Blood Rose by Margie Orford Read Free Book Online Page B

pink.
    ‘She’s pretty,’ said Clare. ‘Your kids?’
    ‘My sister’s. She passed away, so they live with me now.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ said Clare.
    ‘They’re sweet kids.’ Tamar patted her belly. ‘This one’ll be born into an instant family. You’ve got no children?’
    ‘Not for me,’ said Clare. ‘I’m an aunt though. My older sister has two girls.’
    Tamar put on the kettle. ‘Some tea?’
    ‘Please. Rooibos?’ asked Clare.
    ‘The only thing for lady detectives,’ Tamar said with a grin, handing her a cup. ‘Here’s a schedule.’ She pulled out a sheet of paper with a list of names and dates. ‘The city manager wants to meet you.’
    ‘That’s fine,’ said Clare, ‘but why does he want to see me?’
    ‘You’re a novelty and this murder has been a shock. Usually the only murders we get are the odd prostitute floating in the harbour or a drunken sailor stabbed in a shebeen.’
    ‘Or little girls like Joy,’ murmured Clare.
    ‘Or little girls like Joy, yes.’ Tamar’s cup clattered in its saucer. ‘My decision to bring in outside help hasn’t been unanimously welcomed,’ she said. ‘Serial killers don’t quite fit in with Walvis Bay’s new vision of itself as a tourist Mecca.’
    ‘Is this a bit of a political minefield for you?’
    ‘That,’ said Tamar,’ is an understatement. Important people have been jumpy since the fishing collapsed. They’ve pinned all their hopes on tourism, and dead boys don’t attract many tourists.’
    ‘I’m going to need a bit of specialised sightseeing.’ Clare turned her attention back to the schedule.
    ‘Elias will be taking you tomorrow,’ said Tamar. ‘He was born and bred here, one of the few, so he knows this place like the back of his hand. He even speaks the language the Topnaars speak.’
    ‘Topnaars?’ Clare frowned. ‘Are they those desert people?’ She vaguely remembered them from her previous stay.
    ‘That’s right. They live in the Kuiseb River and know the desert really well. You probably saw their huts when you came in to land this morning.’
    ‘I did,’ said Clare. ‘White goats all over the dunes. Looked like snow for a second.’
    ‘That’s them,’ said Tamar. She put her teacup aside. ‘I need to eat something before our meeting with the big boys; otherwise I’ll unravel.’

nine
    ‘The Venus Bakery. This is the best place to eat,’ said Tamar, parking under a palm tree on the other side of town. A group of boys uncurled themselves from its base.
    ‘I’ll watch your car,’ said the tallest boy.
    The bakery was on a corner, the walls painted a festive blue. Succulent cakes and pies were on display behind the glass counters of the self-service area, behind which were several tables, most full with a satisfied-looking lunch crowd.
    ‘Why aren’t you at school, Lazarus?’
    ‘Sorry, Miss.’ The boy looked down at his shoes, his shoulders bowed in well-practised contrition until Tamar walked past him. Then he moved his hustle over to the next car, pushing a smaller boy out of the way when he saw that they were tourists. He was wearing a grubby white shirt with a silver fish emblazoned on it.
    ‘Pesca-Marina Fishing’s still going?’ Clare recalled the fishing company from her documentary.
    ‘It is. One of the few. The company sponsors anything and everything. They’re trying to clear their name of fishing this coast to death. Calvin Goagab, the city manager, who you’ll meet later, has shares in it. They only do specialised fishing now, export added-value products.’
    ‘What does that mean?’ asked Clare, following Tamar to a table in the corner.
    ‘It means packaged fish to the rest of us,’ said Tamar with a smile. She ordered rolls and coffee, which arrived promptly.
    ‘This is good,’ said Clare. She hadn’t realised how hungry she was. ‘What’s the meeting about then, if there’s nothing to report yet?’
    ‘The mayor established a community policing forum to deal with family