Ha ha ha. Always the joker. So, tell me what kind of fun you after this time?
Chapter 10
Ebony raced into her arms giving her the hug Ryder desperately needed. Her skin prickled with the dirty crawling sensation she hadn’t missed from not being on the site in the last twelve months. Even though she was unsettled by what she’d achieved today, there was a small flicker of pride that she’d managed to get out descriptions of the two missing children in the guise of Marvin’s next preferred purchase. In the next couple of days she expected to receive a series of still or video shots of available subjects.
“Mummy Mummy. Look what I have.” She unwrapped her arms from Ryder’s neck and showed her the flyer she clutched in her hand. “Amy said we should go.”
“Well now, let me see that.” Ryder took the crumpled flyer and opened it, scanning the words. “A local agriculture show.” She nodded her head and smiled at her little girl. “That sounds like fun.”
“Can we go, can we?” Eb bounced in front of her, excited and seemingly determined to go. “All the kids are going. I know they are.”
“I don’t see why not. It’s not until the weekend though so if we’re on our best behaviour…” She left the rest of the words unsaid, knowing Ebony would think it out for herself. Ryder watched the cogs go around in her head.
“Yes, Mummy.” She turned to Amy as she walked over toward them. “We can go, Miss Amy, so long as I do my chores.”
“That’s perfect, honey. You’ll have so much fun.” Amy smiled down at Ryder. “Its one of my favourite times of year when the show’s on. Not for the rides or anything, but for the local competitions. Grandad Ethol puts in his chutney and jams, and usually takes out most of the prizes so it wasn’t really worth going up against him, but just for laughs I put in my chilli sauce. And this year I entered the rose competition too. Think it’s about time I gave cousin Eric a run for his money.”
Ryder envied Amy her green thumb. “If the roses out front are anything to go by, you should do well.”
Amy blushed at the praise.
“No, seriously. They’re beautiful. My mum would be beside herself with envy. They’re some special blooms you have going there.”
“Fingers crossed the judges think so too.”
“They will. Now I must go. Bye Amy.” She opened the truck door and waited for Eb to climb in before reaching to do up her seat belt. “Let’s get you home, little one. It’s been a big day.” When Ryder parked her truck outside the house and undid Ebony’s seat belt, her daughter slid down and started toward the barn.
“Hold it, missy.” Ryder held out Ebony’s backpack. “Forgetting something?”
“Aw, Mummy!”
Ryder raised an eyebrow and Eb groaned. “Okay then.” She grabbed the bag and carried it into the house, placing it on the hook behind her bedroom door before coming back out to the kitchen. “Can I go down to the barn now, please?”
“Sure. Chicken steak for dinner so it won’t be long. Make sure you come when I call you though, okay?”
“Yes, Mummy.”
“And don’t forget the cat food.”
Eb groaned but opened the fridge and took out the can anyway, clomping her feet down the stairs before she hightailed it and ran down the dirt driveway calling for the cats.
Ryder took the chicken breast out of the fridge and placed it on the counter. She washed her hands before reaching for the sharp knife so she could slice the fillet in half. It was then she noticed the mail on the kitchen bench wasn’t where she’d left it this morning. She’d lined the mail up as she always did, one on top of the other, corners square to the edge of the bench. Could she have knocked them when she reached for the knife or the chopping board? Not likely.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on edge, she instinctively went for her gun and realised too late it was already locked up. She took a quick inventory of the room, searching for any other clues that someone had been in her house or was still inside. A quick glance out the window showed Eb meandering down to the barn. Close to the wall, Ryder searched the bedrooms and saw nothing out of place. She reached for the bathroom door, her fingers gripped around the handle.
A high pitched scream ripped through the air, chilling her blood. Ryder didn’t hesitate, she flew down the hall, out through the kitchen door, down the steps, ran down the cracked concrete path, and vaulted over the old fence without thought. Her daughter stood in the entrance to the open style barn screaming. Sweat broke out on Ryder’s forehead before she managed to grab her daughter and pull her away from the horrific sight in the middle of the barn floor.
Ryder stumbled away over to the fence, clutching Eb hard to her chest, one arm wrapped around her, the other stroking her hair as she tried to unsee the vision that upset her daughter so much. The mother cat lay in the dust, a pitchfork pinning her limp body to the ground. From the dry trickle of blood coming from her mouth and the open staring eyes, Ryder knew she was dead.
Eb shivered in her arms, tiny moaning noises coming from her throat. Ryder forced back the rush of tears that blurred her vision and hurried back to the house. This was personal and it pissed her off. Calling her at work and threatening her over the phone was one thing. Coming to her home and scaring the crap out of her girl was asking for trouble.
Ryder strode up the path and into the house. She carried Eb to the lounge, dropped down into a big oversized chair, and
