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Dawn jolted awake to the sound of a kookaburra laughing outside her window. He was quickly joined by another, then another, until a chorus of birds laughed at her horrible lack of sleep.
They’d scoured through the P & C minutes for hours, finally deciding to snatch some sleep before starting again early. But between the breezeless, hot, sticky night and vivid, unrelenting dreams of drowning in paperwork, she’d barely managed a few hours’ sleep.
Stretching, she fought her way out from under the mosquito net, being careful not to catch it and tear the whole thing down from the ceiling.
She dressed in a white tank top and loose-fitting shorts with a muted floral pattern. Crossing to the dressing table mirror, she scrutinised the dark puffy shadows beneath her eyes. Her brunette hair was showing the slightest bit of grey at the roots, and thin, uncontrolled frizzy ends stuck out at all angles.
She combed it back against her head, willing it to behave until she could get it trimmed.
Coffee.
She desperately needed a cappuccino, but Lisa didn’t have a machine and she didn’t have the energy to drive or walk to the main street.
Deciding on another cup of tea, she pressed the kettle button down and unlocked the screen door, hoping to find a cool breeze blowing outside.
Nothing but the scent of stale, rotting vegetation greeted her.
Stepping out, she crossed to the balcony, stretched and opened her arms wide to the sunrise, then jumped as something caught her eye across the deck.
Spinning, she frantically searched for her weapon, but realised she wasn’t wearing it.
‘Hey. Wait up.’ Michael held his hands up, despite her not pointing a gun in his face.
‘What the hell are you doing out here?’
She glanced down both sides of the long, wide veranda, wondering where he came from, then realised he had a pillow on the outdoor lounge, pushed to one end, a double-barrel shotgun pressed up against the wall next to it.
‘Just keeping a promise.’
‘What promise?’
‘To myself. Lisa insisted on coming back to the house. Until you catch Jessica’s murderer, I’ll camp out here.’
‘There’s no need.’
‘Maybe not. I’m sure you can take care of yourself. But maybe you can consider me your backup. You seem to like having a partner.’
‘Ryan? He’s not my partner. I don’t even work in Queensland.’
Michael shrugged like he wasn’t buying it.
Do I consider Ryan my partner? I guess he is, on this case, sort of.
‘What’s the plan today then?’ Michael deftly changed the subject. Dawn didn’t change it back.
‘The plan today is for you to go back to work. Before your Elders, or your boss or whoever it is you answer to, get stroppy with me.’
‘I told you, I’ve taken leave.’
‘Michael, as much as I appreciate the help, this could get dangerous, and I can’t be responsible ...’
‘You’re not.’
Lisa stepped out onto the veranda, hands holding her head like it might fall from her shoulders any second. Her dark blonde hair was tangled and matted, but she still looked amazing.
‘What the hell! Your voices are loud enough to wake the dead,’ she hissed.
‘Sorry,’ they said in unison.
‘Since you’ve woken me up, I might as well cook breakfast.’
‘I thought you’d be an early bird these days, with all the yoga and meditation stuff you do.’
‘There is absolutely nothing I’ll get up at the crack of dawn for, except Abby, or an early flight to an exotic destination. And since Abby doesn’t wake up early, ever, and I’m not expecting to win the lotto anytime soon, I’m usually blissfully asleep at this hour.’
‘Well, the sun comes up so freakin’ early here. The birds woke me.’
‘Wear earplugs and one of those mask thingies.’ Lisa waved her hand in front of her face.
Dawn glanced at her watch. ‘I need to get to the station anyway.’
‘Do you need help?’ Michael puffed the pillow out and put it back where it belonged on the outdoor lounge, picked up his gun and turned to face Dawn expectantly.
‘Actually. Staying right here with Abby and Lisa is good, if you are okay with that?’
‘Here? I’m taking Abby to school and then I’ve got work to do.’
‘School? Abby can’t go to school when we are investigating the P & C and the Summersets, and you helped take the minutes from the school.’
Lisa dismissed Dawn with the wave of her hand and strolled away towards the kitchen door.
Dawn followed. ‘Don’t ignore me, Lisa. I’m serious.’
‘What are they going to do? Kidnap me in broad daylight?’
‘Possibly.’
‘Abby will be with teachers all day. And I’ll be seeing clients at work. No one has tried to come after me so far. I don’t know anything, and I can’t stay cooped up here all day. We finished going through the P & C paperwork. I’m done.’
Lisa disappeared inside. Dawn sighed.
‘I’ll keep an eye on her.’
‘Thanks. I appreciate it. Two women are dead, Ronnie is missing, and somehow Lisa thinks she’s immune.’
‘Denial is easier for some people.’ Michael’s tone made Dawn turn to study him. Were they still talking about the murders?
‘I have to go. I’ll see you later today, or maybe tonight. If anything happens, let me know. Even if it seems inconsequential.’
‘Inconsequential. Got it.’ He saluted, a smile creeping across his lips.
‘I’m sorry. Occupational habit.’
‘It’s fine. I like being told what to do. Clear communication makes life a lot simpler.’ He stepped closer.
Definitely not talking about the case now.
‘Gotta run.’
Now wasn’t the time to think about relationships. She had her career ahead of her. A promotion on the radar.
As she brushed her teeth and packed her handbag, she couldn’t stop thinking about the young constable in Coober Pedy—choosing to stay in the outback for love, over a budding career. As bad a decision as she thought it was at the time, she now wasn’t so sure Jenny had it all wrong.