Deadly Secrets

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

“What a terrible discovery.” Rosie poured two glass of gin and tonic over ice. “But what made you look there in the first place? Shall we sit outside while its warm enough? Here you go, darling.”

“Thanks.” Charlotte took both glasses and followed Rosie’s wheelchair to the outdoor dining table. Once Rosie settled at one end, Charlotte handed one glass over and sat to her right. The first sip was welcome. More than she expected. She let it reach her stomach and warm it before remembering Rosie’s question.

“It was a trick of the light, I guess. Sunshine on the bushland at the right moment and there they were, a trail of flowers.”

“What kind of flowers? Where were you?”

“Oh. Trev helped me move the wardrobe and the window offers a wonderful view of the forest behind the bookshop. I was closing the window after cleaning in there. And they are a daisy. I think. Here, I took some pics.”

“Of course you did.” Rosie’s lips curled upward.

“Well, you know I do.” Charlotte scrolled until she found a couple taken well away from the clearing. “Along the path there are clumps of these.” She turned the phone.

Rosie used her finger and thumb to enlarge the image. “Definitely an aster of some kind. If you bring me one, I might know which, if it matters.”

Did it? Who knew, so soon in the investigation.

“I recognise the look on your face. You may not be so free to do your sleuthing thing with Trev around.” Rosie held her hand out to Mellow, one of her cats, who’d wandered out of the house. Mellow jumped onto her lap with a purr. “But at least I’ll spend less time worrying about what you are up to.”

“Me? I’m always safe, Rosie.”

The disbelief on Rosie’s face was enough to make Charlotte laugh.

“Shall I count how many times you’ve put yourself into danger in the few months you’ve lived in Kingfisher Falls?”

“No. You really don’t need to go to the trouble. Dinner smells good.”

“It should. You were telling me about seeing the flowers.”

Charlotte gave Rosie an edited version of events up to leaving Trev alone in the clearing. “Eventually, I took coffee back to Trev and Bryce and they were still waiting for some unit to arrive. It was getting dark and Trev insisted on walking me almost all the way home again.”

“Good for him.”

“I’m quite able to walk along a path, Rosie.” Charlotte finished her drink, not quite believing herself. Independent as she was, his presence in the twilight had been welcome. Whoever left the wreath may be around. Watching. And not have good intentions. She’d gone straight to the back bedroom and waved to him where he’d waited at the edge of the forest.

“Except now we might have another killer on the loose. And you, darling, are too special to put at risk.” Rosie put her hand over Charlotte’s. “I might give dinner a quick stir.”

“Oh, let me. And I’ll refresh these if you like.” She took both glasses to the kitchen. In the oven was a large ceramic pot. Charlotte lifted it out, surprised at its weight. When she removed the lid, delectable scents of earthy herbs and vegetables rose with the steam. Her stomach rumbled in response as she stirred.

“Can you flick the rice cooker on?” Rosie called.

After stirring, Charlotte returned the pot to the oven and checked the rice cooker was ready to start. Once that was on, she made new drinks and re-joined Rosie. “What is in dinner? It looks and smells fantastic.”

Rosie beamed. “One of my originals. We used to eat this at least once a week and the boys named it a beansarrole. Graeme and Trev would devour it after a cricket match, yet it is so simple. Root vegetables and the more variety the better. A whole garlic head. Bay leaves from the tree out the back. A bunch of thyme and sprinkle of cumin seeds. Tomatoes. And red kidney beans or chickpeas, or even lentils. Whatever I have on hand. Top with natural yoghurt.”

“I can’t wait.”

“To homemade meals and good company.” Rosie raised her glass.

“And not having to wait too long.” Charlotte grinned.

Clink.

Trev slumped against the wall outside the front door, searching his pockets for keys. He had an hour to shower, eat and return to the clearing to sit and watch all night.

Over a lost soul.

Laughter drifted from outside and he smiled. On a day like this, hearing his mother and his…whatever Charlotte was, laugh, was better than winning the lottery. A reminder of what he had. The happiness in his life. Unlike the poor person, or remains of a person, in the forest.

He gave up on the keys. A growl at his feet made him glance down. “Mister Mayhem. Why aren’t you with your sister?” Mayhem’s tail snaked from side to side with displeasure and he glared at Trev.

Trev tapped on the door.

Charlotte opened it, the welcome on her face warming his heart. Then, her eyes dropped to the annoyed cat and she raised her eyebrows. “Please, both of you, come on in.” she stepped back and Mayhem stalked past her without acknowledging she existed.

“Perfect timing, darling. Dinner will be ten minutes.” Rosie wheeled down the hallway, Mellow on her lap. “You are staying?”

“Have to be back in about an hour. I might shower before dinner if there’s time?”

“Go. We’re having beansarrole.”

“Best news all day.” He kissed her cheek. “Back soon.”

A hot shower and change into uniform later, Trev followed his nose to the kitchen. His mother was instructing Charlotte on plating dinner and both were giggling. Really giggling. Perhaps the empty glasses on the counter contributed. He watched unnoticed, aware he was smiling and unable to do anything but enjoy their interaction.

Last year he’d brought Charlotte to visit Mum. They’d hit it off from the first moment and before he knew what happened, the woman he longed to know better had left to work for the woman he knew best. He’d held onto the promise of a future, never knowing how to help it happen. But it was Charlotte with her fierce sense of right and wrong who’d set the wheels in motion without realising.

“Then a dollop…no, that’s not a dollop.” Rosie took the spoon Charlotte held and extracted a big scoop of creamy yoghurt from a tub. “That, darling, is a dollop.”

“She’s right.” Trev announced his presence. “Now, shall I take these outside?”

Charlotte kept sneaking looks at Trev. There was something in his expression, in his eyes, she wasn’t used to seeing and it worried her. On the surface everything was normal. He kept a tight rein on what was bubbling beneath his normal relaxed self. He was a naturally calm person. She’d been with him in moments of extreme pressure and he’d always maintained a sense of cool control. This discovery of hers had rattled him.

“Do you think it is better with the inclusion of the turnip?” Rosie was focussed on her meal, spearing pieces of vegetable with her fork and scrutinising them. “I wasn’t sure, but some grew this year and I thought—”

“Mum, I love it.” As though to prove it, Trev filled his mouth.

“Oh. Okay then. They are baby turnips so taste quite sweet. I think.”

“Rosie, this is beyond delicious. And now I know how to make it, I shall practice once a week until it is perfect.” Charlotte sipped from a glass of wine Trev had poured earlier for her and for Rosie. He was on his second glass of water.

“Good. Good. Anyway, Trevor you can’t surely be out there all night?” Rosie’s tone gave away her concern. “Not alone.”

“Not alone, Mum. But we need to ensure there’s no chance of the site being interfered with. We’re armed with everything. Tarps in case it rains. There are floodlights set up. We even have plenty of food and coffee.”

Rosie grunted. “You call that food? Why don’t I send the leftovers with you?”

“Because I’m not at school.” Trev smiled and leaned across to kiss Rosie’s forehead. “Thank you though. But I’ve been at this for a while now.”

“How many skeletons did you find in River’s End?” Rosie wagged her fork at Trev. “None, I would imagine. No, it is Kingfisher Falls turning us all into investigators.”

Charlotte’s eyes darted from Rosie to Trev, who in turn, watched Charlotte.

“What?” She ventured.

He glanced at his watch. “I need to head back. We’ll do a statement tomorrow, okay? About what you found and so on.”

“Of course.”

And?

“I know you’re curious and like solving puzzles, but you need to be patient. Let everyone do their job.”

“I am patient.”

Even Rosie laughed.