‘Mia Petros?’
‘You know who I’m talking about. You spoke to her yesterday.’
‘Yes, I know, but what about her?’
‘What did you and she talk about?’
‘Lorraine, I can’t tell you that and it’s none of your business.’
She snorted in disgust. ‘Isn’t it?’
‘No,’ Arlo said. ‘I can tell you she’s here packing up the house.’
‘That’s no secret.’
‘She’s an only child so there’s no-one else to take care of her father’s affairs.’
‘I don’t know why she even bothers. He was a murderer.’
‘Someone has to. She can’t just leave it sitting empty. Tony was her father and she loved him. Her mother died when she was small. They only had each other.’
‘Are you trying to make me feel sorry for her?’
‘I’m telling you how it is, that’s all. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself and she doesn’t expect sympathy from anyone here. She won’t be staying.’
Lorraine walked in silence until they reached the corner and turned into his street, stopping at his office door.
‘It’s not her fault what he did,’ she said.
‘No, it isn’t. How are you and Paul holding up?’
Clearly the wound was as raw as ever. Perhaps it always would be.
‘We’re managing. One day at a time. Barry, Glenda’s ex, has been wonderfully supportive. It hit him very hard too.’
‘I never knew Barry. Before my time.’
‘Of course. I think he needs to be able to grieve with people who understand. With family. The children live so far away, you see.’
‘I thought …’ Arlo pretended to sift the information in his head.
Lorraine cocked her head. ‘What?’
‘That he ran out on Glenda, had an affair.’
‘He did and we were very upset at the time, of course, but he bitterly regretted that infatuation—that’s what it was, an infatuation. He and Glenda had been having a few issues. That trollop seduced him and he had a moment of weakness. Men can be like that.’
Arlo nodded wisely.
‘Glenda wouldn’t forgive him. If only she had she’d be alive today. She could be stubborn when it suited her.’ She pulled a tissue from her pocket to wipe her eyes.
‘She must have been very hurt by what he did.’
‘She was, that’s true. All those years together and he does that …’ She heaved a vast sigh. ‘Mid-life crisis. Men have them and they can’t help themselves. I told Glenda he’d be back with his tail between his legs and she should wait but she wasn’t having a bar of it. Look at the decision she made. She went and married that … that …’ More sniffs and tissue wielding.
Arlo thought fast. He didn’t want to upset her further. Any more questions and she’d become suspicious.
‘Could you ask Barry to give me a call, please? I’d like his opinion and perhaps a quote for a story I’m doing. If he has the time.’
The frown faded. ‘I’m sure he would. He has quite a bit of influence in the area because of his property developments.’
‘Of course. Greenhill Constructions. That’s even better. Could you ask him to drop in or give me a call?’
‘Will do. I’d better get a move on, Arlo. Paul is waiting for the bread for his lunch.’
‘I’m surprised you didn’t remember Greenhill was Barry’s company.’ The look she gave him implied he wasn’t worth much as a reporter if he forgot important details like that.
‘Me too but I’ve connected the dots now. Thanks, Lorraine.’
Well pleased with his morning’s work Arlo went inside to brew a pot of tea and eat his roll. Just how upset with Glenda had Barry been? And how much did he resent the man who’d taken his place? Enough to commit murder? He’d been dismissed as a suspect almost immediately given the circumstances and he had an alibi. It had been a routine check as far as Arlo could remember. Never for a minute was he really under suspicion.
***
Mia returned from dropping off the bags of clothing at the charity collection bin in Willoughby with the sense that she was getting somewhere with the house. She’d gone into the real estate agency where her father had worked and asked about listing the property for rent. Carl, the boss, was out but the woman she spoke to was very professional. Lauren Miller was new to the office and hadn’t known Tony Petros but knew of the case. Who didn’t?
‘We can take care of it for you. I’ll come out to have a look at the house and give you an idea of what work needs to be done for best rental return.’
‘I had a painter in this morning for a quote and I’m also having the kitchen renovated.’
‘What sort of work are you planning in the kitchen?’
‘New floor and benchtops. New fridge. The oven and cooktop are quite new.’
Lauren nodded. ‘I can point you to some tradesmen. When suits you for me to visit?’
‘Thanks. Any time suits.’
So she was meeting Lauren at eleven the next morning.
Arlo phoned that afternoon. Mia was immersed in some work her boss had sent her for immediate attention. A project they’d been working on had developed an unexpected hiccup. He apologised but if they waited until she returned to the office things would go pear-shaped. Mia agreed. They’d spent too much time on it to let it slide now.
‘Mia Petros,’ she snapped, her mind still on the document on the laptop screen.
‘Arlo here. Sorry, you sound busy. I’ll call back.’
‘Hi, I’m just doing some work that came up. It’s a bit urgent … give me an hour and I’ll come to your office.’
‘Okay. See you.’ He rang off.
Mia resumed what she’d been doing.
It was only when she was putting on her coat later that it dawned on her how accommodating Arlo had been. He didn’t argue or insist she stop what she was doing to talk to him and he’d inferred from her tone she was busy before she’d said anything beyond her name. How rare was that? In her experience, very. Usually the person calling, man or woman, would assume that their call took precedence over what Mia was doing at the time, busy or not, even if it was something that could wait. They’d just barrel right on, saying ‘I hate to interrupt but this will only take a minute’ and proceeding to take ten.
She pushed the newspaper office door open to find a young woman at a desk and a toddler sitting on a rug on the floor with a picture book. A heater on the wall pumped out welcome warmth.
‘Hi.’ The woman smiled. ‘Can I help you?’ The hair piled in a messy knot on top of her head was dark red with electric blue streaks. Shiny silver daggers hung from her ears.
‘Hello. Arlo was expecting me. Is he here?’
‘Mia, right? I’m Georgia and that’s Charlotte.’ She stood up and stretched a hand across the desk. Mia shook it.
‘Yes.’
‘He’s in the kitchen. He’ll be back in a sec.’
‘Is this your daughter?’ Mia looked at the child. A mop of curly dark hair sat atop a sweet, smooth-skinned face with big blue eyes which stared back at her. ‘She’s very pretty.’
A big smile appeared. ‘Pick book,’ the baby said.
‘Thanks. Usually I have a sitter but she’s sick so Charlotte had to come to work.’
Babies and small children were a mystery to Mia. She had next to no experience with them and hadn’t had any great urge to have her own. Time was sliding by and the opportunity with it. The lack of a decent man was a factor but there were ways around that if she had the inclination. So far she hadn’t.
‘Pick book,’ Charlotte said again, this time with more authority. She held the book up.
Mia looked at Georgia for help.
‘Picture book,’ she said. ‘She loves her books.’
‘That’s good.’ Better than keeping her quiet with an iPad or phone. Where was Arlo?
‘Arlo told me about your theory.’
‘What theory?’
‘That someone shot your father and Glenda. That it was a murder.’ She must have gauged Mia’s furious reaction by her expression because she said, ‘It’s worth checking out and if anyone can get to the truth, Arlo can.’
‘What do you think?’ Mia said tightly.
‘I’m keeping an open mind. I liked your dad. I interviewed him once for the paper and he was really … what’s the word? Gentlemanly. Kind and with a great sense of humour but he kept that hidden most of the time, just dropped in really funny little comments that cracked me up. He was very happy living here and he adored Glenda. That much was obvious even to me and I’m a total cynic where love’s concerned. And men.’
Tears sprang to Mia’s eyes as Georgia spoke and she wiped a hasty hand across her face. She sat on a straight-backed chair by the wall and breathed in deeply.
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’
Mia flashed her a smile. ‘No, you didn’t. It’s just that you’re the first person in this town to say something genuinely nice about Dad. He was all those things. To me and to his friends who knew him before.’
‘My father did truly terrible things,’ Georgia said. ‘He was a serial rapist. He was arrested but he’s dead now. Despite knowing the damage he caused and the harm, he was still my dad and he was a good one. I loved him. Mum and I are the only people who understand how that can be.’
‘My goodness. That’s …’ Mia stopped. There were no words. Georgia knew better than anyone how she felt. ‘I know exactly.’
Georgia nodded. ‘It was incomprehensible at first. That he could have done those things.’
‘Were you sure your father was guilty?’
‘Yes. Not that we ever suspected the truth of what he was doing but in hindsight there were too many absences put down to work and meetings and so on, and he and Mum weren’t getting on very well in the last year. There were signs but we didn’t know to look. He was only acquitted on a legal technicality. Everyone was shocked because the evidence was overwhelming. Aren’t you sure?’
Mia shook her head. ‘I’m sure he didn’t do it.’
‘That’s what Arlo said you said. He mentioned Linda, an old friend of Tony’s, who told the police at the time she reckoned it was a double murder.’
‘Yes. She won’t believe he did it. Flatly refuses to.’ He hadn’t told Georgia about the dream. Keeping her secret. Sharing the weight.
‘And you feel the same?’
Mia moistened her lips. ‘Yes.’
Arlo came through from the flat carrying two mugs of tea. ‘Hi there. I’ll get another tea.’
‘No, I’m fine, thanks.’
He handed Georgia a mug and said, ‘Come through, Mia.’
She followed him to the living room where they’d sat last night but this time she chose one of the chairs.
‘How are you?’ He studied her for a long moment before he took a sip from his mug. It had a Union Jack and London written on it in blue.
‘Fine. I went to Willoughby today and spoke to an agent about letting the house. She’s coming over tomorrow. The painter starts next week.’ She was babbling. She must sound like a child reporting in. It was those eyes of his. When he looked at her he really looked.
‘That’s good.’
‘Why did you call?’ Her turn to study him.
He put the mug on the coffee table. ‘I ran into Lorraine Smith today. She and Paul are still very bitter so I don’t think you should visit them.’
‘Thanks.’ She smoothed the thick fabric of her skirt over her thighs before she spoke, then interlocked her fingers. ‘Georgia told me about her father.’
‘Aah, yes. The Callum Stirling case. That was over three years ago—maybe nearer four. I was in Johannesburg. Getting sick,’ he added with a wry twist of his mouth.
‘I remember it vaguely. She knows how it feels to love a father everyone else hates.’
‘Yes, but not everyone hates Tony.’
‘Georgia liked him.’
‘So did I.’
He picked up his tea and drank again. Mia sat silently. Was there more?
‘You didn’t tell her about my dream.’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘It’s not mine to tell and I think the fewer people who know the better. At this stage.’
She nodded. ‘Or I’ll sound unhinged.’
‘Have you had the dream while you’ve been here?’
‘Once.’
‘I would have thought it’d be worse here.’
‘Not so far but that’s something to look forward to.’ She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘The agent said she knows some tradespeople to do the kitchen.’
‘Get three quotes if you can.’
‘I always do. I own a house, remember?’ She smiled to take the edge off the comment.
‘Sorry.’
‘Did Lorraine have anything else of interest to say?’
He sat forward. ‘Barry can do no wrong in her eyes. She almost blamed Glenda for not taking him back.’
‘Making excuses for him?’
‘Yes.’
‘And did she say that at the time? When he ditched Glenda and their kids and went off with his new woman?’ Mia asked wryly.
‘I wasn’t here then but I doubt it. She reckoned the poor man was seduced by a trollop.’
‘Good grief.’ Mia laughed. ‘She must be delusional.’
‘Or she’s the one who’s infatuated.’
‘He must be quite something.’ Mia grimaced. ‘Where does Barry the Charmer live?’
‘Not sure but his company is Greenhill Constructions. They have some big local projects going. He’s in partnership with a pair of brothers. Baran the name is. Bruno and …’
‘Johnny,’ Mia said in surprise. ‘Bruno and Johnny Baran. They were mentioned in connection with a court case a few years back. Johnny gave evidence, I think.’
‘About property?’ Arlo produced a notebook from his pocket and made a note.
‘Can’t remember details but I think it was a fraud case involving a company we had dealings with. Not my department,’ she added.
‘I’ll find out.’
‘Isn’t that a bit of a sidetrack?’ Mia asked.
‘Don’t know yet. I’m building up a picture and I need a lot of pieces before something tangible emerges. Some of them will be dead-ends, relevant or irrelevant but I don’t know which is which yet.’
He smiled at her with such a gleeful expression she said, ‘You’re loving this, aren’t you? You look like a dog who’s picked up a fascinating scent.’
Immediately the glee was replaced by concern. ‘I’m sorry. I just … I really feel there’s something here, that something’s happened, someone’s got away with something bad.’
‘They have. With murder,’ said Mia. ‘Barry?’
‘I don’t know. I’ve never met him. But I will. I asked Lorraine to get him to call me.’
‘Why? What on earth will you say to him?’
‘That I want his opinion on the council for my lead story,’ he said. ‘As Lorraine said, Barry is well-known and has quite a bit of influence locally what with his development projects. Quite lucrative for the area. His opinion counts.’
‘You devious man.’ Mia looked at Arlo through new eyes. ‘You look so …’
‘Innocent?’
‘Not quite what I was going to say. Innocuous. Harmless?’
He raised his mug of tea. ‘Cheers to that. It’s my super hero special ability.’
Dishevelled, casual and laidback sprang to mind too but weren’t for sharing with Arlo. The more time she spent with him the more she discovered just how smart and perceptive he was. Amongst other things. His kindness being the most unexpected.
‘What are you doing for dinner tonight?’ he asked.
‘I hadn’t thought.’ Was he asking her on a date?
‘Care to join me at the pub? It’s karaoke night.’
‘Good God.’
‘I know but it’s better than it sounds. Good fun.’
‘Should we be seen together like that?’
‘Why not? I don’t mind if you don’t. Everyone will know I’m writing about Tony by now so it’s only natural. Anyway, it’ll make things easier for you while you’re here if people get to know you.’
‘All right. Thanks. But don’t expect me to sing.’
‘If you come by at about seven we can walk down together. It’s at The Crown in the main street.’
***
By arriving at seven Arlo was able to claim a table not too close to the action on the little stage and not in the centre of the room where he and Mia would be most visible. They’d attract attention anyway, they both knew that, but at least he could rely on good manners to prevail in such a public situation especially with him as her escort. He’d have to endure a bit of ribbing about his ‘date’ but any ill feeling towards Tony would be kept under wraps or Shannon would step in. She and Vicki were regulars at karaoke night.
Arlo pointed out the blackboard dinner menu to Mia. ‘The steaks are always good, so is the curry and the lamb roast.’
‘Lamb roast. I haven’t had one for ages.’
She insisted on paying her share and he went to place their orders and buy the drinks, prepared to field questions from Audrey behind the bar.
Vicki had claimed the next table. She grinned at Arlo as he returned, and nodded to Mia. ‘Evening.’
‘Vicki, this is Mia,’ he said and she extended her hand still with that look on her face. The one that assumed she knew something he and Mia were trying to hide. Like a budding romance.
‘Hello.’ Mia shook hands. ‘Are you going to sing?’
‘Try and stop me.’ Vicki raised her beer glass.
Good move by Mia to deflect the inevitable interrogation about their relationship.
‘Vicki has a terrific voice,’ said Arlo.
‘How about you, Mia? Arlo can sing but he hardly ever gets on his feet.’
‘Neither will I.’
He caught her eye and smiled. ‘Don’t worry. We won’t force you. Is Shannon coming?’ he asked Vicki.
‘Later. She’s on duty till eight.’
‘What does she do?’ asked Mia.
‘She’s a police constable. We live at the back of the police station,’ said Vicki.
‘Oh right. I may have met Shannon … before. I met Senior Constable Perry.’
‘Rupe.’ Vicki frowned. ‘Are you visiting the Bend?’
‘Mia’s surname is Petros,’ said Arlo. ‘Tony’s daughter.’
‘I’m so sorry, Mia. That was a horrible business. Shannon and I are relative newcomers so we didn’t know them very well.’
He should have known Vicki wouldn’t be part of the gossip mongers. She was married to a police constable for starters and relaying all sorts of idle rumours wouldn’t go down well under Rupe’s charge even if she was that way inclined.
‘Thanks. I’m here clearing out the house.’
‘If you need help with anything I’m a phone call away. I have a ute if you need to haul stuff anywhere. I know what’s it’s like. I did the same a few years ago when my grandmother died.’
‘Thank you. That’s … very kind.’
Vicki turned away to greet a group of regulars from Jindalee who’d settled at the table on her other side.
‘That was very nice of her to offer to help,’ Mia said.
‘Most people are like that here.’
‘And the others?’
‘Best steer clear of them.’ He smiled but his words belied the lightness he’d attempted.