Free Bitter Nothings by Vicki Tyley Page A

pregnant?”
    “Pregnant? Are you sure?”
    “If the pathologist is to be believed, yes. He estimates ten weeks.”
    Her head spun, the news still sinking in. A little brother or sister for Kayla and Oliver. Another life cut short. Another victim. And just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse.
    “Are you still there, Dervla?”
    “Sorry. Yes. What did you say?”
    “I said the bodies have been released to Lucinda’s parents. The funeral will most likely be in the next couple of days. Can you let Emmet know?”
    Although Gabe couldn’t see it, she nodded.
    As soon as she hung up from her older brother, she phoned the other, leaving messages on both his mobile and landline when he didn’t answer.
    For the next hour, she paced the house, roaming from room to room, straightening paintings on the wall, picking imaginary lint from the curtains. She had to keep moving. That or curl up in a fetal position and pretend the world didn’t exist.
    When her phone finally rang, she leapt at it.
    Private number.
    Her tone all business, she answered it. “Dervla Johns.”
    “Dervla, it’s Todd Gleeson.”
    “Oh.”
    He laughed. “That wasn’t quite the reaction I was expecting.”
    “Sorry…” She swallowed. “Start again. Hello, detective. Is that better?”
    “Much.” That laugh again, the rich sound stirring something deep inside her.
    “Good.”
    Silence. Then the sound of someone tapping a keyboard.
    “You rang me to…?” she prompted.
    “So I did,” he said, his voice distant, as though his mind was elsewhere. More tapping.
    As she was about to hang up, he spoke. “Apologies for that. Now where were we?”
    “I don’t know,” she said, unable to suppress her irritation. Was he deliberately trying to wind her up? Maybe it was just her. She closed her eyes and sighed. “You rang me, remember?”
    “Yes, indeed. Right, the South Australia Police have checked around the holiday accommodation places in and around Melrose and Mt Remarkable and have come up with nothing to suggest your father is, or was ever, there. Which brings me to my second piece of news. Your father’s mobile phone has been found.”
    “Just the phone? Where?”
    “He wasn’t with it, if that’s what you mean. A kid found it in a Frankston park rubbish bin. His mother handed it into the local police.”
    Frankston . The other sighting. Why there? Was he staying there or had he just been passing through?
    Todd’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Dervla?”
    “Hmmn.”
    “I expect you to keep your end of the bargain.”
    “Yes, sir!” She regretted it the instant the words were out of her mouth.
    “You might not take murder seriously, but I do.” That steely edge was back.
    Ouch. Not that she didn’t deserve it. “I do take it seriously. Very. Especially when it involves my family. It’s just that sometimes…” She paused. “Sometimes I say things I don’t mean.”
    “Lie you mean?”
    “God, no. I didn’t say that. There’s a long way between a facetious remark and lying.” Was she the only one who became flippant in stressful situations?
    Todd huffed. “What—”
    Brrring ! Saved by the doorbell.
    “Sorry. Have to go. Someone’s at the front door.” She hung up before he could reply.
    Drawing a deep breath, she took a moment to compose herself and opened the door.
    “Sophie.”
    “The one and only.” Sophie, her long auburn hair twisted in a sleek knot above the collar of her cropped suit jacket, peered at her from above rimless sunglasses. “God, hon, you look dreadful. Has something else happened?”
    “Thanks. That makes me feel so much better…” Her voice trailed off. An enormous bouquet of red and white flowers on legs was headed her way. Her jaw tensed. She’d recognize that swagger anywhere.
    Sophie turned to see what she was looking at. “Someone loves you.”
    Her arms folded, face set, Dervla steeled herself for battle.
    The flowers came to a standstill. Roses. Dozens of them. Her