Rain Music (34 page)

‘I think he is, too,' agreed Toni. She paused and then ventured tentatively, ‘I expect that with his peripatetic lifestyle he hasn't had the chance to build many meaningful relationships.'

‘Actually, no. Ned was very serious about Ashleigh for years and years. Everyone assumed that it was the real deal until Ned blew it,' said Bella, unable to hide the annoyance in her voice. ‘Dad thought that Ned let the whole family down when he called off the wedding two weeks out. Poor Ash, all of us felt so sorry for her. I certainly did.'

Toni gasped and stared at Bella with wide eyes. Bella mentally kicked herself as she realised that Ned had not told Toni about his broken engagement. There was an awkward silence as Bella desperately tried to think of what to say next.

Toni focused her eyes on the horizon and gripped the steering wheel tightly. ‘I had no idea. Ned has never mentioned that,' she said in a strangled voice.

‘I can't believe Ned didn't tell you about this,' Bella said. ‘Toni, I am so sorry.'

‘What happened?' Toni's voice was very cool.

Bella cleared her throat.
Toni really should be hearing this story from Ned
, she thought.
But I've gone and let the cat out of the bag now, so I guess I'm going to have to tell her.
‘I'm not sure why Ned called off their wedding at the very last moment. There seemed no really good reason. He just appeared to get cold feet.'

Toni didn't respond, so Bella rushed on. ‘Ashleigh and Ned had been together forever. They'd known each other for a long time before they started dating and then they lived together, first in Tennyson and then down in Melbourne when Ned started to get regular gigs there. Eventually they decided to get married. Everyone was delighted. Everything was booked, all the invitations went out, presents started to come in and then, wham! Just days before the wedding, Ned called the whole thing off without any warning.'

‘That sounds terrible. Why would he do that?' asked Toni in amazement.

Bella frowned. ‘As I said, I think it was cold feet, not wanting to be tied down, but I don't really know because Ned has never talked about it. Dad was furious. He accused Ned of avoiding commitment and said that Ned had to grow up and start behaving in a responsible manner. He thought that Ned had treated Ash disgracefully. He really had a go at Ned, but Ned didn't say much at all. I guess he thought that what Dad said was right. Mum was shocked. Mum being Mum rang everyone up to apologise for what had happened, although she had nothing to apologise for and she certainly couldn't explain why Ned had called off the wedding.' Bella sighed. ‘Ned's name was most unpopular around town and Dad thought his actions reflected poorly on the whole family. After that, Ned avoided Tennyson. He never really explained what happened.'

‘Poor Ashleigh,' said Toni. ‘She must have been so humiliated.'

Bella nodded. ‘I think the saddest part though was that Dad was killed only a couple of weeks later, so Ned and Dad never really got to be on good terms again.'

Toni was quiet a moment. ‘That must have devastated Ned.'

Bella felt a lump rise in her throat. ‘Yes, Dad's death devastated us all. That's why this ceremony honouring his work is so significant, especially for Mum. I think she thinks it's important that he receives the recognition he deserves and that's why she wants the whole family, including Ned, to be there.'

‘Well, I can certainly understand that.' Toni glanced at Bella with a serious expression. ‘Bella, from what you've told me, I can't help but think that Ned has a few problems with the idea of any long-term relationship.'

‘Oh, Toni, no!' Bella said, alarmed. ‘Don't take this story like that! I'm sure Ned feels that you are very special. But you telling him you're pregnant, well, it would have come as a shock. That doesn't mean he isn't thrilled, just that it might take him some time to adjust. I'm sure that he'll do the right thing.' Bella could hear a pleading note in her own voice, but she didn't know what else to say or do.

‘Bella, that's just it! I don't want him to feel he has to do
the right thing!
' exclaimed Toni, smacking her hand against the wheel. ‘I know he's a good man who has some issues – we all do, I guess – but I only want him to commit to this baby if he wholeheartedly wants to be a part of this baby's life. If he wants out, then I can understand that.' Bella heard a steely strength in Toni's voice. ‘I have a big, loving and supportive family who will help me raise this baby. I have plenty of options and support. I might be a single mother, but I certainly won't be alone. I'll be just fine, no matter what Ned decides he wants to do.'

Bella looked at Toni in admiration. ‘God, Toni, you're amazing. Whatever happens, I'm sure that you and your baby will be just fine.'

The two of them sat quietly for a while as Toni drove on towards Cooktown. Bella still felt dismayed that she had so clumsily spilt Ned's secret about his broken engagement but really, she told herself, Ned should have told Toni himself ages ago. Toni deserved to know. What was Ned thinking keeping a big secret like that? The truth was bound to come out and it was a lot better for Toni to know straightaway. Glancing at Toni, Bella couldn't read her expression. Toni would manage motherhood perfectly well, with or without Ned's involvement, Bella thought. Then it suddenly occurred to her that she was related to this baby as well. She was going to become an auntie. She knew that she couldn't raise this fact until things had been resolved one way or another between Toni and Ned, but Bella also knew she would like to have a part, even if only a small one, in this baby's life.

Toni was the first to break the silence.

‘So how about you and Brendan? He seems to adore you,' Toni said gently.

‘Yes, I suppose he does,' said Bella cautiously.

Toni laughed. ‘No suppose about it. I can see that he does just by the way he looks at you, and no one races all this way to see a girl for a couple of days if he's not really keen on her.'

Bella gave a small smile. ‘It was a bit of a dramatic thing for Brendan to do, coming up here. Really not like him at all. Maybe he thought I'd gone troppo in the sun.'

‘I very much doubt that was the reason,' said Toni, smiling at Bella. Bella returned Toni's smile, but didn't say anything further. They lapsed into silence and sat wrapped in their thoughts until they began to approach Cooktown and Bella saw the strange bare black mountain rising to one side of the road. She'd noticed it the first time she'd driven this road, too, and was again awed by the giant boulders that looked as though they had tumbled together like a collapsed building. The ancient stone blocks glistened shiny black in the sun from a recent shower of rain, while tufts of grass grew between them and emerald lichen gleamed in patches on their surface.

‘What is that black mountain called?' Bella asked. ‘It's quite eerie.'

‘Black Mountain,' said Toni.

Bella burst out laughing. ‘Obviously. It's so barren. It looks as though it was a manmade structure that fell apart.'

‘It does rather. It's supposed to be haunted.'

‘Is it? Do you know why?'

Toni shrugged. ‘Oh, lord . . . it's every conspiracy theorist's delight. There are a few Indigenous stories about the mountain. Some people say it's haunted by Aboriginal tribes massacred by Europeans in the early days. There are stories of cattle rustlers taking a thousand head of stolen cattle into the mountain as a shortcut and never coming out. Stories about people who were trapped in there and were never the same afterwards, while others were never seen again, and even the police who went searching for them disappeared. Other people say that it's inhabited by a wild beast, a sort of Queensland tiger. So take your pick!'

‘Gracious, like
Picnic at Hanging Rock
. What did the people say who did come out?'

‘It appears that they were either demented or confused. Some said there were enormous caverns beneath the rocks and that there's a light in the centre that goes way down and that this is the door to the inner earth. If you put your ear to any of the crevices it's said you can hear moaning. Personally, I suspect that it's just the wind, but you never know. A lot of people won't set foot near the place.'

Bella shivered. ‘I can believe that. I wonder if Ned knows about it. I think he could make some wonderful, haunting music with all that in mind. Put it in his musical, maybe.'

Toni nodded in agreement and for the rest of the trip the two of them talked about Black Mountain and its sinister presence.

They met at Toni's house and Ned took Toni's bag from the car and carried it inside. As they returned to his four-wheel drive, he said to Toni, ‘I'll go with Bella to the police station, and after that all of us can go out for lunch. You okay to meet us in the usual place, Toni? If we're very long with the police, I'll phone you.' Toni nodded. Ned tried to kiss her cheek, but Toni moved away before he had the chance and then climbed the steps up to her house.

‘Good luck with the police, Bella,' Toni called out from the verandah. ‘I'm sure everything'll be just fine.'

Ned watched Toni go inside without a backward glance and then jumped back in the car with Bella.

‘Do you want me to stay with you while you talk to them?' he asked when they arrived at the police station.

‘Yes, please.'

They weren't kept long before they were met by a police sergeant with a bristly grey moustache, who carried out a copy of the statement Bella had given over the phone. He offered Bella a cup of tea and asked her kindly how she was feeling and seemed genuinely concerned by what had happened to her. When Bella assured him that she was coming to terms with her abduction and that she was feeling a lot better, he said that he was impressed by her courage and her resilience. Then he asked her to read through her statement and sign it if she was satisfied that it was correct.

‘I guess that's about all,' he said when Bella handed the signed statement back. ‘I bet you thought it was a miracle that your brother found you when he did.'

‘He had help, but yes, to say I was pleased to see him is a bit of an understatement.'

‘Do you have any idea who these men might be?' Ned pressed.

The sergeant shook his head. ‘Not really. We've had occasional reports of boats coming into the coast at night or first light and we believe there's been some sort of exchange of merchandise. Maybe drugs, but we're not sure. There're some pretty fast boats that could be fishing charters except they turn up in odd places. You mentioned a cove, Bella. There's a few places on the Cape where that could be. But if these men are involved in this sort of activity on the coast, I'm not sure what they would be doing so far inland. Bit of a puzzle, really. I'm sorry you got caught up in it. Still, we have a good description of two of them, so we'll circulate it and hope that someone recognises them. And your sister has told me that two of these men probably came into the house earlier and stole from you, Mr Chisholm?'

Ned shifted in his seat. ‘Yes, more than a week ago. One of those men had a mullet haircut. I should have reported it to you when it happened, but I really didn't think they'd come back,' Ned said, shaking his head.

The sergeant smoothed his moustache. ‘Well, it looks as though they did. Wanted more supplies, especially alcohol, and they knew where to get it, it would seem.' The sergeant eyed Ned. ‘It's a bit of pity, sir, that you didn't report the initial incident, don't you think?' he said gruffly.

‘Yes,' said Ned, reddening. ‘I feel very guilty about what happened and I blame myself.'

‘I'm not quite so harsh on him,' said Bella. ‘With the benefit of hindsight, we can all say we'd make different decisions.'

‘Very true,' said the sergeant. ‘Will you be around if we need to speak with you again, Ms Chisholm?'

‘Oh. I'm not sure how long I'll be here,' said Bella. ‘Probably only a few days. I'm heading to Cairns and then back to Victoria for the time being. There's an important family event I need to attend.'

‘I'm not surprised you're off. This is the end of the tourist season; the wet's about ready to start. But I have your details and I'll be in touch if anything comes up. Even though you've had a frightening experience, I hope you can manage to enjoy the rest of your time in the north. It's a special place.' The sergeant smiled and collected his papers. He showed them out the door and Bella heaved a sigh as they stepped out into the sunshine.

Ned put his arm around Bella as they walked towards
the car. ‘Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?' he said.
‘I thought the copper was pretty sympathetic.'

‘I suppose he was. I just hope that they catch the buggers. But he didn't sound very confident,' said Bella.

‘Give it time, Bella. You seem pretty sure about what they looked like.'

Bella nodded. ‘I can guarantee that I would be able to recognise the bloke in the blue shirt again anywhere. His nasty little eyes are etched into my soul,' she said angrily. She stopped and Ned rubbed her arm.

‘It's okay, Bella,' he said reassuringly. ‘He'll get what's coming to him. Let me return my library books and then we'll go to the museum.'

Both Ned and Bella were pleased to return to the stately old convent building. There were still tourists about in the museum. At the entrance, Ned asked if Ken Harris was around, and the pleasant woman collecting the fees told them where they were likely to find him. Just as they were about to pay for their entry, they were greeted by the curator.

‘Hey there, Ned! Don't worry about the entry fee. It's free for our volunteers!' He hurried over and shook Ned's hand enthusiastically, then pointed at the box under Ned's arm. ‘You've got the Bish's box, I see. How'd you go with it?'