Deadly Secrets

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Charlotte alternated between the window in the bedroom and the balcony. And checked her watch and phone every few minutes. Trev must be getting close. He’d take Rosie home first…or would she insist on accompanying him? Poor Rosie, dragged away from enjoying a rare shopping trip. Not that Trev sounded too excited about his experience.

On her way from bedroom to balcony, she stopped and closed her eyes. The adrenaline still coursed through her, making her chest tight and emotions unstable. She took measured breaths to the bottom of her lungs and opened her eyes a little at a time. Better.

This wasn’t Octavia Morris lying dead in front of her. No blood on the rug in the perfect room wiped clean by Octavia’s killer…and former friend. She didn’t have to deal with ex Leading Senior Constable Sid Browne. He was no longer a police officer and Trev would take seriously any input from Charlotte, not brush it aside.

Once he was here, she’d show him the grave. Or whatever it was.

You know what it is.

Much as Charlotte wanted her find to be nothing more than a teenager’s prank, or even a tribute to a lost one, her instincts said otherwise. The size and shape were a giveaway. The level of the ground dropped beneath the flowers. Whichever poor soul was buried there was long decomposed.

Back at the railing on the balcony, Charlotte checked the street. No Trev. But a familiar car drew up below. The man who stepped out looked straight up and grinned. “Not enough trouble going on in town these days?”

“Very funny. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Before Bryce had time to reply, Charlotte grabbed her phone and keys, locked the door and ran down the steps. He’d been one of the detectives involved in solving Octavia’s murder, and helping her when things got nasty, but they’d had a rocky start.

He waited in the driveway; arms crossed. “Detective.”

“Detective.” She grinned at the nickname he’d given her earlier in the year.

“Believe you need supervision.”

“What on earth did Trevor tell you?”

“Not to let you go into the bush with a shovel. Actually, do you have one?”

“Of course. But you’re not going to just dig up a potential crime scene. Are you?” She put her hands on her hips. He wasn’t getting near the garage until she knew what he had planned. “Sid Browne wanted to walk all over Octavia’s house and I’m not about to let—”

“Chill. I’m teasing.”

“We’ll need your shovel, Charlie.” Trev hurried down the driveway. “Hi, Bryce, thanks for getting here so fast.”

The men shook hands.

Charlotte bit her bottom lip. If Trev wanted the shovel, presumably he knew how to avoid damaging evidence. But it bothered her. She wasn’t a police officer, let alone a forensics expert.

Let them do their job.

“Are you happy to show us the way?” Trev asked her.

“Do you really need the shovel?”

“Best to take it with us. Or I can go get one from home.”

Bryce wandered away to make a phone call. Charlotte headed for the garage and opened the roller door.

“Charlie?”

She took the shovel from a hook and held it out.

Trev stepped close to her as he took it. He looked worried. “I don’t know what’s under those flowers and it may be a pet or someone’s treasured memories. Or a body. But the weather has most likely destroyed any trace evidence and neither Bryce nor I will make things worse.”

A small sigh escaped Charlotte’s lips and her shoulders untensed a little. “Okay.”

“Sure?”

“Sure.”

Charlotte retraced her steps, Trev close behind and Bryce a little further back, taking his time and watching everything. Or at least it appeared that way when she’d glanced at him.

“Why are there daisies here?” she pointed them out to Trev. “I don’t think they are native plants and they are so obvious along this path.”

“Good question. Are they what got your attention?”

“Yes. From the window in the back bedroom, these are clear when the sunlight touches them. So now I’m thinking somebody deliberately covered the window.”

“Hold the thought. There’s a lot to do before we decide if this needs more than a look.”

“Hang on a sec. Not sure which way.” Charlotte referred to one of her earlier photos and pointed. “Oh. This way.”

With a sense of déjà vu, Charlotte swept aside a low branch. The grave was there.

“Stay put, please.”

Much as she wanted to go closer, Charlotte wasn’t about to argue. Not in front of Bryce, who brushed past to follow Trev. She planted herself on a fallen log to watch.

Trev and Bryce took their time viewing the spot from different angles, nobody speaking. Bryce slipped gloves on and squatted at one end. Trev took photographs and Charlotte snapped more as Bryce lifted the wreath.

He placed it to one side. “Fresh. Can smell the flowers.”

“And more of those daisies.” Trev gestured to the planted mass. “Let me get some more photos. The way they’re planted looks deliberate.”

Bryce waited until Trev lowered his phone, then used his fingers to remove dirt from a small section. First a handful of flowers. A scoop of dark soil. Then more. Charlotte crept closer as Trev peered over Bryce’s shoulder.

“Take more please. See this? I’ll clear a fraction more…is that better?”

“Yup.” Trev’s voice was gruff as he captured image after image. “Done.”

Bryce straightened.

Charlotte got a glimpse into the hole. A bone.

“Didn’t Trev tell you to stay over there?” Bryce said. He glanced at Trev. “Human?”

“Charlotte?” Trev asked.

She dropped onto her haunches. “Metacarpal, possibly a thumb from the shape. Short of digging up more, that’s my best estimate.”

“And we’re not the ones to disturb this anymore.” Trev held out a hand to Charlotte and she took it, standing and holding onto him for a moment.

Silence fell as they all stared at the wreath. The comfort of Trev’s hand filled a bit of the empty space in her stomach that had opened up since finding the grave. For once, she wished her instincts weren’t so good.

He squeezed her fingers and released them. “What now, Bryce?”

“I’ll go make some calls. Get a crime unit out here and arrange a parameter for Crime Scene Services. Doubt if much will happen given how close we are to nightfall.”

“Charlie, you go with Bryce.”

“I’d rather stay. If I’m allowed.”

Bryce laughed as he headed out of the clearing. “Why would it stop you?”

Charlotte waited until he was gone. “He always assumes the worst of me.”

“He rates you highly, Charlotte. Otherwise you’d have been sent back to the main track once we knew the right direction.” Trev leaned against the fallen tree. “Thank you for handling this so well. Recognising what you’d found and contacting me.”

Eyes drawn to the flowers covering the grave, Charlotte joined Trev. “She’s been there for a long time.”

“She?”

“I think. How sad for her to be here all alone for so many years. Nobody knowing where she was. Nobody able to grieve for her.” Charlotte blinked back a prickle of tears at the back of her eyes.

“Someone knew she was here.” Trev pointed to the wreath. “Even if those flowers self-sowed over the body, the wreath didn’t put itself there.”

“And recently. Is that why you’re staying until help arrives?”

“Now we know what this is, my job is to prevent the area being tampered with. This clearing won’t be left alone until CSS say so. Could be days.”

“I’ll bring you coffee. And food.”

“Coffee would be nice. But there’ll be a rotation on watch.” Trev put an arm around Charlotte’s shoulders and held her against him for a moment. “Mum wanted to see if you’d like to come by for dinner tonight. And you should. Even if I’m here.”

His arm was nice. Safe. She was always safe around him. “I will. But I hope you’re not here all night.”

“I’ll know more once Bryce gets back. Go home, Charlie.”

“Are you sure?”

“Much as I enjoy being alone with you in this otherwise picturesque place…yes. And keep your phone out and your eyes open.” He brushed his lips against her cheek and then released her.

She was cold now. It happened every time he held her and then let her go.

“I’ll walk with you to the path.”

“I’m fine. You protect her.” Charlotte stretched. “At least now she’ll get a proper burial. Eventually. Whoever she is.”