She dragged in a deep shuddery breath. Was he another local with a cargo of hate for her father and by default, her? But if so, why was he eating breakfast at the hotel? Was he a guest? She’d assumed he was but perhaps not. Hannah’s wasn’t open until lunchtime on Sundays so maybe he had no other option.
The waitress burst through the swing door with Mia’s breakfast.
‘Scrambled eggs and toast,’ she said. ‘Would you like more coffee?’
Mia concentrated on the question. ‘Yes, yes please. Who was that man who just left?’
‘Mr Farage.’
‘Is he a guest of the hotel?’ Lucian Farage. They were on first name terms but hadn’t sat together.
‘Yes, he arrived last night. He has a motorbike. Must be freezing on one of those in this weather.’
‘Yes. Not my choice.’
‘I’ll bring more coffee.’
‘Thank you. Sorry, what’s your name?’
‘Cathy.’
‘Thanks, Cathy.’
Mia picked up a piece of hot buttered toast and put it down. Her appetite had gone out the door with Mr Farage when he left her here alone with the man on her right. She typed a text to Arlo Having breakfast at hotel. Creepy man here. Name’s Joel. but hesitated before sending it. She picked up the toast again and took a bite, then another. Sent the text.
Cathy came back with the coffee pot. ‘I’ll leave it here for you,’ she said.
‘Did the other couple leave early this morning? They’re friends of mine.’
‘Yes. They had breakfast at seven and left straight after. Going back to Sydney they said. It’s a long drive.’
Mia picked at the eggs. Her phone pinged.
R U OK? I can be there asap.
She sent back, I’m fine. Sorry just jittery. C U later?
He replied Lunch here 12? Work and R this morning.
Riley. Mia smiled. See the house after lunch?
Sure.
Mia finished breakfast and went out the rear door of the hotel to the parking area. A large black motorbike was parked against the wall, a silver sports car sat sleekly near her own car along with a small hatchback, a big four-wheel drive and a family sedan with a baby seat in the back. The bike looked like the one from last night and would be Lucian Farage’s. An educated guess would put either the sports car or the four-wheel drive as the other man’s. He was at a table set for one and he didn’t look the type to drive either a small or a family car.
Under the pretext of getting something from her car in case he was spying, she walked across the yard taking note of the other two cars’ number plates as she went. She opened the passenger door and sat inside with the glove box open but writing the numbers down on a shopping receipt she found in her bag.
Mia walked out the driveway and along the alleyway to the main street, completely deserted in the damp morning fog. Farage had been right about the frosty night. It was cold and she had no coat. She hurried to the guests’ door of the hotel and into the warmth. The dark-haired man, Joel, was coming down the stairs. No smile now.
‘Hello, Mia.’
‘How do you know my name?’
‘Is it a secret?’ He stopped. Dark eyes bored into hers.
‘How do you know who I am?’
‘Everyone in this town knows who you are, Mia.’
‘Who are you? Why are you here?’
‘Like you, I’m here on personal business.’ He held her gaze for a minute. ‘I agree with our friend Lucian. You should take care.’
‘Why? And of what?’ In Farage’s mouth the words were innocuous, a social cliché. This stranger made them into a warning.
‘I’d be careful who I spoke to if I were you,’ he said and walked away.
Breathing hard Mia raced up the stairs and when she reached her room locked the door behind her and put on the safety chain before sending Arlo another text.
***
Arlo wasn’t sure whether to be worried or not. Whoever this man Joel was he’d rattled Mia, but was that his intention or was he another of the Tony haters? All sorts turned up in town for the football. Some stayed overnight. Most didn’t. But an out-of-towner wouldn’t know who Mia was. This man warranted further scrutiny.
Riley still hadn’t surfaced at ten o’clock. Arlo had made good progress on the paper and was well satisfied with how everything was shaping up. He’d finally spoken to Sara Lucknow yesterday afternoon, taking her unawares by asking her about the road—she said she’d look into it—and then slipping in a question about why she’d changed her mind about the Greenhill development applications. Suddenly she wasn’t so amenable, stating briskly that she’d decided the development would be good for the town and ending the call. He’d contemplated phoning Myra Jessop while he was at it but decided not. Her refusal to talk said a lot and he didn’t want Rupe on his back about harassment.
All of which was very interesting and was filed away in his notes with the other snippets of information surrounding Tony and Glenda. As soon as the paper was finalised he could start asking more questions. Especially about who the two new councillors were and whether their views on the developments were well known and a factor in their election.
Banjo and the new stallion at The Grange filled page three along with a few snippets about some of the local doings. They still had room for something else but he’d get Georgia onto that, meaning he could spend time with Riley and Mia today with no guilt about neglecting the paper. He got up and went to the kitchen to make coffee. Still no sightings of his son. He opened the bedroom door quietly and peered in. A mound of bedclothes with no sign of life. Not surprising. Debra said he’d sleep all day if she let him and yesterday had been very tiring and emotionally draining for everyone.
Arlo closed the door gently. He should nip around to Hannah’s and buy something for lunch. It was after ten thirty now. She opened at eleven on Sundays and closed at four. Too early to go there although Tuan would be open at the bakery.
He scribbled a note for Riley on the unlikely chance he’d wake in the next fifteen minutes, and clad in beanie and warm jacket stepped out into the chill morning. Frost crackled under his feet as he crossed the patch of grass near the back door. The sun hadn’t fought its way through the fog yet but a brighter glow in the east indicated it was trying. Young Jack from up the road was walking his dog. For some peculiar reason he was wearing shorts and a parka with the hood up.
‘Hi, Arlo.’ Jack paused and the dog came up and sniffed Arlo’s shoes.
Arlo patted the sleek golden head. ‘Aren’t your legs cold?’
‘Nuh. Is Riley here yet?’
‘Yes, but he’s still in bed. He came yesterday.’
‘Katie’s been hanging out to see him.’ Jack grinned. ‘She thinks he’s cool.’
Arlo returned the grin. ‘So do I. Tell her he’ll be on the school bus tomorrow.’ Katie, thirteen and shyer than her little brother, would be mortified to hear Jack’s statement.
He started walking again with Jack by his side. As they rounded the corner an engine sounded in the still air.
‘That’s that cool motorbike,’ said Jack. ‘The BMW tourer.’
‘Do you know about bikes?’
‘Yeah. My uncle has two and he shows me his magazines. When I’m old enough I’m going to buy a bike. I can already ride one. Uncle Will lets me ride his dirt bike in the paddocks.’
The sound grew and the bike cruised into sight. The rider, in black leathers and on the black bike, had a sinister look viewed through the fog.
‘Have you seen that bike before? It’s not local, is it?’
‘Nah. Some bloke rode in yesterday afternoon. I saw him when I was taking Henry out.’ Henry was the Labrador padding at their feet, smiling. ‘He was here before though, ages ago.’
‘Same man?’
‘I s’pose. Same bike anyway.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Same number plate.’
Arlo nodded. ‘You’re very observant.’
‘Only because of the bike. You don’t see many like that around here. Only sometimes when those groups come through.’
‘Right. Do you remember exactly when you saw it last? Was it before Christmas?’
‘Yeah, we’d been to my grandma’s birthday party in Gundagai and it was coming down the main street when we got back so I had a good look at it as it went by.’
‘When’s your grandma’s birthday?’
‘October 29th but she had her birthday party a bit earlier on a Saturday afternoon and we got home on Sunday. I’d better get going,’ said Jack. ‘See ya, Arlo.’
‘Bye.’
Arlo continued on his way, smiling to himself and filing the information away in his mind. Tony and Glenda had died on Monday evening, October 28th. The biker was in town at the right time but was the biker Mia’s strange man? Why would he come to Taylor’s Bend in winter? What sort of business would bring him through here? Jack would know if he was visiting relatives or friends. That bike attracted him like a bee to honey and he would have discussed its virtues with Uncle Will for sure. Will would know the man’s friends or relatives if there were any local to know.
Tuan’s bakery was a haven of warmth saturated with the welcoming smell of freshly baked bread. Arlo bought a loaf and an apple pie and spent ten minutes chatting to Tuan who was on the organising committee, about the refugees who were due to arrive at the end of the year.
By the time he left, Hannah’s café was open so he stopped in for a slab of his favourite vegetable lasagne. He was the first customer so the place was empty.
‘What did you want to tell me about Glenda?’ he asked as she packed the food into a take away box.
‘It was a few weeks before she died. She said she wanted Tony to get rid of the gun. She didn’t like having one in the house even though it was locked away. It made her nervous. It’d make me nervous too.’ She grimaced.
‘What did he say?’
‘He told her if she felt that strongly about it he’d sell it and take up some other hobby.’
‘Considerate man.’
‘He was.’
‘Did you mention that to the police?’
‘I did but he clearly hadn’t sold it, had he? It made it look as though there was friction where there was none.’
‘Hmm, but Rupe knew them. He knew what Tony was like.’
‘Too late now.’ She sighed.
‘Maybe. Maybe not.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Arlo …’ She frowned. ‘What are you up to?’
‘Nothing.’
She handed him his purchase and took the cash he gave her.
‘Thanks, Hannah. I’d better get home and see if Riley has surfaced.’
‘So that’s why the extra-large serving of lasagne.’ She laughed.
‘He’s a bottomless pit. See you later. Thanks.’
At home Arlo made coffee and drank it at the kitchen table. He had his notebook in front of him with the collection of jottings about Mia, her father and the various elements surrounding the case. He added:
Black BMW motorbike and rider. Connected? Same man as Mia met today? Why visit TB and how frequently? Coincidence that he’s here again when Mia is back? Why would that be?
He sat back, pen in hand. Jack was certain about the date of that sighting. Arlo picked up his phone and found last year’s calendar. The birthday Saturday was October 26th. The biker was in town the next day, Sunday, the day before the shooting. Was that the only other time Jack had seen the bike and rider? He’d implied just the once but it’d be worth pinning him down for more details. Jack was a smart kid, he might remember if he put his mind to it. If the man came more frequently the chance of it being a coincidence was higher, but if he didn’t …
***
Mia stayed in the hotel until it was time to leave for Arlo’s and lunch. She rinsed some underwear and draped it in the bathroom. She could take a load of washing to the house and do it properly but nothing would dry on the line in this weather so there wasn’t much point and there was no dryer in the laundry. Doing the mindless chore filled in time.
At eleven she ventured down to the bar for a cup of coffee. A couple of men had already settled in for the first beer of the day. They eyed her curiously and nodded hello. She nodded back and they returned to their discussion of yesterday’s game in which somebody called Razzer had played a blinder.
‘Is the man with that silver sports car staying long?’ she asked the barman when he made her coffee. She could possibly eliminate one car.
‘Left this morning,’ he said. ‘Everyone did except you.’
‘Does he come here often?’
‘Not that I remember. Could have stayed at the motel or one of the B&Bs though. Do you know him?’
‘I met him at breakfast. He knew my name and I wondered how.’
‘Word gets around. Anyone could have told him.’
‘It was a bit disconcerting.’
He smiled. ‘Nice car, though. A Mercedes. Not cheap.’
Not sure if she’d achieved anything of value she sat at a table with her coffee and a newspaper from the rack until it was time to walk to Arlo’s. She detoured past the reception desk and discovered Joel’s last name was Carmody.
Arlo opened the door immediately when she knocked. The fog still hadn’t lifted, leaving her face and clothes damp, her nose icy. Arlo kissed her cold mouth quickly and smiled.
‘You’re freezing.’
‘The sun hasn’t bothered to get up yet,’ she said.
‘Worse than Riley. He’s in the shower and that’s only because I almost dragged him out of bed.’
‘He had a big day yesterday.’
‘I guess so.’
By his grin he didn’t care in the slightest how late the boy slept in. Riley was here and Arlo was happy and proud.
Mia stepped into the warmth and he took her coat and hung it up next to his green anorak.
‘Nice beanie,’ he said as she unwound her scarf and took the hat off.
‘I bought them yesterday at the handicraft shop. Not the friendliest lady in there.’
‘Aah, that’s Coral. She has some interesting ideas.’
‘Like what?’ Mia followed him to the kitchen. He’d set the table for three. She sat down. Arlo checked the contents of the oven.
‘She’s very into herbal healing and mixing up her own potions. She goes out hunting for plants at night but it has to be at the right phase of the moon.’
‘Hunting? What with? A pair of secateurs?’
‘Or a special type of knife.’
‘A witch?’ Mia snorted with laughter. ‘I might be cursed now.’
‘Could be.’ Arlo grinned. ‘Hungry?’
‘Yes. Something smells good.’ The smile faded. ‘She’s the eccentric, isn’t she? The one who put that crossed sword on my door? I looked it up and it means something like conflict. I wish I’d known when I went into that shop.’
‘Like I said, she’s harmless. She’s left other symbols about the place. Everyone ignores them. I visited Hannah earlier. Is water okay to drink or would you prefer wine?’
‘Water is fine.’
Arlo took glasses from the cupboard and relayed what Hannah had told him.
‘Is that why he had the gun out? Was the friend, the man who found them, visiting to look at it for buying, do you think?’
‘No, he would have said if he was, but it doesn’t mean someone hadn’t come earlier under that pretext.’
Mia sighed. ‘But who? No-one’s going to own up to that.’
‘Tell me about the man this morning?’
‘He’s gone now. The barman said he hadn’t seen him before but he could have stayed somewhere else. His name’s Joel Carmody.’
‘Did he threaten you? What happened? How did he know your name?’
‘He basically said everyone in town knows my name.’
‘So he did nothing overtly threatening, it was his manner.’
‘It was a warning.’ Mia related the conversation in the corridor.
‘I saw him leaving this morning,’ said Arlo. ‘I was talking to Jack on the footpath. He knows all about motorbikes and he said he’d seen the same one here at the time of the murders.’
‘It’s not him. That’s Lucian Farage. This man drives either a flashy sports car or a big white four-wheel drive.’ She handed him the crumpled piece of paper with the licence plate numbers jotted on it.
‘Damn! I thought we had a possible suspect.’
‘They know each other but I don’t know how well. What could either of them possibly have to do with my dad and Glenda?’
‘No idea. Why would Carmody be interested in you?’
Mia shook her head. ‘Don’t know. Lucian was friendly but I’m glad he’s gone too. It could be a coincidence. Lots of people would have been in town at the same time who knew each other.’
A door opened and Riley appeared, bleary-eyed, hair damp.
‘Hi,’ Mia said.
‘Hi.’
‘Good morning,’ Arlo said. ‘Ready to eat?’
‘What is it?’
‘Vegetable lasagne and salad.’
‘Did you make it?’ Riley pulled out a chair and slumped down.
‘No. Hannah did. I made the salad.’
‘Okay, good.’
‘Sleep well?’ Arlo asked.
‘Yeah.’
‘I thought you could check out my house after lunch,’ said Mia.
‘Cool.’ He pulled out his phone and began texting.
‘Please, no phone at the table,’ said Arlo.
‘I’m telling Sam I’ll be over later.’ He shoved the phone in his pocket.
‘Do you know many people here?’ Mia asked.
‘Yeah, a few.’
‘I saw Jack this morning, with the dog. He said to tell you Katie says hi.’
Riley grunted. Whoever Katie was may or may not have been important to him, Mia couldn’t tell by the reaction.
‘He walks that dog a lot,’ said Mia. ‘Is Katie his sister?’
‘Yeah,’ said Riley. ‘She’s in year seven. They live up the road from your house.’
‘He knows a lot about motorbikes,’ said Arlo. He took the lasagne from the oven and set it on the table. Four large portions sat in the dish emitting a mouth-watering smell. ‘Help yourselves.’
Arlo poured water into the glasses and served himself salad. Mia had served herself a modest portion but Riley piled lasagne onto his plate as if he hadn’t eaten for a week. At least he’d allowed Mia to go first.
Who was Joel Carmody? He wasn’t visiting someone in town, he’d stake his reputation on it. So why was he here taking an interest in Mia? Taking down the numbers of the cars was smart but would Rupe look up the registered owners for him? Arlo doubted it unless he could provide a good reason for checking the owner’s identity. Worth asking though. The other man could be a casual acquaintance unconnected to anything Carmody was here for.
He glanced at his son. He didn’t seem surprised by Mia’s presence or the fact that she was the only guest to share a meal in the times Riley had been visiting. That meant he either didn’t care one way or the other or he approved of her. Or he knew she was leaving soon.
‘This is very good.’ Mia interrupted his wandering thoughts.
‘It’s my favourite but it sells out quickly.’
‘What’s your best subject at school, Riley?’ Mia asked.
‘English.’
‘Like your dad.’
‘He wasn’t very good at anything.’
Mia laughed. ‘Really?’
Arlo hid a smile and said indignantly, ‘That’s not true. I passed my exams and I went to uni, and I graduated.’
‘You reckoned you did the barest minimum of work.’
‘Maybe, sometimes, but I did it.’
‘Did you always want to be a journalist?’ Mia asked.
‘Yes. I ran the school paper and the university paper and went straight into working for a daily.’
‘That’s what I want to do,’ said Riley. ‘I can help with the paper, can’t I?’
‘Sure. I was thinking maybe you could do a youth column about things that interest kids.’
As he’d hoped, Riley’s face brightened. ‘Great!’
‘You’ll have a deadline and if you miss it your column gets canned.’
‘Sure, Dad.’
‘I mean it. It’s hard to come up with your words on a regular basis.’
‘Yeah, right.’
‘And you have to do your schoolwork first.’
‘Okay.’
‘Mia works in finance and she has numerous degrees,’ said Arlo. ‘She’s very smart.’ He probably deserved the frown she sent his way but she was smart and she should be proud of her achievements.
‘What degrees?’
‘Economics, Law and an MBA,’ she said.
‘Wow,’ said Riley. ‘I’m hopeless at maths.’
‘I was a total dud at science,’ said Mia. ‘And art and music were beyond me although I like them.’
‘I learned clarinet for a while,’ Riley said. ‘But my teacher left and I didn’t like the new guy.’
‘I wish I was musical. I wouldn’t have the time to practise though.’
‘What do you do for fun?’ asked Arlo.
‘I don’t have much spare time.’ Her brow furrowed as she thought. ‘I love live theatre and go when I can. I saw Macbeth recently. Otherwise I read, go to movies, meet friends. Things like that.’
It didn’t sound very fulfilling but who was he to judge? His life revolved around the paper but life in a country town did tend to involve people in its doings whether you wanted it to or not.
‘What about you?’ Mia asked.
‘Dad runs and he plays cricket in summer,’ Riley said.
‘In winter I hibernate,’ added Arlo.
‘And investigate potholes.’ Mia caught his eye and he wanted to kiss her. What could he possibly do to convince her to stay?
***
Mia opened the door of her house and stepped aside so Riley and Arlo could go in. She’d ask the painter to paint over the symbol on the door frame. What the purpose of it was she had no idea. If it was to keep evil at bay it hadn’t worked on Graham and his dead rabbit. Likewise if it was meant to cleanse.
Riley and Arlo had moved to the bedrooms when she went in and shut the door against the cold, although inside wasn’t much warmer. Their voices rose and fell but she couldn’t discern any words. She sat on the red couch to wait. The back door opened but closed again almost immediately. Arlo came through the archway from the dining area.
‘It’s a nice place.’
‘When the renovations are done it’ll spruce it up a bit. Sorry it’s so cold but the heating’s off. It works, though.’
He asked questions about heating and cooling which Mia answered as best she could. ‘If anything goes wrong get in touch with the agent.’
Riley appeared in the doorway. ‘I bags the bedroom at the back.’
‘So you like the house?’
He nodded. ‘It’s good. Plenty of space.’
Arlo looked at Mia. ‘You have some tenants.’
‘You can move in as soon as the work is finished. I’ll get Carl to do the paperwork.’
‘Good. Thanks.’
‘Decide what furniture you want and I’ll make sure it stays.’
‘All of it,’ said Riley. ‘There’s a double bed in my room.’
Arlo’s phone erupted. He looked at the caller ID. ‘Sorry,’ he said and went into the kitchen to answer.
‘What’s that weird sign on the front door?’ asked Riley.
‘Your dad said it’s some sort of symbol witches use.’
‘Witches? Like in Harry Potter?’ Riley’s eyes gleamed with astonished interest.
‘I doubt it. He said there’s a local eccentric who dabbles in things like that.’
‘Sam told me about her. I forget her name but she has that shop that sells handmade stuff. He didn’t say she was a witch.’
‘I don’t think she is, not the way you mean anyway. Your dad was joking so don’t spread that around. I bought my beanie and scarf there yesterday.’
‘Did you ask her why she put that sign on the door?’
‘I didn’t know it was her until later.’
‘Is it a spell?’
‘I don’t think so and even if it was I don’t think spells actually work. Do you?’
‘Nah.’ But he didn’t sound convinced.
‘Did Sam or anyone else say anything about this house? Any rumours or anything?’
A slight flush crept up Riley’s neck. ‘Only that people … died in here.’
‘Does that worry you?’
‘No. I don’t believe in ghosts.’
‘Me neither. My dad wouldn’t haunt anyone and neither would Glenda.’
‘I met him once and I knew Glenda too.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, he was cool. It was when I was here in the summer holidays the year before last. We were watching the cricket. He knew heaps about it.’
‘Yes, he loved watching the Test matches.’
‘He said he would have joined the team except he was too old and he had something wrong with his shoulder.’
‘What was that?’ He never told her about an injury. Whenever they spoke he was his usual cheerful, positive self.
‘He said he couldn’t raise his arm above his shoulder, so he couldn’t throw the ball or bowl. Tendon injury, I think he said. Something like that.’
‘Did he say if it was permanent or just something he’d done that would get better?’
‘No, he didn’t say.’
If it was permanent, raising a gun to his head would have been difficult. Was she grasping at straws? The doctor would have mentioned it at the time. If he knew. Worth asking.
***
In the kitchen Arlo answered the call. ‘Arlo McGuiness.’
‘It’s Ed Woodbridge.’ The voice was feeble, each word an effort. ‘I was on the Willoughby council.’ Ed in the hospice. ‘Myra told me you had a few questions.’
‘Thank you very much for calling, Ed. How are you?’
‘I have good days and bad days but it’s all downhill now. The quacks have given me a month at most.’
‘I’m so sorry to hear that.’
‘That’s why I phoned you. I wanted to tell you to be careful. These Greenhill people are greedy and they’re dangerous and they need to be stopped.’
‘What are you saying exactly?’
‘When those development applications came in someone was pretty free with the money.’
‘Bribes?’
‘Yes. I never had a name, it was a phone call. They offered to pay my medical bills in return for a vote in favour or I’d be sorry. I was furious because I hadn’t made the diagnosis public so it meant someone I trusted had …’
He stopped. Hoarse breaths rattled through the connection.
‘Myra and Sara voted against as well and they got calls and offers along with threats until they caved. But I reckon they approached everyone on the council sounding them out and making sure the vote went the right way.’
‘That’s a serious allegation.’
‘It is and I’m ashamed I didn’t come forward sooner, at the time.’
‘You had other issues to deal with, Ed,’ Arlo said.
‘There’s another thing you might want to investigate. I reckon Tony figured out there was something crooked going on and being the man he was, couldn’t let it go. He would have done what I should have. Gone public.’
The hairs on Arlo’s neck stood on end. ‘And you think he was silenced,’ he asked softly.
‘I do.’
Arlo finished the call and rejoined Mia and Riley, mind whirring. ‘Okay. Let’s go. It’s too cold to sit around in here. Thanks, Mia.’
Outside on the street Riley said, ‘I’m going to Sam’s now.’
‘Be home before dark. That’s by five-thirty.’
‘Okay. See you, Mia. Thanks for showing us the house.’
‘You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.’
Riley strode away with Mia and Arlo following slowly.
‘He’s a great kid,’ she said. ‘Arlo, did Dad have something wrong with his shoulder so he couldn’t raise his right arm very high? Riley said he did.’
‘If he did it wasn’t permanent because he was up a ladder helping with the lighting for the MaDS show last year. Couldn’t have done that with a bung shoulder.’
‘That’s what I thought. Pity. It would have been another little piece of evidence against suicide.’
‘Well, listen to this. That phone call was from Ed Woodridge, the councillor who retired with cancer.’
He told her what Ed had told him.