Body in the Gorge (Cockatoo Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) Read online

  “That was a long day,” I added as I poured us two glasses of white wine and put the glasses and nuts on the table outside our caravan. We both started to relax as we sipped and watched the kangaroos grazing on the grass in front of us lit with a golden glow from the sinking sun.

  Becca picked up her camera and started looking through her pictures.

  “Look at this photo,” she sounded excited.

  “Oh!” was all I could say as I looked at the skeleton in close up detail.

  “No, look.” She pointed to the ribcage of the skeleton and there amongst the forest debris was a gold and opal necklace around the neck.

  “Maybe they can identify the person from this,” she said. “Can you see there is still some hair on the skull it looks to be long and blond.”

  I took off my glasses, being short sighted I could see detail better without them. “Well now I know what caught my eye when I picked up my hat it must have been the sun on that necklace,” I looked at Becca. “How many photos did you take?”

  “I took quite a few and lucky I did, before I left to get help. Don’t tell Troy,” she replied without looking up. “Looks like she was wearing jeans and probably a T-shirt although there’s not much trace of that now, but most of the jeans are still on her so hopefully she wasn’t raped!”

  “Then how did she die? Surely she didn’t go out there in the bush to commit suicide. Why hasn’t someone missed her?” I queried.

  Becca handed me the camera again “Here look at this one, look closely at the neck.”

  I peered at the photo. “The neck bones are out of line, do you think her neck was broken?”

  “Yes that’s what I thought,” said Becca as she reached for the bottle and topped up our glasses. “I think I could have been a forensic pathologist like Bones on TV,” mused Becca.

  I looked at her “I think you’ve had plenty to drink, I’d better get us something solid to eat.”

  After tea we both headed for a hot shower and then we both climbed into bed after the long exhausting day which had been full of surprises.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The Day After

  I opened my eyes to sunshine flooding in. I looked at Becca’s bed it was empty, I must have slept in if Becca was already up. I remember having dreams of skeletons and big rocks rolling down hills. I must have got some sleep I could see it was eight am. I hauled myself out of bed and dressed.

  Then I heard Becca’s voice “Did you always want to be a ranger?”

  The deep reply “Well it was a toss up between the police force or this but the National Parks and animals won and truthfully I don’t think I would have liked general policing, this job has too much of that in the parks as it is!”

  I opened the door In time to see Becca and Troy arrive outside our van.

  “Hello Sleepyhead,” grinned Becca. She didn’t often beat me out of bed, so she liked to gloat when it did happen. I gingerly stepped out of the doorway and winced then nearly missed the step as my hip locked.

  “Oh-h, I’m so stiff and sore!” I cried as Troy helped me down. I grabbed a towel “I think I’ll go and have another shower to warm up my muscles. See you soon.”

  “That’s okay I’ll start breakfast, I invited Troy along, its his second breakfast for the day. It will be ready when you get back,” said Becca taking my arm and getting me started.

  I smiled at her, it was good to see her so perky in the morning. “I’m all right, thanks.” I waved as I hobbled over to the shower block.

  By the time I arrived back, feeling much more mobile. Becca was placing plates on the table.

  “That smells wonderful.” My mouth watered looking at the omelettes with cheese, chives, tomatoes and mushrooms oozing out of them with bacon crumbled on top. I forgot my aching muscles as I tucked into the delicious breakfast. Becca could excel at cooking when she wanted too. Troy was obviously enjoying his second breakfast too.

  “I told Troy about the photos, he wants to see them,” Becca admitted as she shrugged her shoulders.

  Troy swallowed his last mouthful and turned to me. “Its OK, Becca explained she took the photos before she went for help, it probably means you’ll both need to make statements with the police. I’m quite interested in this investigation, but the police aren’t going to share much with me, so maybe we can do our own investigation starting with Becca’s photos.”

  Becca brought her camera out and handed it to Troy, he slowly looked through the collection. He paused on one and peered closer, “this necklace, I’ve seen similar in Biloela where there is a craftsman jeweller who makes pieces like this and sells from his gallery. He has been doing this for twenty years or more. Each piece he makes is different. Maybe he could help us,” Troy sat back. “It would make it easier if we knew when she died,” he sighed.

  “Do we know the gender?” Becca asked

  “The necklace is very feminine and the long blonde hair, surely its a girl.” I pointed out.

  “We’ll have to see if we can get more information out of the cops when they eventually turn up for our statements,” Becca said.

  Troy and Becca were entranced with the photos sitting there with there heads together I decided to give them some space.

  “I’ll head down to the shop, we need more milk and bread,” I said as I grabbed my purse and headed for the shop. I don’t think they even heard me leave.

  Down at the camp shop there was a retired couple over at the counter talking to Madge, one of the owners of the park. I headed for the souvenirs and began to browse where I could hear the latest gossip.

  ”Here’s your change,” said Madge handing over coins to the gentleman in the safari type shirt.

  “Thanks,” he said, “I heard there was a body found in the park yesterday, do we have a killer amongst us?” the couple looked worried.

  Madge leaned over and consoled them, “it’s okay there’s no danger here the body was just a skeleton and has been out there for a long time, years in fact poor thing. But we will have the police here today investigating.”

  The couple gathered their groceries and stiffly moved out of the store. Obviously they had been bush walking yesterday too.

  I picked up a fridge magnet for my collection and went for the milk and bread. As I was paying she looked at me. “You are the lady that found the body aren’t you?”

  I nodded, “yes it was quite a shock.”

  “I was right wasn’t I, telling them the body had been out there a long time?” Madge asked.

  “Oh yes!” I replied “It was just a skeleton although some clothing remained, looked like it had been there a few years. Have you been here long?”

  “Bill and I have been running the park for twenty years and Bill’s parents ran it before then.” Madge pulled up a stool and sat ready for a chat.

  “Do you remember any missing people from the park then?” I asked.

  Madge stopped to think, “well we’ve had a lot of young employees, they only stay for a few months usually for the holiday period. I can think of a few, there was a boy who left suddenly ten years ago and we even set up a search party and searched the tracks. A few months later one of our other employees rang us to say he thought he saw him in Rockhampton, but it was never verified. Then there was a young girl, she seemed a reliable sort. She worked for us for six months some of that time she shared her cabin with her boyfriend who did odd jobs for us when he was around. Then one morning she wasn’t at work on time, I went looking for her because she had never been late before. The boyfriend was in the cabin, no sign of Sally, that was her name. He said they had a fight and Sally had walked off, said she was going home. He quit his job and he told me Sally quits too. The last I saw of him was as he took off on his motorbike. I never saw either of them again.” Madge sighed

  “Did she take all her things?” I asked

  Madge thought a minute “Yes, but come to think of it she left all her make up and toothbrush and soaps in the bathroom. Though if you’ve just had a big fight
you’d be in a hurry to get out and may miss things when you want to get away from your partner.” Madge thought for minute, “then there was another girl three years ago who left me a note she said her mum was sick and she had to leave. I didn’t actually see her leave but we had just paid her and she took all her things with her. If you are interested, I’ll have to go over my files and look for the names and details of any missing people for the police anyway so I’ll make you a copy too.”

  “Thanks” I smiled at Madge. “I kind of feel connected with the girl since I found her, it is hard to think of her lying out there all this time. I waved goodbye to Madge as more people came into the shop.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Talking to Sgt Grant & Const Mathews

  When I arrived back at the caravan I found Troy had gone. Becca said, “I’m going for a walk around camp to stretch my legs, you should too.”

  “OK I’ll just put these away, I can fill you in on what I heard at the shop while we walk.” I put the purchases away in the caravan.

  We walked slowly up to the end of the camp where the staff cabins were, it was quite secluded up here, they were set well away from the main camp ground. We stopped at the no entry sign.

  “I wonder if you can cut across to the main track through the bush here without going through the main camp?” I pondered.

  Becca took some photos, then we turned around and walked back to the lookout track.

  Becca looked at me, “are you up to a hill climb?”

  I nodded, “Wow this is sure stretching my muscles!” I panted as we climbed the path. From the top we gazed down at the trees and up to the Gorge, some of the ground below had been cleared.

  I pointed, “You could probably cut through to the main track through there.”

  Becca agreed, I had already told her all of Madge’s speculations and we were both thinking of Sally the employee who left so suddenly. The walk back down was harder on my muscles but it was not very far to endure it. By the time we arrived back at our caravan the police were there looking for us.

  “Hello I’m Sergeant Grant and this is Constable Mathews we need to take your statements about the finding of the remains. We settled down in the shade outside the caravan and went over the details of how I chased my hat up the hill and came across the body. There was not a lot to say so the statements didn’t take too long.

  “Would you like a cup of Tea or Coffee Sergeant?” Becca asked whilst I was going over the details once again.

  “Yes thanks I’d love a coffee its been a long morning,” grinned the Sergeant. Becca brought the coffee and biscuits out and I fetched our spare stools from the car. We all stretched our legs and sipped our coffee.

  I dared to ask “Do you know how long the body has been out there?”

  The Constable piped up, “Oh forensics reckons about five years?”

  Sergeant Grant frowned “I guess its OK to tell you ladies you have stated that its your first time here. We don’t have to handle this type of thing much thank goodness. I’m sure its probably just an accidental death. But its not going to be easy to identify this one.”

  “If it was a camper it will be almost impossible with all the people who come and go each year,” observed Constable Mathews

  The Sergeant rose. “Thank you ladies, can you come into town tomorrow or the next day to sign your statements? If you hear any talk of missing persons you can let us know then. I’ll keep in touch through the Rangers office.”

  Constable Mathews gulped down the rest of his coffee and grabbed his hat as he followed the Sergeant off to their car.

  Becca stretched and yawned, “I think I’ll take a nap, all this is just tiring.” She looked at me “By the way Troy asked me to have dinner with him tonight its roast night at the shop cafe, will you be alright or do you want to come too?”

  “Oh no I’ll enjoy some time on my own, I can do some sketches of the gorge whilst its still fresh in my mind, there’s a lot of painting ideas going round in my head, this is such a gorgeous place if you exclude dead bodies.”

  Becca headed into the van for her nap and I went to the car to fetch my drawing things. The afternoon and evening passed Becca had left with Troy nearly two hours ago, I finished a few quick sketches and whilst I munched on a salad for supper then I started planning how I could make a miniature hanging moss garden.

  The door of the caravan opened suddenly and Becca burst in “You’ll never guess!” she crowed with a great big smile. Troy has applied for a transfer to Fraser Island. He said he would be able to keep in touch with me when he comes to the main land and Hervey Bay.” She plopped down on the bed. “This holiday is becoming more interesting by the minute,” She sighed.

  “Is that because of a certain handsome Ranger or are you a sleuth at heart,” I asked.

  Becca looked at me sideways “I guess a bit of both” She shrugged “Really the sleuthing is no different to my job on the newspaper, and maybe there’ll be a story to tell at the end of this.” Becca closed her eyes and her face took on dreamy look. “Of course Troy does add a bit of spice to the script.”

  “Oh boy you’ve got it bad!” I said.

  The next morning neither one of us was in a hurry to rise. I read for a while then realized if I wanted breakfast in bed I’d have to make it myself, Becca was still snoring softly. I made tea and left Becca’s coffee ready for her to pour when she woke up. I took my tea and the cereal box back to bed and munched on the dry cereal as I read my book. There was a loud banging on the door.

  “Are you awake?” Troy’s voice sounded a bit strained.

  “I’m awake!” I yelled back

  “What’s up” mumbled Becca from under the bedclothes.

  “Hold on a minute,” I called to Troy. “Becca, Troy is at the door wake up.” I said more quietly.

  I quickly rose and pulled on some clothes and went to the door to see Troy.

  “What’s all this noise about, its only 7.30am, we are on holiday.”

  He looked apologetic “Sorry but we’ve been summoned into town to the police station by 11am for interviews with the Homicide Detectives.

  “Ah-h so it was murder,” said Becca from behind me, “I think there will be a story in this after all.”

  “OK,” I turned back to Troy, “as soon as we’ve had breakfast we’ll be ready.”

  Troy said, as he turned to go “I will be back in less than one hour to pick you up I’ve been ordered to take you in with me.”

  “Just as well, one less journey on that road for my car is a good thing.” Becca observed as she poured herself a cup of coffee to wake herself up.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Into town

  We rattled along the gravel road away from Carnarvon Gorge and were soon back on the bitumen, it didn’t seem so far this time especially since we were in someone else’s car. Once we arrived in the little town of Mallawa it didn’t take us long to find the police station carpark. We got out of the car and stretched our legs then reluctantly made our way into the station. There were certainly a lot of cars in town I guess there wasn’t much excitement usually and a body and a murder investigation was an unusual event.

  We walked through the door into a dingy room and paused until our eyes adjusted to the gloom. Constable Mathews was behind the front desk and his smile was the only bright spot in the room.

  “Hello again ladies welcome to Malawa, just sit over there.” He pointed to a bench against the wall. “The detectives will speak to Troy first then you Chloe will be next.” He informed us still grinning like a Cheshire cat. At least someone was enjoying this event.

  We sat on the bench twiddling our thumbs until Troy finally came out. The Constable looked at me “You’re next Chloe.” I rose to my feet and walked down to the interview room trying not to shake, there is something about being interviewed by police which makes you feel guilty even if you are not.

  The interview room was even darker and more like a funeral parlour than the rest of the station. I sat a
nd looked at the detectives, one was small and neat with greying hair, the other was young and as large as Constable Mathews but lacked the cheerful manner. He leaned back to look at me and his stomach spilled out from the dark suit jacket. But it was the older detective who spoke “My name is Detective Danvers and this is Detective Rollin. I almost giggled with an immediate mental image of the Detective rolling down a hill, I changed the giggle to a cough. Detective Danvers continued talking, ignoring my reaction, I guess it was nothing new.

  “Your name is Chloe Charlotte Evans from Riverside in Brisbane is this correct?”

  I squirmed in my seat “Yes Detective.”

  “When did you arrive in Carnarvon Gorge?” He queried.

  I paused to think, “it was on Sunday, its hard to keep track of the days when you are on holiday, but yes Sunday.”

  The interview went on and on going over every thing many times, what I saw, what I touched, my head was spinning by the time I walked out. I would hate to be an actual suspect for a murder under Detective Danvers scrutiny.

  Constable Mathews, Troy and Becca were all huddled over the front desk talking quietly when I came out. I sent Becca in for her turn, although I’m sure she would handle it better than I, as most men liked Becca, although her flirting probably wouldn’t get her far with Detective Danvers.

  After we’d all finished and signed our statements it was half way through the afternoon, our stomachs were a combined protesting, rumbling chorus. We headed for the local cafe for some late lunch. We ordered our food and settled at a table away from most of the dwindling crowd so we could compare notes in private.

  I sipped my hot coffee as Becca leaned forward, “we found out from Constable Mathews that the body has been there for at least five years or more and they think an echidna’s (small Australian native marsupial) diggings helped uncover the body. The victim is definitely female, probably early twenties by the teeth.

  I looked at Becca in admiration. “You certainly managed to get a lot of information out of our friendly Constable!”