Nefarious Doings Read Free

‘
Grand
ma?’
    ‘She’s okay,’ said the young policeman hurriedly. ‘That is, apart from some smoke inhalation. They’ll keep her in hospital for a while, to monitor her breathing, but she should be fine. See, there’s been a fire.’
    ‘A fire!’ And I knew. Not Axedale after all.
    Quinn pushed forward and waved towards the right, where the plume of smoke had now disappeared. ‘Was it the one over there? We saw that!’
    ‘God.’ I took a deep breath, picturing that fingerprint of fire, so distant, but so close. My mother. ‘But she’ll be okay. Do you know what caused it?’
    ‘Not sure yet but I’m afraid there’s been substantial damage to the house. And …’ He paused, exchanged glances with his partner. ‘Well, I understand your mother is widowed but does she, um, have a … companion?’
    I stared, stunned. For a moment I had a widescreen image of my mother – being companionable. I grimaced and shook my head. ‘Hell, no.’
    ‘You’re sure?’
    ‘Absolutely. Why?’
    ‘Well, it seems your mother wasn’t the only other person on the premises when the fire took hold. A man? Tallish? Uncertain of the age just yet.’
    ‘If you’re uncertain of his age,’ I said slowly, ‘does that mean …’
    He nodded. ‘We haven’t been able to talk to your mother yet but as soon as she’s up to it, we’ll be asking a few questions to ascertain his identity. In the meantime, could you let us know if you’ve anything to add?’
    I took the card the sergeant offered and stared down at the Victoria Police crest. ‘So … she could have died.’
    ‘Yes, it was very fortunate that a neighbour spotted the fire, rang 000, and got her out through a window.’ The older policeman dropped his eyes for a moment and then blinked. ‘Yes. Very fortunate indeed.’
    ‘But not for the –’
    ‘No, afraid not.’
    After promising that I would get in touch with any information, I closed the door behind the two policemen and then stared at Lucy and Quinn while I tried to process everything.  
    ‘So, the guy’s dead?’ asked Lucy, breaking the silence.
    ‘Yes, it seems that way. Whoever he was.’
    ‘Like, I don’t know what’s most shocking,’ said Quinn, taking the business card and examining it. ‘That we just had the police here, or that Grandma’s house burnt down, or that she had a boyfriend. Or that he’s dead.’
    ‘Perhaps it was the sex,’ added her sister. ‘You know, like sparks flew. Ignited.’
    ‘That’s enough.’
    ‘Or maybe he spontaneously combusted. It
can
happen.’
    ‘Sure,’ I said. ‘And I suppose you have a best friend who had a friend who spontaneously combusted, which is another reason you’re here instead of studying for your exam.’
    ‘Mum, really?’ Lucy shook her head. ‘Is
now
the time for sarcasm? With your mother in hospital? Homeless? And by the way, that scarf is see-through so I can
still
see your nipple.’
    I resisted the urge to look down, not wanting to know. ‘Don’t think I’ve finished with you. We’ll talk later. For now just go put on some shoes. And, Quinn, brush your hair. Quickly.’
    As the girls left, I hurried to my bedroom where I tugged jeans and a shirt from the wardrobe. I
knew
that the man, the dead man, was not my mother’s partner, or boyfriend, or whatever anyone wanted to call it. I knew this as surely as I knew that my mother was not a widow either, never had been. I also knew that it was unlikely he was a welcome visitor, as my mother, despite belonging to several social groups, was not a fan of inviting people over. ‘Thank you, but I don’t
do
guests,’ she had said only last week, emphatically, when one of her grandchildren suggested that she entertain for her upcoming birthday.
    I took a moment to sponge the coffee from my breasts and then dressed, only slowing when I caught sight of Darcy smiling at me lopsidedly from our wedding picture on the dressing-table. I stared, wanting,
needing
to make contact, before