by Lois Kay
“I’d like a chance at that as well,” Phil Kanides admitted, turning on the computer that had been plugged back in. “I can’t believe he was my partner and I didn’t suspect a thing.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Phil,” Inspector Wong said, leaning her back against the doorsill and looking at the computer screen with increasing anticipation. “He had me fooled as well. Let’s have a quick look at what’s on this PC and see if we can learn more about this loser.”
“I can’t wait to pull apart this computer,” Phil mumbled. “I bet whatever we’ll find will mirror his sick mind.” He clicked on one of the many files stored on the computer and stepped back.
With a deep frown that creased her forehead, Inspector Wong leaned forward to get a better view, and she impatiently drummed her fingers against her thigh. But then she froze in mid motion and narrowed her eyes. She turned to Phil Kanides, who was watching the screen with wide eyes and rising anger.
“Asshole,” he growled.
“Is this what I think it is?” Inspector Wong asked, needing to be sure that her imagination was not running away with her rational mind.
“If you think that this is one of many recordings off a beach cam, then yes, you’re thinking the right thing,” Phil answered with a strained voice. He pointed to a list of files, neatly displaying the names of beaches along the east coast. “The mongrel must have recorded it through his computer. Talking about invading people’s privacy. He must have managed to either install his own camera or altered the one already there because this is a close-up.” He looked at his Inspector. “My son uses the beach cam on Surfers Paradise to check the surf.” He pointed at the screen. “I’ve never seen close-ups like this.”
“Whoa, wait, hold on,” Inspector Wong exclaimed, pushing herself away from her back rest and walking toward the desk. “Do you think Coles used the beach cams to try and find Alice? My God, Phil. I think you could be right. This computer must have hundreds of files like this.”
“You know, Inspector, I bet that on the beaches where those poor girls were murdered, we’ll find cameras. He must have been keeping an eye out for adolescents that resembled Alice. And it looks like he’s been using facial recognition software. Son of a bitch.”
“Slender and long blond hair. Bloody hell, Phil.” Inspector Wong sucked in a breath. “See if you can find anything that is labeled Wentworth Park.”
*
It had not been difficult to blend in with the crowds. Nobody paid attention to a good-looking man who was casually strolling past the shop windows, now and then standing still to admire something that had caught his eye.
Outwardly, Martin Coles looked like he was enjoying his stroll alongside the shops. To any bystander, he looked like he was just another man who was enjoying his day off. But behind the dark sunglasses, his eyes were restlessly traveling back and forth. Every time he spotted a police car he turned around, so he was standing with his back to the street, pretending he was checking out the variety of goods in the windows.
During the last ten minutes, he had already seen three different patrol cars, and that had made him nervous. He knew they were looking for him and he also realized that by now they must have found out about the webcams, his computer, and all his videos. It angered him he had not been given the time to, at least, delete some of the files, since they contained incriminating evidence.
Martin Coles mentally slapped himself for the umpteenth time since leaving his house. He knew that especially Inspector Wong and Trishia Waters would want to see every second of footage and that would be his downfall.
“Bitches, stupid filthy dykes,” he mumbled to himself, feeling the red-hot flame of anger burn inside his chest.
Martin Coles noticed an elderly couple park their SUV in a relatively quiet side street and suddenly his mood lifted.
“I’ll get those bitches. I will kill them,” he said with a smile, walking straight toward the car where the couple was exiting the vehicle.
“Excuse me, sir,” Martin politely addressed the elderly man with a smile. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to borrow your car for a little while. Police business,” he added, flashing his ID. “I promise you’ll get it back in one piece. If anything should happen to it, the police department will pay all costs and damages.”
“But…but…” the elderly man stammered, completely taken by surprise by Martin’s request. “I…my wife and I need it to get home again…I—.”
“I’ll be back before you know it,” Martin Coles answered, pulling the car keys from the old man’s hand and opening the door. He was losing his patience with them already and knew it would be hard for him to control his anger. The last thing he needed was to pull out his gun and shoot them. There were too many people around and attracting attention was the last thing he needed.
Without saying another word, Martin closed the door, started the engine and drove off. A glance in the rearview mirror showed him the couple was still standing in the middle of the street, staring at him and he chuckled.
He sniggered. “Bye. Some women are waiting for my attention.”
*
“No, Fiona, we don’t need a car with darkened windows,” Lucy said impatiently. “This is not one of your silly movies. We just have to make sure Alice is out of sight.”
“Don’t get your panties in a twist,” Fiona shot back, zipping up her bag and unceremoniously dumping it on the floor. “I was just kidding. But if you can’t even tell the difference between a joke and something serious anymore, it may be time for you to go to a mountain retreat, sit with the nuns and meditate.”
“Okay, you two, that’s enough,” Trishia called out. “Stop it, right now. No, I’m serious, Lucy,” she added when she saw that Lucy was opening her mouth to say something. “I know we’re all under a lot of stress, but shouting matches really won’t help anyone. So, please, don’t get on each other’s nerves.”
Trishia raised an eyebrow when Fiona made an attempt to speak, and the teenager quickly snapped her mouth shut and swallowed hard.
“That’s it,” Trishia said with a laugh. “I know how the two of you can carry on, and I’m asking you, the both of you, to please don’t fight. Alright?”
“Now,” Trishia continued, ignoring the almost invisible pout from Lucy. “As for transportation, Lucy, Joan, Fiona, and Yarra will take my car, stop at Yarra’s so she can grab some things and feed the animals and then go to The Reef. Did Sam give you her card for the private parking area, Lucy? Okay, then you’re set to go.”
Trishia turned to Jody, who was wrapped in Sam’s arms and didn’t look like she was planning on letting go anytime soon. Trishia cleared her throat and shot an annoyed look at Peter, who was grinning at her discomfort. “Sam? Are you ready to take Alice and Jody to The Reef?”
“Not really,” Sam said with a sigh. “But I guess we should go anyway. I’ll wait until Lucy and the rest arrive. As soon as they’re all at the executive’s floor and I see a security guard in front of their door, I’ll be heading back,” she repeated the instructions Trishia had given them.
“Make sure all cell phones are on, just in case. Lucy, honey, have you preprogrammed the numbers I gave you?”
“Yes, Senior Sergeant Waters,” Lucy saluted, which made the girls chuckle, but earned her a slightly hurt look from Trishia.
“I was just—.”
She was interrupted by Lucy who had quickly stepped closer and wrapped her arms around her neck. “You were just making sure I have all the right phone numbers,” Lucy whispered. “I know. I’m sorry. I know you’re worried, and so am I. Leaving you here makes me cranky.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Trishia replied quietly, pulling Lucy closer, not caring they were in the middle of the room, surrounded by three curious teenagers and a few amused adults, who politely busied themselves with other things to at least give the couple a sense of privacy.
“Promise me one thing.” Lucy’s voice was hoarse. She was fighting tears. “Please
, look after yourself. Don’t take any risks, okay?”
“I promise,” Trishia answered, using her thumb to brush away a tear that had escaped one of Lucy’s eyes and was sliding down her cheek. “You do the same, okay? I’ll call you every couple of hours. If you and the girls stay where you are, things will work out fine.”
“Okay,” Lucy answered, letting out a shuddering breath. She pressed her face in the crook of Trishia’s neck and tried to calm her nerves. She felt a sense of dread she couldn’t explain and tried to push away that unsettling feeling. Trishia would not be alone, Peter would be with her, and they would be using the new surveillance system, so they wouldn’t even have to leave the house and expose themselves to anyone outside. Trishia would be alright. She simply had to be. Lucy lifted her face and looked up at the woman she loved. She could see the concern in Trishia’s clear eyes and tried to send her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be okay,” she whispered, tracing one of Trishia’s dark eyebrows. “I guess we’d better get going, I’m not very good at this ‘saying goodbye’ stuff.”
Trishia answered the smile with one of her own and brought her face closer. Without any haste, she leisurely kissed the soft lips that quickly warmed to her intimate touch and kissed her back with a mixture of tenderness and passion. Gradually, the intensity lessened, until only their foreheads touched and they looked at each other, trying to control their breathing.
“I love you,” Trishia whispered.
“I love you too,” Lucy answered. “I’ll talk to you in a couple of hours. Okay?”
“Okay.” Trishia smiled. “Come, I’ll walk you to the car.”
*
Martin Coles didn’t really know where to go. He knew his house would be swarming with police and it was not unthinkable that his picture would be splattered all over the six o’clock news that evening. The most sensible thing would be to go into hiding or to change his appearance and do something his opponents would never expect him to do.
It didn’t take him long to decide. He felt like life had not left him any fair chances, and he decided to do something unexpected. A quick trip to the local pharmacy provided him with the tools he needed to change his appearance. And whatever the instructions said, it wasn’t true. It had not taken him twenty minutes to change his dark hair into a vibrant blonde. Blue contacts dramatically changed the way he looked and the wire-rimmed glasses, in combination with the faded jeans and t-shirt gave him a look nobody would have expected of Martin Coles.
A quick look in the mirror of the cheap motel room he had rented for a few nights, made him smile.
“I don’t think my own mother would recognize me,” he told the image in the mirror. “That is…if she was still alive,” he added with a chuckle.
Squaring his shoulders, he glanced at his own image for one last time, before turning around and walking towards the door.
He had a few scores to settle.
*
Jody stared out of the window, glad that Sam was driving. She didn’t think she would have been up to the task. Not with the way her mind was wandering, nor with the persistent stinging of tears.
The beautiful view of the lush forest was lost to her teary eyes. The only thing her brain registered was the different shades of green, now and then interrupted by gray and black rocks that randomly littered the side of the road. In ancient times raging waters had dumped them, or in more recent times they had crumbled off the top of the hill to come tumbling down during the rainy season when the abundant rainfall softened the ground and loosened the heavy boulders from their positions on the steep hill.
Jody leaned the back of her head against the car seat and closed her eyes. She dreaded the hours and maybe even days ahead. She knew Sam and Trishia only had their safety in mind and deep down inside she knew they were right. But she was not looking forward to saying goodbye to Sam, knowing she could very well be in harm’s way. Again. The fact that there were two experienced, well-trained police officers with her did not even remotely make her feel better.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Sam’s voice interrupted her musings, and Jody opened her eyes and turned her head so she could give Sam her attention. Sam’s gaze was on the winding road in front of her that was getting a little wider. Soon they would turn onto the motorway and then it would only be a short time before they would arrive at The Reef.
“Only a penny?” Jody asked, deliberately keeping her voice light, because of Alice on the backseat, who looked nervous and drawn.
“Well, I guess that depends on the thought,” Sam teased. “I can only estimate their worth after I hear them.”
“Oh, you are in business mode.” Jody smiled. “I can’t believe you would put a price on my thoughts.”
“I wouldn’t,” Sam confessed with an exaggerated sigh. “Your thoughts are priceless to me, honey.”
Jody chuckled and half-turned in her seat to cast a look at Alice, who was lying on her side on the back seat. Her eyes darted from Jody to the window and back again.
“Are you okay, Alice?” she asked, forgetting her own worries about her upcoming separation from Sam when she looked into a pair of frightened blue eyes.
“I…um…I’m a bit scared,” Alice confessed. “I…know what Martin Coles can be like, and it’s not pretty. He is really…evil, Jody. I think he killed my family. I’m sure he was the one who started the fire.” Alice swallowed hard and was very aware of the shiver that ran down her spine. “He tried to choke me to death.”
“And he will get what he deserves, Alice,” Sam said with a grim expression. “It won’t be long now; the police are at his heels.”
*
“My goodness, girl, are you going on a world tour?” Fiona greeted Yarra when she returned to the waiting car with a bag that was so stuffed, it was a miracle she had managed to zip it closed.
“Shut up and give me a hand,” Yarra grunted, hefting the bag and dumping it on the back seat.
Fiona obediently grabbed the handle and pulled the bag toward her, making room for Yarra to climb into the car and close the door.
“Seriously, Yar, what have you got in there?”
“Just some clothes,” Yarra said. “And I brought some extra stuff for Alice if she wants it. She doesn’t have much.”
“That’s sweet of you, Yarra,” Joan said with a warm smile. “I’m sure Alice will appreciate that.”
“Yeah, especially since it’s from you,” Fiona teased, making sure to keep her voice down so her mother and Lucy would not be able to hear her teasing comment.
“Brat,” Yarra scolded under her breath.
“Charmer,” Fiona grinned, thoroughly enjoying the banter.
“I could call you some nasty names, but I suppose I need to be kind to you, since you helped me feed the animals,” Yarra teased.
“Of course,” Fiona quipped. “That’s how it works Cookie Jar. You are supposed to be extremely nice to me for at least two days now.”
“Two days? Wow, you’re expensive.”
They both laughed, and Fiona playfully slapped her friend on her shoulder. She loved teasing Yarra because she could take it as much as she dished it out and Fiona appreciated that. “Well, I guess I’ll let you off the hook,” she grinned. “You being nice to me for two whole days would be too much to ask. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
*
“Are you okay, honey?” Joan asked Lucy, who was skillfully steering the car down the hill and who was unusually quiet.
Lucy glanced at her mother, noticing the worried look and she managed a weak smile. “It’s just…hard,” she said, remembering the look on Trishia’s face when they had said their goodbyes. “I worry about Trishia. I mean,” Lucy fell silent for a moment and chewed her bottom lip, trying to organize her thoughts. “I mean, she hardly slept last night, and I know how tired she was yesterday and before all this happened. I know she’s good at what she does, but even a super policewoman needs a decent sleep,” Lucy joked faintly, not able to hide the slight tremblin
g of her voice.
“I heard Peter and Sam talking about sending Trish to bed while they kept an eye on the surveillance system,” Joan responded. “Maybe she’ll be able to sleep for a few hours. And I think you should do the same.”
“I know Trishia.” Lucy smiled. “She won’t take a nap unless they force her.”
“In that case, I hope they will,” Joan said, having noticed the dark circles underneath Trishia’s eyes. She had also seen the way she and Lucy had interacted. Of course, she had seen them together before, and she knew they loved each other. Recently though, Joan had noticed their relationship had changed, in a positive way. She could tell by the looks that were exchanged, the soft touches and the smiles. And Joan sincerely hoped that Lucy had found in Trishia a partner to settle down with. It had been a surprise when Lucy, uncharacteristically shy, had told her she had fallen in love with Trishia. Afterward, Joan had realized it hadn’t been the fact that the object of Lucy’s affection was a woman that had surprised her, but the fact that her fiercely independent daughter had fallen head over heels in love. But the thing that was most pleasing to her was the knowledge that the two of them were still together and obviously very happy.
Trishia had been Lucy’s first serious relationship, and initially, Joan had been worried about it, hoping Lucy would be happy and not end up with a broken heart. Or break Trishia’s heart, because Joan had really liked Trishia from the very beginning. But that hadn’t happened, and Joan could not be happier about that. She respected her daughters’ partners. All the seeds of hate and prejudice her ex-husband had tried to sow in their children and his wife had fortunately not fallen on fertile ground. Joan had never fought her dominant husband about his opinions, and she still felt guilty about that. If only she had tried harder, she might have made things more bearable for her children. The moment she had taken a stand, her ex-husband had hit her, marking the end of their marriage of thirty years. She had left David McDonnell, knowing she could never undo the damage he had caused Jody and Lucy, but realizing that at least for Fiona, who was so much like Lucy, things would be better.
