Shit! Audrey recognized the address and knew it was the David Knowles her sister, Becka, was desperately in love with when their parents died. He was a shit to her at that time. Good riddance, she thought, as she listened to friends and family of the couple say they had no idea who would have wanted them dead. “Such a lovely couple,” they said.
C H A P T E R 4 3
“What do you mean she saw you? Shit! I thought you said you were going to do surveillance. Not picking her up on the beach like some horny stud. What were you thinking?” Higgins was furious.
“Fuck! How did I know she was going to be sitting there just watching me? She crept down the road and scared the living daylights out of me. She has no idea who I am. Do you still want me to continue, or not?” Eric needed the money but wasn’t going to beg.
“It might work in our favor. At least you have a reason for contacting her again.”
“What reason would that be?”
“To ask her out on a date, dipshit! You’re still single and the world’s biggest woman magnet, aren’t you?”
“She’s not really my type. But I guess I could handle a dinner date. As long as you are paying.”
“Take it out of your fee, you cheap shit. Call me when you have arranged it.” He hung up.
Higgins needed to get into Audrey’s office. He was sure she was hiding something. Where are her mother’s pearls? She was wearing them the night her brother died and she hasn’t worn them since. Why? Is there a reason? Were the pearls taken the night she was killed? Ripped from her throat by Audrey or her brother?
Did her brother leave a confession? Had Audrey found Greta’s blackmailing list? What was Deacon James doing there? Higgins knew everything was connected. But how? He was becoming obsessed with the case. In fact, it wasn’t even an official case. All death certificates stated death by natural causes and he was already getting a shitload of flak from the Super. Others in his office thought him crazy. “You need to move on,” they would say. “There isn’t anything there. You are chasing ghosts.” Maybe. Maybe he was. He walked over to his wall, removed the photos and charts and placed them in file boxes. He would take the case home with him… take a couple of days off. He was due for a break.
C H A P T E R 4 4
It was the busiest time of the day. Guests checking out. Cabins to clean. Laundry to do. Audrey didn’t like hiring help but today she had no choice. Mary was a local girl with a great work ethic. She had sent her over to start cleaning the cabins while she handled the guests. The phone just didn’t stop ringing. She let it go to voicemail while she handled the morning departures. By noon the last guest had left and she headed over to the cabins to collect the dirty laundry. Today she would take the laundry into Mangonui. The service was fast and cheap.
Audrey past the Motor Camp on her way through Hihi. She thought she saw the good-looking guy from yesterday. He was leaving the little blue camp shop swinging a carton of milk. She almost waved and then thought better of it. Shame. I guess he just wasn’t into me.
The little town of Mangonui was buzzing with holiday activity. The Four Square shop housed the local bank and the post office. She saw the local policeman, Detective Constable Bromley’s car parked outside. She thought twice about picking up some supplies. Too late. He spotted her. “Morning Audrey. Nice day for it.” He walked around to her car window. “Been thinking about you. I heard your brother passed away. Sorry to hear about that. And his caregiver. My sympathies.”
“Yes. My brother had been ill for some time. Thanks.”
“And his caregiver died of a weak heart, I hear?”
“She was old. I guess it was all too much for her.” Nothing gets past him. Just as well he didn’t know about her uncle’s death, too. She didn’t need him digging around in her life again.
“Well, have a nice day.” Audrey watched the detective drive away before entering the store. Shit. Was he questioning the deaths? Surely not. Why would he? It was over a year ago since bodies had washed up on her beach. She was never a suspect – she made sure of that. After all, these were natural deaths.
It wasn’t until she returned to Tiromoana that she realized she hadn’t checked her voice messages. “Audrey, this is Eric Chapman, we met yesterday on your beach. I know this is awfully presumptuous of me, but I was wondering if you would join me tonight for dinner. I hear the local Thai restaurant in Mangonui is wonderful. I’ll try you later. Or, feel free to call me.”
Oh shit. Audrey was all in a tither. It had been some time since she had dined with a man, and a good-looking man, at that. In fact, she couldn’t even remember being asked out on a date. What to wear? Maybe my white linen jacket, silk shirt and skinny jeans? She had inherited her mother’s slender legs; unfortunately she had also inherited her ample breasts. Thinking of her mother she decided to wear the pearls. They would look perfect with the jacket. She dialed his number. “Eric, I just picked up your message. I would love to join you for dinner. Yes, seven would be great. I’ll see you tonight.”
He is such a gentleman, she thought. She looked at the time. She still had heaps of work to do before guests started arriving. Audrey realized she was singing as she carried fresh flowers and wine to the cabins. A full house tonight. Business was good.
C H A P T E R 4 5
Higgins decided to take Marcus with him. By the time he had packed all the files in his Ute it was almost midday. He knew Eric would be successful keeping Ms. Wetherby occupied for the evening. He made a last-minute check of the house, grabbed his fishing gear and golf clubs and put Marcus in the back seat. Marcus knew never to jump onto the front seats. He had his bed in the back and that was where he stayed. If he were lucky, Higgins would open the back window so he could feel the wind on his face. He knew his drool would spray in the wind. Freedom. Marcus knew when he was a lucky dog.
Higgins used the two-hour drive to contemplate his next move. Given that it was not a legal investigation, but rather a covert operation, he knew that anything he might find out could not be used officially. But Higgins was like a dog with a bone. He knew the Brown women were involved in their parents’ murder. Were they also involved in the death of Greta and their Uncle Steve? He never doubted it for a moment.
He stopped in Kerikeri to drop Marcus at the dog kennels. “Don’t worry, old boy. I’ll pick you up tomorrow and we can do some serious beach time.” Marcus wasn’t convinced and pulled at his lead when the nice lady led him away.
Higgins had arranged to stay at the Hihi Motor Camp where Eric was staked out. He knew Audrey would not recognize his black Ute. He wore jeans, a cotton shirt and a baseball hat. As he pulled into the camp he saw Eric’s jeep parked outside one of the motel units. The camp’s office was painted a bright blue. It doubled as a small shop, selling just some essential food items. He grabbed some milk, butter and a loaf of bread and headed to his unit with key in hand.
Eric walked out onto the small patio. “Join me for a beer?”
Higgins looked at the time. It was just on five. “We have time to get in a little fishing. Whatya say?” He placed his supplies in his fridge, joined Eric on the patio and accepted a beer.
“You go ahead. I have some work to do. I told Audrey I would pick her up at seven. If you are going fishing I suggest you walk around to her second beach. There is a track leading up the hill straight to her cottage – that way you do not have to pass the other cabins. You can only access the second beach when the tide is completely out. You are lucky; you have about an hour to reach the beach before the tide turns. I won’t bring Audrey back until after ten o’clock. I thought we would take a drive up to the Karikari Peninsula winery for a glass of wine after dinner. That should fill in some time.”
Higgins returned to his unit, grabbed his fishing rod, tackle box, vest and a good-sized knapsack. He stopped at the shop and bought some bait. He was planning on catch and release. He was not one for filleting and cleaning fish. He just liked the sport. He only had forty minutes to get to the second beach acro
ss a rocky shoreline. He hoped he would make it in time.
C H A P T E R 4 6
Audrey was on her fifth change. Clothes covered her bed in piles. Everything she owned now looked outdated and frumpy. She wished he hadn’t seen her in her yellow sundress. She pulled her straight jeans from the bottom of one of the piles, tried them on for the third time then turned and checked out her butt. She was proud of her body. Six months of no dairy and no sugar had resulted in a more slender version of her previous self. There was nothing she could do with her too ample breasts. Both Honey and she were cursed with their mother’s body shape. Deciding on the jeans she searched for a sexy top and settled for a white silk shirt and navy blue jacket. Standing back she looked in the mirror. Perfect. She removed her mother’s pearls from under the diary in her top drawer and clasped them around her neck. That will have to do. She poured herself a glass of wine and waited for the knock at the door.
Beautiful! He was absolutely beautiful! Cream linen trousers and European styled jacket. She couldn’t believe her luck. Why me? She could feel her heart beating uncontrollably. Her house key was on the key ring in her car. She seldom locked her cottage. It was so safe in the little seaside town. He took her arm and led her towards his jeep. She looked back at her Rav4 and wondered if she should have taken the keys out of the car and locked the cottage. Then she remembered her outdoor night vision cameras along the bush tracks. No one could approach the cottage without being seen. The trappers suggested she used them. Living in a protected kiwi bird zone meant possums, stoats, weasels and rats needed to be eliminated. Audrey preferred to keep an eye on humans.
The Thai restaurant in Mangonui was alive with activity. Audrey never liked noisy restaurants and wished there was an alternative to the crammed quarters and crowded tables. Eric noticed she was uncomfortable. “Would you sooner we go somewhere quieter?” he asked.
“We could go back to the cottage and I could cook a nice crayfish stir-fry,” she offered, a little too enthusiastically.
“Why don’t we head up north to Carrington? I can call for reservations on the way. We can sit outside on the terrace overlooking the vineyard where it is quiet. It is such a beautiful night and it is a shame to be inside.”
Audrey agreed and he held her chair as she stood up. “You are such a gentleman. Thank you.”
At Carrington they ordered grilled fish and salad. The wine was superb and the warm evening breeze smelled of jasmine. The wine made her tipsy. She let him hold her hand.
“Beautiful pearls. I don’t think I have ever seen such a unique design.”
She felt them with her fingers “They were my mother’s,” she said softly.
“Were you close to your mother?
“No. Not really. She died when I was quite young,” she said non-committedly.
“Are you close to your father?”
Audrey didn’t answer. “I shouldn’t be out too late. I have guests in all six cabins and don’t like to be gone for too long in case they might need something. She wiped her stained red lips on her serviette and placed it on the plate. “We should be going.”
“It is only nine o’clock. It’s early yet. Let’s have another glass of wine.”
“No, thanks. It has been a lovely evening. But, I am a working woman.”
Eric called the waiter over and handed him his credit card. As he waited for the receipt, he asked again, “Your father? Are you close to him?”
Audrey was beginning to feel uncomfortable. “Enough talk about me. Tell me about you.”
He laughed a belly laugh. “I am an open book. What do you want to know? I went to St Bede’s college in Christchurch. Traveled overseas for a couple of years. Backpacked through Europe and then spent a year or so in Canada working at the ski fields. Returned to New Zealand in my late twenties and have mostly run my own companies. I like being independent.”
“And you are on holiday here in the far north?”
“Yes, I love fishing and a mate told me about this area. I’m glad I came” he kissed her hand. She blushed.
Eric realized that Audrey wasn’t going to divulge her life history. In fact, all evening he had been gently prodding her for information about her family. She skimmed the surface. Nothing substantial. Eric just hoped that Higgins had found what he was looking for.
Audrey excused herself, “I just want to pop into the restroom,” she said.
Eric took the opportunity to call Higgins. When he got no answer he left a message. “We are on our way. We will be there in about thirty minutes.”
C H A P T E R 4 7
Higgins was pleased he hadn’t actually caught any fish. It was pleasurable enough sitting on the protruding rocks with his line in the clear waters below. The waves’ rhythmic motion was almost hypnotic. He had removed his shoes and rolled up his trouser legs and waded in the water collecting stones he believed were ancient Maori tools. Each one fit perfectly in his hand with a pointed tip for prizing open shell food. He put them in his backpack and gathered up the rest of his gear.
Looking at his surroundings he chose a dense spot just off Audrey’s bush track in which to hide his backpack and then headed up the hill. It was a steep climb but well marked. Over a hundred steps had been chiseled out of the clay cliff. Reaching the top of the ridge he saw the other track leading to the cottage. Eric had described the access so there would be no surprises. He hoped the guests were not wandering around. He was carrying his fishing gear and could pass as any guest returning from the beach.
He was surprised to find the cottage door unlocked. He called out, “Hello!” No reply. The sun was setting on the horizon and daylight was fading. Her computer needed a password; frustrated, he began a search of the bedside drawers and the large chest of drawers in her bedroom. Pearls, where are the pearls? He saw the notebook. It was Audrey’s mother’s old diary. Excited, he sat on the bed and began to read. It was all there. He had them!! He had a motive!
He didn’t see her coming. The blow to his head was instant and deadly. Detective Constable Higgins crumpled to the floor.
Becka returned the diary to its place in the top drawer of the dresser and poured herself a glass of champagne. She would need to dispose of the body soon. Finding the furniture dolly in the shed, she covered him in old sacks, secured him with ropes and pushed her heavy load out to her car. She returned to collect his fishing rod and tackle box by the front door.
The night was clear and warm. She took the road down to Rocky Beach. It was secluded and not visible from Hihi Township. She wheeled the dolly out to the water’s edge. It wasn’t easy. The tires caught on the jagged stones. Finally she pulled the body out into the water. She waded up to her waist dragging the body behind her. The tide was going out. She undid the sacks and ropes and released his body into the depths below. She hoped the strong tide would drag him out further into the bay. She threw his rod into the swell and watched it bob in and out of the water. She climbed up onto the large rock and wedged his tackle box in between two large rocks.
Poor detective. “He must have fallen while fishing,” they would say. She returned to her car and turned on the radio. She heard the time. It was still early. Protecting the family felt good. He was a nosy shit! She drove off into the dark night.
C H A P T E R 4 8
Audrey was up bright and early. Tiromoana was abuzz with activity. Guests checking out and cabins needing cleaning. Reservations indicated she had a couple of spare cabins that evening. Picking up fresh linens, Audrey headed out into the sunshine. Last night had not been what she expected. She had an uneasy feeling about Eric Chapman. Seemed a little too interested in her life and yet wouldn’t confide anything about his. Secretive really. Smarmy. He obviously thought he was God’s gift to women. Audrey sighed. She really did prefer women. By lunchtime, cabins were cleaned and guests were busy with their holiday activities.
“Excuse me,” Audrey looked up as one of her guests entered her office with a large backpack in hand. “I found this by the track
at your Honeymoon beach. It must belong to one of your guests. The beach was deserted so I thought I should bring it to the office.”
Audrey looked at the backpack. She had never seen it before. “Where was it?” she asked.
“Tucked behind a big punga as if someone had put it out of sight. Maybe they had been fishing and then forgot to bring it up with them.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep it here and see if someone claims it.” Audrey waited until the guest left and unzipped the bag to see if there was any form of identification. There was. Shit! There was a wallet with a driver’s license.
She would recognize that face anywhere, it belonged to Detective Higgins! She put the wallet in her pocket. There appeared to be some casual clothes, his shaving kit and a few odds and ends. No sign of his badge or anything that would identify him as a policeman. Funny. Obviously not here on police business. Sneaky business, more likely.
Audrey quickly zipped up the bag and put it under the counter. She checked around the cabins and down towards Rocky Beach. He was nowhere to be seen. Where the hell is he? What was his backpack doing down by my beach? As she returned to the office, she was surprised to see Eric Chapman standing outside waiting for her.
“I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” she said as she invited him into the office. “I thought you were taking a fishing cruise today.”
“I was. But something has come up. I have to head on back today and wanted to say goodbye and thanks for a lovely evening.”
The man looked uneasy. She knew he was lying. “I had a nice time,” she lied in return. She had insisted last night he need not walk her to the cottage and instead had left him at the top of the driveway, staring at her as she disappeared into the darkness. “Have a safe trip home,” she offered as an afterthought.
Murder In The Family Page 8
