“I’ve had another visitor.” He listened while she gave him a report. “Paint can’s sitting on the grass inside the yard. Looks like Milo did his job and stopped them coming in the gate. They threw the paint at the side of the house after they decorated my barn, so we might be able to use that for prints or even trace who brought it.”
“I’ll be right over. Don’t go inside just in case and I think it might even be wise to leave the property.” Jake sounded more than a little concerned over the phone.
“No way. They’re not scaring me away from my home. I think whoever did this is just pissed Eb was found and returned which makes me think it wasn’t Ethol. Although I don’t doubt he may have had something to do with it.”
“I want you out of that place. Now. Come into town and wait for me to clear the property.”
“I’m not stupid, Jake. I can walk a perimeter as good as anyone without disturbing evidence, and I can take photos for the report. I don’t think anyone is here anyway, but I’m staying put until you arrive.”
With half an eye on Eb, Ryder walked down to the barn, had a quick look around, and snapped off a few photos. The old mare stood quietly at the fence waiting for her morning biscuit of hay and looked up when she spied company. “If only you guys could talk.” Ryder gave her a rub on the forelock and scratched her ears. “I’ll be back soon, okay? Let me sort out this mess and then breakfast time.”
When she glanced up at her truck, Milo had quietened down and sat sedately in the back seat, head touching the ceiling with Ebony leaning against him, arms around his neck. Until Jake arrived and they could look inside the house, the youngest member of the family was staying in her mother’s sight.
“Bloody hell!” Jake looked at the mess and shook his head.
“Creative, aren’t they?” Ryder walked him down to the barn and watched as he looked around. “You didn’t tell me what Ethol said.”
Jake turned to her, hands on denim clad hips, hat pulled down over his face against the bright morning sun. His button up shirt showed just enough of his dark throat to tease more than it warranted. He wasn’t often dressed in civilian clothes so Ryder wondered if he was off duty and if so, why did he come to the hospital this morning when another officer could have done the interview.
“Claims he didn’t have anything to do with it. Found her in his old barn which he says he never uses. But with nobody to collaborate his story, I had no choice but to charge and hold him. Waiting for Eric to come in and start throwing his weight around.”
“Something doesn’t ring true about this whole thing. Targeting me is just stupid if they wanted us to stop investigating the cases. To me that makes it a local set up. Not the kids being taken in particular but the perpetrator is local. I mean, look at this—” she pointed to the barn “—no way this would have happened if this was a city operation. Nobody in their right mind would drive all the way out here to Mudgee to kill my cat or trash my house. We’re not seeing something and its annoying the crap out of me.”
“I don’t honestly think your grandfather had anything to do with it either, really. He may know who’s involved and that makes him an accessory. Perhaps he’ll talk if we let him cool his heels in a cell for long enough.”
The static of the police radio sounded and they walked towards the car. “Let me go inside the house with you to double check nothing is out of place. I need to get this call first though.” He reached the car just as his mobile rang. Jake pulled it out of his pocket and grinned at Ryder. “This’ll be interesting. Eric.”
He answered it and Ryder went for the two way in the car. She listened as Mick relayed the news that brought silent tears to her eyes. “Roger that.”
* * *
“Sure, Eric. I’ll meet you at the station and we can discuss your father’s charges. Give me forty minutes and I’ll be there.” He hung up the phone and looked over at Ryder. She leaned against her truck, stroking her daughter’s hair. When she glanced up, Jake saw tears pouring down her face and stepped toward her. She held up her hand and stopped him.
“I’m fine, really. Everything hitting me all at once. I’m sorry, not very professional behaviour.”
“I have to go in and meet Eric. He’s mouthing off about us having Ethol locked up. Tell me what the office had to say.” He stood staring at her, waiting while she composed herself.
“That was Mick. He said Sydney office called and they have a line on Paris Bonneville. A little girl looking very like her has been spotted in an outer Sydney suburb with a woman and another older child. They’re about to storm the house they believe she’s being held at.” She bit her lip and he could see her chin wobble. So much emotion made all the worse because of what happened with Ebony.
“Come here.” Jake stepped toward her and Ryder fell against his chest, wrapped her arms around his waist, and bawled her eyes out. He rubbed circles on her back while she cried, making soothing sounds to try and calm her. It didn’t take
