The cafe was squeezed between the supermarket and the stock agent’s office and looked deceptively small until Pip walked inside and realised it opened up into a spacious courtyard at the back. Tables with umbrellas provided a shady retreat, and the cobblestoned floor and rock wall that surrounded the area added an old-world charm. Baskets of brightly coloured flowers hung from the wall, and a small water fountain with a half-naked woman tipping an urn of water trickled merrily in the corner.
‘I didn’t even know this place was here,’ Pip said, looking around wide-eyed.
‘It’s a hidden gem, mostly known only to locals,’ Rebecca grinned.
They’d ordered at the counter on the way in from a young girl with jet black hair and a nose piercing. Pip had noted the way the girl’s polite but cool expression lit up the moment she spotted Rebecca. ‘Hi, miss. Do you want your usual?’
‘I take it the waitress was a former student of yours?’ Pip asked now as they settled into their seats.
‘Yeah. She was a bit of a handful at school but one of our success stories.’
‘How so?’
‘She was missing a lot of school, making some bad choices,’ Rebecca said, her eyes going back towards the counter inside. ‘We managed to get her a traineeship here in hospitality and it’s turned her life around. She wanted to leave town and head to the city—most kids from out here do, there’s limited job opportunities in town—but so many drop out of school and head off without any kind of skills. We convinced Kaycee to finish school with a traineeship so she’d have something to put on her résumé when she moved away. At least this way she’ll have a better chance of finding a job with some experience behind her. She’s doing really well.’
The quiet pride on the young girl’s face when she delivered their coffee and Rebecca commented on how great it looked made Pip smile.
‘You obviously love your job,’ she commented as she took a sip of the coffee.
‘I really do,’ Rebecca smiled across at her. ‘Of course, there’s some days they like to test you, but I think all they’re really looking for is some direction and maybe a little bit of discipline. I don’t put up with any crap in my classes and I make that clear from day one. Once they realise you’re serious and you won’t take disrespect, things settle down. It works both ways, though—once I show them that I also respect them, they get it.’
‘I think schools everywhere could use a lot more teachers like you.’
‘Teaching’s got to be something you’re passionate about. I mean, let’s face it—if you’re not teaching because you love it, it shows and kids pick up on it. If you present the subject with enthusiasm and make it fun and exciting, that’s way more interesting than someone standing at the front of the class reading from a textbook with zero care factor.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s not rocket science.’
Pip smile. ‘I can’t argue there.’
‘I have to make a confession,’ Rebecca said, lowering her eyes briefly and fiddling with her paper napkin. ‘While you were packing your car, I googled you.’
Pip couldn’t help the surprised chuckle that escaped following the woman’s admission. She honestly looked contrite.
‘You’re Phillipa Davenport,’ Rebecca announced, finally looking up, almost warily.
‘Yep.’
‘I swear, I had no idea that’s who you were when I sideswiped you with that invitation. I just thought maybe you worked for a regional newspaper or something … not the Daily freakin’ Metro.’
‘Well, it’s really just a bigger regional newspaper,’ Pip said, trying to downplay the woman’s astonishment.
‘I feel like an idiot. You’re probably used to lecturing at universities and appearing at literary festivals … oh my God,’ she gasped, sounding horrified as yet another thing occurred to her. ‘You probably also get paid to do them, and here I am asking you to come along and talk to a bunch of country kids about being a newspaper reporter,’ she groaned and shook her head. ‘People are always telling me to think before I speak, and you’d think by now I’d have got it.’
‘Don’t be silly. It’s fine. Of course I’ll come and visit, if you think the kids would be interested.’
‘They’ll be over the moon. They’ve never met a celebrity before.’
Pip laughed at that. ‘Oh no, I’m not a celebrity—seriously.’
‘Please,’ Rebecca flipped a hand impatiently. ‘You’re an investigative reporter who’s worked on some of the biggest stories in recent times and ended up on our news at night. When would kids from Midgiburra ever have another chance to meet someone like you?’
Pip moved in her seat a little. ‘Well, I’m happy to come in to try to entice some fresh blood into journalism.’
‘Sometimes it’s just showing these kids that there’s a bigger world outside of Midgiburra, and it’s theirs for the taking if they just open their minds to new things. If I can give them new experiences, spark some curiosity, that’s often all it takes to set them along a new path and a really exciting future.’
‘I admire your enthusiasm and dedication. And you’re right. I had an English teacher, Miss Grace, who took the time to encourage me when I was at school, and I think it played a big part in my decision to go into journalism.’
‘Don’t you just love fate,’ Rebecca grinned, picking up her mug and cradling it in both hands.
‘Or coincidence?’ Pip shot back.
‘You don’t believe in fate?’
‘Not really. I think opportunities come along and you either take them or you don’t.’
‘So fate didn’t put you in that checkout line at the same time as me today?’
Pip smiled. ‘The fact I was running out of toilet paper and coffee put me in that line. I don’t think fate would lower itself to something so mundane.’
Rebecca made a small singsong sound as she shrugged. ‘Sounds like fate to me.’
Pip wasn’t going to argue; if Rebecca wanted to believe in fate and destiny mumbo-jumbo, that was fine—each to their own. But as far as Pip was concerned, fate was right up there with the whole soul-mate thing. You made your own luck and choices in this world, and the consequences of those choices determined your so-called fate. Sugar-coating life didn’t make it any easier in the long run.
‘Tell me what you’re making of Midgiburra’s big news,’ Rebecca went on brightly. ‘Have you been covering it for the Daily Metro?’
‘No,’ Pip answered, putting her coffee cup back down on the table, ‘I’m writing a book. That’s what I came out here for—to find a nice, quiet place to write.’
‘And then a murder scene throws the whole town into mayhem. So much for quiet.’
‘That’s not even the half of it,’ Pip said. ‘The bones they found are on my uncle’s land. And I was the one who decided on cleaning out the dam.’
‘Oh no! So you’re to blame for ruining all your own peace and quiet!’
‘Exactly.’ Pip gave a smile laced with self-reproach.
‘But that must be stirring the creative juices, surely? As an investigator?’
‘I’m trying really hard not to get involved.’
‘But why?’ Rebecca asked, her eyes widening. ‘This would be a fascinating story—whatever the outcome.’
‘I’m under a bit of pressure to write this book. I really don’t need that kind of distraction right now.’
‘I can understand that,’ the other woman nodded thoughtfully. ‘But writing must be an exciting venture?’
Pip nodded. ‘It is. It’s just … bringing up a lot of things from the past and proving a bit more difficult than I anticipated.’
‘I remember hearing about your attack,’ Rebecca said, her voice softening. ‘That must have been awful.’
Pip lowered her gaze to her cup and traced the handle idly with her finger. ‘It took a while to get over.’
‘I can imagine. Be kind to yourself,’ she said, and a moment of silence settled between them. ‘It’s understandable that you’d be having trouble trying to focus, but you have to allow yourself to heal in your own time. You can’t force it. I’m here if you ever want to talk,’ she added.
Pip felt an unexpected sting behind her eyes and blinked quickly, managing a brief smile. ‘Thank you.’
Rebecca’s bright smile returned as she sat back in her chair and finished her coffee.
‘So, you said you’ve been here eight years?’ Pip said, trying to lighten the mood a little. ‘Why here?’
‘My parents keep asking me the same thing,’ she said with a grin, then she looked around a little wistfully. ‘I don’t know. At first I liked the idea of a smaller school and somewhere out of the way to start a new life. I’d done a lot of my prac in bigger schools and decided that really wasn’t for me. Then I just fell in love with the town, the people, the fact that in a smaller school I get to know each kid as an individual. I can’t really picture working anywhere else.’
Pip tried to imagine living somewhere like here and was surprised when she actually considered it momentarily. Maybe in an ideal world, she thought absently. She had grown to enjoy the quiet mornings on the back verandah and the freedom of unobstructed views for miles around, but she wasn’t sure she was cut out for rural life on a full-time basis.
When Pip glanced at her watch, she got a shock. ‘I didn’t realise how late it was getting. I should get back.’
‘Thank you so much for taking the time to stop for a coffee. It was really great to meet you,’ Rebecca said, digging through her handbag to pull out a battered organiser. ‘I’ll give you some time to think about when you want to do a visit, but I’ll just let you know what days might be best to organise something.’ Pip pulled out her phone and noted the dates down, before sending Rebecca through her email and phone details. ‘I’m pretty free, so just email me a date and time that suits you.’
‘I’ll take a look at the schedule and let you know.’
She still didn’t think it was fate that had placed Rebecca in her path today, but whatever it was, Pip was kind of glad she’d been there.
‘Hey,’ a deep voice called as Pip walked across the carpark and took the sunglasses from the top of her head. She stopped and turned to find Erik standing beside a car, dressed in a T-shirt and long, loose-fitting shorts, carrying a gym bag over one shoulder.
‘Hey,’ she said, smiling back. ‘I almost didn’t recognise you out of uniform.’ She quickly adjusted her gaze from the T-shirt that was stretching across his broad chest.
‘I do occasionally take it off,’ he said with a grin as he tossed the bag into his boot.
Don’t go there, don’t you dare go there, she warned herself sternly as her mind suddenly threw a heap of inappropriate innuendos about Erik taking off his uniform.
‘How you been?’
‘Fine,’ she said, nodding. ‘You?’
‘Can’t complain,’ he said, closing the boot and resting against it casually.
‘Any developments on the bones front?’ she ventured.
‘Not that I’m aware of. They sent it all over to Coopers Creek station.’
Pip couldn’t help but notice his demeanour change. It was subtle, but she picked up on the tensing of his jaw and his arms flexing as he stiffened slightly. ‘Is that normal procedure?’ she asked.
She watched his shoulders lift, the movement stretching the soft fabric of his T-shirt. ‘That’s where the detectives are based. They’ve got some new hotshot running the show now.’
A set of dark eyes and a slow, sexy grin instantly came to mind as Pip recalled her recent encounter with the mysterious Detective Jarrett. She quickly pulled herself up. Sexy? When had his smile suddenly turned sexy? She tried to bring back the image of him smiling, to prove she’d been overreacting, but that tiny prickle of awareness was there stronger than ever. Damn it. It was definitely sexy.
‘How long have you been out here?’ she asked Erik, mostly to distract herself from wayward thoughts about a certain detective.
‘Going on three years.’
‘Do you like it? I mean, the small-town life and everything?’ she added when he seemed surprised by her question.
‘Yeah. It’s quiet. Pretty cruisy most of the time. Why do you ask?’
‘No reason,’ she said, offering a smile. ‘You just don’t seem the quiet-country-town type. Where were posted before here?’
His reaction was less subtle this time as his expression cooled and his eyes narrowed slightly. ‘You sound like you’re back in reporter mode all of a sudden.’
‘No. I was just asking. It’s just that you strike me as the kind of person who’d like a little more … well,’ she hesitated, ‘just more than this place.’
‘Yeah, well, it is what it is,’ he said as he lowered his gaze then lifted it once more and that confident, flirty look in his eye was back in place. ‘You finding enough to keep you occupied out here?’ he asked. ‘Must be a bit of an adjustment from the fast pace of Sydney.’
‘I’m actually enjoying the quieter pace. And work’s keeping me busy.’
‘I thought you weren’t working out here?’ he countered, eyeing her curiously.
‘Other work,’ she hedged.
‘Sounds interesting,’ he said, seemingly settling in for a long conversation.
‘Not really. I’m writing, just not for the newspaper.’ She didn’t want to talk about the book. It took up her every waking hour and she simply didn’t have the energy to talk about it when she was away from her computer screen. Her phone rang from inside the depths of her handbag and Pip ignored it, smiling apologetically when it stopped and then immediately started ringing again. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered, opening her bag.
‘Sounds like someone really wants to get in touch with you,’ he said, easing away from his car. ‘I’ve got to get going anyway.’
‘It was nice to see you again.’
‘See you around,’ he said, holding her gaze briefly before the phone went silent then started ringing once more, making her swear quietly under her breath as she went back to digging through the contents of her bag. She finally brought it out and saw her agent’s name on the screen as she swiped the answer icon impatiently.
‘Pip, finally.’
‘Hi, Jane,’ Pip said, biting back her irritation at the agent’s usual brashness.
‘I’ve had the publisher on the phone wanting an update. I need something to send them, Phillipa. Tell me you have some chapters ready?’
‘I’m getting there,’ she answered vaguely.
The phone went silent. ‘How many chapters have you written?’ Jane demanded.
‘It’s been a bit slow, but it’s going okay now.’
‘Pip, I’ve held these people off for weeks now, promising them something to look at. I cannot hold them off indefinitely. They want to see some results from that rather large advance they paid.’
Pip closed her eyes briefly and fought back a wave of panic. ‘I’ll have something for you by next week,’ she promised, already mentally trying to tally up exactly how many pages she’d need to write to fulfil that promise.
‘Next week, then,’ she said firmly.
‘Okay, no worries. I have to get back to work,’ she said, quickly shutting down any further conversation. Not that her agent was ever big on conversation—she wasn’t the nurturing kind of agent who doted on the people she represented. She was, however, one of the best and most highly sought after—if Jane Caruso was your agent, you did your job and she took care of your career. End of story. The call did give Pip the motivation to get home and start writing, though. The last thing she needed was a lecture from Jane.