“That’s me. When the cat was killed, that was left on my pillow.”
She saw the cords in his neck tighten along with his jaw. He glanced at her, his normally warm brown eyes now puzzled and cold.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
Ryder took a deep breath. “Because it seemed too personal. I didn’t know who did it and why. I needed to figure it out in my head before I gave it to you.” She held up her hand. “Look, I know the protocol, okay. You don’t have to tell me. But you have to understand, Jake. My family up and left this town without saying goodbye to anyone, without even my mother knowing what was going on.”
She ran a hand through her hair and paced the floor. “I didn’t know who had the photograph or if that person was trying to frame someone else by leaving it for me to find. The only excuse I have is that it niggled in my brain and I had to find out what it was before I parted with it. It’s a piece of my past, part of the puzzle of who I am.” She reached out and placed a hand on his arm. “Can’t you understand that?”
“No, I can’t. The only thing I know is that you withheld evidence from the investigation. We could have nailed him earlier.”
“No, you wouldn’t have. I have the very same photo in my album. It was taken at Grandad’s place, which you can see if you look at the background. You would have gone straight to him when we both felt that he didn’t really have anything to do with it.”
Jake sighed. “You’re right, I would have.”
Ryder picked up her glass of wine, took a sip letting the crisp fruity flavour slide down her throat, then put it back down. “If Ethol knew about what Eric was doing, I’d be very surprised. He might be a strange old duck and I have to wonder if that had something to do with Dad taking us away like he did. It could have unhinged him if he thought he was the reason. But I now firmly believe he and Amy had nothing to do with this. They were convenient pawns in Eric’s perverted little game of selling children.”
Jake put the photo on the table and reached for her. “You could be right about him. I’ve already cleared Amy. Wrong place wrong time. I get that. Sadly, she’s the one that’s going to find it hard. If there are any official complaints, she stands to lose her working with children status and that will mean the end of the centre. Being tarred with what’s happened will stay with her for awhile too.”
“Not if she has us behind her, it won’t. Once everyone knows it was Eric all along and she and Ethol are innocent, I’m pretty sure the towns folk will find something else to gossip about.”
“I spoke to Jim and he’s brought someone in from Sydney to change the security system. Nobody can get inside now unless they’re buzzed in from the office. Those kids mean the world to her.”
“Thank goodness. But people are still going to talk.” She snuggled against his chest, for once being there because she wanted to be, not because an event had pushed her there. “Maybe we should give the locals something to talk about?”
“I like where your mind goes, Ryder. I like it a lot.”
* * *
The following day, Ryder pulled into the childcare centre and turned off the truck. She took a deep breath. I can do this, I can.
With Ebony’s hand in hers, they walked up to the new front door and pressed the bell beside it. A loud click and the door lock moved. She grabbed the handle and pushed it open, waiting for it to close behind her with a resounding snap of locks.
“Ryder, Ebony.” Amy stood up from behind the counter. Her face was strained, and she had dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. They walked in and Amy looked at Ryder as though waiting for someone to tear her to bits.
I won’t be the one to destroy her. She needs help and I’m the perfect person to do that and squash the rumours while we’re at it. “Hi Amy.” Ryder let Eb’s bag slide down from her shoulder to land on the floor at her feet. “I’m so sorry you got dragged into this.”
Amy launched herself at her cousin, sobbing. “N-n-not your fault.” Her already frail frame seemed tinier than the last time Ryder had seen her. After her talk with Jake last night, they’d agreed to take a stand and support her even if Eric hadn’t been arraigned yet. Besides, Ryder wanted to see him sitting in a cell and to help gather the evidence to make the case stick.
Mr. and Mrs. Bonneville had decided to stay in Sydney until their daughter had been interviewed by the special detectives down there and, together with Jake, they would build the case against Eric so tight it wouldn’t fall down during the trial. But in Mudgee, they had fences to rebuild.
Ryder patted her shoulder until Amy composed herself again, then leaned down to talk to Ebony. “Honey, why don’t you go and find your friends while I talk to Amy? She’ll bring your bag in later, okay?”
Eb held her face up for a kiss and happily skipped off to her room, eager to find her class mates.
Ryder stood up and looked around, noting the new cameras. “Did Jake tell you what happened?”
“Yes, he did. We can’t believe it, really we can’t.” She gripped her hands together. “Eric was always a bit narcissistic I suppose, but everyone thought that made him a good lawyer to have on your side. Who would have thought he’d get involved in selling children?”
