‘Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t we marry each other? That would give them something to talk about. I’ll buy you a beautiful engagement ring and you would look stunning in a wedding dress. If it’s good enough for Hollywood actors it’s good enough for me. We could have the perfect lavender marriage.’
‘Thanks, if I ever get desperate not to be left a spinster, I’ll bear that in mind.’
‘That’s what gay best friends are for.’
Morgan laughed and felt her shoulders drop as all the tension she’d been holding in them subsided a little. Declan was good for her soul; every woman needed a Declan in her life.
As they bumped along the narrow track and she rocked from side to side, she noticed he was gripping the steering wheel as if his life depended on it.
TWENTY-TWO
The road was bumpy, narrow and at one point Morgan’s life flashed before her eyes when Declan almost ran them off it into a ditch. Eventually they turned a corner and saw Cain, Stan and Scotty. All three of them stared in their direction, raising their hands in unison. Declan saluted them and whispered, ‘Oh, look, it’s the three wise monkeys.’
Morgan sniggered. ‘Not sure about the wise, but you know.’
He stopped the car a safe distance from them and hopefully the crime scene. ‘Where is the body?’
‘I got you this far, you’re going to have to walk the rest of the way, but it’s okay, it’s just through those bushes on the other side.’
‘I thought control said she was inside a tent?’
‘She is, she’s been here some time because the vegetation has grown around her.’
‘Crikey, that’s sad.’
Morgan nodded. ‘This whole case is devastating. We think she’s the sister of two other victims, the woman found murdered yesterday at the empty hotel and Lydia Williams.’
Declan’s jaw fell open and he paused what he was doing, both feet inside of the white overalls. ‘Stop it.’
Morgan shook her head. ‘For real.’
‘All three women are related?’
‘Yes, if it’s her, that is. Although that’s her car parked along the trail, and she hasn’t been seen or heard from since Lydia’s death so it’s highly probable.’
‘Are there any more of them? If there are, have you got them into protective custody?’
‘No, just the three sisters. Parents died in a car accident a couple of years ago.’
‘Was that suspicious?’
‘I’m looking into it when I get back to the station. It looks as if someone wanted the entire family obliterated from this earth.’
‘Well, I’m not telling you how to do your job, but it looks as if that is some serious grudge.’
She smiled. ‘I agree with you; someone hated this family enough to kill them off.’
He whistled, then finished suiting and booting. Grabbing his case, he walked towards the narrow path through the overgrowth that had been walked through by them all. Morgan watched him until he disappeared. She turned to Scotty who looked on the verge of passing out.
‘I think you need to sit down, you’ve had a rough couple of days. In fact, do you want me to speak to Madds and take you home?’
He nodded. ‘I’m okay, just feel a bit light-headed.’ His knees buckled and he swayed backwards. Both Cain and Stan grabbed his arms, and Cain half carried, half dragged him to the car and managed to get him into the back seat.
Morgan phoned Ben who answered immediately.
‘Scotty isn’t well, he’s almost passed out. Should I get him home?’
‘Christ, is he okay? Yes, you better had. Can you manage?’
