‘Justice.Yeah, that’s what I thought.’
Lauren frowned.‘I’m not following.’
‘Geoff’s statement.It’s a strange thing to say, don’t you think?That all they’ve ever wanted is for Maddie to rest in peace?Not answers.Not justice.’She swallowed.‘What if …’
‘What?’
A long pause.‘What if Geoff and Faye already know?’
‘What do you mean?’Lauren asked.‘You think theyknowwhat happened to Maddie?’
Nel looked out the window into the dark street as fragments of conversations echoed in her mind.
Don’t you want to know?she’d asked Faye on her first visit weeks ago.
Faye had taken her hands.I’ve had to accept it, Nel.Nothing will bring Maddie back.
She thought of her visit with Geoff when they spoke about the pregnancy.He was so keen for her to accept that Maddie’s death was a suicide.You won’t tell Faye, will you?he’d said at the end of their conversation.
And when she’d visited a few days ago to find the photo, Faye had been … aloof.Detached.She hadn’t helped Nel look for the photo.Instead, she’d busied herself with the washing up.Nel had hardly given it a thought at the time—grief took many forms—but maybe …
The sight of Faye’s face, that morning, came to her mind.The anguish in her eyes.Nel thought of her paintings.The vicious beauty of the cliffs.The assaulting colours.The bold, angry brush strokes.
Then all the pieces came together to form one solid, undeniable truth.
Nel got up and grabbed her bag from the back of the chair.‘I’ve got to go.’
Chapter 72
The strong beam from the lighthouse swept across the ocean in the distance as Nel emerged from the pub and charged up Manning Street.
‘Nel, wait!’Lauren ran to catch up, then fell in sync with her stride.‘Where are you going?’
‘To the surf club.’
‘To Geoff’s election party?’
‘Yep.’
‘What are you planning to do?’There was trepidation in Lauren’s voice.
‘Not sure yet,’ Nel murmured as the surf club came into view.A few media vans were parked out the front.She spotted a police car and wondered if Jimmy was there.
Lauren grabbed her arm.‘I don’t think this is a good idea.’
Nel shook her off, striding towards the building where Geoff Marshall would shortly make his victory speech.
Voices echoed in the foyer.When Nel reached the function room, she stopped at the door and scanned the crowd.People had started moving towards a small stage at the far end of the room where two Australian flags stood behind a lectern.She could see Geoff’s head above the crowd.Where was Faye?She would behere, a good wife, dutifully standing by her husband’s side.How could she, if Nel was right …
‘Hey.’
She turned to see Trent.‘Hi.What’s happening?’
‘Geoff’s about to claim victory.You won’t see anything from back here soon.Want to come down the front with me?My photographer’s already down there.’
They squeezed through the crowd and found a spot close to the front as Geoff stepped up onto the stage, Faye one step behind.Nel was struck by how small she looked, how frail.Jimmy stood at the other side of the stage.He glanced up and their eyes met.
‘Hello, darling,’ Cath said, appearing by Nel’s side.‘Good turnout.’
