Page 15
“Declan, could I have a private word with Isla?”
Kui had given him a friendly welcome at the library doors, but she looked nervous.
“Of course.” He squeezed me in a half-hug. I eased into the side of his torso—I was getting the hang of this. He dropped his arm from around me. I was surprised that I immediately missed his skin’s imprint on mine. “I’ll walk home.”
Leading me to the tall shelves at the back, Kui handed me a note written on a ripped-out page.
The handwriting was familiar.
Dear Lizzie Firkin,
You’re back! I wish I could see you, but I can’t.
I’ve been following your career the whole time, so proud of you.
Anyway, you need a story. You helped me when I needed it.
Now, I’m paying you back the favor. The winery is shipping heroin to London.
By now, you probably know your parents are tied up in the winery too.
Robin Puckertucke r
That name knocked the air out of me. God, I hadn’t thought of Robin in.
.. well, since I was a little girl. Robin was a beloved character in one of our favorite books by a local author.
Our favorite. Kingi’s, Janey’s, and mine.
We took turns playing Robin and Lizzie. I knew who wrote this note, and I trusted him.
The note came from Kingi. It had to . Because Janey was dead.
*
“Kui, you’ve read this? It’s from Kingi?” I was almost breathless.
She checked the door. “Yes. There were too many years I couldn’t keep my boys safe. I’m very close to them now.” She added hastily, “Though, obviously, I can’t see Kingi in person.”
“How does Kingi know this?” I asked.
She twisted her watch. “From Rangi, my youngest, who works at the winery. I’m only telling you because I don’t want you to approach him.
It will put him in danger. He manages the domestic wine with the help of a contract team, and Snow handles the export.
Rangi gets four-day weekends every month when export is done.
” Interesting. Snow has no witnesses. “Anyway, he left his phone behind at work on one of those weekends. When he went to get it, he found white powder on the bench. Thought it was P, you know, meth. He sent a message to Kingi, who found him someone to analyze it. It turned out to be heroin.”
My mind was spinning as I processed all this.
“Kingi trusts you to investigate,” she said. “And so do I.”
My heart swelled at her words. “Oh, Kui.” I hugged her. “Thank you for having faith in me. It means so much. I won’t let you and Kingi down, I promise.” I took a breath. “I’m guessing Kingi must know more than this. Where can I find him?”
She reached for her hair. “No one knows. He disappeared four years ago.”
My spine slumped. Four years ago? I had the biggest tip-off of my life, and it was from someone who hadn’t been seen in four years?
“Whoever brought this note”—I searched her guarded profile cautiously—“must know where he is.”
“I’m not telling you who that is.” She fixed me with a fierce look. “If it gets out, the police will be watching that person as well.”
“But this middle person must know about the note.”
It was strained, but, as with the Tohus, I had to keep pushing. This was what being a journalist was all about—push, then push harder until it was cringingly embarrassing .
Reluctantly, she admitted, “I sent Kingi library books through this person. The note was hidden in a returned book, which is how we communicate.”
“So—”
“Stop this.” Kui crossed her arms. “You’ll never find Kingi.
He went bush four years ago after a bar fight among gang members where there were some serious injuries.
Kingi was out on parole. He wasn’t even at the bar, but an old friend who had been injured in the fight called Kingi to take him to the hospital.
The police accused Kingi of being involved.
It was clear they were going to use it to put pressure on him to talk about the gang members.
He’s been wrongly accused, but you know how trouble follows that poor kid. And the fact is, he’s skipped parole.”
“The bush… he’s in Te Urewera,” I said, triumphant. She shrugged. I could see why. The steep mountain range spanned mo re than half a million acres, with lakes and fast rivers. And dangerous wild boar. My mood nosedived. “Oh shit.”
“Look, I want to help you. You were a great friend to Kingi when you were kids.” She rubbed at her forehead, closing her eyes. “Especially that time in church with that awful man.”
I covered my face, and my whole body clamped, barely able to think about it.
The priest had told Kingi to stay late for altar boy duty.
I didn’t know what was going on. Hadn’t a clue that something so vile could exist. But I didn’t like the priest’s monstrous, hairy hand clutching Kingi’s young shoulder.
I didn’t like the way that priest pressed so close behind Kingi. I could feel Kingi’s terror.
I had glared into that priest’s deep-set, hooded eyes and told him a lie. I’d spoken slowly and loudly, like I knew he was doing something wrong. The memory was shrill and vivid.
“Any minute now,” I said to him, “ we’re going to be picked up for swim club. We have swim club every day now. ”
“ Obstreperous girl,” the priest snarled as I grabbed Kingi’s hand and led him away.
“You were brave then.” Kui grasped my shoulders.
“And you still are.” She took a deep breath.
“I want to say something. I’m sure your interviewing methods work in London, but they’re all wrong for here.
I watched you at dinner last night. You’re too aggressive and obvious.
Asking Rosemary all those legal questions.
And Rina said today that Bevan was upset when she arrived home last night.
” Rina was the school’s principal and had probably popped into the library.
“You perked up when I mentioned my niece who works at the police station, like you were planning to show up there. Don’t turn up to people’s place of business like someone official.
You’re not official. You’re an ordinary person here.
Use that instead. But first, you have to demonstrate an interest in people. ”
I opened my mouth to protest.
“A genuine interest in people.”
Kui was right. In London, it was easy to disappear when the job was done. But not in a small town on a small island.
“Thanks, Kui. I do appreciate your support and advice. So, for starters, I’m assuming the kingpin is Snow?”
Her face stiffened. “This is what I mean when I say your questions don’t work here.” She sighed. “But, no, it’s not Snow. That’s why Kingi sent you this note. Kingi is sure that Snow is innocent, and I am too. He’s been Kingi’s best mate, even when Kingi was in and out of jail. He’s a good person.”
My ears started ringing. The books seemed to teeter toward me. “I find that difficult to believe.” I tugged a book from its shelf and shoved it back in. “Snow tormented me in high school. And it’s hard to believe he could now be one of the good guys. How could he change so much?”
Her forehead creased deeper. “I heard about the bullying afterward. But I never saw it because I kept to the library. I’m sorry it happened, but it sounded like it was those two girls, Cazza and Lolly.”
I had an awful flash of them—Cazza, short ponytails sticking out all over her head, cracking up wherever she went.
She laughed so hard she collapsed on whoever was nearest. Lolly was captain of every sports team, and she made swinging motions, tennis serves, softball strikes while she called me names—each swing, each hateful name scoring a direct hit.
“It was Snow, after Janey died. I’d turned fourteen. Those girls always went to him first and got their orders, and then they’d rain on me.” My shoulders sagged inwards. “He knew I’d told Sarge about Janey’s note to him. He even warned me. Told me he was going to make my life utterly miserable.”
Kui gripped a random book on the shelf. “I know he was mean to boys on the playing fields at school and in the surf. Snow’s father… well, your mother told you, poor boy. Now and again, I still see that burst of anger. But he tries so hard not to be that person anymore.”
I took a deep breath. I was going to have to lie about understanding why people liked Snow.
I held out my hands. “Tell me how I should do this.”
She sighed, relieved. “Your questions must be part of the natural rhythm and order of our lives. Everyone in this town is connected in ways you don’t even realize.
How do I know? I’m a justice of the peace and the school bus driver when my cousin calls in sick.
I’m leading the book club here in ten minutes.
And I’m their yoga teacher after book club. ”
I nodded. “Why don’t I meet you here after book club? I’ll walk you to yoga.”
She smiled at me. “You might be surprised what you learn.”
Table of Contents
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- Page 15 (Reading here)
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