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The fogged-up mirror in the bathroom was a blessing. The last person Dawn wanted to see was herself right now. Ronnie’s words rolled around her head.
When you left, she was a bit lost really.
‘I was seventeen.’ She reassured herself aloud.
Grabbing a towel, she dried her body roughly, in no hurry to remove all the moisture. Instead, she left the bathroom naked and damp and stood directly below the buzzing ceiling fan, arms held out, breathing slowly, trying to cool off and compose herself.
She remained still until the last drop of moisture evaporated, then reached for clean underwear and her mobile.
Dialling, she hoped the phone lines were back up. As the ringtone sounded loudly in her ear, she sighed in relief and waited.
‘Forensics, Penny speaking.’
‘Penny. It’s Dawn. How did the wrap-up of the case go?’
‘Brilliantly. Between you and Jenny we got everything tied up neatly, like a bow on a Christmas pressie. He’s going down for setting the teacher’s wife on fire, too.’
‘Good news. I’m sure Jenny’s happy to put the whole thing behind her. Did she take up my offer to become a detective?’
‘Not yet but give her a few years.’
‘Years. We could do with her on staff now, not in a few years.’
‘Well, I think Nick and she are pretty settled. Unless you can get the farmer to leave the cattle station, I think you’ll have to wait it out.’
‘Damn. Relationships can kill a woman’s career.’
‘Tell me about it.’
There was a moment of silence and Penny filled it.
‘Now you can’t tell me you rang to get a wrap-up of the Coober Pedy case. What do you need?’
‘You know me too well. I’ve got a handwriting specialist looking at something for me. I was hoping I could give him your number so you can link in with him on the case. It’s a cold one.’
‘Love cold cases. Send it my way.’
‘You sure? It’s not on the books. There’s no overtime coming your way—this is a Queensland case.’
‘Dawn. How long have we known each other? Don’t answer that, we both know it’s too many years. Us girls need to stick together. Give him my mobile, I’ll follow it up off the clock.’
‘You’re a gem.’
‘Diamond, of course.’
Dawn chuckled, despite the tightness in her chest. Despite the feeling her world was imploding and if she didn’t find her sister soon, she might fall into a pit of despair.
‘Thanks Penny. I appreciate it.’
There was a quiet second.
‘Is this about your brother?’
Dawn drew a deep breath.
‘It’s tied to family, yes.’
‘I’ll get right onto it.’
‘Thanks Penny.’
‘Talk soon.’
The phone line went silent. Dawn tossed her mobile onto the bed and followed it with a dramatic flop, arms outstretched, still half-naked. She lay under the spinning fan, watching the blades blur mesmerisingly.
The rush of adrenalin finally abated. Rolling from the bed, Dawn dressed and forced herself to head downstairs for some food. If it wasn’t for Ryan’s call earlier, she’d have curled up in bed and slept the early evening away, wallowing in depression.
If she failed to find Lisa and Abby, then her whole family would be gone. She’d be alone. Scoffing at herself, she slammed the dresser drawer. Who was she kidding? She was alone, had been since the day she left her family—left Cooktown.
All the one-night stands, short-lived relationships, drinking, gambling, partying. She’d been alone throughout it all. How could she not have seen it before now?
********
The buzz in the front bar and dining room caught Dawn off guard as it filtered up the stairs.
‘First beer is on the house and don’t try for two because I’ve got a memory like a steel trap.’ Mari’s voice rang out with authority and power belying her tiny frame.
Pushing her way through the crowd, Dawn spotted Ryan fending off a tall, blonde backpacker with curvy hips and a bust to match. He didn’t appear to be trying very hard, until he saw Dawn approaching.
The woman spun around, glared, then scurried away, as though Dawn had spoilt her fun.
‘Don’t stop on my account.’
She slid into the seat opposite.
‘Stop what?’
His grin said he knew exactly what she was implying.
She leant over so he could hear her. ‘You said the autopsy report was in.’
Ryan scanned the room.
‘It’s a bit busy in here to discuss. How about we go to my accommodation?’
Dawn considered Ryan’s eyes. Was he trying to hit on her? Possibly. Did she care? Probably not.
He was an attractive guy, with muscles in all the right places, broad shoulders, stylishly cut wavy hair and a five o’clock shadow that put George Michael to shame. He was everything she looked for in a hook-up. A little arrogant, attractive, not interested in anything long term.
As much as she wanted the release of a quick romp, she wanted to find her sister more and there was no doubt in her mind the recent body and Lisa’s disappearance were connected.
‘Do they have a lounge or bar?’
Ryan smirked. ‘It’s got a balcony opening to the street, if being in the public eye makes you feel safer.’
‘Safer.’ Dawn scoffed.
Ryan shimmied out of the seat. Dawn followed, admiring Ryan’s butt in the form-fitting cargo shorts he’d changed into.
A few minutes later, Dawn gazed out the window of Ryan’s accommodation. Sitting at the top of the hill, a few streets back from the main street overlooking the Endeavour River estuary and sunset, the renovated Queenslander was geared up for holiday letting.
‘This place must have cost a bomb.’
Ryan shrugged his shoulders. ‘I whacked it on my Visa.’
‘You paid for your own accommodation?’
‘I’ll put in a claim for reimbursement when I get back.’
‘The Queensland police force must be a lot more generous than SA. This place is way outside the allowance I get when travelling.’
Dawn thought about the run-down motel she stayed in at Coober Pedy. The orange bedspread came out of the sixties and was worn enough to indicate it wasn’t an attempt at fashionable decor.
‘They won’t cover it all.’
Dawn let the subject drop. Where Ryan stayed and how much it cost was the last thing on her mind right now.
‘Wine?’
‘No thanks.’
An eyebrow rose, but he didn’t push.
She knew alcohol and Ryan were a mix she’d regret. What was going on with her? A week ago, she would have jumped at this scenario. A scene flashed before her eyes. Ryan sweaty, naked, tequila shots and lines of salt laid out on his naked chest.
She must have blushed.
‘You okay?’
Drawing a calming breath, Dawn nodded. ‘Yep. I’ll grab a water. Can I see the autopsy report?’
Ryan pointed to a file sitting on a round coffee table between two matching couches with plush cream-coloured fabric.
The thought Ryan hadn’t taken it to the pub with him made Dawn wary she was being set up. But she was a big girl and knew how to say no.
Do I?
Ryan poured her a glass of water, placed it on the bar before opening a tall, fully stocked wine and beer fridge to retrieve a beer. Flipping the top off, he shoved the bottle into a stubby holder and collected her glass of water.
She rolled her lips, considered if one wine would be okay, but quickly decided it wouldn’t. Not today. Not with all the stress and a good-looking guy within easy reach.
If she slept with Ryan, she’d risk her access to this case and there was no way she was willing to do that.
Sitting, she reached for the report.
‘Didn’t you want to sit on the balcony?’
Ryan hoisted the glass towards a wall of windows with billowing curtains.
‘Yep.’ She rose, opening the file and reading as she walked.
‘Like your friendly ranger friend said, the victim is likely Indigenous. Hair texture, skin colour, eye colour, are all consistent with Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal traits. The coroner found water in her lungs, so, as suspected, she drowned.’
Ryan strolled onto the deck and pulled out a patio chair ready to sit as he explained what was in the report.
‘If you already knew what was in the report, why am I here?’
‘You asked to see it.’
Dawn puffed out her cheeks. Definitely a set-up. She pulled out the chair at the end of the table, as far away from Ryan as possible, and sat, slapping the report on the table and began reading.
‘It says here it’s fresh water.’
‘Chlorinated to be exact.’
‘So, we’re back to Fairweather?’
‘No. We’re back to someone drowned the girl elsewhere and dumped her body out at Archer Point. How many private pools are there in Cooktown?’
‘I don’t know, but this is about the swimming team. I know it is.’
‘We’ve got no evidence to support that.’
‘We need DNA to confirm the girl’s identity.’
‘I’ll go see her mother tomorrow.’
‘I’ll come with you, and I think Michael should be there too.’
‘You got the hots for the local ranger, then?’
‘No.’ Do I?
An uncomfortable silence grew between them.
‘He’s local, works with the Indigenous youth. Speaks the language, understands the culture. The Aboriginal people have different views on death and can be very uncomfortable speaking the name of the dead. I don’t understand it all. But we need to be culturally sensitive.’
‘What a load of crap. Politically correct bullshit is what it is.’
‘If you don’t take Michael and this blows up in your face, don’t blame me.’
Dawn pushed away from the table. ‘Are you dropping me back or should I call a taxi?’
Ryan’s chair squealed on the tiles as he rose and crossed the patio towards her. His eyes were hungry. Dawn’s pulse quickened.
Her sister’s face flickered into her mind as Ryan grabbed her around the waist and pulled her hard against his chest, planting his lips on hers.
A rush of blood left Dawn’s head and she returned his frantic kisses as he lifted her by the butt cheeks onto the table.
Wordless, confusing thoughts about Abby and Lisa, and Cooktown and the old Queenslander she grew up in rolled through her mind, creating a weird sensation like a wave of cool air.
‘No!’ She pushed Ryan away with her palm and turned her lips from his.
‘You want this.’
‘Yes. But no! I want to find my sister and niece.’
‘You’re not going to get anywhere tonight.’
Ryan’s breath was hot against her ear—his body firm against hers, as she sat on the patio table, out in the fresh air, out in the open where anyone could see. Except the balcony was higher than any other building in the area. They had privacy if she wanted it.
‘I said no. Are you taking me home, or am I calling a taxi?’
She shoved him away.
‘You send out all the wrong signals, you know.’
‘I can send out whatever signals I want. No means no.’
Ryan scoffed. ‘I’ll drop you back.’
‘Ryan.’
She waited until he made eye contact again.
‘You’re right. I sent out the signals. Normally, a quick round in the bedroom with you would relieve tension, satisfy us both. But this place ...’
She waved her hand to encompass the skyline.
‘It doesn’t matter. Let’s go.’ He didn’t want to hear her excuses. He didn’t want to know how coming home was hurting her. Or changing her. Or both.
‘Are we good?’ Dawn asked as Ryan stalked past the billowing curtains towards the front door.
‘I’ll never mention it if you don’t.’
‘Done.’