Page 33 of Sharing Forever in Hope Creek (Hope Creek #2)

‘I’m afraid I don’t have good news,’ Mitchell announced as he arrived back at Hope Creek Farm later that afternoon after having called in to check on the wedding guests who were still being entertained by Phil at Hope Creek Hotel.

Callie braced herself.

Margaret’s face was etched with concern as she moved to stand at Callie’s side.

Jim stood nearby, the stoic set to his jaw at variance with the worry in his eyes.

The stress in the room was undeniable, but Callie was gripped by hopelessness. She wished Jack had never come to Hope Creek. It would’ve been easier to raise the child of a man she hadn’t been able to contact than a man who was in prison.

But she drew strength from the fact that the Richardson clan had come together.

They’d congregated at Stella and Mitchell’s farmhouse, given that the homestead and the guest cottage at the farm where Jack had been staying were still being swept over by a team of forensic scientists.

Stella closed her eyes for a second before she said, ‘Tell us, Mitch.’

‘Jack’s still being held on suspicion of murder,’ Mitchell continued as he went to his wife’s side. ‘The detectives are refusing to release him and they’ve got a magistrate’s authority to hold him for twelve hours instead of the eight hours they’re usually allowed.’

‘But he’s innocent!’ Margaret erupted angrily.

‘Don’t fret, Margaret,’ Jim told her, gathering her close. ‘These detectives will figure it out.’

‘I know that,’ Margaret said. ‘But while they’re focusing on Jack, the real killer is likely to be getting further away with the trail getting colder.’

There were murmurs of agreement from everyone but Callie and she felt everyone’s gaze upon her.

‘Jack’s no murderer, Callie,’ Mitchell told her. ‘You have to believe that.’

‘I don’t know what to believe,’ she said quietly.

There had been a few moments when she’d felt sad or angry but mostly she’d felt numb—shutting down to remove herself from all the drama.

Feeling everyone’s concern now, she felt the salt of tears stinging her eyes and realised she was at the point of breakdown.

‘You can believe in Jack, Callie,’ Stella said emphatically. ‘Mitch has known him for years. I’ve known him for years and I can tell you that he’s a darned tough businessman and will fight for his convictions, but he’s no killer.’

Callie scrubbed at the tears with the back of one hand. ‘How do you know he didn’t kill him—maybe the argument got heated and it was an accident?’

‘Thompson was hit over the head with a tyre jack, Callie,’ Mitch said. ‘That’s hardly an accidental death.’

‘I don’t know what to do.’ Her voice wavered. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’

Stella and Morgan flanked Callie as Margaret led her towards the couch—her family’s presence a tangible reminder of the loving bond they shared.

‘Jack’s like a brother to me,’ Mitch confirmed. ‘No matter what it takes, we’ll make sure his name is cleared.’

Morgan nodded in agreement. ‘We’re all supporting you both.’

Callie looked up at Morgan in surprise. ‘You believe Jack’s innocent, too?’

‘Totally.’ Morgan nodded. ‘And Jack needs your support.’

‘He needs more than our support,’ Jim told them. ‘He needs incontrovertible proof.’

‘I don’t understand why they’re holding him when we’ve already given statements that provide him with a rock-solid alibi,’ Margaret said. ‘Can’t they see he’s being framed?’

Jim placed a reassuring hand on his wife’s shoulder.

‘Personal beliefs aside, I’ve replayed the timeline in my head since I gave my statement to the police this morning.

There’s no way Jack could’ve got from Lancaster Hospital to the vineyard, committed the deed, cleaned himself up, then come back here with all of us sitting down at our table by 7.

20 pm. It’s ludicrous to even suggest it! ’

Jim’s conviction was strong.

Powerful.

So powerful that his words dislodged a barrier in Callie’s brain.

All day, Callie had been in a fog, but it was as though the fog started to lift—as though the analytical part of her brain was clawing back some ground from the overpowering emotionally reactive part.

All day she’d heard her family’s assertions but she hadn’t really listened—hadn’t absorbed much of the substance.

‘I’ve been on the phone to Jacinta, Jack’s sister, and she’s got the best senior counsel on the case,’ Mitch said. ‘I picked her up when she touched down by helicopter and she looked formidable. She isn’t someone I’d want to cross swords with in a courtroom.’

‘It’s the hard evidence—the tyre jack and Jack’s shirt that are the problem,’ Stella summed up.

‘He’s being set up.’ Morgan’s words were adamant. ‘It’s the only explanation.’

‘Right,’ Stella agreed. ‘As if anyone with half a brain would leave the weapon so close to the scene making it so easy to find.’

‘Yep. If I’d done it, I would’ve thrown it into the deepest part of Hope Creek or buried it somewhere deep in the bush,’ Blue said.

‘And with the crime being so bloody, judging by his shirt,’ Margaret said with a shudder, ‘there’s no way Jack would’ve had time to clean himself up before he joined us, so they obviously don’t believe what we’re telling them.’

Blue’s usually cheerful demeanour had vanished that morning and hadn’t returned.

Now, he knelt in front of Callie. ‘We’re all here for you, darling, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re frustrated we can’t do more to help.

Whatever you need, just say the word, but please don’t lose faith in Jack. ’

Callie looked around at the faces of the people she loved—the people who’d become her family. Their unwavering support gave her a glimmer of hope, but the memories of her past loomed large, threatening to drown her in doubt.

‘This is … it’s bringing back so many bad memories,’ Callie admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘Of my father. Of everything he did.’ She swallowed back a sob. ‘I can’t let my child think that …’

She couldn’t even say the words.

Margaret sat beside her and pulled her into another motherly hug.

Her voice was gentle but firm when she told her, ‘I’ve realised this would be triggering for you, but you have to push through your memories and your fears.

Your father and Jack are two very different people.

I believe Jack’s a good man. If you search your feelings, you know it too. ’

‘Don’t let the past cloud your judgement, sweetheart,’ Jim added. ‘Jack needs you now. He needs your support and he needs you to believe in him.’

Callie felt shame prickle across her chest.

Margaret was right. Callie had shut down out of fear. But Jim was also right because her past was clouding her judgement.

Looking up at her family she sent each of them a tremulous smile.

Then she looked at Mitch. He was perplexed and Callie realised he was the only one in the family who wasn’t familiar with her parents’ backgrounds. ‘Mitch is part of the family now, Stella. You can fill him in some time,’ she said.

‘Okay.’

‘We can’t let fear dictate our actions, Callie,’ Jim said firmly. ‘We have to believe in the people we love.’

The people we love …

Did Callie love Jack?

No.

She still didn’t know him well enough.

If she loved him, she would never have doubted his innocence for a second.

She loved being with him, had loved being able to lean on him and count on his support—and there was no denying she was ‘in lust’ with him, but … No. She wasn’t in love with Jack.

She didn’t have time to consider it further as Ned padded over, almost pushing Blue off-balance to sit at her feet. The loyal dog must’ve sensed her distress because he ignored everyone else, placed his head on her lap and gave an understanding whine as though stressing his solidarity as well.

‘You know she’s upset, don’t you, boy?’ Blue said, giving him a pat.

‘Dogs know.’ His eyes widened and he sprung to his feet with a speed and agility that belied his age.

‘Bloody hell! That’s it!’ He looked at them all with an expression of elation.

‘The dogs do know. Remember how they were barking last night?’

‘My Godfather, you’re right!’ Jim announced.

Callie looked at them both, her own realisation only dawning as Margaret said, ‘They were barking because someone was at the car! Someone was there, stashing that shirt under the car seat while we were all cranky these gorgeous boys were making so much ruckus!’

‘Yes! Someone was planting it there,’ Morgan said.

‘Of course!’ Stella said. ‘But who? Who would frame Jack?’

‘We need to find that out,’ Mitch concluded. ‘Whoever was out there last night, they murdered Andrew Thompson.’

‘Damn that I never thought I’d need security cameras installed around the place,’ Jim said with bitter regret. ‘If I’d had them, we’d have our answer.’

Callie’s spirits lifted because it made perfect sense and despite her family telling her she should believe in Jack, she needed something more concrete to allay the doubts she had in her mind. Blue had just provided it.

That the killer had been so close while they’d all been in their beds was downright frightening, yet it was obvious in hindsight that the dogs had been trying to alert them to a stranger’s presence.

‘The back door of the car wasn’t closed properly either,’ Stella reminded them.

‘The buggers didn’t risk closing it in case someone heard over the noise of the dogs and came to investigate,’ Blue said. ‘Damn it all! I almost got out of bed to settle them.’

‘Just as well you didn’t, Blue,’ Jim told him. ‘This is a killer we’re dealing with.’

Stella sat down on the chair opposite Callie, and Mitch moved to sit on the arm of the chair as he took Stella’s hand in his. Every one of them needed support through this, Callie realised. Every one of them was shocked to the core.

It was likely the whole community was shocked.

‘Do you think the killer will be back here?’ Margaret fretted.

‘I doubt it,’ Jim said. ‘But I also don’t think any of us will sleep soundly now until he’s caught.’