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The sound of the occasional heavy raindrop pinged the iron roof as Dawn changed out of her dirty blouse, into one of Lisa’s brightly coloured tops and left the kitchen to keep her promise to Abby. By the time she lowered herself onto the cane lounge, the drops had intensified—hitting the iron like rapid fire from an automatic rifle.
Abby gazed out at the thunderclouds, giggling as the darkened sky was illuminated with forks of lightning. The occasional rumble of thunder made her jump, as the entire house vibrated.
‘Mummy says it’s the gods grumbling at each other, not me, so I don’t need to worry.’
Dawn fought the urge to roll her eyes, and opened her mouth to explain how thunder was nothing of the sort, but stopped as Lisa joined them outside.
‘I’ve asked Ronnie to come over for a drink and watch Abby while I help with your investigation.’
‘She buy it?’
‘I think so.’ Lisa sat down next to Dawn and Abby cuddled up close as another bolt of lightning split the sky.
They sat in silence a moment, then Lisa asked.
‘Do you think Ronnie could be involved in this somehow?’
‘I don’t know, but she didn’t give you up, so maybe she was only being extra cautious, or ...’ Dawn ran the scene through her head. Ronnie was happy to see her and maybe, if given the chance, she would have told her about Lisa, but Brad interrupted her.
The front screen door creaked, then slammed. Abby jumped from the lounge and bolted for the kitchen. Dawn missed the warmth of her body instantly.
‘It’s Auntie Ronnie.’ The little girl called as she disappeared inside.
‘She never misses a beat, does she?’
‘Not usually.’
‘What’s with the gods being angry bullcrap?’
‘It’s what Mum used to tell us. Don’t you remember?’
Dawn searched the recesses of her mind. Finally, she shrugged.
‘You should tell her the scientific reason.’
‘Why? She’ll learn it in school. Why take all the magic and mystery out of life?’
‘Because gods don’t actually control the thunder and lightning.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
Dawn opened her mouth to start a full-on argument over theology versus science, but Abby’s deflated figure stomping out onto the veranda stopped her.
‘What’s up?’
‘It’s not Ronnie. It’s only Michael.’ Her bottom lip drooped.
Michael opened the back screen door wide.
‘Sorry Abby.’
He held up a bottle of wine. ‘I picked up a few extra things from the shops. I hope you don’t mind.’
Lisa stood, swooping the bottle from his grasp before Dawn could utter a word about not drinking wine. She needed to keep her wits about her tonight.
‘Hello. Anyone here?’
The female voice sounded from the left side of the house, coming around the wide veranda.
‘I heard voices out here, so I thought I’d come straight out back.’
Ronnie poked her head around the corner. Dressed in an A-cut floral kaftan with tan coloured sandals and swept back hair in a loose bun, she seemed relaxed.
‘Come around. Michael was just opening the wine. Would you like a glass?’
‘Michael?’
Ronnie scanned the faces before her but didn’t get the chance to ask questions.
‘Auntie Ronnie!’
Abby’s ringlets bounced as she ran and leapt at Ronnie, who caught her without hesitation.
‘Abby. Will you hop down and help Michael find the glasses?’
Dawn needed Abby kept busy while she asked Ronnie questions. Questions she thought might upset the woman, and it seemed Abby thought a lot of her Aunt Ronnie, who wasn’t an aunt at all.
The last thing Dawn wanted to do was upset Abby. Was she seriously vying for her niece’s attention? Probably.
Abby hardly knew who she was. It seemed Aunt Ronnie had been around Abby all her life.
I haven’t been there for her. Why should she favour me over a fake aunt who has at least acted like one?
‘Okay, Auntie Dawn, but only because you asked.’
‘Thanks, Abby. You’re such a good girl.’
Win for Auntie Dawn!
Abby disappeared into the kitchen, Michael a few steps behind her. He stopped in the doorway and glanced back at Dawn, a question on his face she couldn’t interpret.
‘You want me to find some snacks too?’
‘That would be perfect. Take your time.’
He nodded he understood what she needed him to do.
‘Ronnie. So good you could duck around.’
‘I thought I was keeping Abby busy so you could go over your investigation. What are you investigating anyway?’
Like she doesn’t know!
‘Take a seat, Ronnie. I need to ask you something.’
Dawn ushered Ronnie to the lounge she’d been sitting on earlier and pulled up a single cane stool for herself.
‘Do I need a lawyer?’ The question had a hint of sarcasm, and Ronnie was smiling, but her eyes were pinched.
‘I’m not a cop here Ronnie. I’m only trying to keep my sister safe. She told you what she thought she saw. I’m wondering why you didn’t go to the police when you heard we were looking for her?’
Ronnie sat at the edge of the lounge—her eyes darted from Lisa to Dawn without resting on either long.
‘It was none of my business.’
‘But what about after you knew a body was found out at Archer Point?’
‘Still none of my business.’
‘But why not tell me when you saw me on the street?’
Ronnie shrugged.
‘So it had nothing to do with Brad?’
‘Brad. What’s he got to do with anything?’
Too quick. Too defensive.
‘I’m trying to work out why you let me, and half the Cooktown police force, run around in circles when you knew where my sister was and had a good idea of the identity of the body recovered from the water at Archer.’
‘The same reason your sister didn’t, I guess. I don’t want to upset anyone in town. I don’t want to be hiding out in one of those hovels in Hopevale.’
‘Hovels?’
‘They barely have running water out there.’
‘That’s an exaggeration, Ronnie.’ Lisa jumped in to defend her Indigenous friends.
Michael stepped out with two wine glasses, handing one to Ronnie and one to Lisa. ‘We tend to enjoy the simple life.’
Ronnie waved the wine away and rose. ‘I don’t think I’m staying. I thought I was coming to look after Abby. I’m done. You want any information about what Lisa told me, my family, or anything else, you call my lawyer. Lisa knows who he is.’
The haughty tone set Dawn’s hackles into overdrive.
Ronnie stalked from the veranda without a backward glance and Dawn let her get almost out of sight, but couldn’t help herself.
‘Your family. An interesting topic considering we were talking about Lisa and the possible murder of Jessica Mills.’
Ronnie jerked to a stop, but didn’t turn.
‘I’ll definitely call your lawyer, after I work out what it is about your family you don’t want to talk about.’
Ronnie turned back, her eyes wild with fear, or anger. Dawn couldn’t be sure which.
‘Brad said you were trouble. He said you’d be back on the bandwagon trying to clear Fraser’s name and he was right.’
Ronnie stalked back towards Dawn, her finger stabbing the air, her back rigid.
‘You’re the one who racked off, left your family behind. You leave my family alone. You hear me!’
‘Fraser. What has Jessica Mills’ death got to do with Fraser?’
Ronnie’s face lost all colour. ‘Nothing. Nothing at all.’ She spun on her heel, visibly shook herself like she needed to wake herself up, then stormed away. This time she didn’t stop. This time, Dawn said nothing.
Everyone was quiet until they heard Ronnie’s car engine firing up and rev loudly as she backed around and floored it.
Thunder rumbled across the sky. The house vibrated.
Abby tugged Lisa’s hand. ‘Why is Auntie Ronnie angry like the gods, Mummy?’
Dawn was wondering the same thing.