Natalia Sorenson was the DCI of Fairfield police station. She was also one of my mum’s oldest friends. I struggled to imagine her having any kind of conversation with DCI Arnott, especially one that concerned me.
‘Jenson was a dribbling mess afterwards, right?’
I nodded.
‘He’s out of his catatonic state now.’
I froze, my heart jumping into my throat. ‘Who told you that?’
‘Sorenson mentioned it. Only happened last week. She also told me you’re the real deal.’
The news about Jenson was a shock. But I’d have to stew it over later when I had time to think. I forced myself to focus on Arnott.
‘My gift isn’t much of a “gift”, if you get my meaning. I spent a lot of years living at home with my family, never leaving the house.’
‘You didn’t want to use it? I don’t understand, why wouldn’t you want to see how someone died to help put killers behind bars?’
‘It’s not that simple. I don’t just see how someone died. I relive it.’
I watched the comprehension dawn on him.
‘You feel it?’
‘Feel, smell, taste, hear. The whole lot. I even know what they’re thinking.’
‘Fuck! Oops, sorry.’ He mopped his brow with his serviette.
I got the impression that DCI Arnott wasn’t used to minding his language. The strain was clearly getting too much for him.
‘You understand now?’ I said.
‘I think I’m beginning to.’ Realisation made his eyebrows rise halfway up his forehead. ‘Shit. That vision before …’
‘It was one of the most excruciating and terrifying things I’ve ever experienced.’
‘I’m really sorry,’ he said.
It still wasn’t OK, but I was glad he had apologised.
‘Oh, and the girl did get a look at her killer, but he was wearing a hoodie. I can give you a description of his size and what he was wearing, but no facial features or hair colour, I’m afraid.’
I yawned.
‘It’s more than we had,’ he said.
CHAPTER
6
Ed stared out the passenger window while Phil drove to the dump. Neither said very much until the rugged southern coastline was replaced by rolling hills, farms and heavily wooded stretches.
‘So what’s crawled up your arse?’ Phil finally asked.
‘What makes you say that?’ Ed could feel her shooting him glances but refused to make eye contact.
‘Don’t be a dick. How long have we known each other? Just because you’ve been away for a few months doesn’t mean I can’t still read you like a book.’
Ed rolled his eyes. ‘I know it.’
‘So, cough up. What’d you do to make her mad this time?’
Ed’s head jerked around and then he barked out a laugh. ‘That obvious?’
Phil nodded.
‘I told her I didn’t know if I wanted to stay in MCIB and Adelaide.’
‘Just like that?’
‘Pretty much.’
‘Did you ask her what she wanted, or did you just do what you normally do and issue it like a royal decree? No, don’t bother answering. I can imagine.’
‘I was just being honest.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘That’s a crime now?’ He realised he sounded like an asshole but he couldn’t help it. The fact that she’d nailed the issue in one go annoyed the crap out of him.
‘No, it’s just not how people in relationships should operate. You’re meant to discuss things, not make unilateral decisions.’
‘I wasn’t making a bloody decision.’
‘She would’ve taken it that way.’
‘That’s bullshit.’
‘Whatever.’
The silence descended again. Ed went back to contemplating the landscape and stewed on what Phil had said. The hills and farms were now outnumbered by vineyards. They were on the outskirts of McLaren Vale. Roses grew along the fence-lines of several properties and the late morning sun made them glow like rubies. He’d missed this; the lack of congestion, the wide spaces and the backdrop of green, gold and blue instead of the monochrome of the city.
‘Here we are.’ Phil turned into the access road leading to the dump. They drove up to the entry booth. A
‘Jenson was a dribbling mess afterwards, right?’
I nodded.
‘He’s out of his catatonic state now.’
I froze, my heart jumping into my throat. ‘Who told you that?’
‘Sorenson mentioned it. Only happened last week. She also told me you’re the real deal.’
The news about Jenson was a shock. But I’d have to stew it over later when I had time to think. I forced myself to focus on Arnott.
‘My gift isn’t much of a “gift”, if you get my meaning. I spent a lot of years living at home with my family, never leaving the house.’
‘You didn’t want to use it? I don’t understand, why wouldn’t you want to see how someone died to help put killers behind bars?’
‘It’s not that simple. I don’t just see how someone died. I relive it.’
I watched the comprehension dawn on him.
‘You feel it?’
‘Feel, smell, taste, hear. The whole lot. I even know what they’re thinking.’
‘Fuck! Oops, sorry.’ He mopped his brow with his serviette.
I got the impression that DCI Arnott wasn’t used to minding his language. The strain was clearly getting too much for him.
‘You understand now?’ I said.
‘I think I’m beginning to.’ Realisation made his eyebrows rise halfway up his forehead. ‘Shit. That vision before …’
‘It was one of the most excruciating and terrifying things I’ve ever experienced.’
‘I’m really sorry,’ he said.
It still wasn’t OK, but I was glad he had apologised.
‘Oh, and the girl did get a look at her killer, but he was wearing a hoodie. I can give you a description of his size and what he was wearing, but no facial features or hair colour, I’m afraid.’
I yawned.
‘It’s more than we had,’ he said.
CHAPTER
6
Ed stared out the passenger window while Phil drove to the dump. Neither said very much until the rugged southern coastline was replaced by rolling hills, farms and heavily wooded stretches.
‘So what’s crawled up your arse?’ Phil finally asked.
‘What makes you say that?’ Ed could feel her shooting him glances but refused to make eye contact.
‘Don’t be a dick. How long have we known each other? Just because you’ve been away for a few months doesn’t mean I can’t still read you like a book.’
Ed rolled his eyes. ‘I know it.’
‘So, cough up. What’d you do to make her mad this time?’
Ed’s head jerked around and then he barked out a laugh. ‘That obvious?’
Phil nodded.
‘I told her I didn’t know if I wanted to stay in MCIB and Adelaide.’
‘Just like that?’
‘Pretty much.’
‘Did you ask her what she wanted, or did you just do what you normally do and issue it like a royal decree? No, don’t bother answering. I can imagine.’
‘I was just being honest.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘That’s a crime now?’ He realised he sounded like an asshole but he couldn’t help it. The fact that she’d nailed the issue in one go annoyed the crap out of him.
‘No, it’s just not how people in relationships should operate. You’re meant to discuss things, not make unilateral decisions.’
‘I wasn’t making a bloody decision.’
‘She would’ve taken it that way.’
‘That’s bullshit.’
‘Whatever.’
The silence descended again. Ed went back to contemplating the landscape and stewed on what Phil had said. The hills and farms were now outnumbered by vineyards. They were on the outskirts of McLaren Vale. Roses grew along the fence-lines of several properties and the late morning sun made them glow like rubies. He’d missed this; the lack of congestion, the wide spaces and the backdrop of green, gold and blue instead of the monochrome of the city.
‘Here we are.’ Phil turned into the access road leading to the dump. They drove up to the entry booth. A
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