The Lost Man(17)



Glenn had been sympathetic but sceptical. ‘I’ve had no other reports. And it’s a fair way for someone to come to do that.’

‘You don’t think they would? To get at me?’

Glenn had put a hand on his shoulder. ‘I’m not saying they wouldn’t, mate. I’m just not sure if they actually did.’

Nathan paused now in the dim hallway, one hand on Duffy’s head, as he heard a whisper coming from around the corner.

‘. . . but they’ll have to come . . .’

A woman. He didn’t recognise the voice.

‘No, I don’t think so. I’m telling you, it’s not that kind of place. He was on the phone asking if anyone was coming here –’ A man this time, also whispering.

‘Here to the house?’

‘Yeah, but I think the cop was saying no –’

The voices stopped abruptly as their owners rounded the corner and saw Nathan standing there in the hall. The man’s jaw was still open with a half-formed word unspoken. He appeared to be in his late twenties, as was the woman next to him. And, judging by their accents, they were English. Nathan felt fractious. That was all he bloody needed. A pair of Pommy backpackers.

‘God, you gave me a fright.’ The man recovered first. ‘You must be Nathan.’

‘Yeah. Who were you talking about?’

‘Who?’

‘The person you heard on the phone. Talking to the police.’

‘Oh.’ The man hesitated, glancing past Nathan to the empty kitchen door. ‘It was Harry. Sorry. I wasn’t listening, I just . . . heard.’

‘Right.’ It was hard to see the pair properly in the low light. ‘Who did you say you were again?’

‘Simon and Katy.’ The man pointed as he said their names, as though Nathan might need help working out who was who. ‘We’re no-one.’

‘You must be someone if you’re hanging around my dead brother’s hallway listening in on phone calls.’ It was unnecessary and Nathan knew it. He just couldn’t help it.

The woman found her voice. ‘Cameron hired us.’

‘Yeah, Bub said. To do what?’

‘Help your mum around the house, for one thing,’ she said, nodding towards the kitchen. ‘So, if it’s all right with you . . .?’

She’d stepped around Nathan before he could answer and he found himself trailing them into the kitchen. Harry and Bub were already seated at the large wooden table. Nathan pulled up a chair next to Xander and looked across at the English bloke – Simon, was it? He had pale eyes and a very straight nose and thick dark hair that shone in a way that seemed strangely unnatural. Nathan would have had trouble tearing his eyes away from it, if it hadn’t been for the girl.

Katy was – and Nathan could think of no other word – a stunner. In the brightly lit kitchen, he could see how her skin and hair shone, and her t-shirt clung to her in all the right ways. As she smiled at something, a hint of a dimple appeared. She brushed behind Nathan, and he had the overwhelming urge to reach out and take her hand. He frowned and put his palms on the table.

Bub was watching with a look of slavish devotion as Katy moved from benchtop to table, carrying plates of beef and rice. Even Xander was introducing himself with an enthusiasm Nathan hadn’t seen before and a glaze in his eyes that made him look a little like Bub. Only Harry seemed unmoved, his stony expression unaltered. Katy bent over to get something from a low drawer and Nathan wondered what Cameron’s wife made of her.

‘We’re not waiting for Ilse?’ he asked Liz, who was hovering in front of the open fridge door as though unable to remember why she was there.

‘She’s still with the girls,’ Harry answered instead. ‘She said to start.’

‘Oh.’

Katy set the final plate down. ‘One for you, Bob.’

‘Thank you, Katy.’

‘It’s Bub,’ Nathan said automatically.

‘Sorry?’

‘Just –’ He could feel Bub glaring at him. ‘With your accent it sounds like you’re saying Bob.’

‘I am.’

‘It’s Bub. ’Cause he’s the baby.’

‘Oh.’ Katy’s brow creased. She looked at Bub, who was shovelling food into his thirty-year-old mouth. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘I don’t mind,’ said Bub, with feeling.

‘That’s so embarrassing.’ Katy gave an awkward laugh. ‘I’ve been calling you the wrong name this whole time.’

‘Well, his real name’s Lee,’ Liz said with a sigh. She had finally shut the fridge and sat down. ‘So you’re not the only one.’

Bub gave Katy a smile that made her glance away, then turned to Harry. ‘What did Glenn have to say about meeting tomorrow?’

Harry’s eyes flicked towards Liz. ‘Not now, mate.’

‘I’m only asking.’

Bub had changed his clothes, Nathan realised. He looked down at himself and across at Xander. The red dust from the death site had crept into the creases of their shirts, and the colour suddenly made his skin crawl. He rubbed at another red patch on his jeans. It made his hands feel gritty.

‘I’ll put the washing machine on later,’ Liz said quietly and Nathan realised she was looking at the dust as well.

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