Black Mountain Affair

Ex Detective Sergeant Ben Hood, now a VIP protection operative, finds himself the target of a twisted serial killer when he is sent to protect Far North Australian Socialite, Merinda Jerome. Bodies and body parts are turning up in the deadly and ghostly c

Black Mountain Affair

By Drew Lindsay Smashwords Edition

Copyright © Drew Lindsay 2011

The right of Drew Lindsay as the Author of this Work has been

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient If you’re reading this book and did not purchase

it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy Thank you for

respecting the hard work of this author.

“****”

ALSO BY DREW LINDSAY

All books are available at Drew Lindsay’s page at

The Writing Competition

Very Short Story

Coral Sea Affair

Ben Hood Thriller Number 1

Flesh Traders

Ben Hood Thriller Number 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you Leonarda from LeiDesign for another great cover

Thank you to the people, especially my Brother in Law, Dr Andrew Godden, who took the time to point out that my spelling is lousy; that I can’t always rely on spellchecker and it’s about time I actually

learned the difference between it’s and its

Thank you also to Michelle Lafferty for taking the time to make

me aware that snakes don’t have eyelids and therefore cannot blink…!

“****”

Black Mountain Map

“****”

‘You don’t want to go climbing about on those huge boulders,’ Bobby

continued ‘There are crevasses and caves and holes all over the place that drop way down into the darkness of the earth where you’d never be found again And if the fall didn’t kill you, the giant amethystine python would slide down through the blackness and crush the life out of what was left before devouring you, bones and all.’ The teenagers were now mildly interested

‘Bobby! Really I don’t think that’s quite appropriate.’ Margaret Quinn gathered her 7 year old daughter close

‘Sorry lady Just telling the truth Then there’s the Queensland Tiger that people have seen around here on moonlight nights Not a problem for us because it’s the middle of the day, but here at night he’d hunt you down and have you for dinner.’

Margaret Quinn looked desperately at her husband but he was enjoying the tales more than the teenagers

‘And of course we have the ghost bats Hundreds of them live down there in those rocks along with all kinds of other bats.’

‘So what’s special about the ghost bats?’ asked one of the teenage girls,

shaking a lock of blond hair from her eyes

‘Sharp teeth girly Carnivorous They fly on gossamer wings and strike lethally in the blackness.’

‘I hardly think such creatures exist,’ interjected Margaret

‘Oh yes lady,’ said Bobby seriously ‘They’re around here all right You don’t go wandering off near Black Mountain in the day and especially at night Full

of evil spirits and the bones of the dead Just listen for a moment.’

A warm sea breeze stirred the green and golden undergrowth surrounding the mountainous pile of dark grey rocks towering above them Soft moaning sounds came from deep within the rubble ‘Some say it’s just the wind,’ Bobby said ‘Others say it’s the souls of the dead.’

Margaret’s husband, John, stepped to the edge of the timber railing which surrounded the viewing platform He turned and faced Bobby ‘We read all about these wild tales on the internet at home You guys have been telling whoppers about this place for years It brings in the tourists.’

Bobby pulled the akubra down tight on his elderly head and glanced towards the sun ‘Perhaps time to go We’ve got lots more to see.’

John grinned at his wife and gave a knowing wink ‘Let’s go kids,’ he called

‘Bobby has other exciting stuff to show us.’

‘Where’s Beth?’ Janice Price, the other Mum, looked about frantically

‘Beth!’ she called loudly Her husband, Jordan, rushed to the platform railing

‘BETH… You answer us right now honey!’

Margaret and John did a quick head count on their children All present

‘Who saw her last?’ Bobby asked The concern was obvious in his voice

‘She was right beside me less than a minute ago,’ said Janice Price, her voice rising in pitch as hysteria rose within her

Bobby made a quick inspection from all sides of the viewing platform The little girl was no-where to be seen

‘I’m going to search the rocks,’ said Jordan ‘She can’t have gone far.’

‘No!’ Bobby’s voice was loud and firm ‘I’ll search You all stay here.’ He looked at Janice ‘About 8 or 9 with short red hair?’

Janice gripped her husband’s arm Jordan Price looked at Bobby and nodded

‘She’s 9.’ Bobby ran back to the stairs leading onto the platform He knew a little girl could not have climbed off the platform to the ground She would have gone back to the stairs, giving her easy access to the ground beneath To the right of the platform was thick scrub Impassable To the left was a tiny track worn by resident animals Bobby moved quickly down the track It skirted two massive granite

boulders and went underneath another, into the semi darkness of a cavern Shards of sunlight cut through holes between the rocks above Blackness lay beyond The rustling of leathery wings came from the blackness The unmistakable stench of death lingered in the stale air

The little girl stood motionless Her eyes stared at Bobby, unblinking, full of fear Bobby switched on his tiny key ring torch ‘Beth?’

The girl nodded

‘You OK missy?’

The girl remained silent

‘Shouldn’t go wandering off like that missy Scared the crap out Mum and Dad.’

Beth kept her eyes fixed on him

Bobby shone his little torch over the girl He sucked in his breath when he saw that her hands and arms were covered with blood ‘Lord oh Lord! You hurt yourself?’

Beth shook her head She slowly turned to the left but then quickly

straightened and stared at Bobby Her mouth opened but she couldn’t form words Bobby’s eyes were now growing accustomed to the semi darkness Two lumps were visible on the ground just behind the little girl

‘OK Beth… You head on out of here just the way you walked in Your parents are waiting for you outside You understand me darling?’

The red haired girl nodded again She took hesitating steps towards Bobby, never taking her eyes off his She froze as he laid a black, wrinkled hand on her shoulder, but then grasped it tightly with her tiny, blood stained hands

‘It’s OK Beth You just keep going my dear Your parents are waiting

outside I’ll have a bit of a look around and be right behind you.’

The tiny fingers refused to release their grip on the large black hand Bobby unclasped her fingers and pushed her gently towards the light Beth walked

unsteadily away from him He swung the light back into the cavern The stench of dead flesh was overpowering As he moved closer he could see arms, two naked torsos, legs, two heads….one larger than the other

Little Beth had tripped over two dead bodies She had fallen into them, hence the blood on her hands and arms Bobby wanted to vomit He swallowed hard and looked back at the shards of light indicating the entrance to the cavern Running from this sickening death hole would have been logical but he turned his torch back to the bodies on the ground Both were female Both were Aboriginal There was no clothing on or near them Both had suffered horrific physical injuries, probably by a swinging machete or axe One was a woman of at least 30 although it was difficult to tell from the shocking wounds over her body The other was in her early teens The older woman’s head was almost totally severed from her body Neither had a right hand Each right hand had been severed at the wrist Bobby shone his torch around frantically No hands

Distressed parents were attempting to understand why their stone faced, blood covered daughter wasn’t talking Janice Price was hysterical The teenagers had lost their detached demeanour and were looking decidedly alarmed Margaret Quinn was clinging to her husband and their children had gone into a family huddle

Bobby strode past the viewing platform without a word and jumped into the driver’s seat of his four wheel drive tourist van A mobile phone nestled in his pocket but was forgotten because of shock He turned on the two way radio and put the microphone to his mouth ‘Lucy….’

A few moments later a bubbly female voice came back ‘Bobby How did you get past the spiders living on that old radio? What happened to your phone?’

‘Lucy I’m at the Black Mountain lookout I need help.’

‘You fall down and hurt yourself again old man?’

‘No There are two bodies here Two girls both hacked up bad.’

‘God in heaven Bobby!’

‘I need the coppers out here.’

‘OK OK Don’t panic I’ll ring them.’

Bobby dropped the microphone He turned off his key ring torch and sat back with his eyes closed The rest of today’s tour would have to be cancelled Yes… Cancelled No question about that

“****”

Chapter Two

Inspector Peter Martin covered the 26 kilometre trip from Cooktown to Black Mountain in record time He hammered the mud splattered four wheel drive Nissan Patrol down highway 81, ignoring the occasional warning by his companion, Senior Constable Binda Spencer, that he may kill them both at any moment That said however, Binda, a distant descendent from the local Aboriginal tribe, Kuku Yalanji, was enjoying the speed and occasionally smiled widely, showing pearly white teeth in contrast with her dark olive skin

They came to a sliding halt in a cloud of red dust at the turn off to the Black Mountain lookout Minutes later their four wheel drive vehicle pulled up along side Bobby Gumtree’s tourist van Inspector Martin pulled on his broad rimmed police hat and stepped down onto the dry grass He approached Bobby and the two shook hands Binda walked to the front of the police vehicle and stopped She wasn’t wearing a hat She didn’t really need one Her long black hair was curled up into a bun and attached to the top of her head with a large brown plastic clip She rested her right hand casually on the holstered butt of a Glock 22 pistol, not because she felt threatened at this time, but more from habit

The Price and Quinn families remained huddled together under the shade of a tree near Bobby’s tour vehicle Little Beth had been washed The front of her jeans and tee shirt were also soaked as frantic parents sought to remove all traces of blood Beth was standing quite still and made no attempt to answer questions from her family or anyone else in the party

‘I think we should get her to the hospital,’ Janice Price was saying to her husband ‘Something dreadful has happened to her Look at her!’

‘She’s not injured from what I can see,’ replied her husband

‘I don’t care what you can or can’t see Jordan I want her taken to hospital as soon as possible!’ Her voice was once again becoming hysterical

‘What’s going on here Bobby?’ asked Inspector Martin ‘Something happen

to the little girl?’

‘Just shock.’

‘We heard you found bodies?’

‘Little miss found them first That’s why she’s like that.’ Bobby waved vaguely at Beth Price ‘She wandered off into one of the caverns and tripped over them Covered in their blood the poor little thing.’

‘Better show us where they are eh?’ said Peter Martin

‘I’ll point you to the entrance but no way am I going back in that Kalkajaka,’

Bobby replied

Binda Spencer moved to Bobby’s side and laid a soft hand on his leathery,

black arm She looked back at Peter Martin ‘Kalkajaka is the Aboriginal name for

Black Mountain It’s also called the mountain of death.’

Inspector Martin looked toward the group of tourists ‘I’ll have a brief word with them first You show us where the bodies are and then take your tourists back to town No press Bobby Not a word of this You warn your group to say nothing.’

‘They don’t know nothing,’ said Bobby ‘I didn’t tell them and the little girl hasn’t said a word since she came out of the cave I think they better take her to the hospital.’

‘Alright, but I want Ruth to examine her.’ He turned to Binda ‘You got

Ruth’s number?’

Binda nodded and searched her mobile phone contacts She clicked on the contact which read: “Dr Ruth Cruise G.P and Forensic Pathologist.” Ruth

answered immediately Binda moved away and spoke softly into the phone

‘Bobby, you recognise the deadens?’ asked Inspector Martin

‘Didn’t take close enough look boss Too busy gettin out of there One’s a woman and the other a little girl I think They are both chopped up pretty bad They both have lost their right hands.’

‘What?’

Bobby looked back at his group of sombre tourists He lowered his voice

‘Both had their right hands cut off boss Oddest thing I’ve ever seen.’

‘How dark in that cave?’

‘Black as hell itself Probably full of bats and lord knows where those snakes are hiding.’

‘I’ll get a torch.’ Peter Martin strode to his Nissan Patrol police vehicle and opened the rear hatch He removed a large portable searchlight and indicated for Bobby to accompany him to the group of tourists ‘I’m Inspector Peter Martin from Cooktown police station I know your trip hasn’t turned out as expected today but please bear with us for a few more minutes I’ll have Bobby drive you back to town soon.’

Janice Price was stroking her daughter’s hair Her husband Jordan looked haggard and lost Janice lifted her eyes to the policeman and gazed at him for a long moment ‘Something in that mountain did this to my little girl She needs help.’

‘I’m having a very experienced Doctor take a look at her at the hospital when you get back to Cooktown Her name is Dr Ruth Cruise She is extremely good with children My partner is arranging it now.’

‘You shouldn’t let people come out here if the mountain is dangerous,’ said Jordan Price ‘You should put up signs and stop the blacks doing tours out here.’

Peter Martin took a step towards the diminutive and sunburned Jordan Price Jordan took a step backwards ‘I understand that you have all suffered a bit of a shock out here today and we are going to have this little girl examined by a Doctor very soon.’ He looked at the others in the group ‘Bobby is going to show me where he found this little girl and I will investigate.’ He fixed his eyes on Jordan Price ‘These

“blacks” as you call them, were the custodians of this land long before we got here and this mountain is sacred It’s also dangerous and that is why we have tour guides like Bobby, take you to safe viewing locations He can’t however, be responsible for all your children as well That’s your job as parents Your little girl wandered off That’s your responsibility She’s your kid I understand Bobby went into that damn dangerous mountain and got her out.’

‘Ruth’s on her way to the hospital,’ called Binda

Inspector Martin kept his eyes fixed on Jordan Price ‘Now you all get into that tourist van and I’ll have Bobby start the motor and put the air conditioning on I’ll need Bobby for a little while and when he comes back he’ll drive you to the hospital and your girl will be seen to Do you understand me?’

Jordan Price nodded…defeated

Peter Martin gestured to Bobby to open his van The small group of visitors climbed inside without a word Bobby started the motor and turned on the air

conditioning The sliding door closed and he headed for the animal track running beside the viewing platform The uniformed policeman followed with his partner close behind

Bobby stopped as they approached the gaping entrance to the cavern beneath massive grey boulders The faint hum of the idling tourist van motor was initially the only sound they could hear, but this was suddenly replaced by dozens of clicking sounds which became a roar from the upward direction of thousands of boulders piled hundreds of metres above them to the mountain’s peaks The roar softened

momentarily and then increased for several seconds Suddenly, as if governed by the downward plunge of a conductor’s wand, the noise ceased altogether

‘What the hell was that?’ Peter Martin gazed upward, scanning the huge mass

of granite rocks

‘Frogs,’ said Bobby ‘Boulder frogs Thousands of them up there Must be a storm on the way.’

‘Then you better get your tourists back to town The deadens in there?’

Bobby pointed into the cavern with a shaking, outstretched hand ‘You smell

em boss?’

Peter Martin looked back at Bobby and then to his partner Binda He turned

on the huge searchlight Its beam penetrated the darkness beyond ‘Yeah, I can smell them Get your people out of here Bobby….and don’t call me boss.’

“****”

Chapter Three

Inspector Martin entered the cavern with cautious steps There was no

mistaking the bodies on the ground towards the rear of the labyrinth of black lava rocks Binda Spencer had seen dead bodies before, but only a few and never hacked

up like these two The dead people she had seen before looked asleep As she moved closer to these butchered individuals, it was clear from the frozen looks on both faces that they had died in absolute terror

Peter Martin slowly shone the search light over each body He also noted they were both aboriginal and from his own experience of dead bodies, had probably lain

in the cave for a day or so

The sound of Bobbies van retreated in the distance but was replaced with soft fluttering sounds in the darkness of the lofty ceiling Peter shone his torch upward and thousands of leathery wings began to beat wildly as the bats were startled by the brilliant light He moved the beam down to the cavern floor

‘We have ourselves a very sickening crime scene Binda Do you know either

of these girls?’

‘Yes,’ said Binda softly Glistening tears rolled down her ebony cheeks The little one is Koorine Burton The other is her Mum, Oola They live out near Hope Vale but work for Mrs Jerome down Quarantine Road.’

Peter nodded slowly ‘They don’t live near Hope Vale any more I’m afraid They’ve upset someone quite badly by the look of things.’

‘I can’t understand,’ said Binda in a hushed voice ‘These two didn’t cause trouble They just cleaned for Mrs Jerome and everyone loved them.’

‘Apparently not everyone,’ said Peter Martin grimly ‘We’ve compromised the crime scene to some extent, walking up close to the bodies, as well as that little girl falling over them, so our next move will be to exit exactly the same way we came

in Touch nothing I want Ruth out here as soon as possible We’re going to need Harry up from Cairns on this one Double homicide.’

‘Scientific?’

‘Yep I’ll call Wal I want this place photographed top to bottom, especially the dirt on the floor around the bodies Then Ruth can do her thing Can you ring her again and I’ll get on the mobile to Harry.’

Binda nodded and carefully backed away from the grim scene Peter Martin followed, thankful to reach the cavern entrance and the embrace of sunlight and fresh air Back at their police vehicle Binda used her mobile phone to call Ruth Cruise Peter Martin used his mobile to call the Cairns Detectives office

The man he wanted answered the phone ‘Detective Keller.’

‘Harry It’s Peter Martin We got two deadens up here at Black Mountain Nasty double homicide mate Very nasty.’

‘Jesus Peter! Lousy timing The bride’s got stuff planned She’s going to spew.’

‘Won’t be the first time Can you hop a flight today?’

‘You got the offender?’

‘No We got nothing at the moment No motive, no suspect, no witnesses and

a little girl fell over the bodies so the crime scene is contaminated to some extent.’

‘Bloody hell Peter You don’t need me You need a damn miracle worker.’

‘Can you brief the Regional Crime Coordinator and I’ll get something on the system by this evening.’

‘Yeah Yeah Are the deadens white?’

‘No.’

‘Oh perfect Why couldn’t they have been white? Everyone will be going ape.’

‘Harry, I need you up here.’

‘OK OK, but you can call Jolanta and explain why you’re dragging me out of the dinner party tonight and I’d be wearing bloody ear plugs during that conversation

if I was you.’

‘Alright, I’ll text her.’

‘Like hell you will You call her She’s going to cane your arse Peter.’

‘This is a nasty one Harry I need to move on this quickly.’

Detective Inspector Maurice Keller sucked hard on what was left of the hand rolled cigarette poking from the end of his cigarette holder ‘Alright I’ll get some stuff together and be right up I’ll bring Sutcliffe with me He loves homicides, the sick bastard.’

‘I’ll be setting up lights at the scene later and clearing out the bats before Wal and Ruth do their thing.’

‘What bats?

‘The caverns are full of bats and I’m told some of them bite.’

‘I hate those bastards.’

‘You hate everything.’

‘I love the horses.’

‘Only if they win If they don’t you hate them, their owners, trainers and especially their riders; with a passion.’

‘OK, I’ll get up there as soon as I can but we are both in huge trouble with the bride over this.’

‘You get caught betting on the nags in your office again by the Cairns OIC and I’d lay bets that Jolanta’s temper will be nothing compared to his.’

‘You obviously don’t know my wife as well as I thought you did.’

‘You should have stayed in Brisbane She hates the heat up here.’

‘But she loves the extra money I earn.’

‘To do what with in Cairns?’

‘She knows everyone in Cairns! I swear I’ve never been to so many parties in

my bloody life.’

‘Ring me when you’re about to take off.’

‘You ring Jolanta right now OK?’

‘Alright Harry.’ The call was terminated

‘Why do you call him Harry?’ Binda walked to the passenger side door of the police vehicle

‘His family and close friends call him Harry I have no idea why.’

‘I thought his name was Maurice?’

‘It is, but I would suggest you call him Detective Inspector Keller He doesn’t know you all that well.’

‘I met him last year with that deceased in the rain tank I don’t think he likes me.’

Peter pointed to the driver’s seat ‘I need to make some calls You take us home.’

Binda moved around the back of the police vehicle and slid behind the

steering wheel Peter climbed into the passenger seat and slammed the door ‘And why would you think he doesn’t like you?’

Binda turned the key and the motor roared She engaged first gear and eased off the clutch A cloud of red dust rose as they headed for the highway

‘Something he said?’ asked Peter

‘Never looked at me Never spoke to me Totally ignored me.’

‘Probably just having one of his days.’

‘Ignored me for 3 whole days.’

‘He gets these moods….’

Binda turned right onto the highway towards Cooktown and stamped her foot hard on the accelerator pedal

Bobby Gumtree was waiting outside the Cooktown Hospital Peter Martin approached with Binda close behind ‘How things go here Bobby?’ asked Peter

‘Doctor Cruise is with the girlie now That poor kid’s had a dreadful fright Dreadful.’

‘And the others?’

‘They say it’s my fault Say I should have warned them I did warn them boss I couldn’t keep my eyes on every one of them.’

‘My name is Peter You call me Peter from now on Got that?’

‘Yes Bo… Yes Peter.’

‘Take them back to their hotel and refund their money I’ll have the Police Department reimburse you tomorrow.’

Bobby nodded

‘This is going to blow up big time but I want to get the experts in before the media descend If the little girl talks, then she talks You say nothing, OK?’

Bobby nodded again

‘Alright, I’m going to have a chat with Ruth when she’s free Can you get the tourists out of here ASAP?’

Bobby looked confused Binda made a quick hand signal which Peter Martin didn’t see ‘Oh sure,’ said Bobby ‘Like lightning out of here I get it.’

Dr Ruth Cruise was the town’s senior resident GP for Cooktown Hospital She was also the area Forensic Pathologist Originally from Melbourne, she had moved to Cairns and thence to Cooktown following the painful and drawn out

separation and ultimate divorce from a high society neurosurgeon He claimed she didn’t fulfil his ‘needs’ She claimed he was a narcissist, obsessional, jerk

Fortunately they had no children Ruth’s parents were dead and her only brother lived somewhere in Europe She was in her mid 50’s, of medium build and extremely fit from hours of running on a home treadmill and maintaining a whirlwind work

schedule She had short cropped blond hair, fair complexion and a freckled covered nose In her 30’s and 40’s she was considered stunning, other than by her husband Now her beauty had matured into the warm elegance which only age produces She should have looked haggard and worn, having spent hundreds of hours at horrific crime scenes and in air conditioned (and sometimes not air conditioned) morgues Her demeanour and beauty defied the odds

Peter Martin pulled off his hat as he entered the air conditioned hospital The Quinn and Price families studied him silently from the waiting area He glanced at them briefly and continued to the admissions desk

‘Hi Peter,’ said the young Aboriginal receptionist.

‘Kirra…you’re looking lovely as usual.’

‘You are so full of it Mr Martin silver tongue Suppose you’re looking for Ruth?’

me the job and stop trying to deny it I know stuff about you Peter Martin.’

‘Inspector Martin to you Show some respect for the badge.’

Kirra laughed again, her dark face wreathed with smiles ‘You come on through here and wait out in the prep area Ruth won’t be long.’

She buzzed him through a metal and glass security door Peter winked at Kirra and walked down the linoleum hallway to the prep room He saw Binda walk through the reception area and stop to chat with Kirra

Ruth ushered a young girl, barely 10 years of age, to the waiting room and spoke with her parents for some time Janice Price looked decidedly unhappy She held her daughter close and stroked her hair Bobby Gumtree stood to one side He looked extremely uncomfortable Finally, Ruth approached Bobby and had a brief conversation He left the building quickly She moved to the admissions counter, nodded at Binda and asked Kirra to arrange two taxies for transportation

‘What was that about?’ asked Peter as Ruth entered the prep room and

dropped heavily into a chair ‘They didn’t want Bobby driving them anywhere They wanted taxies.’

‘The little girl?’

‘In shock Understandable I’ve arranged a session with her and Roy first thing tomorrow I’ve said we’ll pay That OK?’

‘Yeah Yeah.’

‘She said that she tripped over two sleeping people in the cave She said that they were covered with sticky stuff and smelt horrible, like when her cat died under the house last year.’

‘We got two dead Aboriginal women,’ said Peter ‘Binda knows them Oola Burton and her daughter.’

‘God no,’ said Ruth softly ‘How?’

‘Hacked up with an axe by the look of it Both naked Both on their backs in the dirt Both missing their right hands.’

‘What?’

‘Sliced off at the wrist with something heavy and razor sharp The bones don’t even look splintered.’

‘And dragged into a cave at Black Mountain What’s the significance?’

‘No idea Ruth We’ll have to dig bit by bit from square one So much for a quiet start to the year This is going to be a damn nightmare, especially when the press get wind of it.’

‘Who knows?’

‘The two families if that kid blurts stuff.’

‘I don’t think she will just yet I’ve sedated her actually The parents know she will be out of it for much of the next 8 hours Tomorrow will be another story.’

‘I’ll be getting Wal to set up for crime scene examination this evening and Harry is also on his way.’

‘My day has just sunk into the bog,’ Ruth moaned.

‘He’s our chief homicide investigator He has to be involved He’s bringing Ian Sutcliffe.’

Ruth clapped both hands to her head ‘Not the dynamitic duo Couldn’t you just give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice over it?’

‘Ruth…’

‘He’s an obnoxious bore and the only reason Sutcliffe loves a death scene is because he’s probably sussing out all the good ones so he can create a masterpiece of his own.’

‘That’s not fair They have a tough gig up here in the far north I still don’t know how you handle these situations so calmly.’

‘The outside doesn’t always reflect the inside Peter.’

‘Obviously not.’

The two said nothing for a while Ruth squirmed in her chair ‘You still bluing with the Missus?’

‘What’s that got to do with anything? Who told you that anyway?’

‘This is Cooktown Peter We got less than 2,000 in this town I even know what type of underdaks you wear.’

Peter sat up straight and fumbled with the hat on his knees ‘That’s crap Sandra and I are getting on just fine, and my underwear is none of your damn

business.’

‘Don’t puff up your chest at me Mister This is a tough part of Australia and our jobs are even tougher No-one wants our jobs, as if you didn’t notice, but our jobs are important.’

Peter studied her blue eyes ‘Where is this leading?’

‘We got two dead Aboriginal ladies out at Black Mountain From what you say, someone hacked them to death They don’t have a voice now They can’t say who did this to them They can’t cry for justice.’

‘Will you talk sense Ruth?’

‘Like all the other horrible crime scenes you and I have worked up here Peter, this one will rob us of just a bit more of ourselves It will take over our lives Those around us will also suffer because of what we go through.’

‘I think perhaps you should book a session with Roy tomorrow He’s the best shrink north of Cairns so I hear.’

‘Why am I even talking to you? OK, I’m not going to talk to you any more, other than about these two dead girls Any personal affect their murders have on you

or me as we work this case will not be discussed Are we clear?’

‘We’ve never discussed how we personally felt about deaths up here.’

‘That’s a damn lie! We’ve got drunk and cried all over each other….’

‘What’s gotten into you Ruth?’

She jumped to her feet and glared at him ‘Nothing you dumb copper

Nothing!’

‘You’ve never called me that before….’

‘I’m sorry Peter I didn’t mean that It’s been a tough day.’

‘I’m afraid it’s going to get somewhat tougher I need you at the crime scene this evening.’

Tears were forming in Ruth’s eyes She turned her back to Peter and wiped them away with her hand ‘Just give me an hour I need to go home and get my overalls and stuff.’

He got up He felt uneasy This was not how he usually felt with Ruth ‘Are you going to be OK?’

‘Yep Sorry You run along and I’ll be at the Police Station in an hour.’

‘Bugger,’ exclaimed Peter ‘I forgot to ask you to get a DNA sample from that little girl I’ll need it for elimination.’

‘Already done it,’ said Ruth ‘I’m not just a pretty face you know.’

‘I can see that,’ said Peter and he walked down to the reception area

Kirra buzzed him out Binda joined him as he walked down the front steps of the Hospital and climbed into the driver’s seat of the police vehicle

Binda slipped into the passenger’s side She studied his face for a moment

‘Someone slap you Sir?’

‘Pardon?’

‘You look a bit shell shocked.’

Peter started the engine ‘Yeah, it’s been a tough day so far.’

“****”

Chapter Four

‘It’s a shocker Pete.’ Senior Constable Walter Lund adjusted his arc lights slightly and continued to photograph every square metre of the cave and in particular, the bodies and surrounding area ‘Someone didn’t like the girls that’s for sure.’

‘Some people do this for fun Wal Sometimes dislike or hate doesn’t even play a part.’

‘Screwball you mean?’

‘Ruth’s here,’ called Binda from the entrance to the cave

‘You about done?’ asked Peter

Wal nodded ‘I’ve taken over 300 shots Haven’t missed anything’

Ruth stopped beside Peter The bodies were sprawled in full, naked display only metres away ‘Oh my God,’ she said in a whisper

‘Let me know when you’re done Ruth,’ said Wal as he walked back towards the cave entrance ‘I’ll come and collect my lights.’

Ruth took slow steps until she was beside the adult female body The woman lay on her back Her legs were slightly apart Her right arm was outstretched behind her head and partly covered by her long black hair The right hand had been cleanly severed at the wrist Her left arm was lying parallel to her body but the fingers were bunched firmly into a fist Ruth counted at least a dozen deep lacerations to her face, throat, chest and stomach Part of her lower intestine protruded from one of the deep cuts

‘Any drag marks?’ asked Ruth

‘No They walked in I think, or got carried in and dumped.’

‘Foot prints?’

‘Some, including mine, Binda’s, Bobbies and the little girl Wal thinks he’s photographed at least 5 different shoe marks, one quite a large shoe; bigger than mine and also adult bare feet.’

‘Perhaps Oola walked in She’s not wearing shoes.’

‘Possible We’re checking for a match No bare foot marks for the little one though, and she’s got no shoes.’

‘It looks like a fair bit of blood has soaked into the ground here Likely they were killed here would be my guess,’ said Ruth She turned her attention to the Aboriginal girl She was barely in her teens although her body shape had begun to mature She had no lacerations to her face but her throat was cut deeply Ruth suspected that was the fatal wound She would confirm that later during the post mortem examination at the morgue The girl’s eyes were open and staring Her face froze in a frightening death mask Her right hand had also been cleanly severed, as if put on a chopping block and hit with a razor sharp axe Her left arm rested over her

breasts but it was deeply slashed along the forearm Her stomach had sustained two large lacerations.

Ruth slipped on a pair of surgical gloves and returned her attention to the adult corpse ‘I’m not going to mess with them too much here I need them back at the morgue ASAP Cause of death is fairly obvious for both and we know who they are.’

Peter nodded She wasn’t watching him

‘I want them bagged up tight Nothing touched I want them left on their backs for transportation and delivered exactly as they are now Can you make that clear to the contractors?’

‘Yes,’ said Peter hoarsely

‘We’re lucky that the flies weren’t so keen on these caves Must be something

in the air or perhaps the bats had a feast before the flies got to the bodies Who

I don’t think she’s started to bloat but her abdomen is punctured You can smell her gasses.’

Ruth inserted a digital rectal thermometer into the body and obtained a

reading She also used another instrument to measure the ambient temperature in the cavern

She then moved beside the little girl and manipulated one of her legs gently She also raised the mutilated left arm from her chest and shone her torch underneath the arm and across the girl’s chest She carefully returned the arm to its original position A further rectal temperature reading was obtained ‘The cool air in here might be slowing the death process down somewhat, but as they have no clothing, things may balance out Both bodies have reached ambient temperature so we’re going no-where with estimation of time of death that way.’

Soft moaning drifted high above them in the rocks The pitch rose and fell The hairs on the back of Peter’s neck stood up and he felt a shiver pass through his body The moaning continued, but now went past them on the left hand side and deep down through the massive volcanic rocks into the bowels of the earth

‘What in God’s name is that?’ asked Peter

‘A storm is headed in from the Coral Sea,’ replied Binda ‘Bobby warned us about it The wind blows through the rocks and makes that sound We had better pack this up fairly quickly I’ve been told that rain makes this place slippery and dangerous.’

‘I hope you’re right about the wind making that noise,’ said Peter, shining his searchlight around in the huge cavern ‘It sounds almost human.’

‘A lot of Aborigines got slaughtered by the white settlers at Black Mountain, many years ago,’ said Binda ‘Some say the ghosts of the murdered blacks live here and make that noise.’

Peter looked closely at his partner ‘Why were they slaughtered?’

‘They didn’t fit in Couldn’t accept the white culture Threw the occasional spear at a white settler or stole a cow for food.’

‘I’m not sure you’re giving an unbiased picture here Binda.’

‘Well I can tell you one thing That moaning isn’t dead people, or at least I don’t think it is It’s the rising wind and the approach of a storm and you better get those bodies and yourself out of here quick.’

‘I agree,’ said Ruth ‘Can someone get that highly paid Government

contractor out here now? I’m going to supervise the removal Wal,’ she called

loudly ‘You got any specimen jars?’

‘Truck loads Dr Cruise.’

‘Can I have 4 please?’ Ruth bent closer to inspect the knees of the Aboriginal woman She shone her torch directly on the knee caps Walter approached with the specimen jars ‘Did you get close up’s of her knees Wal?’

‘I don’t think I did her knees specifically I took lots of her body from every angle.’

‘Can I get close ups of both her knees?’

Walter turned his digital camera back on and took several close ups of the deceased woman’s knees Ruth turned her attention to the little girl’s legs and knees

‘You want me to get close ups of her knees too?’

‘No,’ said Ruth We’ve got enough, thanks I’ll just get some dirt samples from around the bodies Then you can pack up your stuff I’ll need you with me at the morgue.’

‘No problems.’

The moaning became louder and more intense

‘As long as those damn frogs don’t start again,’ said Peter, looking upward

‘What frogs?’ asked Ruth

‘Never mind.’

Cooktown morgue is not quite a state of the art facility Casual speculation in the local newspaper suggested that the Government didn’t care much for its dead in the far north from Cairns The morgue at Cairns for instance, was extremely

impressive…not that any morgue is built to be impressive to most of its clientele Lots of white tiles, stainless steel, hoses and drains and most importantly,

refrigeration

Ruth helped Binda with her surgical gown ties ‘You sure you want to do this honey? It’s not going to be nice.’

‘I want to,’ said Binda I knew these girls.’

‘Perhaps more reason to stay away I knew them too, but I have a job to do You’re just a spectator.’

‘I want to be there Ruth I want you to find stuff to help catch the monster that did this.’

‘Next of kin been advised?’

‘Peter’s arranging that now They will be here for a formal ID tonight.’

‘We’ll have them sewn up neat and tight by then We do these autopsies so the cuts don’t show We don’t touch the face and hands That’s all the next of kin want to see In Oola’s case we have a problem with her face but they use a kind of super glue to fix that We’ll display their left hands and hope they don’t want to see the right It’s a very touchy business.’

Binda was feeling sick ‘I understand.’

Ruth pushed through the swing doors into the morgue The cold air took her breath away for a moment Binda gasped with similar surprise ‘Mark! What’s with the sub zero temperature in here?’ Ruth approached the two stainless steel tables

The bodies of Oola and her daughter Koorine were stretched out on each examination table Senior Constable Walter Lund was gowned and standing by with his camera

‘I thought you would appreciate things a bit cooler.’ A very slim man in his late 40’s approached He was bald with a grey stubble beard He wore surgical greens and white gum boots

Ruth turned on a large light over Oola’s body ‘Raise the temp a bit Mr Leslie I didn’t bring my snow jacket.’

‘Yes Doctor Cruise.’

‘And this is Senior Constable Binda Spencer She’s watching, not cutting, so I need you opposite me.’

‘Yes Doctor.’ Mark Leslie glanced at Binda ‘Are you a relative?’

Binda was stunned into silence

Ruth glared at the morgue assistant ‘Are you and I relatives Mr Leslie?’

‘I don’t think so Dr Cruise.’ Mark was feeling decidedly uncomfortable

‘Then what in God’s name makes you think that Senior Constable Spencer and our deceased here are relatives?’

Mark’s mouth opened but he wasn’t sure how to answer Ruth had an array of very sharp and quite frightening surgical instruments within arms reach He could see the anger in her eyes

‘Actually I am related to them sir,’ said Binda softly Way back in time we were connected to the Kuku Yalanji people, so I guess that makes us related.’

‘And where do your ancestors come from Mr Leslie?’ asked Ruth sharply

‘New Zealand I think,’ mumbled Mark ‘My Father was from England

originally.’

‘Thank God,’ said Ruth ‘My parents came from Canada, so we’re definitely not related.’

Thunder rolled overhead and rain drummed on the tin roof The morgue had

no windows but they could hear the sounds outside Ruth turned on a digital recorder and painstakingly examined each body, explaining in detail what she saw DNA swabs were meticulously obtained and stored Vaginal swabs were taken Mouth swabs, blood, bile, urine Ruth took samples of scrapings under each fingernail of the deceased’s left hands She combed their hair and scraped areas of undamaged skin

She paid particular attention to the knees of the older woman, scraping off the remains of dirt and broken rock into a glass jar ‘You see the grit stuck to her knees?’ she said to Binda Binda nodded ‘Oola hit the ground knees first and quite hard I’d guess her initial wound would be somewhere on her back, probably the head.’ With Mark’s assistance she slowly turned the body over until it was face down She probed through the long black hair, exposing a deep laceration at the back of the head ‘This one’s gone right through the skull and into the brain Probably killed her, but we’ll sort that out later.’

‘So he’s hit her with an axe from behind?’

‘First, it could be a she, not a he, and second I’m not so sure it’s an axe It’s obviously a heavy weapon of sorts but it’s fairly narrow and quite long I’ve seen a lot of axe wounds in my time up here and they don’t look like the cuts to either of these bodies.’

‘Machete?’ volunteered Binda

‘No,’ Ruth shook her head ‘They cut an even, narrower wound and usually quite long I’ve not seen this kind of wounding before Wal, can you get close ups of the head wound?’

Wal leaned in with his camera and took three quick shots Ruth picked up a metal ruler and measured the wound ‘One centimetre wide at its widest lateral point but then tapers down to five millimetres at top and bottom of the wound That’s very strange The wound length is 14 centimetres but the implement may not have fully penetrated due to the thickness of the bone Either way, the weapon is not a

commercially available axe.’

Ruth examined every part of the woman’s back ‘Hypostasis is evident on the back and buttock areas, so she died on her back, in the position she was found.’ She looked up at Binda ‘That’s blood pooling after death Where the body lays the blood pools gravitationally It fixes in around 6 hours.’ Ruth touched the dead woman’s back ‘If that dark red stain was on the front of her legs and her chest, we would know that she died facing down and that in her case someone had moved her onto her back for whatever reason, at least 6 hours after she died.’

Binda nodded

Walter took more photographs

Ruth and Mark rolled the body onto its back She cut it open along the chest midline and abdomen and began to remove internal organs for inspection and biopsy Ruth suddenly stopped and her hands froze

‘What’s the matter?’ asked Binda

‘She’s pregnant,’ said Ruth softly ‘There is a foetus here It’s dead.’

‘God no,’ said Binda, moving closer ‘How old?’

‘Seven or eight weeks, perhaps a bit more.’ Ruth leaned back as Wal took more photographs ‘I’ll take a DNA sample and some tissue from the foetus, but it stays with the mother.’

‘I didn’t even know she had a boyfriend,’ Binda said ‘Her husband cleared off years ago.’

Ruth took the samples she required from the foetus and had them separately labelled She completed the removal of major organs from the body cavity and

dropped the large scalpel into a dish She picked up a smaller one and began to cut and remove the skin and tissue covering the skull That completed she picked up a small cylindrical tool with a tiny blade which was incapable of cutting skin or flesh, but powered it’s way through bone As she was opening the side of Oola’s skull to remove her brain, Inspector Martin and Detective Inspector Maurice Keller entered the room Detective Ian Sutcliffe followed closely behind

‘So how’s it going Ruth? Long time no see.’ said Inspector Keller jovially Ruth didn’t flinch Binda did She turned on the visitors and took three swift steps forward until she was face to face with Maurice Keller ‘This is a forensic examination Inspector Keller, not a social event Show some respect and get your fat arse out of here so Ruth can attend to these ladies.’

The booming of thunder outside couldn’t have been timed more perfectly with the flash of anger in Binda’s eyes and the flaring of her large nostrils Inspector Keller stepped back On later reflection he concluded that he had never been forced

to retreat so suddenly by anyone in his entire life

‘We’ll wait outside,’ said Peter The policemen quickly left the room

Binda resumed her observation position beside the stainless steel slabs Ruth continued opening Oola’s skull with a surgical saw The cutting gave off a burning smell Mark Leslie remained silent, occasionally washing away the blood as it oozed from the cut and keeping the oscillating blade wet

‘Well said,’ Ruth exclaimed ‘Lot of fire in there girl.’

Binda said nothing She couldn’t take her eyes off Oola Burton’s lifeless body The smell of the saw cutting through the skull was making her sick.

‘I haven’t got a fat arse,’ exclaimed Inspector Keller, as he dropped into a lounge chair in the hospital waiting room ‘Who does that black bitch think she is?’

‘Careful Harry,’ said Peter ‘You’re on very dangerous ground here.’

‘Look at this Binda.’ Ruth gently washed young Koorine Burton’s neck with

a sponge The gaping wound that had severed her trachea, oesophagus, carotid artery and jugular vein, was covered with Ruth’s left hand She was now pointing to slits in the skin underneath the girl’s chin Most would have drawn blood, but none were serious and definitely not fatal

‘What’s with the tiny cuts?’ asked Binda

‘That’s how the murderer got them into the Black Mountain cave A very sharp blade was held to this girl’s neck the entire time, while she and her Mother were alive Wal… Camera please.’

The teenager’s body cavity was opened and internal organs removed ‘Oh my God!,’ Ruth exclaimed ‘This one’s pregnant too!’

‘That can’t be,’ said Binda, moving in closer again ‘She’s only 13.’

Ruth’s hands were shaking as she gently cut open the girl’s womb ‘This one

is a little more advanced than Oola’s baby Thankfully it’s also dead About eleven weeks old.’ Ruth looked over at Wal Lund She blinked back tears Walter took close up photographs and said nothing

Binda stared in disbelief She also fought back tears Ruth slapped her knife down on the table ‘Somebody has to pay for this Some mongrel got them both pregnant and then killed them when they realised their situation and told him.’

‘Might be jumping to conclusions Ruth,’ said Binda

‘Doubt it At least I’ll have this bastard’s DNA from the babies That will nail his worthless hide down the track.’

‘Will you tell the parents?’ asked Binda

‘No I’ll report it in strict confidence for the Coroner Peter and Maurice will know Otherwise this information is not to leave this room Got that everyone?’

‘Yes,’ said Wal and Binda together

‘Mr Leslie?’

‘I’ve got it.’

“****”

Chapter Five

The parents and brother of Oola Burton were being interviewed by police when the autopsies concluded Oola Burton’s husband had taken off with a mate, 6 months previously, to the tip of Cape York He had made no contact and no-one knew how to contact him It was rumoured that he had cleared out for good following

a nasty row with Oola It was now Tuesday evening Oola and her daughter were last seen alive by Oola’s brother as he dropped them at the end of Quarantine Bay road, south of Cairns, on the Monday morning at 8am From there Mother and

daughter would walk the short distance to Merinda Jerome’s luxurious home on the Esplanade at a place known as ‘the point’ The two regularly cleaned at Ms Jerome’s estate each Monday and Wednesday Often, if the work is prolonged, they would stay over on the Monday night in quarters built for hired help some distance from the main house, and work the Tuesday as well

The distraught family of Oola and Koorine Burton, made formal

identifications, as the law required The coroner would be holding an inquest into these deaths and all evidence would need to be gathered and prepared in a detailed, accurate and factual manner

Detective Inspector Keller called a briefing at the Cooktown Police station where Ruth and Wal could give a preliminary summary of their findings and an investigation strategy planned

Sandwiches were ordered in so that the meeting could get underway as early

as possible It was still after 8 pm when everyone assembled in the briefing room Rain continued to lash the town and thunder rumbled out over the sea

Peter Martin acknowledged everyone in the room individually The

Cooktown people knew each other Most had met Detective Inspector Keller and a few didn’t know Detective Sutcliffe, including Binda

Senior Constable Wal Lund had produced large colour photographs of the crime scene and selected autopsy shots These were displayed on a white board which occupied most of the far wall He had also produced a large satellite

photograph of Black Mountain which was attached to a mobile white board

Binda had difficulty taking her eyes off the photographs of the deceased women This was her first professional experience dealing with violent death and having some personal knowledge of the deceased wasn’t helping Ruth slumped into

a chair beside her and grabbed her hand ‘Ease up Senior Constable Spencer, or you’ll pop a vein.’

‘This is horrible,’ whispered Binda

‘You may get used to it one day,’ said Ruth ‘Although I doubt it.’

Detective Inspector Keller walked to the front of the room His short sleeved shirt had seen better days and he never wore a tie in the tropics His trousers were baggy and unironed Notwithstanding, he was an impressive looking man in his late 40’s with short greying hair, a square manly jaw and solidly built frame A tobacco pouch stuck out of his shirt pocket together with ‘roll your own’ papers and a black cigarette holder He automatically kept reaching for them from time to time, as the need to smoke possessed him He knew however, that on this occasion, he would have to control the smoking urges until the meeting was over

He met Binda’s eyes and held her gaze, but only for a moment Binda wasn’t backing away a fraction and he knew it Aboriginal police women were a whole new ball game for Inspector Keller This girl was not like most of the Aboriginal women

he was used to dealing with

‘This is not a nice crime scene,’ said Inspector Keller

‘Are any of them nice?’ asked Binda, without flinching Some uniformed constables at the back of the room laughed

Maurice Keller stood motionless He glared at Binda He decided to let it go The response he held back could have cost him his job

‘What I meant to say is that this double murder is particularly horrific and we still have a long way to go in order to solve it.’ He walked to the photographs on the white board behind him ‘Oola Burton, 34 years old and her daughter Koorine, 12 Last seen by Oola’s brother yesterday morning around 8am as he dropped them off at the intersection of Quarantine Bay road and the Esplanade, south of Mount Cook They were going to work as usual for Ms Merinda Jerome We all know Merinda Her face is in the social pages every other week Oddly, there is no-one home at the Jerome residence just now and we are trying to locate her It seems her mobile phone

is switched off.’

Binda looked over at Ruth Ruth kept her eyes on Keller

Inspector Keller continued ‘So just before noon today, Bobby Gumtree takes

a tour group out to Black Mountain You all know Black Mountain?’

Mumbled voices gave the affirmative

‘He takes them to the council constructed lookout It’s a relatively safe place compared to allowing tourists to crawl about on the mountain, so I understand It’s also close to what the Aboriginals call West Rock, a sacred site, although Bobby can’t remember why There is a ton of bullshit flowing out of pubs, clubs and Aboriginal camp sites about Black Mountain Everything from whole tribes disappearing into those dark caverns, never to be seen again Even herds of horses, black trackers and policemen no less I’ve heard that planes won’t fly over the mountain because it screws up their instruments Civil Aviation Authority won’t confirm that, so who knows? What we do know however, is that sometime yesterday, these two Aboriginal women, Mother and Daughter’, he pointed to the photos behind him, ‘were somehow taken alive to Black Mountain and hacked to death in a cave which apparently houses this sacred West rock, near the lookout platform Why? No idea Who did it? No idea The weapon? Probably an axe although Dr Cruise feels it was an axe like weapon, but not one commercially available Peter, perhaps you will give a

rundown.’

Peter Martin rose and Maurice Keller sat down

‘Thanks Harry….sorry Inspector Keller.’ He walked to the satellite

photograph and pointed to the lookout location on the western side of Black

Mountain, around half a kilometre from Cooktown Developmental Road (Highway 81) ‘We got a call to meet Bobby Gumtree here His group were in shock A little girl named Beth Price, 9 years old, had wandered from her parents and entered a cavern beneath Black Mountain She tripped over the bodies of Oola and Koorine Burton She fell arms first across the bodies and got up covered in their blood When the parents realised their daughter was missing, there was a panic, understandably Bobby made them stay put He knew how dangerous Black Mountain could be He found an animal track leading into the cavern where Beth and the bodies were He sent the girl out to her parents Then he contacted us.’

Peter ran a hand through his short greying hair ‘Ruth You’re on.’

Ruth patted Binda’s hand and stood up ‘I’ll keep this short I need a bath, stiff drink and bed, and not all necessarily in that order.’

Laughter followed Even Maurice Keller smiled

‘I need more time to examine all the physical violence to the two deceased This was a very vicious attack This was not just a killing The person who murdered Oola and Koorine was extracting revenge That, of course, gives us something to work with, but not yet.’

A clap of thunder exploded close by and everyone jumped

‘Who’d want to live in the tropics?’ said Maurice ‘If the heat or the killers don’t get you, the lightning will.’

Soft laughter ensued Binda resisted the urge to say something nasty She gritted perfect white teeth together and dug her long fingernails into her palms

‘Koorine was the hostage,’ Ruth continued ‘The offender had hold of

Koorine tightly with a very sharp weapon at her throat.’ She pointed to the

photograph of the minor lacerations to Koorine’s neck ‘Oola did what she was told

or she would have instantly lost her daughter Inside the cave the offender struck Oola what was probably a fatal blow with the weapon to the back of her head.’ Ruth pointed to the relevant photograph ‘Walter tells me that the bare foot prints in the cave belong to Oola She walked in There are no foot prints for her daughter It appears the offender was carrying her somehow Oola went down on her knees first and collapsed My examination of Koorine indicates that she was thrown to the ground on her back and struck with the weapon, first to her upraised left arm as she attempted to protect herself and then a fatal strike to the throat.’

‘And the additional wounds?’ asked Binda softly

‘Rage Anger Revenge They weren’t necessary,’ said Ruth The girls were already dying or dead.’

There was silence in the room Thunder rumbled in the distance Someone coughed

‘The offender cut off both their right hands,’ continued Ruth ‘This was not to eliminate fingerprints or the left hands would be gone as well Everyone knew these girls anyway The severed right hand thing remains a mystery Their missing

clothing is a mystery.’

‘Sexual assault?’ asked a voice from the back of the room Ruth couldn’t identify the questioner ‘Not sure I’ve taken swabs but the autopsy shows no

evidence of sexual activity associated with the actual deaths.’

Binda rose and walked to the photographs She pointed to the clenched fist on Koorine’s left hand ‘Why this?’

Ruth was silent for a moment She glanced at Peter Martin He looked at the floor ‘I suspect Koorine witnessed her Mother’s death She was alive when her Mother was struck down She died soon after, perhaps within seconds She probably had both hands clenched into firsts out of horror and fear The clenched fingers of her left hand are evidence of the violence she was experiencing If we ever find her right hand, the picture will be complete.’

‘And what kind of weapon may have inflicted these wounds?’ asked Inspector Keller ‘If not an axe; what?’

Ruth walked to the photographs and examined them quietly ‘I’m not sure Maurice.’

‘Perhaps a battle axe?’ The female voice came from the back of the room All heads turned Constable Karen Bell rose uncomfortably from her chair ‘They are not like normal axes and you can only get them through internet dealers.’

Ruth walked towards her ‘What’s your name?’

‘Karen Bell Constable Bell.’

‘And what do you know about battle axes Karen?’

‘Well, they weren’t made to chop wood or anything They were made in medieval times to cut people.’

Ruth stopped in front of the nervous constable ‘And how do you know this?’

‘Um…my boyfriend is into this stuff.’ She looked around at the grinning faces of her peers ‘It’s just for fun you know They get on this knights armour, weapons and stuff and have mock fights down in Cairns a couple of times a year It’s huge.’

‘I’m sure it is Karen So your boyfriend has a battle axe Describe it to me.’

‘They are totally legal you know Replicas from China He’s got a whole medieval suit of armour It hangs it in our lounge room.’

‘I’m sure he does,’ said Ruth Laughter rippled through the room

‘The battle axe?’ said Ruth quietly

‘I hate the damn things to tell you the truth Dr Cruise.’

‘Ok, so tell me what it looks like Karen?’

‘The blade is on a long pole It’s nothing like an axe handle This one is light because the blade isn’t heavy The blade is thin and very sharp They were made for cutting flesh and bone.’

‘Go on,’ said Ruth

‘Well that’s it,’ replied a nervous Constable Bell

‘And where did your husband obtain such a weapon, keeping in mind that it was only a replica?’

Karen Bell looked at her commanding officer Peter Martin looked at the floor ‘You can get lots of stuff on the internet quite legally Dr Cruise,’ said Karen, her voice nervous

‘I’m sure you can dear Now where did your husband buy his battle axe?’Karen Bell looked at Ruth ‘Merinda Jerome’s company supplied it That’s a big part of her importing business Medieval weapons.’

Maurice Keller and Peter Martin locked eyes Both then looked at Ruth

‘We need an early morning search warrant,’ said Maurice ‘Does the

Magistrate sleep in as usual?’

‘Not this time,’ said Peter

“****”

Chapter Six

Two large German Shepherd dogs made threatening growls from a huge enclosure left of the house Inspector Keller and Inspector Martin approached the front door of Merinda Jerome’s home They were backed up by Binda Spencer and two other uniformed officers Detective Sergeant Sutcliffe stood back He was

suffering dreadfully from a self induced hangover He burped loudly Maurice Keller turned on him ‘You are a disgrace Sutcliffe,’ he hissed ‘Go and wait in the car.’

Ian Sutcliffe turned to walk back to the unmarked police car but tripped and fell face first onto the lawn Then he vomited

‘You’re on the next plane out of here Sutcliffe,’ growled Maurice ‘Get out of

The sun had just emerged from the Coral Sea and the water shimmered like broken glass mixed with gold Maurice Keller pounded on the door ‘Police Open up,’ he called loudly ‘We have a warrant to search.’

His voice was almost drowned out by the two German Shepherd’s, who begun barking loudly when Sergeant Sutcliffe fell onto the lawn and vomited Maurice was about to give the order for two large uniformed officers to break the door open when

it suddenly swung inward Merinda Jerome stood blinking in the early morning sunlight She wore a Japanese kimono Her frizzy black hair framed a beautiful, sleepy face

‘Sorry to intrude so early Merinda,’ said Peter Martin ‘We have a search warrant.’

‘What an earth for?’ asked Merinda with genuine surprise

‘Oola and Koorine Burton have been murdered They were last seen here Merinda stumbled back a pace ‘Oola and Koorine? That can’t be They were

supposed to be here last Monday I thought one of them may have fallen sick and they had stayed home

‘Their bodies were found in a cave at Black Mountain.’

‘God no.’ Merinda put her fingers to her lips Her hands were trembling

‘Can we come in?’ asked Peter

‘Certainly,’ Merinda stood aside Maurice and Binda entered Peter Martin stood back and had a quiet word with the two uniformed policemen He pointed vaguely to the extensive front garden area and also indicated each side of the house with his hands

‘Sorry to intrude Mrs Jerome,’ said Binda as she drew level with her

‘That’s alright Binda This is serious I don’t know what to say.’ She led them into a spacious lounge room overlooking the sparkling ocean Several huge lounges formed a ‘U’ shape around two large rosewood coffee tables She invited them to sit Peter Martin entered the room, approached Merinda and sat beside her

‘Detective Inspector Keller will be asking some questions,’ He took the folded search warrant from his pocket and handed it to her Merinda didn’t bother opening it

‘Perhaps if you tell me what you’re looking for, we can speed things up,’ said Merinda

‘Firstly,’ said Peter, ‘I’ve asked my guys to check around the outside, just so

we can be sure everything is covered.’

‘That’s OK The dogs can’t get out, unless someone lets them out.’

‘Is anyone else home just now?’ Peter asked

‘No Graham dropped me off here just after midnight but he went into town I’m expecting a maintenance guy here around 10 Just a local boy who does the lawns and gardens Sometimes he brings a mate.’

‘Graham?’ asked Maurice

‘Graham Lupton He’s my business partner Graham has a house in town He has basically run the business since my husband died 2 years ago.’

‘And what is your business Mrs Jerome?’ asked Maurice

‘We import things and export things More importing than exporting Lots of our merchandise is sold on the internet but a lot goes on consignment to markets in Sydney and Brisbane.’

‘Do you import medieval gear like suits of armour and various weapons?’ asked Maurice

‘Yes but the sale of the weapons has to be strictly controlled, even though they are replicas The laws in NSW in relation to ownership of some of these weapons are much stricter than Queensland.’

‘Do you import battle axes?’ asked Maurice

‘Yes, several kinds I can give you our catalogue if you like All our

medieval imports are photographed and described there.’ She rose and walked to a doorway off the lounge room Maurice and Peter followed ‘Actually my late

husband has several battle axes mounted on the wall of his office I’ll show them to you.’ She led them through into a dimly lit room which was obviously a man’s domain The wallpaper was Victorian and the furniture made from luxuriously dark heavy timber Hundreds of books lined one wall Merinda pulled back a thick velvet curtain and sunlight streamed through the window ‘I don’t use this room much It was my husband’s.’ She turned to the wall behind the huge timber desk A number

of trophies and photographs were mounted along the wall at various levels Huge elk antlers, a number of medieval broad swords, cutlasses, knives, bows, arrows and axes Merinda slowly approached the desk ‘One of the axes is missing,’ she said quietly,

‘and a large knife.’

‘Which axe?’ asked Maurice as he stood beside her

‘You can see the hooks were it was attached.’ She pointed to an area of wall

at the lower left ‘It was a gothic battle axe, quite beautifully made The knife was not medieval but still quite old It was a rare find for Jacob The handle was shaped like an Eagle Very nasty looking thing and used to kill human sacrifices in South America many years ago

Maurice looked back at Peter ‘You have a photograph of this axe Mrs

Jerome?’

‘Of course It’s in the catalogue We hadn’t gotten around to making replicas

of the eagle knife yet so there are no photographs I can describe it for you fairly accurately.’ She walked through the room and into a brightly lit workshop This was

a woman’s domain She picked up a glossy catalogue from a pile against the wall,

flicked through the pages and stopped She held the catalogue open and handed it to Maurice ‘Item 57 That’s the axe’.

‘Would it be possible to get one of these axes fairly quickly,’ said Maurice

We need to have our pathologist look at it.’

‘Are you saying that Oola and Koorine were killed with an axe like this?’

‘We think so,’ said Maurice ‘They were hacked to death by some kind of axe.’

‘God, that’s dreadful… Of course I can get you one I’ll ring Graham He’s probably got them in stock at Cairns That’s our main warehouse.’

‘Excuse me,’ Binda called from the doorway ‘Can I see you all outside for a tick.’

The group followed Binda back to the lounge room ‘What’s up?’ asked Peter

‘The boys found something in the front garden You better take a look.’

They walked together down the steps from the house and onto the manicured lawn Binda put her hand on Merinda’s shoulder and the two stopped walking

Merinda looked very concerned Peter and Maurice approached the two uniformed policemen One had a portable shovel which he had taken from the police truck They were standing beside a mound of fresh soil

‘Someone tried to cover up fresh digging,’ said Constable Tony Myer Bit of

a hurried job though It wasn’t too hard to spot.’

Maurice squatted beside the hole A large hand and a small hand were partly exposed together with the shiny head of a large battle axe The fingers of the small hand were clenched closed Peter leaned over the hole and shook his head slowly

‘Get Wal out here,’ he said to one of the uniformed Constables ‘I’ll give Ruth a call.’

He looked over at Merinda Jerome ‘You won’t need to get a battle axe from your store I think the missing one is buried here along with the right hands of the two murdered girls.’

Maurice Keller stepped back onto the lawn ‘Are you up to having a look at this Mrs Jerome? I need you to tell me if this is your husband’s missing battle axe This is not very pleasant but it is in your front garden.’

Merinda looked at Binda The two walked slowly together to the area of freshly turned soil When Merinda saw the two hands at the bottom of the hole, she cried out and put her hands to her face ‘God no This is horrible….horrible.’

‘Is that the battle axe Mrs Jerome?’ asked Maurice

‘Definitely looks like it.’

Binda led her back onto the lawn

‘I’m afraid we’re going to have to take you to the Cooktown Police Station Mrs Jerome ‘I need to formally question you in relation to the death of Oola and Koorine Burton.’

‘Do you think I am involved in this?’ asked Merinda, brushing away tears with

a hand

‘I’m asking you to accompany us in order to assist with inquiries I’m not sure what your involvement is at this time I must caution you however, that anything you say from this point on, may be taken down in writing and used as evidence in

subsequent legal proceedings Do you understand that Mrs Jerome?’

‘Yes Inspector,’ she answered in a hushed voice

‘You have the right to remain silent and not answer any of my questions.’

‘Oh God, that’s serious.’

‘You have the right to seek advice from a lawyer if you wish.’

‘Do I need legal advice Peter?’

‘Up to you Merinda,’ said Peter, looking helpless

‘I have solicitors who help with my business, but they aren’t criminal

lawyers.’

Binda stepped between Maurice Keller and faced Merinda ‘Obviously you are going to fully cooperate with Inspector Keller and his investigation?’

‘Of course, you know I will.’

‘I would strongly suggest you speak with a criminal lawyer This is a murder investigation and things are getting very close to home.’

Detective Inspector Keller was about to say something, but changed his mind Binda took Merinda’s hands in hers ‘This is serious.’

Merinda nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks

‘You need to come with us to the police station We’ll be asking for a DNA sample and also fingerprints You won’t have a problem with that?’

‘No,’ said Merinda

‘You know a criminal lawyer?’

‘I know a woman in Sydney Her name is Yana Gibson She’s a partner in a large law firm I haven’t spoken to her for ages.’

‘You got her number?

‘Yes.’

‘Then ring her now.’ Binda turned to Maurice Keller ‘You got a problem with that Inspector Keller?’

Maurice Keller clenched his fists ‘No.’

‘Get dressed Merinda,’ said Binda ‘Ring Yana from your bedroom We’ll wait for you at the front door.’

Melinda Jerome walked slowly towards the house

Maurice Keller looked murderous and may well have exploded from utter frustration at that point, but he didn’t He glared at Binda ‘So because you’re Aboriginal and the deceased are Aboriginal, you think you’re going to take over the show.’

Binda pulled her shoulders back, placing a fair degree of strain on the buttons

of her police shirt Maurice’s eyes were drawn to her impressive breast line, but only for a second It was this girl’s intense demeanour that he found intimidating ‘No, I’m not taking over anything,’ said Binda, ‘and by the way, Merinda is also part Aboriginal so you’re going to have to tread carefully.’

‘She doesn’t look Aboriginal Then again, you can never tell these days, can you?’

Binda softened her tone ‘You’re the expert here Inspector Keller You are one of the best criminal investigators in Queensland from what I’m told You are going to catch the monster that did this to Oola and Koorine I have no doubt about that.’

Maurice felt somewhat flattered by these comments but he wasn’t giving any ground to Binda ‘So how long is she going to take to ring this lawyer and get

dressed? What if she runs away out the back?’

‘She’s not going to run away,’ said Binda lightly, ‘and she won’t take long.’

‘I can only put up with so much on special Aboriginal rights lady.’

Binda held his gaze ‘This isn’t special rights This is normal for everyone and you know it.’

Maurice Keller looked at Inspector Martin ‘You want to comment on this situation Peter?’

‘With Sutcliffe?’

‘No, God damn it I’m not talking about that arse.’

‘Speaking of arses,’ said Binda ‘I must apologise for referring to your arse last night as fat.’

Peter looked decidedly uncomfortable He had no idea where this was going Maurice Keller looked back at Binda ‘Your public comments in relation to the physical characteristics of a senior police officer were insulting and most

unwelcome Constable Spencer,’

‘And that is why I’m sincerely apologising now I was angry and upset and I just made a cheap shot.’

‘Thank you Constable Spencer Your apology is accepted.’

‘You can call me Binda if you like.’

‘OK, Binda.’

‘Can I call you Harry?’

‘No bloody way!’

Binda smiled ‘OK I’ll go and check on Merinda.’

Binda had only taken two steps when Constable Tony Myer ran from where the police vehicles were parked and around to the front of the house ‘Better come quickly Inspector Martin!’ he shouted almost hysterically

‘What’s up,’ said Peter, sensing the urgency of the situation

‘It’s Detective Sutcliffe.’

‘Has that bastard thrown up in my car,’ snapped Maurice as he strode to the corner of the house

‘He’s dead sir.’

Maurice swung to face the young constable ‘What do you mean, dead? He’s got a bad hangover, that’s all.’

‘He’s not dead from a hangover sir.’

Maurice rushed to the parked Police vehicles Peter and Binda were close behind Detective Sutcliffe had in fact thrown up in the passenger’s side of the unmarked police vehicle, but that was the least of his problems He was sitting back

in the seat with his eyes staring straight ahead His head was tilted to the left and bright red blood ran slowly but steadily from a ragged hole in the side of his neck The feathered end of the shaft of a short arrow protruded from the hole The blood flow was slowing, as his severed carotid artery and now inactive heart had given up depositing most of his blood into the car’s interior

Maurice wrenched open the door of the vehicle and pulled Sutcliffe onto the ground He felt for a pulse There was none The body was covered in blood The front passenger side of the police vehicle was dripping with Sutcliffe’s blood

Maurice looked up helplessly at Peter

‘Get Merinda now,’ Peter barked at Binda ‘Tony, get on the radio and get all the troops out here now Then you and Simon get moving Whoever did this is either inside the house or that bungalow over there,’ he pointed to a small flat roofed

building about 50 metres to their left, ‘or running towards Mount Cook.’

‘That’s an awful lot of bush sir,’ said Tony

‘Search that bungalow first and be very careful If it’s empty, split up and head into the scrub I want weapons drawn Don’t take chances Binda and I will check the house.’ The look on Peter’s face told the constables not to question him further Constable Myer got on the police radio and spoke quickly to the operator The Constables then drew their Glocks and ran towards the bungalow

Peter sprinted to the front of the house and into the foyer From here the lounge room and offices were to the right ‘Binda?’ he yelled.

‘We’re through here.’ Her voice came from the left

Peter turned left into a brightly lit sun room Beyond it was Merinda’s

bedroom, overlooking the ocean Binda met him at the door ‘She was just finishing dressing She couldn’t have done this.’

‘Well someone did and it was someone right under our noses the whole time

we were here Did she ring her lawyer friend?’

‘Not yet.’

‘So that could have given her time to… ’

‘Don’t go there Peter It makes no sense.’

Peter Martin put his hands on his hips and stared at Binda She locked eyes with him

‘Damn it Binda Why would someone shoot Sutcliffe with a bow and arrow…probably another one of those damn medieval weapons I’d bet.’

‘I don’t know,’ she said flatly ‘But why would Merinda do it She is about to

be taken to the police station for questioning about a double homicide Why would she kill one of the investigating police officers right under our noses, and a drunken one at that?’

Peter opened his mouth to reply, but shut it She was right It made absolutely

Peter Martin stared at her Her red and slightly swollen eyes didn’t move from his ‘I didn’t do any of this Inspector Martin How could I do such things? This is a nightmare!’

‘You won’t know the meaning of nightmare lady until you take a look at what someone did to Sergeant Sutcliffe right beside your home just now… and while you were unsupervised!’

Merinda Jerome rocked unsteadily on her feet

‘Binda, cuff her and put her in the back of the van.’

The paramedics checked Sutcliffe’s body but there was nothing they could do There were no signs of life They assured Maurice that the Forensic Pathologist was

on her way

Binda placed Merinda Jerome in the police van and locked the door Two police vehicles roared along the driveway and stopped in a shower of stones and dust Four uniformed police officers approached They stopped abruptly when they saw Detective Sutcliffe’s blood soaked body on the ground Maurice Keller looked up at

them blankly Binda snapped a command ‘You guys come with me now.’ She walked briskly to the house and met Peter in the foyer The uniformed constables were right behind her Binda looked at Peter She wasn’t so self assured any more

Peter addressed the young constables Simon and Gav, you come with me Spanner and Jess; go with Binda We’ll take the left side of the house and Binda, you take the right Check every cupboard, box, door, everything Detective Sutcliffe was shot with a small arrow.’

‘Crossbow?’ asked Binda

Chapter Seven

Ruth carefully examined the body of Detective Sergeant Ian Sutcliffe Apart from being covered with a considerable amount of blood, it was mixed with vomited matter consisting mainly of spirits, beer, undigested prawns, tails intact, a slushy, sugary matter which was later determined to be garlic bread and edible underwear

Dr Cruise made no attempt to remove the short arrow from Sutcliffe’s throat Walter Lund took numerous photographs before they placed Ian Sutcliffe’s body in an insect proof, heavy duty, brown vinyl bag which was zipped up tight and transported

to the Cooktown Morgue for autopsy

The initial but fairly rapid search of Merinda’s large house revealed nothing considered relevant to the killings Binda drove the police van with Merinda

imprisoned in the back, to the Cooktown Police Station The handcuffs were removed and at Binda’s insistence she was allowed to use the phone She dialled the Sydney number for a firm of Lawyers named Stewart and Thorne A receptionist answered

‘Could I please speak with Yana Gibson? It’s very urgent,’ Merinda said

‘Ms Gibson is in a meeting just now.’

‘Could you please tell her that Merinda Jerome from Cooktown is calling? I’m at the Cooktown Police station and possibly facing very serious charges.’

‘I don’t think we handle work in Cooktown Madam Isn’t that in far north Queensland?’

‘Please, this is extremely important I’m a friend of Yana’s and I need to speak with her urgently.’

The receptionist was silent for a moment ‘I’m not sure I should interrupt her.’

‘Please interrupt her I’m sure she will speak with me.’

‘I’m not supposed to do this.’

Binda realised that there was a problem and took the phone from Merinda

‘This is Senior Constable Spencer from the Cooktown Police station We have Mrs Jerome here in custody and she needs to speak urgently with her lawyer Will you please get her solicitor to the phone?’

The receptionist was now feeling intimidated but also somewhat nervous with

a police officer reinforcing a request from an alleged friend of a senior partner in the firm ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

Binda handed the phone back to Merinda There was silence for a full minute Yana Gibson picked up her private phone and pushed a button ‘Merinda?’

‘Yana, I’m so sorry to have bothered you.’ Merinda began to weep

‘Calm down girl You’re not bothering me What the hell is going on up there?’

I’m in all sorts of trouble Two Aboriginal women who work for me were murdered up here a couple of days ago and just now a policeman who was at my house with other police, got shot dead They think I am involved It’s just horrible!’ She burst into tears and sobbed

‘Good Lord Merinda Who shot the policeman?’

‘I don’t know It wasn’t me There were police everywhere around my

home.’

‘And who killed the Aboriginal women?’

‘I have no idea They were cut up with one of my imported battle axes in a cave at Black Mountain Their hands were buried in my front garden along with what they think is the murder weapon.’

‘Good God!’ exclaimed Yana ‘Who is in charge of the investigation?’

‘Detective Inspector Maurice Keller from Cairns The dead policeman was his partner.’

‘OK, I’ll phone him later Now listen to me You are not to say anything at all Do you understand me?’

‘Yes, but they will want DNA and fingerprints I understand.’

‘Don’t say anything, don’t give them anything and don’t agree to anything at this stage Be polite but firm Are we clear on this Merinda?’

‘Yes but…’

‘No buts If they have evidence that you are involved in these murders, they will charge you but you are not to agree to any interview without me present I will speak personally with the Inspector about this and I’ll call the damn Commissioner of Police if I have to Are you with any police now?’

‘Constable Binda Spencer She’s a friend.’

‘Put her on.’

Merinda handed the phone to Binda ‘Senior Constable Spencer.’

Binda was silent while Yana spoke at length Merinda clenched her hands tightly together until the knuckles of her fingers turned white

Binda provided three phone numbers to Yana The first was the switchboard for the Cooktown Police station and the second was a direct line to the Detectives office She then gave Yana her own mobile number and handed the phone back to Merinda

‘I’m going to make a phone call to a very senior QLD Police Officer Merinda You just sit tight They can’t hold you long without evidence to charge you I’m jumping a flight and will be there as soon as I can.’

‘You don’t have to put yourself out Yana I just needed some advice This is too far for you to come.’

‘I love the far north I was up at Port Douglas just last year Hang in there That young constable will watch out for you in the meantime Remember what I said Say nothing until I get there Senior Constable Spencer knows you are now legally represented.’

‘Thank you so much Yana I am terrified just now.’

‘I’m not surprised I’ll be there as soon as I can.’

Yana Gibson put down the phone She opened a small blue book and found a number Dialled it

‘Wayne Armstrong here.’

‘But you are.’

‘What do you want Yana You haven’t rung me for ages.’

‘Need a favour.’

‘I knew it You’re going to use me again.’

‘I’ve never used you Wayne That’s not fair.’

‘OK, what do you want?’

‘You know what’s going on around Cooktown just now?’

‘They haven’t told you yet?’

‘What are you talking about Yana?’

‘You had better get on the blower to Detective Inspector Maurice Keller from Cairns Homicide He’ll fill you in It was his partner that got killed.’

‘You can bet your damn arse I will.’

‘He’s in Cooktown and holding a dear friend of mine as a suspect Her name

is Merinda Jerome There is no way on God’s earth she could be implicated in any of these murders and if they have no evidence, I want her released from the police

station now I’m on my way up there now to represent her if necessary.’

‘I can’t meddle in this Yana I’ll certainly call Maurice Keller but I can’t do you favours I’ll have to confirm this police killing I’ve heard nothing of this.’

‘The press haven’t got wind of it yet Wayne, but it won’t take long I’d be hopping a plane up there if I was you Someone killing Aboriginal women and a cop all in the one week is going to be huge Just make sure that Keller is running a

straight line with my client or I’ll bust his balls in court.’

‘Alright Yana Stay calm and let me look into this I’ll ring you back.’

‘I’m jumping the first flight to Cairns I’ll have the mobile.’

‘Not a word to anyone, OK?’

‘Mum’s the word Wayne.’

Yana hung up the phone She opened the internet on her laptop and brought

up flights from Sydney to Cairns Qantas had available seats on a flight leaving in 2 hours She made a booking, printed out her boarding pass, shut down the laptop and slid it into an overnight bag beside her desk She rang her PA and told her that she would be away from the office for a couple of days and to re-schedule all her

appointments No, she wouldn’t say where she was going She had no court

appearances for over a week

Yana had just turned 26 She was very young to be a partner in a blue ribbon law firm As a lawyer she was tenacious and fearless She researched every case meticulously and rarely lost She was single, 5’8” tall and extremely fit Other than being a lawyer, her passion was karate and her trainer, Akira Misaki, ranked her highly in the sport Akira himself was impressively 8th dan (Pal Dan) Korean and 8th

dan Hachidan, Japanese Yana was as beautiful as she was smart, shapely and strong She had large brown eyes and shoulder length brown hair, usually tied back in a pony tail Her complexion was fair Her only outward blemish was a tiny white scar on her left cheek Several years before, a criminal had jumped the dock in court and hit her

in the face with his fists and handcuffs He received a further 8 years imprisonment for his efforts That’s when Yana took up Karate

Her regular training partner is an ex- NSW police detective named Ben Hood Ben is in his early 50’s, divorced, very tall and very fit Akira Misaki trained him in

the rather dubious art of shinobi Ninjutsu, an ancient, deadly form of martial art

practiced by those known as ninja Ben now worked for a VIP Security Service

Yana had grown fond of this man, notwithstanding the age difference She had demonstrated her extreme fondness for him on several occasions She wanted him to live with her He preferred his little apartment overlooking part of the harbour at Mosman in Sydney He also preferred living alone

Yana thought of Ben as her taxi headed for the airport She was tempted to call and let him know she was leaving Sydney for a while He would of course, question her thoroughly and when she couldn’t tell him anything he would get concerned, perhaps even angry No, she would ring him after this Cooktown mess was out in the open

Her mobile rang as she was about to board the flight It was the Assistant Commissioner of the Queensland Police Department, Wayne Armstrong He and Yana were once an ‘item’ Yana felt it was serious Then he got married, but not to her

‘It’s a bloody mess up there Yana Some sort of psychopath on the loose and

he or she is not particular about killing blacks or whites, including coppers.’

‘I’m just about to board a flight to Cairns Will I see you in Cooktown?’

‘Yep but I need to be there tonight.’

‘What about my client?’

‘I’ve spoken to the Detective Inspector in charge They are going to release her shortly No evidence.’

‘Then why did they arrest her in the first place?’

‘Not sure.’

‘They better think up a damn good reason before I get up there,’ said Yana

‘Calm down lady Please just go carefully on this one It’s very sensitive.’

`You bet it is Wayne Thanks for calling me back.’

‘See you tomorrow.’

‘Sure thing.’ Yana turned her mobile off and boarded the flight

“****”

Chapter Eight

Binda drove Merinda to a coffee shop within the Cooktown Resort Hotel They sat at a table overlooking the Endeavour River The sparkling water of the resort pools fringed by hundreds of coconut palms surrounded them They ordered coffee and sandwiches to share

‘I can’t understand why they let me go so quickly,’ said Merinda

‘I think your lawyer friend pulled some strings Anyway, they had no

evidence against you over these killings.’

‘Was it wrong to decline an interview?’

‘No You were following your solicitor’s instructions She will sort things out when she gets here.’

‘I don’t think Inspector Keller likes me all that much.’

‘He’s in a deal of shock just now Merinda We all are.’

‘When can I go back home?’

‘When they are finished at your place Wal will ring me when things are clear He’s our crime scene bloke.’

Merinda nodded Their coffees and sandwiches arrived ‘I’ll have to ring Graham and let him know what has happened although he would have been home late last night and probably hit the grog I’ll call him later.’

‘You’ve been warned not to say anything to anyone for the moment Merinda They will give it to the press this evening so perhaps call Graham tomorrow.’

‘OK, if you think it’s best.’

They ate in silence for a while ‘This madman seems to know my place quite well,’ said Merinda I just can’t believe he buried the hands of those two women in

my garden along with the murder weapon And then to kill a policeman right beside

my house! I just don’t understand any of this.’

‘We don’t even know if the person who murdered Oola and Koorine is the same person who murdered Detective Sutcliffe Lots of questions out there but not many answers I’m afraid.’

‘I hardly feel safe at my home just now Perhaps I should stay in town for a while I can always get a suite here.’

‘Your call Merinda I’m happy to drive you home It looks more as if the killer is interested in hurting people around you rather than you personally I don’t know if you can take much comfort in that.’

‘I’m just so confused.’

‘I’m sure your lawyer friend will help sort things out I really can’t be giving you any advice, you know that.’

‘I do Binda and I appreciate the help you have given me I’d have been lost without you I’m afraid.’

A young woman in casual clothing with the name of the hotel embroidered on her shirt approached them ‘I’m sorry to interrupt Mrs Jerome, but someone left this for you at the front desk.’ She handed an envelope to Merinda

‘Who left it?’ asked Merinda

‘We didn’t see Ma’am It was just on the reception desk when I came out of the office a few minutes ago.’

‘Thank you,’ said Merinda The woman left The envelope was addressed to

‘Merinda Jerome’ There was no other writing on it Merinda tore open the sealed flat and removed a single sheet of paper She slowly read the typed words and then let the paper slide from her fingers and onto the table Binda knew from the look on Merinda’s face that something was dreadfully wrong She pushed the paper closer with her fingernail and read the words:-

Merinda dear What a dreadful day you’ve had Dead people all

over the place Hands in graves no less A dead policeman… Shocking! It’s enough to make you want to run far, far away and

never come back Not that you should fear for yourself You’re

safe enough for the moment I think Now what a pity that young Les

couldn’t tend your gardens today In fact he won’t be tending your

gardens ever again Gone to Kambi I believe Had a thing for bats.

‘Don’t touch the paper or envelope again,’ said Binda firmly ‘Who is Les?’

‘The young guy who looks after my gardens and lawns He was due at the house around 10am this morning.’

‘God,’ breathed Binda and she pulled out her mobile phone and hit a button

‘Peter It’s Binda I’m with Merinda at the Cooktown Resort coffee lounge Can you get here quickly and bring Maurice with you if he’s up to it I’ll explain when you get here.’ She ended the call

‘What’s happened to les?’ asked Merinda in a raspy voice

‘I hate to think We’ll wait for Peter.’

Merinda tried to pick up her coffee but her hands were shaking so much that she abandoned the effort A few minutes later, Inspector Martin and Detective

Inspector Keller entered the coffee lounge It was deserted except for Binda and Merinda

‘This just got delivered to the front desk Staff has no idea who dropped it off.’

Maurice and Peter leaned over without touching the letter and read the

contents

‘He’s hit another one, said Maurice quietly ‘We’ve got a god damn lunatic on our hands.’

‘We don’t know if the guy is dead yet,’ Peter said

‘Oh he’s dead alright Where’s this Kambi place?’

‘Black Mountain,’ said Binda It’s a sacred Aboriginal site at Black

‘What, it eats little children I suppose?’

‘No, but they can give a nasty bite if they bump into you.’

Maurice looked up at Peter Martin ‘We better get out there and make a search Do you know this Kambi place?’

‘No I can get Bobby Gumtree to show us He’s a local Aboriginal tour guide.’

‘OK, get him and can you also round up a few others to help?’