The next morning Arlo woke to the sound of the shower running and took several moments to figure out who was in his bathroom. The clock said seven so he hauled himself out of bed and went to start the coffee maker and boil the jug in case she preferred tea for breakfast.
He went back to his room to find a clean shirt and underwear and by the time he’d done that the bathroom was free. Refreshed and dressed he found her in the kitchen, sitting hunched over a mug of coffee.
‘Good morning,’ he said. ‘Sleep all right?’
‘I had the dream.’ She looked at him with a pale, haunted face which emphasised the darkness of her eyes. She hadn’t tied her hair back and it hung down over her shoulders in a wavy, ebony cascade taking years off her age and making her look like a teenager. A troubled teenager.
‘Exactly the same?’
She nodded miserably.
He poured himself a coffee. ‘Are you hungry?’
She shook her head.
‘I’m making scrambled eggs and bacon.’ He opened the fridge and took out eggs, butter and bacon. Who could resist the smell of bacon and toast? His mouth was watering in anticipation.
‘When can we phone the police?’
‘Eight.’
‘What if there’s a disaster before then?’
‘There are only two police officers here,’ he said. ‘If you ring the station out of hours it’s diverted to Willoughby. A real emergency is triple 0 like anywhere else.’
‘Who did it?’ she asked, her voice harsh with tiredness and anger.
‘I don’t know.’ He tossed bacon into the frying pan, and began beating the eggs. The bacon sent out its tempting aroma coupled with toast and the coffee. Life giving. Mia sipped her coffee in silence. The toast popped, the eggs were nearly done, the bacon bordering on crispy. He put more bread in the toaster.
He spooned the creamy, fluffy mass onto one of the two plates he had ready.
‘Yes?’ He held the spoon ready. ‘It’s about zero degrees out there, you’ll need sustenance.’
She hesitated then nodded. He piled the bacon onto a plate and set it on the table before refilling their coffee mugs.
He sat down. ‘They might find some fingerprints,’ he said.
‘How can they tell if they’re recent?’
‘I don’t know if they can.’ The bacon was perfect. He piled egg onto his toast and cut off a chunk.
‘There were lots in there before.’
He chewed and swallowed before answering. ‘The front and back doors would be the obvious places to check but I don’t know …’
‘Don’t know what?’
‘If they’ll think it’s worthwhile.’
‘But we have to report it.’
‘Of course. It just won’t be a priority at the lab they send it to, if they do. Could take weeks to get results and if the person wore gloves, which is highly likely, nothing they find will be any use.’
Mia poked at her eggs. The second lot of toast popped.
‘I’ll have to put the real estate agent off,’ she said.
‘Yes. A rotting rabbit doesn’t create the best impression. It’s a good thing it’s not mid-summer, the cold will keep the stench at bay a bit. The paint fumes will help shift the smell too.’
‘The sooner I get this house sorted the better,’ she said morosely. ‘I think I’ll sell it.’
‘Do you think the dream will stop then?’ He retrieved the fresh toast, sat down and picked up his knife and fork.
She looked at him, her mouth slightly open as if to speak but no words emerged.
‘It’s not really connected to the house, is it?’ he asked.
‘No.’ Hoarse, raspy. She cleared her throat and drank more coffee. ‘But it’s clear someone wants me to go away.’
‘There are always people who love to hate and cause trouble. Usually they’re cowards and do things like this but wouldn’t ever go any further. Same as internet trolls.’
‘Not much help, Arlo, thank you. The effect is the same.’
‘Yes, but what I mean is it probably won’t happen again or become more personal.’
‘It’s personal enough for me.’
‘Eat,’ he said.
She took a piece of bacon and nibbled at it obediently.
‘You can stay here,’ he said. ‘Until the pub opens later.’
‘I’ll walk over to the police station soon,’ she said.
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘You don’t need to.’
‘I was there too. I went in first.’
Arlo’s phone burst into life. ‘Sorry.’ He fished it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. Private caller.
‘Round the Bend. Arlo McGuiness.’
‘Good morning. Barry Greenberg. Lorraine Smith mentioned you’d like me to help out with an article you’re doing on the road. Put some extra weight behind your argument, so to speak.’
‘Barry, thanks for calling.’ He glanced at Mia with raised eyebrows and her expression brightened with interest. ‘That would be very helpful, if you could spare a few minutes. I know you must be busy but Lorraine mentioned you’re in the area quite a bit with those new developments.’
He didn’t need to say more. Barry jumped right in as Arlo knew he would. ‘No problem, mate. Glad to help out. I’m over your way this afternoon. Three o’clock suit?’
‘Perfect. Where would you like to meet? I can come to you if it’s easiest.’
‘I’ll be at Bindubi but I can swing by on my way home.’
‘What about at the bridge? The scene of the crime, so to speak.’ If Barry noticed the use of his own phrase he didn’t react.
‘Fine. That’s the bridge just outside town on the Willoughby Road?’
‘That’s the one. Thanks, Barry.’
Arlo hung up and smiled at Mia. ‘Three o’clock. I knew he wouldn’t miss a chance to get his name in the paper.’
‘What does he sound like?’
‘Glib, confident and full of himself.’
‘Like a politician.’ A glimmer of a smile emerged which warmed his heart.
‘I’m meeting a real one tomorrow at the same place.’
‘Who’d have thought potholes were such a drawcard.’ She scraped up a forkful of eggs and ate.
Rupe was on duty when Arlo and Mia, flushed from the icy morning air, arrived at the police station a few minutes after eight.
‘Good morning.’ He looked from one to the other with a surprised half-smile. ‘You’re out bright and early.’
‘Hi, Rupe. You know Mia Petros.’
‘Yes, I do. Good morning, Mia. How are you?’
‘Hello. Managing, thanks.’ She shook the proffered hand.
‘What can I do for you?’
‘Someone left a rotting rabbit carcass in my house last night while I was out,’ Mia said.
Rupe frowned. ‘Any idea who might do that?’
‘Someone who wants me to leave town,’ she said bitterly. ‘It’s not as if I’m moving in so I don’t know why anyone would do this.’
Arlo said, ‘I walked Mia home from The Crown at about eleven and went in first. Whoever it was had a key because the place was locked up tight and no windows were broken.’
‘Did you move it?’
‘No. It stinks so Mia stayed the night at my place.’
‘I’d better come and have a look,’ said Rupe. ‘I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes. Don’t go inside though. Have you had any other trouble, Mia?’
‘No, quite the opposite.’
‘Good. Don’t worry about this too much.’
Outside on the footpath she said, ‘He’s not taking this very seriously.’
‘Don’t underestimate Rupe. He’s a good bloke but he likes facts.’
‘Okay. Arlo, you don’t have to hang around waiting at the house. I’m sure you have other things to do.’
‘No, I don’t. Mia, this could all be connected … it’s like I said before. I have to collect all the little bits and pieces of information before I can sort out which ones are important.’
‘You should have been a detective.’
He laughed and shook his head. ‘No, no I prefer being my own boss. I don’t like being told where to go and what to do when I’m investigating a story.’
‘Didn’t your editors tell you that?’
‘When I worked for a newspaper yes, but I was freelance most of the time. Meant I was free to follow anything that smelt fishy.’
‘Or rotten,’ she said.
‘Have you met your neighbours?’
‘Only a Chinese lady called Betty. She came over the first evening and said how sorry she was about Dad and Glenda but she couldn’t stay long. Do you know them?’
‘The Wangs. Betty and Douglas. They own the Red Dragon restaurant and spend most of their time there. They wouldn’t have been home last night, and on your other side old Kenny is deaf as a post. Keeps to himself and only goes out to place a bet and go to the pub. He had no opinion about Tony or Glenda beyond saying they were all right. Didn’t want to be involved. Threatened to set Bruno on anyone who came in his gate. Bruno’s a German Shepherd as old as he is.’
‘He barked at me when I first arrived but he’s inside at night. Who lives across the road? I’ve seen a car going in and out and heard a baby crying.’
‘That’s a new family. They only moved in at the beginning of the year. He’s a teacher at the primary school and she’s just had their first child. Georgia probably knows her.’
‘Not the types to dump dead rabbits in the neighbour’s house.’
‘Nope. One of them might have seen something if they were up with the baby.’
‘Can we ask?’
‘Better let Rupe handle it.’
Mia drew in a breath with a disapproving sound to it but didn’t say anything. She pulled her scarf closer around her neck. ‘You weren’t kidding about zero, were you?’
‘No. Maximum is eleven today.’
‘Does it snow here?’
‘Not since I’ve been here but it could do. We’re close to the mountains. Autumn is a beautiful time of year. Stunning colours.’
‘Pity I missed it,’ she said.
‘There’s always next year.’
‘Send me a photo.’
There was no reply to that.
She produced her phone and dialled a number. ‘Hello, Lauren. It’s Mia Petros. I’m sorry but I have to cancel our eleven o’clock meeting today. Something’s come up. I’ll call you to rearrange. Thanks. Bye.’ She slipped the phone into her pocket. ‘I’ll have to replace that carpet near the kitchen doorway,’ she said. ‘It’ll stain and stink. Dammit.’
‘You could put down wood flooring in that area and the hallway to the bedrooms instead. You can get slabs and they lay it like carpet.’
‘Really?’
‘Yep. It looks good and it comes in different styles and colours.’
‘Sounds okay.’ She eyed him for a moment without breaking stride. ‘You’re a handy person to know. Are you this helpful to everyone you come across?’
‘Only the ones I like.’
‘And the ones who have a story?’
‘That too, but it helps if I like them.’
‘I feel more helpless than I’ve ever felt in my life.’ She shoved her hands in her pockets and hunched her shoulders. ‘I hate that feeling.’
‘I know. I felt the same when I was sick.’
‘But I’m not sick. You really were helpless.’
‘It was still horrible having to rely on people to look after me. Especially when I was over the danger period but still too weak to do much.’
‘We like to be independent.’
‘We do.’
‘How do you think you’ll cope having Riley with you?’
‘Curbing my independence?’ He sent her a wry smile.
‘Yes. A child is a big responsibility.’
‘I know. We were together for quite a few years.’
‘Sorry, of course you know.’
‘It’s okay. I didn’t take on much of it back then. That was the problem. Debra felt like a single mother most of the time.’
Mia stopped in front of the house. ‘Here we are.’
The sound of a wailing baby carried across the road.
‘Good lungs,’ Arlo said.
‘I hear that occasionally but didn’t know where it was coming from.’
He walked up the path and sat on the verandah steps in the weak sunshine. Mia wandered about the front garden. Patches of frost in the shade of the house crunched under her feet. She disappeared down the narrow side path between her house and the Wang’s. The side gate clicked open and closed. He waited. A couple of minutes later she reappeared on the driveway side and joined him on the steps.
‘Anything changed?’ he asked.
‘Not that I can see.’
A woman came out of the house across the road pushing a stroller. Wisps of short blonde hair escaped from under a red beanie pulled down over her ears and a red scarf flapped over a black coat. Arlo leapt to his feet and hurried out to the footpath with Mia right behind him.
‘Good morning, it’s Vanessa, isn’t it?’
She stopped and smiled uncertainly. ‘Hi, yes, it is.’
‘I’m Arlo McGuiness and this is Mia Petros.’
She relaxed and the smile widened. ‘Arlo from the paper?’
‘Yes. Mia owns that house.’
‘I know. I meant to come over to see if you needed any help but Damien has been grizzly lately and I didn’t want to take him out in the wet.’
‘Of course not,’ Mia said. ‘We were wondering … did you hear anything or see anyone around here last night?’
‘No … I … what’s happened? Have you been burgled?’
‘No, no.’ Mia glanced at Arlo.
‘A visitor came to the house while Mia was out and she’s wondering when that was.’
Vanessa’s brow furrowed as she thought. ‘I was asleep by ten. Bob was up a bit later. He may have seen someone but he didn’t say anything this morning. Jack from up the road came by with his dog about five-thirty. He does that most evenings.’
‘I’ve seen him,’ said Mia. ‘He’s about ten.’
‘That’s right and the dog’s a Labrador. Jack’s in Bob’s class at school.’
‘Thanks, Vanessa.’
‘No worries. Pop over sometime, Mia. Are you here for long?’
‘I’m moving into The Crown soon because I’m having some work done and the painter is coming in.’
‘What will you do with the house?’
‘I think I’ll sell it.’
‘Oh, well, if you do we’re in the market. We’re renting but we do want to buy. How many bedrooms are there?’
‘Three.’
‘Keep us in mind.’
‘I will.’
‘Thanks so much. I’d better get a move on. I have an appointment with Doc in five minutes.’
‘See you later. Thanks,’ Arlo said
Vanessa hurried away.
‘I don’t think Jack is the culprit,’ said Mia as she started back to the house.
‘No, although the dog could have found the rabbit.’
‘How hard is it to find a dead rabbit out here?’
‘Not very,’ he admitted.
‘It’d be good if they bought the house. Do you think they know about it?’
‘For sure they do. She didn’t seem worried.’
‘Plenty of people live in houses where someone has died.’
He had to admit the truth of that statement but somehow it still sounded callous. Mia was certainly an odd mix of vulnerability and pragmatism. And what about the dream? What did that mean?
Rupe pulled up in the police car and got out. Arlo and Mia rose to greet him. She handed him the key and he went in alone. The smell wafted along the corridor in all its glory.
‘Good God,’ he said. ‘That’s foul.’
Minutes later he came out with his handkerchief pressed against his nose. ‘No signs of a break-in. Who has a key?’
‘I thought only me. I have two. Dad’s, and Glenda’s parents left her keys with me on her keyring. She had a car key and the house key.’
‘They could have made a copy or she might have given them one.’
‘Maybe. Yes. But why would they do this?’ asked Mia.
‘I’ll have a chat with them. See if they can help.’ Rupe gave Arlo a stern look. ‘Don’t you go asking questions.’
‘Can I get this thing out of here now?’ asked Mia.
‘Yes. I doubt whether our perp left fingerprints. You wouldn’t handle that thing barehanded.’
‘So all you can do is ask around and hope someone owns up.’ Mia’s expression said it all. ‘That’s not going to happen and no-one’s likely to dob someone in, are they? Not when everyone in this town knows everyone.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Rupe. ‘I’ll do my best but it won’t be easy.’
‘Got a shovel, Mia?’ said Arlo.