‘No, I …’ She swallowed.As she looked at his face, warm and open, she realised she didn’t actually want to leave after all.She rolled her eyes at herself.‘I guess maybe I do have time for a coffee.’Nel moved back on the bed, watching him as he checked the lids of the coffee cups and passed her one.She thought of their tense conversation at the Grand.His indignant rebuff when she’d asked him why he’d left Wollongong.
‘Can I ask you something?’she asked.
‘Anything.’
‘What really happened in Wollongong?’She needed to know the truth.
There was a long silence.‘A person of interest in the Molly Peters investigation made a complaint against me.’
‘What for?’Nel braced herself for the answer, not sure she wanted to know but also desperate to hear it.
‘She said I made a sexual advance on her.I was stood down while the Law Enforcement Integrity Commission investigated the allegation.’
‘And what did they find?’
‘I was wearing a body cam so I was cleared of any wrongdoing, but it took nine months.By then, the reputational damage was done.’
‘Shit, Jimmy, I’m so sorry.’
‘What’s that saying?A lie travels halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.’His eyes flashed.There was still anger there.‘The woman was later found to be an accomplice in the abduction, so I think it was an attempt to derail the investigation.I was shattered.All I wanted was to find that little girl.Instead I was home all day watching Netflix while they investigated an allegation that was total bullshit.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’she asked gently.
A long pause.‘I don’t know.’He ran a hand through his curls.‘I guess it feels like people will think I’m guilty anyway, even though I was cleared.It’s an awful feeling, being accused of something you didn’t do.’He gave her a half-smile.‘I guess you know that better than anyone.’
She smiled.‘Yeah, I do know a bit about that.’
He rested a hand on her bare leg.‘But life’s funny, isn’t it?If it didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be here with you, and I wouldn’t change that now for anything.’A pause.‘I meant what I said last night.’
As she looked into his eyes, a memory surfaced from the night before.He’d whispered something to her.His breath had been warm, his lips touching her ear as he spoke.But the words were frustratingly out of reach.
‘Last night’s a little … hazy.’God, how embarrassing.‘What was it you said again?’
The hint of a smile played on his lips.‘You don’t remember?’
Her cheeks flushed.‘It’s Lauren’s fault.She forced me to drink too much champagne.Against my will.’
He laughed.His fingers gently stroked her thigh, sending a tingle through her body.‘I said I think I’m falling in love with you.’
Nel swallowed, waiting for the impulse to run to come, but it didn’t.Instead warmth swelled inside her.She leaned forward and kissed him, then pulled him towards her onto the bed.
Chapter 65
Sophie gazed out the window of Barb’s station wagon, marvelling at the endlessness of the flat brown land that stretched into the distance in every direction, dotted with scrubby trees and rusty farm equipment.It was still early but the sky overhead was already impossibly blue.She felt a sense of freedom, but the feeling was fleeting.She looked at her Subaru, which Barry was towing in front.How much would a new tyre cost?
She’d been trying not to access her secret bank account in case Ryan managed to trace it.Was that even possible?She didn’t know, but she suspected he’d find a way.It felt safer to be using cash, but the stash of notes was dwindling.It was only a matter of time before she would have to start leaving an electronic trail.
Barb slowed down as they reached the outskirts of Longreach.
‘Election day,’ she said, gesturing out the window at a council building where primary-coloured campaign posters lined the fence.
Sophie gave her a nod.‘Have to remember to vote,’ she said, although she had no intention of it.
She thought of Carrinya and Ryan and Maddie Marshall, her chest tight.They must have found the ring by now.Had Ryan been charged?Was he in jail?There’d been nothing in the papers when she checked before they left Cunnamulla the previous day.
The car came to a stop in front of a cafe next door to Longreach Tyre Centre where a man with enormous biceps was unloading Sophie’s car.
Barb turned to the kids in the back.‘Best milkshakes in town.
