Jay’s icepack had melted so he replaced it with another and hobbled back to the lounge.
‘Tell me, what led you to the conclusion that someone was coming after us?’
‘Not my conclusion. Mark’s.’
‘Okay.’
‘I went to his apartment and cleaned out his army stuff to return to the barracks. I had planned on taking it all back and then boxing up his personal gear for my uncle.’
‘ “Had planned?”’
‘That’s right. I was on the last of his army gear from his cupboards and then went to check his study to see if he had anything in there. There wasn’t, but I noticed a chalkboard with a few things pinned to it.’
Jay nodded.
‘Aren’t you going to ask me what was on the board?’
‘I was an interrogator. We don’t interrupt. Ask questions at the end of the story.’
She gave a short nod. ‘Mark always used to do that. On the board was a front-page story about the recent anthrax attacks with bits highlighted. And no, I don’t remember what was highlighted.’
Jay made a mental note to come back to that information.
‘There was a medical slip for an appointment with a doctor in town two weeks ago. On a separate sheet, there were all of your names; Bowen, McClelland, Davis and you. It also had the doctor’s name; who he went to see. Next to the doctor’s name in red were the letters CBT. Does that mean anything to you?’
‘It does. What else was there?’
‘Nothing on the board.’
‘Do you still have it all?’
‘That’s the thing. I took Mark’s army stuff back and returned probably an hour later. When I went to start in on his personal stuff, everything on the board was gone.’
‘How do you remember the details of what was on the board?’
‘As soon as I noticed it was missing, I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down everything I could remember.’ She dug into her top pocket and handed a folded-up piece of paper to Jay.
‘Any sign of a break-in?’
‘No.’
‘Who else has a key?’
‘My uncle said Mark left him the spare key and, as far as he knows, that’s the only spare.’
‘Girlfriend?’
‘Nothing regular. Not that he mentioned anyway.’
‘Anything else taken?’
‘Not that I could tell.’
‘So someone else has a key, assuming you locked up properly.’
She frowned. ‘I did.’
Jay ran a hand through his hair. ‘Who has Mark’s keys?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He was found under his car in the garage. I know he’s like me and would have locked the front door while working downstairs or outside. So he should have had his keys on him.’
‘Makes sense. I’ll have to ring my uncle.’
‘You can use the phone here.’ Jay pointed in the direction of the kitchen.
Toni hesitated and Jay couldn’t get a read on why she would. Perhaps he was being too brash.
‘It’s okay. I’ve got a mobile. I’ll just duck outside to make the call.’ She got up and headed to the door.
‘I wouldn’t.’
Toni froze and turned back to Jay. Her eyes widened and she appeared to be holding her breath.
‘The neighbour has a habit of being nosy. Lazes around most of the time in a robe, smoking a cigar and swilling beer. You can use Dad’s office.’ He pointed to the room leading off from the kitchen.
Toni let out her breath. Without another word or looking at Jay, she headed for the office.
Again, Jay thought her body language was strange. She had seemed so precise and calm before Jay mentioned she should call her uncle. He decided to let it go for now. No doubt it had been a turbulent week for her and she didn’t need the added pressure of his suspicion.
It took less than three minutes for Toni to return from making her call.
‘How did you go?’
‘My uncle said the police found the keys on Mark and they gave them to him with his watch and wallet.’
‘That rules out the theory that if he was killed, someone took his keys.’
‘I’d say so. But he did say that he gave the keys to a friend of Mark’s this morning. One of his fishing buddies.’
‘Who?’
‘He couldn’t remember the name. Though he’d seen him before with Mark. Apparently, once a week, when Mark wasn’t away, the two of them would go fishing off the old Hornibrook Bridge at Redcliffe. You know where that is?’
‘Yeah. My dad used to take me there to fish. Why did this friend need the keys?’
‘All of his fishing gear is at Mark’s. And he said he was going up there tonight to throw a line in for him. As a tribute.’
‘You seen this guy before?’
‘My uncle said he was at the wake. I wasn’t introduced but I think I know who he was talking about.’
‘So you’d be able to recognise him if we went up there for a chat tonight?’
‘I guess so. He didn’t say what time he was going there. I remember Mark once saying that he always fished on the turn of the tide. Whatever that means.’
‘When it stops coming in and starts draining out. Or vice versa. That’s the same time we always fished from there.’ Jay got out of his chair and hobbled towards the study. ‘I’ll check it out. Won’t be a sec.’
‘Mind if I make another coffee?’
Jay waved a hand without looking back. ‘Go ahead.’
He had found what he was looking for through a Google search and returned as Toni was plunging the coffee, ready to pour.
‘That was quick. What’s the best time for fishing off the bridge tonight?’
‘Ten.’
‘I guess we have some time to kill. Care to tell me now what happened to you? I’m guessing there’s a link.’
‘I’d say so.’
Jay recounted the events of the previous day. All except the night mishap when Detective Green accidentally fired her weapon. Just figured there was no need to include something that didn’t fit with what they were doing. Toni didn’t ask any questions and kept a poker face throughout. Seemed like she was genuinely interested.
After Jay was finished, she said, ‘Some day. You killed two guys–’
‘One.’
‘Maybe two. How can you be so sure?’
‘I know how to kill. Someone else killed him.’
‘Underwood?’
‘Possibly. I haven’t thought too much about it since.’
‘Your friend looking into it?’
‘He is.’
‘Heard any more news about the little girl?’
‘Not yet.’
Toni nodded and put down her empty cup. ‘What next?’
‘I assume you have to go back to work sometime.’
‘Correct.’
‘So I guess I’ll keep doing some background searching and meet here tonight. We’ll head up together.’
‘Sounds fine. If I’m here at nine-thirty, that’ll give us twenty minutes to get up there before high tide. Should be about right.’
A small alarm sounded inside Jay. Toni knew the exact time for the high tide, nine-fifty. He had mentioned ten as an approximate time for the best fishing. ‘Great. I’ll see you then.’
He hobbled to the door and watched her down the front steps. He now had the afternoon to figure out who Toni really was, and what she wanted from him.