Chapter 74
Sophie yawned as she tipped a jar of sauce into a pan of pasta in the communal kitchen of the Mount Isa Holiday Park.They’d arrived as the neon pink sky was fading to darkness that now covered the red land like a blanket.She was so tired her eyes were stinging.She’d driven almost three thousand kilometres in four days.She’d spent part of the journey today rebuffing questions about Ryan and why his photo was on the front page of the paper.
She looked over to where the kids sat at a plastic table.Harvey was slumped forward with his head on the grimy table.The other two just sat quietly.Two cheerful, grey-haired couples sat nearby together, drinking cask wine from plastic cups.A muted TV in one corner played the Channel Nine election coverage.
Sophie shook some grated cheese into the saucepan and stirred it through, then spooned the sloppy mess into four cereal bowls she’d found in the cupboard under the sink.
‘Charlie, come get a couple of these, hon.’
As Charlie took the bowls to the table, one of the retirees started shushing his companions loudly and got up to fiddle with the buttons on the TV.
A newsreader’s serious voice filled the room.‘Dramatic events tonight in the NSW coastal town of Carrinya …’
A hush fell over the room as the shot cut to the Prime Minister standing at a lectern in front of an Australian flag.‘Earlier tonight, the federal member for Wells, Geoffrey Marshall, revealed new information about the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death in 2010, information he withheld during the initial investigation.He is currently cooperating with police.’
Sophie listened in disbelief, thoughts reeling.Her head felt fuzzy.What the hell was happening?
‘In light of these events,’ the Prime Minister went on, ‘Mr Marshall has resigned from the parliament, effective immediately.’
The shot cut to a reporter outside Carrinya Police Station.‘Dramatic developments here in Carrinya, culminating with the resignation of long-serving MP and leader of the National Party, Geoffrey Marshall.This comes after a local man, Ryan Jason Warner, was charged on Thursday with two counts also relating to Madeline Marshall’s death.’
The kids’ heads snapped up at the mention of their father’s name.
‘Why did she say Daddy’s name?’Jasmine whispered.
Sophie raised a finger to her lips, telling them to be quiet.She didn’t want to draw the attention of the retirees who sat open-mouthed, staring at the TV.
Fear prickled Sophie’s skin.What would this mean for Ryan?She knew her plan wasn’t foolproof—all she really wanted was to buy herself time—but she thought it would take longer than this.Three days.It was just this afternoon as they drove west, overtaking road trains with red dust swirling behind them, that the feeling of freedom had started to linger.
She rinsed the dishes and hurried the kids back to the cabin.Once they were in bed, she lay down next to Harvey, who was already asleep.
‘Daddy hurt some people and he’s in jail now,’ she whispered into the darkness.
‘He hurt you too,’ Charlie whispered.
‘Yes.’
‘Will we ever see him again?’Jasmine asked.
Sophie thought for a long time before she answered.‘I don’t know, baby girl.’
Chapter 75
One month later
Nel squeezed past the packing boxes in the hallway, stepped over the vacuum cleaner and opened the door of the linen cupboard.Usually it was bursting with sheets, pillows, quilting offcuts, boxes of wrapping paper and other random paraphernalia collected over forty years.Now the shelves were bare.
Cath had meticulously allocated the contents of her cupboards to one of three piles: storage, Vinnies or the bin.She’d been surprisingly strict about what she would keep, using Lauren’s suggested method that involved holding up each item and asking herself if it sparked joy.It turned out very little did, which was good because the boxes would be stored in Faye’s studio, so space was limited.Jimmy and Steve were coming this afternoon with a van to pick them up.
Nel pulled out her suitcase then went back to the bedroom and started packing her clothes.In less than five minutes the drawers of the tallboy were empty.She’d already put her favourite jeans aside to wear in the car, along with a pair of undies and a light jumper.She’d pack her toiletries in the morning.
A wave of tiredness washed over her.She looked longingly at the bed, then she lay down beside the suitcase and closed her eyes.
This time last week, they had officially handed over the keys of the clinic to Cass and Fran.Nel had been there every day this week helping them get up to speed.Viv had hit it off with Fran, an extrovert with a hearty laugh and a wicked sense of humour, and they all went out for a drink last Friday to celebrate.Cass was quieter, more serious.From what Nel had seen, they were excellent doctors and they made a good team.According to Viv there had only been one complaint about the new owners, from old Percy Maguire who’d said it was ‘unnatural’, but he complained about everything so it was hardly surprising.He’d dropped it quickly when Viv told him there was a medical centre at North Carrinya and she’d be happy to send them his file.Nel smiled to herself, pleased that the clinic was in good hands.
The shocking truth of what Geoff Marshall had done had dominated the news nationwide ever since his terrible confession.Every time his name was mentioned, it was preceded by ‘disgraced former MP’.One of the Sydney tabloids ran a front page with SHAME in oversized letters above a black and white photo of Geoff, his face frozen in an unattractive scowl.A smaller colour inset of Maddie’s school photo sat underneath, radiant and youthful.
Reporters remained camped outside the Marshalls’ place, but the curtains were drawn and the house was still.No charges were brought against Geoff in the end, but he hadn’t been seen since he left the police station.He was effectively a prisoner in his own home.
