Deadly Past

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Much as Trev’s offer of a kiss tempted her, Charlotte needed to know the bookshop was in one piece. She had met with a business banker a few days ago to begin the process of financing her purchase of the bookshop from Rosie. And although Rosie was the one who’d initiated the idea, she was also the one avoiding some of Charlotte’s recent questions.

It wasn’t a surprise.

Rosie struggled with change. It took ages for her to accept she could have a second wonderful relationship in her life after losing her beloved husband years ago. Charlotte wasn’t about to push or rush her friend into anything. The bookshop meant a lot to them both and whether she worked there or owned it, there would always be happiness among the shelves.

She unlocked the back door and disarmed the alarm before locking herself in. The shop smelled of acrid smoke. Not unbearable but unpleasant. Later she’d spend some time here with the back door open and some scented candles.

Upstairs, the smell was far worse. Being higher up, the smoke had drifted across from the corner and with the rain last night, settled above the whole block. Charlotte ventured onto the balcony. There was activity below with fire investigators arriving and Trev huddled in conversation with Katrina and Bryce, detectives she was becoming all too familiar with. She liked them both, but would rather see them on a social basis than in their official capacity.

Leaving the sliding door wide, Charlotte went through the apartment and opened every window, then the front door. The temperature dropped inside but as she brewed coffee, the smokiness reduced.

Rosie sent her a message.

At Lew’s house. Will let you know when leaving.

She texted back.

Bookshop okay. Have apartment windows open to clear smoke. Having lunch with Trev. Talk soon.

A love heart was the response and Charlotte smiled. Almost since she’d moved to Kingfisher Falls, Rosie had hinted at, suggested, and even insisted Trev was the right man for Charlotte. Sometimes her enthusiasm had been too much for Charlotte, when she didn’t even understand her own emotions or accept she could have a future with the gentle, handsome police officer. But everything changed and it was fair to say they were a couple.

Coffee cup warming her hands, she headed to the third bedroom, the one which overlooked hectares of bushland behind the shops. Only recently had the big window been accessible. A large wardrobe covered it for many years and moving it had led Charlotte to the discovery of a shallow grave deep in the forest.

So much happened afterwards. An investigation into long-buried remains. The odd behaviour of the sister of the victim who disappeared as quickly as she arrived in town. And an attempt on Charlotte’s life by the killer. During all of this, Charlotte had visited her mother in Brisbane and discovered she was adopted. And had a sister. Somewhere.

She stared over the trees. The morning was grey with low clouds and a bite in the wind. For a long time she’d been spooked by the dark and moody forest, only cutting across one corner to shorten the distance to the top of the waterfalls. She understood why. There’d been such sadness and loss there. And although the place was easy to get lost in, Charlotte no longer feared its depths.

You need a name. Not just forest or bushland or scary place.

Charlotte made another coffee and returned to the window. This parcel of land was a curiosity. Locals assumed it belonged to the council but the recent events in its midst raised questions. Part of it was council land, once owned by a previous resident of Kingfisher Falls. Nobody knew why council owned it or what they intended to use it for because it was overgrown and forgotten.

New information revealed some of the land was privately owned. Kevin and Terrance Murdoch were born and bred local brothers who’d once run a conveyancing firm. At some point they’d made a quiet purchase. With Kevin now deceased, Terrance presumably was the sole owner. And he was a member of the council.

With a sigh, Charlotte closed the window. Staring out at the forest wasn’t helping her understand. Trev’s time in the city at the trial interrupted his investigation into the Murdoch brothers and with the fire…and poor Cecil, who knew when he’d revisit it. It might not even mean anything. Charlotte had a dim view of the council, based on their actions and sometimes inaction. None of it was a priority now. She had to find out who killed an innocent real estate agent and set fire to his shop.

Back downstairs, Charlotte propped open the back door of the bookshop to let air circulate. She’d have liked to have the front open but didn’t want to confuse customers, several who’d already peered through the door to see if anyone was there.

She lit several candles along the counter. Rosie had taken to collecting scented candles after spending time with Harmony Montgomery, the clairvoyant. Charlotte had to admit to loving the subtle scents and even bought one for the apartment. She’d extinguish them before leaving, but for now they filled the bookshop with a combination of citrus, roses, and the sea.

Back in River’s End, her friend Christie sold her own line of candles through her beauty spa. She should ask her to send some.

Charlotte stopped in the middle of the bookshop and wrapped her arms around herself. River’s End was where she and Trev met. Where she began to deal with her past and seek a new beginning. She missed the pristine ocean beach bookended by rocky cliffs, the sweet town, and many of its residents, including a certain golden retriever named Randall.

Her phone rang and she jumped.

It was Trev. “Still okay for lunch?”

“I’m starving. Not sure why after that breakfast.”

“Ten minutes okay for you?” There was talk in the background. “Sorry, make it fifteen. Meet you there.”

Then he was gone again. He was so calm about it all. But that was Trev. Cool headed. Kind. Calm. Charlotte stopped reminiscing about the seaside town. She checked the front door was locked out of habit, then blew out the candles. There was a slight movement from the pavement and the hairs rose on the back of her arms, even before she glanced up.

Sid. Ex Leading Senior Constable Sid Browne was once the sole police presence in town. And as corrupt as could be. From the first time they’d met, he’d decided Charlotte was trouble and wanted her out of town, going as far as to make threatening phone calls and put bad reviews on the bookshop’s page.

Charlotte stalked to the window where he stared in. He stepped back, as though not expecting anyone inside. She put her hands on her hips and levelled her gaze at him. He knew not to cross her. They’d had enough encounters to size each other up. Only twice had their mutual dislike been set aside. Once when she’d helped him arrest some thieves, and then when he helped her after she’d been put in a dangerous position by someone else.

Sid glared at her, took a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

She took her phone out and photographed him, then turned the camera to show him the image. Cigarette hanging out of his mouth, he leaned forward and gave her a thumbs up. Charlotte rolled her eyes and turned her back. Enough of his silly tactics. Whatever he was doing wasn’t as important as her lunch date.

After turning on the alarm and locking the back door, Charlotte made her way to the front of the bookshop, relieved to find Sid was gone. There was the feel of rain in the air as she crossed the road. Fire and police vehicles still blocked part of the road and a uniformed officer put on rain jacket from behind his patrol car. There was movement inside the burnt-out shop as investigators sifted through the damaged building. Such a big job for them. She waited as a car was waved through. On the diagonal corner, Sid watched the real estate agency with Terrance Murdoch.

Charlotte carefully took a few photos of them, pretending to be answering the phone when Sid spotted her. She waved at him and he nudged Terrance, gesturing toward her.

For a moment she thought Terrance was about to storm over the intersection. Even from the distance the reddening of his neck and face was obvious and his hands clenched into fists as he stepped forward. Sid grabbed his arm and said something.

Time to find Trevor.

She was already on Terrance’s radar. He blamed her for his brother’s recent death even though she’d done nothing but attempt to talk Kevin out of making a terrible decision. But Terrance was a man who blamed everyone else when things went wrong. And he was grieving his brother plus facing a lengthy investigation into his part of Kevin’s criminal activity, so not the person to stir up. Those two men were up to something.

Something sinister.