Murder with the Lot Read Free Page B

on the steering wheel. Time for a change of plan.
    In fact it was obvious. Clarence could have his five grand back. I started the car. Yes; I’d tell him the place was double-booked. Big rush on Christmas tourists. I took the turn onto the highway, wound down my window to get some breeze.
    I swerved, dodging a rabbit on the road. It was embarrassing I’d taken that money in the first place. I hadn’t even asked for references. How bloody hopeless was that? Ernie didn’t need Mafia fellas stamping around the home.
    But would Clarence be the type of bloke to just accept his eviction without an argument? Did he have a gun? I shivered, despite the heat. No one would hear a shot at Ernie’s place. Nothing around but miles of mallee scrub. Maybe I should have brought along my star picket. The car shook as a truck carrying irrigation pipes thundered past.
    There was a car parked by the roadside ahead. Silver Mercedes, no rust, no dust. A girl was walking around the car holding out a mobile. Looking for a signal. She had honey blonde hair and wore a floaty apricot dress. She’d be lost, headed for one of the fancy river towns up by the Murray. Or broken down. There was nothing for her here, not unless she was in the market for a silo.
    I pulled over, struggled out over the handbrake and strolled across to the Mercedes. ‘Need some help?’
    She was young, anywhere from thirteen to eighteen. Her face had that perilous blend of innocence and over-confidence, a girl her parents would never stop worrying about. For the first time I was glad I’d only had sons.
    â€˜Yes. I must have like mixed up the directions,’ she said, a too-bright smile.
    Something about her nagged at my memory.
    â€˜I told you not to rely on that stupid GPS.’ There was a woman in the driver’s seat. Map spread out over the steering wheel, its edges crumpled in her white-knuckled hands. Lines chiselled around her eyes and mouth, age spots on her hands. She was wearing a gold knit dress. ‘Where you headed?’
    â€˜We’re fine, thank you.’ The woman’s voice was glacial. ‘Get back in the car, Aurora.’
    â€˜Just a second. She might have seen him.’ The girl fiddled in her apricot-coloured handbag, exact match with her dress. She held out a photo. Her wooden bracelet, sculpted into waves, clunked against her bag.
    â€˜Oh, for God’s sake. This…person won’t know anything. Get back in the car.’
    I took the photo. Two people. The girl standing in front of me, and Clarence. I’d seen the same photo in his wallet. ‘Yeah, I’ve seen him. Friend of yours?’
    Aurora stiffened. ‘He’s my brother.’
    This girl had a brother with Mafia connections? Did she know it? Jesus, wasn’t it a family thing? What about her?
    â€˜We need to find him. Nanna’s really worried. About what he’s going to do. It’s kind of urgent,’ said Aurora.
    â€˜Urgent how? If he’s just writing a book?’
    The woman flung the crumpled map aside and shoved the car door open. She stepped out, a tiny woman, an angry sunbird in gold heels. ‘Book? What’s your involvement in this? Are you hiding Clarence? How dare you.’
    â€˜Why would I be hiding him?’
    She compressed her lips, then looked at the girl. ‘I should have sent Ravi. I simply don’t have time to deal with this, with people of this…ilk.’
    â€˜Now you listen here. Clarence is, as far as I am aware, staying in Mr Ernie Jefferson’s shack, which is fifty kilometres that way.’ I pointed one firm finger to the north. ‘And as the agent for that property, I require him to leave the premises immediately. Leave the district, in fact. We don’t tolerate criminal types around here.’
    â€˜Criminal types?’ The woman’s voice had gone up an octave.
    â€˜Nanna.’ Aurora gripped the older woman’s arm.
    The sunbird