Tumble Creek (6 page)

The moment she opened the door and stepped over the threshold, Sofie nearly stepped right back out. Someone had trashed the living room. Shocked, she scanned Britt's belongings, all scattered and broken around her, and didn't know what to do.

Scraping noises came through from the backyard. In a panic, Sofie started to back up, then quickly turned with her hand ready to grab the doorknob.

‘Sofe!'

She jumped with fright, screeched, swung around, and cried out, ‘Brock! Good grief—' hand on her heart, she took a steadying breath, ‘—you scared the crap out of me.'

‘Sorry, didn't expect anyone here.' He examined the immediate area. ‘Did you touch anything?'

‘Hell no! Do I look stupid?'

‘No,' he drawled patiently, a half-grin playing on his mouth. ‘I'm a police officer, need to ask shitty questions all the time. Most times I get shitty answers, though not too often in this town.'

‘Hmm,' Sofie grumbled. Tired and emotionally drained, she needed someone to give her a long, affectionate hug. But that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, and certainly not with Brock. She pulled herself together, hardening herself against disappointment. And then his face softened, his eyes warmed. No, they heated—or was she seeing things she wanted to see, but couldn't have?
Damn it. No, damn him!
‘What are
you
doing here?'

‘I came to feed Britt's dog and take him home.'

‘Where is Sven?' Sofie began to tiptoe across Britt's strewn belongings.

‘Don't move,' Brock ordered. ‘Retrace your steps, carefully.'

‘Oh God, I'm so sorry.' Sofie did as he asked and was back at the front door.

‘You've touched the door handle?'

She scrunched her face. ‘Oops. Yeah, I probably did since I came through the door, but then I wasn't expecting to find Britt's house like this.'

‘No of course not.' He shook his head. ‘It's okay, forensics from Armidale are sure to find something. Head back out. I'll meet you outside.'

Sofie went out to a garden bench under a leafless, Liquidambar tree. Brock strode through from the backyard with Britt's Great Dane. He'd just finished talking on his phone and was shoving it in his back pocket when he entered the sunny front garden.

‘Britt left dog food and a message with the neighbours to call me or Takumi in a couple of days. Best all round if I take
Scoobie
home.' He drew the dog's name out as if it caused him pain. Rubbing its head, he turned back to Sofie. ‘No self-respecting Great Dane should have a name like that.'

‘Probably not, but then he was very cute puppy.' Brock looked at her and shook his head. ‘Yeah I know, he's not a cartoon character.' She let go a long sigh. ‘Anyway, there go all my plans,' Sofie mumbled, nodding towards the house.

‘Explain.' Brock sat next to her.

Scoobie groaned as if it was a huge effort to fold his long legs and lie down. Sofie patted his head, murmuring, ‘I know you miss Britt too, don't you, boy.'

‘Sofe?' Brock prompted.

‘Oh, yes, explain. Well, I was going to move in and take care of Scoobie. I know she wouldn't mind. I think she'd be grateful. But I can see that's not going to happen now … blast it.' She rummaged in her bag, pulled out her phone and rang the motel. ‘Hi, Sofie Dove, I need to rebook my room …' She paused, listening. ‘Oh, I see. What about later in the week? No of course not, I'll be fine. Thank you.'

‘You want to talk about what's going on?' Brock suggested.

Shoulders slumping, Sofie let go a long-suffering groan. ‘I've been sleeping at Veronica's, in the same bed with Claudia, and in her dreams she's a triathlon star winning gold every night. I had a motel room booked, but Jen wouldn't hear of it. I came up with the idea of staying here. She was okay with that, but it's a crime scene now so … not happening. The motels in town are booked out, though I haven't tried B&Bs yet. I'm desperate for sleep, but I think my only alternative now is the couch.'

Brock studied her so intently it made her feel uncomfortable. Was there a bug in her hair? Automatically her hand went into her blonde curls, fingers searching. Wait, maybe she had something in her teeth? She ran her tongue over them and couldn't feel anything. So what then?

‘What?' she exclaimed.

‘Er … sorry.' He rubbed his face.

Maybe she'd made him tense, but how, what with—her fabulous body?

‘I have a three bedroom house,' he informed her, in military fashion, as if saying ‘I have three rocket launchers'. ‘You can stay with me. In fact I think you should.'

‘Why?' Only the other day he'd backed out of dinner, and he'd said her gratitude wasn't necessary. Spending long nights in his house was alarming in so many ways.

‘Okay, I'll be frank,' Brock began.

Sofie snort-giggled.

The lines between his eyebrows deepened. He didn't look happy. ‘Want to let me in on the joke?'

‘No, it's too lame.'

‘I won't pass judgement,' he said, matter-of-factly.

‘Okay,' she giggled again. ‘I was … no I can't. You'll think I'm weird, but after saving my dignity the other day you probably
already
think that.'

‘The vibr—' Sofie slapped a hand over his mouth.

‘Yes, thank you for that.' Gazing at her hand, she very much liked touching his skin, his mouth, his face, and reluctantly pulled away.

‘You're welcome,' he murmured. ‘You needn't be embarrassed about that. At least you're not looking for it elsewhere.'

‘Oh …' She withered inside, and it was painful, which pissed her right the hell off. She glared at him, long and hard.

He pulled a ‘what-the' face, and she didn't care.

Then he went all serious police officer mode, with a deep scary voice and dark narrowed eyes to match. ‘Here's the deal—your house was smashed. The driver's disappeared. Britt's house has been trashed by professionals to scare Britt, they were also looking for something. You received a parcel, don't know who it's from or what's in it. It's at the station in my tool box—in the garage. No one's touching it until forensics are done. I've tried to be nice about it, but with all that's been happening,
Sofie Dove
, you're staying with me,' he ordered.

‘I'm what? But it's just a parcel … surely?' Sofie squeaked, losing some of her bravado and hating herself for it.

Brock gave her a look but didn't say anything. He didn't need to.

Nevertheless, the way he'd been treating her, no way was she staying with him in the same house. Back straight, chin up, she looked him in the eyes and categorically stated, ‘No thanks, I'll be fine on the couch.'

‘I don't think you understand me.' Brock took a deep breath and looked intense, or maybe it was his way of concentrating; anyway, he edged closer, barely inches from her face. He was going to tell her something she wasn't going to like, at all; she could see it in his bearing, his body language screamed
brace yourself
. She didn't have to think about it, instinctively her body locked in readiness. ‘I didn't want to worry you, but from what we can gather, the back part of your house was also ransacked. My guess is they took off when the truck ploughed through before they could get to the rest of your house. With the evidence we have so far, they did
not
do both. So, there are a few things you have to consider: Professionals ransacked your friend Britt's place, did the same people ransack yours? Something tells me in a
cop-gut
way, they did. It's possible whoever's behind it thinks your involvement with Britt means that you could be hiding something for her. Did Britt give you anything to keep safe? A USB to share photos, but was there something else on the stick?'

‘No she didn't give me a damn thing except her friendship, a friendship like any other in town.' Sofie refused to feel vulnerable, straightened her back and told him, ‘Couldn't the truck have shuddered everything all over the place? And anyway, Claud's bedroom is at the back, teenagers live in mess!'

‘You have a point, but …' he trailed off, an uneasy expression on his face.

Shit, was he hiding something? ‘There's more, isn't there?'

‘Yeah. It's only partly that sort of mess—'

‘Partly?' Sofie cut in, mother tigress rising. ‘What other sort is there?!'

‘Did you have spray paint in your house?'

Heart pounding, Sofie gasped, felt the blood draining from her face. ‘Y-yes, under the laundry sink. Cerise, I used it to spray a chair for Claud,' she said, her voice a dry whisper.

Brock hesitated before reaching for her hands and holding them in a firm grip.

‘Brock!' Trembling, Sofie needed answers now.

‘They scrawled a message in the back room of your house. It said, “No cops. Keep your mouth shut”. Unless they're total morons, they wouldn't have written that and then ploughed a truck through your house, which would mean a police investigation.'

Wide-eyed, Sofie pulled her hands up, taking his with them to cover her mouth and stifle the cry that lodged in her throat.

Brock prised her hands away, but didn't let go. ‘Look, you were friends with Britt, but whoever did this doesn't know that's all it was. They also don't give a shit and might hurt you to keep your mouth shut, just in case. We don't know a lot except that Britt is a person of interest with the fraud squad.' He took a breath. ‘I'm not saying this to scare you for the hell of it. I hope I'm getting through that it's important.'

‘Oh my God!' Sofie cried out, horrified. It couldn't be right, it just couldn't.

‘Person of interest doesn't mean she's guilty of anything. It just means they need to speak to her. You know as much as I do now. And you're staying with me.'

‘Listen …' Sofie tried to control her misplaced anger, but a gamut of emotions fought for supremacy. It was fear that won and made her temper rise. She jabbed him in the chest. ‘This whole thing is utter bullshit! Thugs aren't going to mess with my life and make me jump at shadows. So, thank you for your offer, but I'm perfectly safe above the restaurant!'

Scoobie raised his big body off the lawn, sauntered over to her and sat on her feet, tail swishing back and forth. Head tilted back so he could look into Sofie's face, he gave her a doggy grin. Her mood changed instantly. She patted the top of his head, and ruffled his ears, mumbling, ‘It's all right, Scoobie, you're a good boy.'

‘Sofe?' Brock called, demanding her attention. ‘You're not thinking logically. I didn't bring this down on you, neither did Britt!'

She thumped his arm. ‘I'm not blaming anyone!'

‘I think I'll arrest you for assaulting a police officer, take you into protective custody,' he said, looking at his boots, silently shaking with laughter.

Scoobie poked his nose at her arm, then laid his big head on her lap, eyes darting between her and Brock.

‘What's up, Sarge?' Brock asked, scratching the dog under his jaw. ‘You know I'm right, yeah?'

‘Sarge?' Sofie asked.

‘Yep, starts with an S, less confusing.' Brock turned to face the street, and stood up just as a police car parked at the kerb.

Takumi uncurled his tall frame out of the car and strode towards them carrying police crime-scene tape. ‘G'day,' he said to Sofie, ‘You need to move your car, have to tape up the front yard. Britt's place is off limits to everyone.'

‘Of course.' Sofie went to her car and did as he asked. She came back to find the men in deep, serious, conversation. Sofie worried about staying with Brock, and what about Claudia, was she in danger as well? And Jennifer, Calum, Michelle … the whole town?

***

Brock turned to see Sofie's stricken face becoming a scary shade of grey, and jogged to her side. ‘What's up, Sofe?—
Sofe?!'
he urged a little stronger.

Wild, frightened eyes stared at him, her hands flew to his chest and bunched his shirt in her fists. Sofie stammered, ‘Does this mean anyone associated with Britt – with me – is in danger? Claudia, Jennifer, Calum, Jeff from the bakery, the newsagent,
you
, and anyone I know?'

Keeping a steady gaze on her worried face, Brock took his time to form an honest answer without scary the pants off her. He hated this fucked-up shit happening to Sofie, an innocent.

‘I can't tell what they're thinking, but going by what you're asking, they'd have to take on the whole town.' He shook his head. ‘I understand your concern, and—'

Sofie cut in, ‘Do you have kids?'

An unexpected pang of regret caught Brock by surprise, something he couldn't explore right this minute. Nevertheless, it'd be a miracle if he did have any. He shook his head. ‘No.'

‘Apart from Jen, Claudia is all I have. I need my family to be safe!'

Takumi had finished taping and came over to join them. Brock wished he'd let him handle this without interruption. He turned to give Takumi a warning look before turning back to Sofie.

‘I was about to say, Claudia is welcome to stay at my place as well.'

Overwhelmed by his offer, Sofie's face softened; tears welled but she blinked them back.

Tough girl not letting her emotions get the better of her.
Brock's mouth twitched, and he fought hard to keep the grin at bay. He didn't want Sofie to get the wrong idea and think he was laughing at her. It was simply that he felt extremely proud of Sofie Dove right now.

‘Thank you, I would very much like to take you up on your offer.'

Relief flooded his chest, bringing with it a new sensation, something he hadn't experienced in a very long time: a deep heartache.
What the hell?
It took every ounce of effort to keep his hands to himself and not haul Sofie into his arms. ‘G-good … I'm glad. Don't worry about Jennifer. Veronica's has excellent security, plus Calum's there every night.'