Page 90 of Darling Girls

Anna paused, looking thoughtful. ‘What if I told you I knew a reason he might lie?’

‘What?’ Alicia said.

‘You weren’t the only one talking to the police at lunchtime. I also had a conversation with a cop I know who has connections in Port Agatha. He told me that the detectives have been speaking to known sex offenders in the area at the time.’ Anna raised her eyebrows. ‘And one of them is Dirk.’

Alicia, Norah and Jessica were in the living room of their cottage, gathering their things before setting off on the two-hour drive back to Melbourne.

‘It’s so strange, talking about Amy after all this time,’ Alicia said.

Strange wasn’t the right word. She wasn’t sure what the right word might be, butharrowingfelt closer. All day, she’d felt on the verge of tears, and after yesterday’s episode the last thing she wanted was to start crying again.

‘Were we stupid, believing we’d imagined Amy?’ Norah asked. ‘I remember thinking it was ridiculous, at first. But it seemed to be settled. Maybe we should have tried harder to make them listen?’

‘We were kids,’ Alicia said, to herself as much as Norah. ‘Wehadto believe what they told us.’

‘Maybe this body turning up is a good thing?’ Norah said. She looked anxious even suggesting it, wringing her hands. ‘I mean, if she has six toes . . .’

‘Then it’s only the beginning,’ Jessica said. ‘You heard Anna. Even if they prove Amy existed, it doesn’t mean that Miss Fairchild killed her. And the body’s so old, it might be impossible to prove.’

Alicia frowned at Jessica. It wasn’t what she said; it was that her tone was off. The lack of emotion. She seemed . . . flat. She seemeddazed.

‘Are you all right, Jess?’ Alicia asked.

‘Yes. Why?’

‘You look kind of spaced out.’

‘Thanks a lot.’

A phone began to ring.

‘It’s been a long day,’ Alicia said as she rummaged in her bag. ‘Why don’t we stay here another night and drive home tomorrow when we’re fresh?’

Norah nodded her agreement, but Jessica shook her head. ‘Let’s just go home,’ she said. ‘We’ll feel better when we’re back in our own beds.’

Alicia located her phone and raised it to her ear. ‘Alicia Connelly speaking.’

‘Alicia, hi, it’s Sonja – Jessica’s business manager?’

‘Hi, Sonja.’ She raised her eyebrows at Jessica.

‘I’m sorry to bother you, but is Jessica there?’ Sonja asked. ‘I haven’t been able to reach her.’

‘That’s weird,’ Alicia said. ‘Maybe her phone’s on silent. She’s right here – I’ll put her on.’

Alicia held the phone out to Jessica who, oddly, took a step back. ‘It’s just Sonja,’ Alicia told her. ‘She said she hasn’t been able to reach you on your phone.’

For a moment, it looked like Jessica wasn’t going to take the call, but then she did. ‘Hi, Sonja.’

Alicia couldn’t hear what Sonja was saying, but she could make out her high-pitched tones of worry.

‘Sorry about that,’ Jessica said into the phone. ‘Um . . . yep . . . Okay . . . I don’t know . . . Hmmm.’

Usually Jessica sounded so authoritative and commanding when she was in business mode. Today she sounded . . . detached. Her posture was that of a teenager – slumped and uninterested.

‘Oh,’ Jessica was saying. ‘Ah . . . Okay.’ Then, as she noticed Alicia and Norah watching her, ‘Sonja, I’m sorry, but I . . . I can’t do this right now.’

Then without so much as a goodbye, Jessica ended the call.