by Jen Banyard
‘Seeing what you want to see. Jumping to conclusions.’
‘Drawing conclusions, Will,’ said Pollo. ‘Entirely different from jumping to them. You could ask your stepdad if anyone’s gone missing!’
Will was heading for the track behind the houses. He called over his shoulder, ‘Nuh-uh! No! I couldn’t!’
‘Just one tiny favour?’ shouted Pollo. ‘Why not?’
‘Because people find bullet casings all the time!’ Will shouted back. ‘It doesn’t mean someone’s up to no good!’ He was marching doggedly away from her.
‘But how do we know for sure?’ Pollo yelled.
Will didn’t hear. His sketchpad tucked under his arm, he was singing at the top of his voice— La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!—index fingers jammed in both ears.
Pollo grunted in disgust. Some people had no nose for news. She put the casing in her pocket and marked the tombstone with a limestone rock. She pulled out her notepad and jotted down the time and location of her find.
Will’s silhouette was diminishing across the field of graves. But even at that distance she could see a spring in his step. A smile snuck onto Pollo’s face. She had to be honest—it was for the best. Will’s heart really wasn’t in this investigating business. He was an artist. And now that she was Youth Reporter for the region she couldn’t have him holding her back.
Real supersleuths worked better alone...
Baa-aa-aah!
...or with only an utterly faithful assistant.
the end
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many texts, websites and even real people were consulted in writing this book. Special thanks go to Van Ikin of the University of WA for his ongoing encouragement and advice; to Meredith Chesterton for her insightful critique; to Greg Keighery of WA’s Department of Environment and Conservation for casting a knowledgeable eye over science-based elements; to Gail Spiers for devising vibrant, curriculum-linked teaching notes; and to the team at Fremantle Press for its support, in particular, Cate Sutherland, my astute, tactful publisher.
For successive reads, her love of language and her unabashed, biased enthusiasm, I am lucky to have my mother, Margaret Everingham. For day-to-day affinity, ‘robust exchange of opinion’ and pure delight there are Dennis, Sally and Rebecca.
At the time of going to print, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) lists 444 species of threatened Australian fauna, of which 55 are extinct. For flora the figures are 1341 and 42. A wise man, Robert G. Ingersoll, once said, ‘In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences.’ Something to ponder.
JEN BANYARD
Jen Banyard grew up by (largely in) the Canning River in Perth, Western Australia, the youngest of four. These days, she lives near the Indian Ocean and Bold Park bushland, her two daughters and husband quietly anchoring her life.
Mystery at Riddle Gully is Jen’s second novel. Her first, Spider Lies, was published by Fremantle Press in 2009. Jen is currently pegging away at a PhD, tutoring and working on her next book.
She has never met a vampire ... as far as she knows.
ALSO BY JEN BANYARD
Connor’s little white lies have spawned a monster! It’s hairy, it’s scary and it’s lurking outside his bedroom window. Connor is home alone, and now he’s got nobody to turn to when his very existence is threatened.
A delightfully fresh and exciting story—ASiF
