They carried her through to the waiting ambulance. Her entire body protesting and shaking, she could no longer hold it together and let out a long wail. She thrashed about, kicked the wall and medical supplies went flying. Hands physically restraining her, holding her down. Cold liquid being injected into her body. Fuzzy edges, her body letting go, engulfing her in the deepening sinkhole of grief and regret.
34
Back at the station, Bill sank into his chair. It had been an intense start to the day; the adrenalin had flowed and exhaustion was creeping in.
He looked at the board with the assorted photos from this morning. “The priority is to get hold of Peter Evans in Martinborough. He might well be in danger.”
“Perhaps the mobile number we had for him was out of date,” Niko said. “I’ll call Martinborough and get one of their cops to knock on his door.”
“Great. In the meantime I’ll take Lexi’s Audi to the boys at the workshop. They might well have something that’ll take the paint off the bonnet. Otherwise it’s a complete repaint.”
Niko dialled Martinborough. “Sergeant Lawson speaking,” a cheerful voice sounded.
“Hi there. I’m Niko Sopoanga, calling from the Matakana police station. How are you?”
“We’re all good down here. Did you say Matakana, as in the playground for the rich and famous Aucklanders?”
“Yes, that’s the one. But it’s not as glamorous as it sounds.” Niko’s voice dropped. “Especially not right now. We’ve had some trouble here, possibly linked to a man living in Martinborough. Peter Evans, at 23 Penfold Drive. Can’t seem to get hold of him.”
“I’m afraid you’re a little too late,” Lawson said. “We found him dead in his house on Tuesday.”
Niko froze. “How did he die?” Bill was staring at him now.
“We found the body on the floor in the basement. He’d been stabbed multiple times, ultimately causing severe blood loss,” Lawson replied. “Interestingly enough, his left hand was missing. Severed post-mortem.”
“I think we’ve got your missing hand,” Niko said. “When does the pathologist estimate the time of death?”
“Sometime between last Friday late afternoon and early Saturday morning.”
“We found a male left hand on Sunday morning. It could well be a match, if you could send what you have, I’ll make sure you get what we’ve found so far.”
“Absolutely. Look forward to working with you. Let’s keep in touch.”
35
Isaac was just out of the shower and scrubbed clean, and in a rush to get home. He looked in a complete daze as he carried his bag to the car after the morning’s horrors. Lexi and Avery walked with him in silence to the car.
“Thanks for having me,” Isaac said.
“Sorry that you didn’t have a very relaxing time, mate.” Avery’s attempt at a joke went flat.
“Don’t worry. I loved seeing you guys but I’ve got some shit to sort. You never know when your number is up. I just hope they catch this maniac soon.”
Lexi’s stomach was churning. What if they were all in danger?
“Keep safe and take care of yourself mate,” Isaac shook Avery’s hand then gave Lexi a hug.
“Give Petra our love. I hope you two work things out,” Lexi said. A pang of hurt was festering in her chest. She wished that Avery would have come to the same insight, but shook it off. There was no place for self-pity on a day like today. Poor Tina and the boys.
“Thanks guys, it means a lot.” Dust whirled around the sleek sports car as Isaac drove down the driveway.
Avery’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
“You can pick up Lexi’s car this afternoon. The paint came off relatively easy,” Bill said.
“Thanks very much,” Avery said. “We appreciate it.”
“No problem. See you around three thirty.”
“That’s brilliant news,” Avery told Lexi. “The car will be ready for pickup soon, so you can take it to Orewa when you drop the children off.”
“Come on, kids,” Lexi called from the bottom of the stairs. “Let’s get going.”
Pushing and jostling, the kids piled down the stairs, an array of colourful sports bags piled at the bottom.
“You’ll only be away a few days, you’re not moving out of home,” Avery said, trying not to laugh.
“It’s all essentials apparently,” Gabriel said, rolling his eyes. “I tried.”
The car was unusually quiet, not even a peep from the back seat. The emotional roller-coaster of the last few days had taken its toll.
“Mum and I will see Bill at the station. You guys get yourselves an ice cream from up the road. We won’t be long,” Avery said, grabbing Lexi’s hand. “Everything will be okay, I promise,” he said.
She was unsure if he meant what was happening around them or the state of their marriage. The nagging feeling was still there in the pit of her stomach. She hoped her gut was wrong.
They didn’t talk as they passed the Four Square supermarket then crossed the road to the police station overgrown with bougainvillea blooms. Lexi found the combination of a sweet scent and sunshine strangely comforting. She had not been inside the Station for years, and this was her second visit in a matter of days.
A cheerful summer tune was playing on the radio as they went inside. Niko got up and greeted them with a smile. Bill was sitting down at the back. “It’s been an upsetting day. How are you both holding up?” he asked.
“Still in shock. Can’t believe that James is dead,” Avery said.
Lexi looked pale and drawn, Bill thought. “Lexi, you’re welcome to have a coffee in the lunchroom while you wait,” he said, “or sit on the terrace in the sun if you like.”
Avery sat down at the meeting table in the middle, his back to the front door, while Niko gathered his things.
Walking through to the kitchen Lexi looked to the right and saw a couple of large noticeboards in The Incident room to the side. A few graphic photos caught her off-guard and she hastily looked away. In the lunchroom she filled the jug, pressed the button and waited for it to boil. A mountain of used cups and plates cluttered the small sink and bench, you could tell there were two males working here. She found the last clean cup in the cupboard above the sink. The jug clicked off in a cloud of steam. A half-empty jar of freeze-dried coffee and some dodgy-looking tea bags sat on the bench. Deciding on the lesser of two evils she opened the coffee, took a whiff and tipped some into her cup. The fridge was in an equally interesting state and needed a good clean. The milk didn’t smell too bad; she checked the expiration date before pouring it in.
Her eyes wandered around the room. A half-dead Ficus in an enormous pot needed some love and attention; dozens of industry magazines were piled on the lunch table and a mop and bucket alongside an ancient vacuum cleaner sat idle in the corner.
They weren’t looking her way. Lexi didn’t know what possessed her, going into the Incident Room. she knew she shouldn’t be there, but curiosity overtook her. Some photos were from home. The warmth of the afternoon seemed to have disappeared and she shivered. She took in the photos from James’s house, culminating with the violent images of his battered body. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight. The close up of his face beaten to a pulp and the vast amount of blood on the floor made her swing around and race back into the lunchroom. Hands shaking, she flung the bi-fold doors open to the patio and grabbed hold of the trellis fence, focusing on a compact bird house a few metres behind. She was relieved Tina wasn’t the one that had found him like that.
The images replayed before her eyes. As Avery had said, it seemed the killer had wanted James to suffer. Would that be their fate as well ?
36
Lexi took a deep breath to compose herself before rinsing her cup out and adding it to the pile in the sink. Avery was still talking to Bill. Niko was back at his desk on the phone.
Bill looked up from his notes. “We’re just about done here.”
“That’s
great. I bet the children are wondering what’s taking so long.” Lexi was eager to get going.
“There’s just one more thing,” Bill said. “I’m very sorry to have to tell you, they have found Peter Evans dead at his house in Martinborough.”
“What?” Avery stood up abruptly, the blood draining from his face. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me as soon as we arrived?” he said, anger overtaking shock, his neck muscles and jaw tightening.
“I’m sorry, but I needed you to think without your head being clouded by more tragedy.”
“What the fuck is going on? First James and now Peter.” Avery shook his head.
“Actually, we think someone killed him on Friday or Saturday,” Niko said. “His body is missing a left hand. Tests are being run as we speak to see if that’s a match to the one under your house.”
Avery’s anger boiled over. “Of course it’s his fucking hand! What are you going to do about it?”
“We are taking the threat to your family extremely seriously, but you need to calm down, Avery,” Bill said. “Protection will be organised. Under no circumstances do we want you to stay there on your own.”
Lexi was standing in the door way, her face was white. “I won’t let anything happen to you or your family,” he told her. “First things first. Did you say you were taking the kids down to your parents?”
“Yes, I’m driving them down straight after this,” Lexi answered, still a bit dazed.
“Niko is organising some cops from Warkworth to come and stay with you two at the homestead as a precaution,” Bill said.
Avery and Lexi nodded. The air had gone out of them both — they were merely bobbing along in the current. Lexi had never felt more vulnerable and lonely.
Outside the station the afternoon sun had some heat in it and the pavement radiated it back like a heat gun blasting them from below. Avery headed down the road and Lexi had to sprint to catch up, grabbing his shoulder to get his attention. “Stop,” she gasped.
“Why?” Avery said tersely.
“I know you’re upset, but so am I. Can you just stop and take a moment? We have just had the second lot of tragic news today, Avery. The car and the children can wait for a few minutes.”
They perched on the stone wall in the shade of an old oak tree. Avery put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. He wiped his eyes and sniffed, feeling self-conscious, a grown man getting emotional in public. It terrified him that he could be the next victim, not so much for his own sake but leaving his family all alone.
Seeing his sensitive side was rare, but it gave Lexi hope.
By the time she got down to the corner, the children were looking bored and overheated, sitting in the shade outside the Four Square. “You took a long time. We’ve been waiting for ages,” Evie said, exasperated and on her way to having a meltdown.
“Sorry, guys. It took longer than we thought. Dad’s just picking up the car, then we’ll be on our way to Orewa.” There was no need for the children to know the whole story.
Evie and Samantha started bickering and Gabriel raised his voice telling them to cut it out. To Lexi’s surprise they did, and she shot him a grateful look. He was growing up and it made her heart swell.
Avery pulled up beside them, the Audi looked brand-new after its cut and polish and was gleaming in the sun. “Are you sure you’re up to driving the kids?” he asked.
“I’ll be fine. I promise to take it easy.”
“Give my love to your folks.” Avery pulled her close and hugged her, his broad shoulders swallowing her up. “Everything will be fine,” he said, kissing her gently. “I won’t let anything happen to our family, I promise.”
Lexi couldn’t speak for the lump in her throat.
“Don’t worry about dinner,” Avery said. “I’ll pop into the butchers down the road and pick up some steaks, I’ll have dinner ready by the time you get home.”
Avery followed the car as they drove away, hoping he could protect his family.
37
Orewa
The trip to the Orewa Gardens Retirement Village took twenty-five minutes. Lexi was preoccupied with the images she had seen on the wall at the police station. What had triggered such a vicious murderous spree — and why?
The sub-tropical gardens were buzzing with activities. They didn’t call it active retirement for nothing, she thought. On the nearby Pétanque court a competitive game was being played; next to it a group of residents were pottering around their allotments with laughter and chatter. Outside the café, others sat enjoying a late afternoon tea in the flower garden. Opposite, through large panoramic windows, she could see women in brightly coloured swim caps were enjoying their aqua aerobics to loud music.
“Look there’s Grandma, she’s in the pool,” Sam said excitedly. Lexi phoned her Dad, who said he’d be right down and would meet them at the café.
“Grandad!” Evie shrieked, making several residents jump, and ran into his arms.
“Lovely to have you here,” Bob said. “Hey kids, the exercise class in the pool is just about done. Do you want to jump in?” He didn’t have to ask the girls twice, but Gabriel was playing it cool and walked casually behind his sisters.
“Come on, love,” Bob said to Lexi, “let’s sit down and have a cup of tea while the children are having fun.” The feeling of calm and safety only a father can provide spread through her being. Bob came back with a tray of beautiful old china cups and saucers and a plate of freshly made blueberry muffins. The smell reminded her of her childhood.
Bob put his weathered hand on Lexi’s arm. “Now, start from the beginning,” he said. He listed intently without interruptions, his eyes betraying the sorrow and fear when she told him that James and Peter were dead. “I remember those lads well. They were decent blokes, not shy of a hard day’s graft and helped with the harvest several times, if I rightly recall.”
“Remember when Avery organised the pig on a spit one year?” Lexi said. “We’d set up that long table outside, the music on full volume and dancing into the small hours.”
Bob smiled at the memory and offered her the butter and a knife. Lexi smothered a thick layer on the still warm muffin, realising she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“Bill’s organised police protection,” she said. “We are grateful you and Mum can have the children for a few days. It makes me feel better to know that they are safe with you.”
“They’re welcome to stay as long as they want,” Bob said. “Listen, I want you and Avery to be careful. Don’t take any risks. Why don’t you stay at your sister’s beach house in Matheson Bay? It might be wise if no one knows your whereabouts. I have a spare set of keys. Let me give them to you before you go. I know she wouldn’t mind.”
“Thanks, Dad, that’s a lovely thought, but you know how particular Avery is about his grapes. There’s no way he would leave this close to the harvest.”
“All right, but it doesn’t mean I have to agree with it,” Bob said, shaking his head. “Now, let’s see your mother. Surely the Aquacise ladies must be out of the pool by now.”
Elsy wore a bright pink fluffy bathrobe, flip-flops to match, and her beautifully manicured toenails were painted in the same shade.
“Hi Mum,” Lexi said.
“How are you doing, sweetheart?”.
“We’re okay,” Lexi said, but knew she didn’t sound convincing. “Thanks for having the children stay. That’s a huge load off our mind.”
“We’re glad to help, but I’d feel better if you could stay somewhere else for a few days until this terrible mess gets sorted out.”
“I wish we could, but you know how stubborn Avery is. The harvest is days away and we really need to be at home.”
“Just make sure you are careful.”
Lexi could see the worry in her mother’s eyes. She said goodbye to the children, who were having a ball in the pool, then Elsy and Bob walked her to the car.
“I nearly forgot,” Bob said. “Let me run and get the key
s to Clara and Brett’s beach house.”
While they waited for him to return, Elsy took Lexi’s hand in hers. “Take Dad’s advice and stay at the Bach.”
“Thanks, Mum. I promise we’ll be careful.”
Bob came back with the key. “Call me any time and I’ll come up straight away,” he said and hugged her tight.
As Lexi drove away, she struggled to keep it together. Seeing how worried her parents were had been tough. Tears welled up in her eyes so much it was hard to see the road, so she pulled over at the next petrol station. The last few days of stress and built up anxiety had taken its toll. She filled up and went inside to pay, the cashier barely gave her red-rimmed eyes a glance but the short break worked wonders, and by the time she arrived home a plan had hatched in her head.
38
Bill was staring at the graphic photos of the murder victim from Martinborough. The investigation had been forwarded from Orewa, and he was pleased to be kept in the informed.
“Let’s assume we connect the cases. According to the timeline the perpetrator was in Martinborough at the end of last week, possibly killed Peter Evans on the Friday or early Saturday. He or she must have then driven the seven hundred kilometres north.” He looked at the map. “I’d say the drive would take eight or nine hours of steady driving if you did it all in one go.”
“If he was killed on Friday,” Niko said, “it would have been after the housekeeper had been there. According to the report, she left the house in the early afternoon. They always had lunch together on a Friday as Peter worked from home.”
“This would mean the killer possibly drove through the night to get up here, depositing the hand late Saturday or early Sunday at the McCall homestead,” Bill said, thinking out loud.
Blood On Vines Page 14
