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Jen’s question made her skin crawl. How the hell was that woman so perceptive?
“Yeah,” she sighed in resignation. “I got something in the mail the same day as the burglary.”
“Bloody hell, Sierra.” That was the second time today Jen had sworn, and Sierra knew she must be really worked up. “You have to tell the police about it. There might be a connection.”
“I have. The Sarge and the new officer came out to take a look. They were here when the letter arrived. Reed’s taken it away for forensic testing. He said even though the police did all that years ago when the letters first started, he might be able to find something they’d missed.”
“Good. That’s good. It’s about time you did something about this guy. I know you tried before…Hang on…” Jen’s voice took on an edge of suspicion as she stopped mid-sentence. “Who is Reed?”
Sierra nearly groaned out loud. She was seriously off her game today, letting all kinds of unintended things slip. Well, one thing she definitely wasn’t going to tell Jen was that the new police officer was a tempting hunk, with eyes the color of the sky at night, and skin the color of caramel. And that her heart skipped a beat every time he glanced her way. If Jen even got the slightest sniff that Sierra found him remotely attractive, she’d never hear the end of it.
“He’s the new policeman on KI, it was his first day yesterday.” There, she hadn’t given anything away, just the bare facts for Jen to chew over.
“Hmm. And you’re already calling him Reed?”
“I met him on the ferry on the way home two nights ago. He’ll be a good addition to the team.”
“I seeeee,” Jen drew the last word out so that Sierra was left with no doubt that Jen knew there was more to the story. She bit her bottom lip as she willed her friend to drop the subject. The last thing she needed today was a lecture on how it was time she got a good man in her life. The small silence as Jen considered her next words let Sierra know that her ex-boss was dying to ask more questions about the newcomer.
But it seemed discretion won over curiosity when she finally said, “I’ll look forward to meeting this new officer on my next trip over.” Sierra heard a slight hitch in Jen’s voice as it became serious all of a sudden. “But on that note, it reminds me of something else I need to tell you.”
“What’s that?” Sierra covered a sigh. What did Jen want now?
Jen cleared her throat. “Um, I thought you might like to know that I ran into Jake the other day.”
“Oh.” It was all Sierra could think to say. Her heart started beating rapidly in her chest at the mention of her ex-husband.
“He was with his…er, his wife.”
His second wife, Sierra thought, and then immediately pulled herself up short. It wasn’t like her to be spiteful. Jake deserved some happiness. Jake was a photographer at The Advertiser—that’s how they’d first met—so it wasn’t unheard of that Jen would run into him from time to time at work.
Jen gave a small cough; it seemed she was as uncomfortable about this conversation as Sierra was. “Well, there’s no easy way to say this, but she’s pregnant again.”
Sierra’s heart squeezed painfully. Jake and his new wife were having their second child. She was glad for him. Glad he could move on after the accident. She was, really, truly glad. It was a silent mantra she kept repeating to herself, and one day, it might actually feel genuine. Just because she was stuck in a terrible kind of limbo didn’t mean he had to be as well. It was one of the reasons they’d broken up. Jake had seemed to cope so much better than she had. He’d never blamed her for the accident, either. Which only made her feel even more guilty and more shut off from the rest of society. Everyone coped with grief differently, she understood that. And perhaps her mechanism was to run away and shut people out of her life, so she could grieve in peace. She was reconciled to that fact, if only everyone else could come to terms with it, too.
“That’s nice for them. I hope they’re happy. I really mean that, Jen.”
There was a second’s silence on the end of the phone. “I’m sure you do, honey. I just thought I’d let you know, in case you heard it from someone else, that was all.”
“Thanks, Jen.” Sierra drew in a deep breath. “I know you’re only trying to protect me. And I know you think I’m not really over Jake and everything that happened. But you’re wrong. I’ve moved past it now. I’m getting on with my life, and I truly do wish him all the best in the world. He’s a good man, and he was a great husband. Sometimes things just don’t work out, that’s all.”
“Yeah, sometimes life just plain sucks,” Jen agreed. “But the best of us pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off, then move on.”
“Exactly,” Sierra said. And in that particular moment, she meant it.
“And talking about the best of us, that brings me to another topic close to my heart,” Jen said, and Sierra’s heart sank. She knew what Jen was about to say.
“Have you thought any more about my suggestion? About looking into those two missing kids in Adelaide?”
Sierra muffled a sigh. Jen wouldn’t let this go, and while Sierra could perhaps see her point, she just couldn’t rustle up the same kind of enthusiasm for the project. Jen had a theory that the cases of two children who’d gone missing—feared abducted— three years ago in Adelaide, were somehow linked to two other cases in Port Pirie twelve years ago. The same cases Sierra had run the exposé on. Which is why Jen thought Sierra might be able to help. To pick up on some clue, or hint everyone else had missed. She’d sent Sierra a whole pile of papers and research on the Adelaide cases about six months ago, imploring her to take a second look.
“No, I haven’t had time to delve into those reams and reams of files you sent me yet.” Which was technically true. Sierra kept herself busy these days, writing articles for The Islander, along with all her other conservation projects.
“I know it’s asking a lot, Sierra, I do,” Jen said quietly. “But you’re one of the best investigative journalists I ever met. You won that bloody award for Christ’s sake. The highest award given in Australia. It just feels like you’re wasting your God-given talent, that’s all. And those two little missing girls could really do with a champion.”
Sierra had heard it all before, but it didn’t stop her annoyance rising. Who the hell did Jen think she was, trying to guilt her into taking on the project? She drew in a breath and counted to five until her irritation subsided.
“I’ll pull them out and take a look,” Sierra sighed.
