Page 34 of Sharing Forever in Hope Creek (Hope Creek #2)

‘It has to be someone involved in the Ponzi scheme Thompson was running.’ Callie thought aloud as she tried to help put the pieces together now that she was daring to believe in Jack’s innocence.

‘It has to be about that.’ She stood and moved away from the group, needing to walk as she sifted through her thoughts.

‘Jack spoke about getting a tip-off about the Ponzi scheme and I remember he was unsettled after he received a text message on Saturday night. That could be what the message was about.’

‘But why frame Jack?’ Stella asked. ‘What did the killer have to gain by doing that? Surely a victim of the Ponzi scheme would report Thompson’s crime and take legal action in the hope that he’d get all or some of his investment money back?’

‘I wasn’t thinking it was one of the investors. I was more thinking it was a criminal who was in bed with Thompson’s scheme,’ Callie said.

‘What I’m trying to get my head around is that the killer had to have Jack lined up to frame before he—and I’m presuming from the violence of the crime that it was a man—sent the message and then murdered Thompson,’ Morgan said. ‘He’d already got into Jack’s car to get the jack.’

‘Which would’ve been easy given none of us ever lock our cars out here,’ Margaret said.

They all nodded in agreement.

Distress was heavy in Stella’s every syllable as she said, ‘The killer must’ve been here at the farm to have got the weapon and Jack’s shirt.’

‘You’re right,’ Mitchell agreed. ‘He’s worn the shirt while he’s killed Thompson with the jack, then he’s gone to the homestead and planted it.’

Blue ran his palms down his cheeks and let out a low whistle. ‘Holy moly, you’re right. The guy’s been around this area for at least a few days.’

‘I’ll put the word out and ask if anyone’s seen anybody around who’s been acting suspiciously,’ Mitch said. ‘People are bound to be gathering at the pub to discuss what’s happened.’

‘Sounds good but remember there are so many strangers in town at the moment thanks to our wedding.’ Stella groaned.

‘Yeah, but the locals and the out-of-town guests all mixed well at the wedding,’ Mitch said, ‘so someone might’ve seen someone new who wasn’t at the wedding and didn’t look as though they were part of the media mob who blew into town.’

‘It’s a long shot, but it’s worth a try, Mitch,’ Jim said with approval.

Callie’s throat was parched, so she went and poured herself a glass of water from the crystal jug Mitchell’s Aunt Liz had always kept on the sideboard. She still felt heavy, but a flare of optimism had ignited within her. ‘Anyone else want one?’

Everyone shook their heads.

‘The killer got the jack, got the shirt then sent Jack the message about the Ponzi scheme,’ Morgan theorised. ‘Then, when Jack confronted Thompson, the killer made his move soon afterwards.’

Mitch shook his head. ‘I don’t know. I feel we’re missing something.’

‘How would the killer know Jack would confront Thompson?’ Jim asked.

‘I like your thinking, Morgan,’ Blue said, ‘but you’ve got a good point, Jim. There’s no way someone would know Jack would confront Thompson about the scheme. He could’ve gone straight to the police.’

‘Foolish man should’ve gone straight to the police,’ Margaret muttered.

‘Blue’s right. The killer would’ve had to know Jack would confront Andrew but no way could he have orchestrated things so they’d have an argument about it which would just happen to be overheard by a witness,’ Stella said with regret.

‘Unless someone knew Jack well,’ Mitchell said. ‘I mean, I know him well enough to know that he wouldn’t sit on the information that was texted to him—that he’s a guy who’d go straight to the source and confront the accused person directly to find out for himself whether it was true or not.’

‘Can we contact Jack and run this past him?’ Callie asked.

Mitch shook his head. ‘Not directly. He’s not allowed any visitors apart from his lawyer. But she’s staying at the hotel. I can call there and ask to speak with her.’

‘Better still, drive there and speak with her in person,’ Blue suggested.

Mitch nodded. ‘I can do that.’

‘We need to get a list of people who might hold a grudge against Jack,’ Stella said.

‘Yes, but who would have a grudge against him, know about his interest in buying the vineyard, and know about the Ponzi scheme and presumably want to kill Andrew Thompson?’ Margaret wondered. ‘Surely someone didn’t kill Andrew simply to frame Jack?’

‘Whoa! This is all coming too fast.’ The dull headache Callie had been nursing started to throb as she tried to untangle all the suppositions.

She finished the last of her water and set the glass down on the coffee table.

‘I’m feeling confused and I think we’re getting carried away here,’ she said despondently.

‘I appreciate everyone trying to help, and your theory is feasible but unlikely, Morgan. I think we’re dealing with organised crime.

I’d say Thompson’s killer was a professional hitman.

Thompson’s panicked, he’s told the crime boss that Jack’s onto them and the boss has ordered a hit to cover the trail back to the crime gang or family. ’

It was how things were done.

‘A hitman?’ Mitchell queried. ‘That’s a bit fanciful.’

It made perfect sense to Callie. ‘Hitmen exist, Mitchell, and they’re always on-call for crime families or gangs—twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.’

‘Wouldn’t the hitman target Jack first, before he could get to the police?’ Jim asked. ‘Then if Thompson looked like he was going to be a problem, wouldn’t they target him next?’

‘Yep,’ Blue said. ‘Jack would surely be the primary target, not a secondary one.’

‘If I hadn’t fainted, Jack could’ve already reported what he knew to the police,’ Callie moaned. ‘It would’ve been too late for them to shut him up, so they needed to discredit him.’

‘I doubt they’d bother framing him for murder,’ Mitch reasoned.

‘And remember, it had to be a premeditated framing job,’ Morgan stressed, ‘because there would’ve been no time after Andrew Thompson informed a crime boss Jack was on to them for the boss to arrange the killer to go to the hospital in Lancaster, break into Jack’s car there, steal the jack, come back to the cottage to get the shirt from his belongings and then commit the crime. ’

‘They wouldn’t have even known Jack’s car was parked at the hospital in Lancaster,’ Jim pointed out.

Callie frowned and her frustration grew because they were right.

An organised criminal family or gang may be involved in the Ponzi scheme, but they wouldn’t frame Jack for murder. They’d just kill him outright.

She flopped down on the couch again, suddenly too exhausted to stay on her feet.

‘Okay. You’re right. I get it.’ And she hated that they were right because the police would surely have a better chance at finding the link from the Ponzi scheme to the crime gang and hitman than they would in identifying some person who knew about the scheme and wanted to frame Jack.

It’d be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

‘We’re agreed then,’ Morgan said. ‘Jack needs to give the police a list of all the people who might want to frame him for murder.’

‘It’s as good a place as any to start,’ Jim agreed.

Stella turned towards the kitchen. ‘I’m going to put the kettle on.’

‘Good idea,’ Margaret said. ‘I know my way around Liz’s kitchen—well, your kitchen now, Stella—so I’ll help. Tea for everyone?’

There was a resounding chorus of ‘yes, please’.

‘Knock, knock.’

Everyone snapped to attention as they recognised Gary’s voice.

‘Gary!’ Jim greeted the police sergeant as he opened the screen door and ushered him inside. ‘I sure hope you’ve come with some good news.’

For a moment, Gary’s eyes were downcast. ‘Not the news you’re hoping for yet, I’m afraid.’

‘Out with it, then,’ Blue said impatiently.

‘The forensic teams have finished at the homestead so you can return home now.’

‘’Bout bloody time!’ Blue said. ‘I hope they haven’t made a mess of the place.’

‘Any updates from forensics?’ Jim asked. ‘We can’t understand why they’re continuing to hold Jack when our statements have provided him with a secure alibi. I’m no detective but I would’ve assumed what they’ve got is circumstantial evidence?’

Gary shifted uncomfortably on his feet and cast his gaze around the room, sizing up who was present. ‘The detectives are confused, but you didn’t hear this from me.’

‘We’ll never let on you told us,’ Margaret assured him.

‘I trust you all or I’d never put my career in jeopardy,’ Gary said. ‘Anyway, Jack’s counsel is being kept informed so I guess you could’ve heard it from her.’

‘Okay.’ Jim looked at Gary expectantly.

Gary made a clicking sound with his tongue against his palate. Then when he looked back at the group it was clear he’d made his decision to proceed. ‘In what we call “processing the scene” the forensic guys were mainly looking for blood, or fibres that would connect Jack with the murder.’

‘I told them when they were interviewing me that they were wasting their time,’ Jim said.

Gary nodded. ‘Yes, they were.’

‘I never doubted it,’ Margaret pronounced. ‘I’m only surprised it’s taken them so many hours to figure it out.’

‘They were thorough,’ Gary said, ‘and it’s confusing the hell out of those two suits from Melbourne.’

‘Go on,’ Mitch urged.

‘They used this stuff called Luminol. It’s a water-based solution capable of detecting blood that’s been diluted up to ten thousand times.

As well as various surfaces, they checked all the sinks and everywhere outside there was a tap close to the house that might’ve been used to wash blood off.

There were no traces of blood in the house—including in the sinks and drains—but what’s really thrown them is the lack of any blood in the car on the steering wheel or gear stick.

They only found a tiny skerrick on the carpet under the driver’s seat, which was where the shirt was found. ’