Vanished by James Delargy (free novel 24 TXT) 📕

it under his alias Ian King,’ said Rispoli, meeting Emmaline outside. ‘No plus one given. The owner says he was there alone.’

‘Are they certain?’

Barker nodded. ‘She said that she keeps an eye on comings and goings. That she is careful with her place. No riff-raff.’

‘Even though she looks like the queen of riff-raff,’ said Anand, with a smile.

If the outside screamed Siberian gulag, the inside wasn’t any better, the decor a mustard yellow that looked like one massive stain, wood and beige coverings that had been an attempt to create synergy when it was first decorated but now looked tired and dowdy. Emmaline dreaded to think what the actual rooms were like. And she had just spent the last few days sleeping in a dead man’s caravan.

She was introduced to Phyllis Trent, the owner and manager. Immediately she could see where Anand got his description from. With her neck tattoos and heavy-lidded eyes, she looked like she was no stranger to police questioning, calm but suspicious, waiting for a bone to chew on, almost snarling at their presence.

‘Do you keep strict records?’

As Emmaline asked the question, Phyllis Trent shot her a look of contempt. ‘Been doing this for more years than you’ve been shitting outside a nappy, love,’ she said bluntly.

Emmaline ignored it. ‘So he was here alone?’

‘If that’s what the log says.’

Emmaline took another look around.

‘Do you get many men wanting a room for an afternoon?’

‘How do you know he—?’

Emmaline was waiting for the question and pounced.

‘The system notes his arrival at thirteen ten and the man we’re after had things to do. Appointments to keep. So, is this the type of place that men use for an afternoon? Their partners kept off the books for reasons unasked?’

Phyllis remained schtum. The most risk-averse form of defence.

‘Who else was working that day?’

Phyllis didn’t need to answer that. Rispoli already had the information.

‘Katie Yan,’ he said. ‘She’s working today too, according to the rota.’

Phyllis sneered at being bypassed. And sneered even more when Emmaline requisitioned her office to speak to Katie.

Katie Yan was seventeen, with skin that looked perfect even close up, thick foundation and blusher giving her an almost Photoshopped look of perfection. Emmaline quickly learned that this job was a part-time earner on afternoons when she didn’t have class. No way was this her career. Something she stated numerous times despite not being asked.

After confirming that she had indeed been working on 30 December, Emmaline showed her photos of Ian Kinch and Naiyana Maguire.

‘Rings a bell.’

‘How big a bell?’

‘I keep to myself usually. Clean the rooms. Stock the ice machine. Sit on reception, sneak in some study. But she…’ Katie then paused as if something had suddenly tugged at a memory.

Dragging her mobile from her pocket she started flicking through it. After a few moments she handed it over. ‘Here. On the thirtieth.’ She tapped the screen. ‘I texted a mate that there was a fight in the parking lot.’

‘A fight?’

‘Okay, I exaggerated a little. A dispute.’

Emmaline didn’t respond, keeping her face neutral. Letting Katie talk.

‘Some arsewipe,’ she said, rolling her eyes, ‘was complaining about a ute parked in his space even though there were lots of empty spaces around. A girl came out of twenty-seven and moved it to another space. That’s what she looked like,’ said Katie, pointing to the picture of Naiyana Maguire.

‘Are you certain?’

‘I’d testify to it,’ revealing that she had seen too many cop shows. ‘And the guy with her looked like this guy,’ she said, pointing to Ian Kinch.

‘Why didn’t you come forward earlier? Her photo’s been on the news for weeks.’

‘I don’t watch the news. It’s all fake.’

Emmaline left it at that. Visual confirmation of Ian Kinch and Naiyana Maguire at the motel together. The affair was real. And the consequences had been deadly.

Before leaving the motel, she had a final request. She checked the log for other visitors. Nikos Iannis. Chester Grant. Or three men staying for a night and checking in together. The mining crew couldn’t live down the tunnel permanently. But none of them had stayed for a night. Not at the Stay-Here anyway.

112

Emmaline

Emmaline relocated her team to a restaurant in Wisbech. Having not stopped to eat all day she was starving. There she pieced together what she knew over a three-course meal that was minimal on quality but generous with portions. Barker’s suggestion.

She started with the basics. ‘On an unknown date but likely towards mid-to late November, Ian Kinch, Mike Andrews and Stevie Amaranga move into Kallayee on a mission to mine for gold.’

‘And find some success as evidenced by the gold sales,’ said Oily.

‘It seems so. Then on thirteenth December the Maguire family move into Kallayee. Initially both parties are unaware of each other. Long enough for the family to settle a little and start to fix up the house. The mining likely explained the rumbling noises that Naiyana hinted at in their videos.’

‘The earth was growling as if ready to attack,’ said Rispoli, quoting Naiyana Maguire from the second of her vlogs.

‘Then somehow they discover each other’s presence. Or more precisely, the family discover the miners’ presence. I’m sure the miners knew the family were there immediately.’

‘When did they meet?’

‘We can’t be sure but the nineteenth is my guess. With Lorcan and Dylan out of town in Kalgoorlie, maybe the miners tried to make contact.’

‘But we don’t know this for sure,’ said Anand.

‘And we won’t unless we find either the miners or the family,’ said Emmaline before continuing. ‘All we know is they meet. Maybe both sides try to co-exist or maybe there is tension from the start. Both know that the other is there illegally so maybe this allowed for a kind of unsteady truce between them.

‘What it didn’t do was interrupt their lives. Not at the start. Both Lorcan and Naiyana were seen in town, purchasing housing materials and groceries. The miners’ movements are less known but we can assume they had to eat and drink too. But they