
‘Yes, but she has a long road in front of her. Fortunately she’s extremely tough.’
‘And what about you? How are you holding up?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘You shot and killed someone, Gemma. Ben was threatened. I doubt you’re fine.’
I look at him in surprise. No one has described what happened in Fairhaven like that, and Cam’s death feels dirty and horrible, exposed in the air between us.
‘I wish that wasn’t how it played out,’ I say slowly. ‘But I had no choice. I had to shoot him.’
‘I’m bloody glad you did,’ agrees Jonesy, ‘but these things can be mysterious in the way they sneak up on you. See a shrink—god knows there’s enough of them floating around in the force—and make sure you get your head straight.’ He narrows his eyes at me. ‘You should be doing that anyway.’
‘I see someone in Sydney all the time. I have for ages.’
‘Sure. But you’re not in Sydney right now, so get a new person.’
My chin lifts automatically before I force it down. ‘You’re right, I will.’
‘Good.’ He leans back in his chair again. ‘You look tired, Gemma.’
‘I am. It’s been a pretty intense couple of days.’
Dad and I stayed up late last night talking. Rebecca had gone out with a friend, and Ben was at Jodie’s, so it was just the two of us. Dad was still angry at me for going to Fairhaven. He felt betrayed and rejected. I apologised and tried to explain the suffocating feeling I often get in Smithson. How I’m worried that if I live here again, the horrible restlessness I battled for years will return and I’ll slowly go mad. We talked about Mum and Ben, Scott and Mac. We talked about Rebecca. About Dad getting old. He told me all the things he worries about. I don’t think either of us have ever been so honest with each other before.
‘You don’t understand how much you and Ben mean to me, Gem,’ he said, his voice rough. ‘You are everything to me, both of you.’
‘I know, Dad,’ I said, letting him hug me like I was a little girl.
I didn’t tell him about my pregnancy—I didn’t want him to feel invested in something that might simply fade away.
‘How is Ben?’ asks Jonesy, jerking me back to the present.
I breathe out through puffed cheeks. ‘He’s okay. He’s a pretty amazing kid.’
‘Well of course he bloody is. Never a doubt.’
‘How are things here?’ I say, noticing his desk is uncharacteristically neat.
‘Not bad.’ He clears his throat. ‘A few issues keeping me on my toes as per usual, but nothing we can’t handle.’ He pauses. ‘I spoke to Tommy earlier. He wouldn’t go into detail but he mentioned some ongoing medical issues. He’s considering calling it a day, I think.’
‘That’s good to hear. I know he’s your friend but I’m definitely not his biggest fan.’
Jonesy’s nod is slow and thoughtful. ‘I feel pretty bad about how it all panned out,’ he says gruffly. ‘I keep thinking it would’ve been better if I had gone.’
‘It wasn’t your fault—I wanted to get out of here. I think I needed to.’
‘How do you feel about being back?’
I twist my hands together and notice how long my fingernails have grown. ‘I don’t know,’ I reply honestly. ‘Ben needs stability, that’s all I am sure of right now.’ I look into Jonesy’s concerned eyes but find no answers there.
‘Will you be staying in Smithson for a while?’ he asks tentatively.
‘For a while,’ I say with a small smile.
‘How does your boyfriend in Sydney feel about that?’
A laugh bubbles in my throat. ‘I think I’m a bit old to have a boyfriend. And Mac’s closer to your age than mine.’
‘Well, whatever you bloody well call him,’ says Jonesy, looking embarrassed.
I sigh. ‘I don’t know. Things between us are a bit up in the air right now.’
Mac still hasn’t responded to my message from Tuesday; his radio silence is killing me.
Shifting awkwardly, Jonesy folds his arms across his chest and changes the subject. ‘And what about work?’
‘I don’t know.’
There’s a silence. He twitches a pen between his fingers, tapping the tip against the wood. I fight an urge to grab the pen and throw it in the bin.
‘I don’t know,’ I repeat. ‘The internal investigation will go for another few weeks. Assuming it’s fairly straightforward and I’m cleared, I’ll extend my leave.’ I look past Jonesy to the main room. A brunette constable lifts the top of the photocopier, briefly illuminating her face. ‘After that, we’ll see.’
Jonesy looks like he’s about to say something else, and I tense up, hoping he won’t present me with an offer I’ll have to consider. Something that will complicate things even further and force a decision—yet another one.
‘Anyway, I really should go,’ I say. ‘I just wanted to say hi, but I’ve got heaps to do, you know, getting stuff organised for the next few weeks. There’s a lot I need to work out with Jodie.’
‘Of course.’ Jonesy shoots up from his chair surprisingly quickly. ‘But if you’re going to be hanging around here for a while, I expect you to pop in occasionally. I want to stay across your plans. There might be, ah, options for you closer to home.’
‘Defi
nitely.’ I get to my feet and stamp them gently, shifting some mild pins and needles. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
I lift my hand in a series of awkward waves as I make my way through the office to the car park. I picture a former version of myself at the desk in the corner: a young woman in uniform with long tangled dark hair, her jaw angled in a stubborn tilt, eyes narrowed at the world.
Sliding into Scott’s car, I lean back and stare at the underside of the sun visor. I actually don’t have anywhere to be. Ben is still at Jodie’s; Dad and Rebecca have gone shopping in Gowran. It’s still a few hours until my call with Simon, who’s writing a special feature about the murders and Abbey’s reappearance.
I shake my head so hard my brain rattles, feeling oddly restless and at a loss. Maybe I should just drive back to Dad’s and try to nap. I turn on the car just as my phone rings.
‘Hey, Candy.’
‘Gemma, come have a coffee with me.’
‘Now?’
‘Yeah, I’m at Reggie’s. Are you free?’
‘I’m just leaving the police station. Be there in a sec.’
I drive around the block and park next to Candy’s bright red Fiat. The cafe is packed and noisy. Candy sits in a booth along the back wall, her huge belly encased in a stretchy lime dress. A half-finished chocolate milkshake is in front of her, and she’s talking animatedly to someone seated opposite.
Her face lights up when she sees me, then she wriggles out from the bench seat.
‘Yes, I’ll give you an interview about Rick’s murder,’ I say, hugging her tight and feeling the firmness of her belly between us. ‘But not about finding Abbey. I’ve already promised an exclusive to Simon.’
‘Typical.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘As if I would ask you for that, anyway.’
I swat at her. ‘As if you wouldn’t.’
Candy’s dark eyes bore into mine and she squeezes my hand. ‘I’m really glad you’re okay, Gem. I was worried.’ She looks back toward the booth and bites her lip.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Mac’s here.’
‘Where?’
‘Over there.’
My heart rate picks up. ‘I thought he was in Sydney. Does he know I’m here?’