Nefarious Doings by Ilsa Evans Read Free Book Online Page A

whether Mrs Emerson’s cheese puffs sufficed as a vegetarian option for the Christmas function. For the record, Mrs Emerson voted yes, while Grace June Rae and Fiona Ramage voted no. The branch president, who also happened to be the husband of the cheese puff aficionado, sat on the fence, a location which he might have cause to regret when he got home. Several members didn’t show, including Edward Given, who was no doubt still standing outside my mother’s house hoping for another interview.
    ‘Mum!’ Quinn’s voice had an urgency that had me instantly on my feet. ‘Quick! Grandma’s house is coming on after the break! Hurry!’
    I tossed the pizza crust onto the plate. It bounced and landed in a bowl of ancient potpourri but I continued on to the living room. On the television, tucked into the corner beside the unadorned Christmas tree, was a smooth-faced brunette displaying an inappropriate amount of excitement over washing powder.
    ‘After the break,’ explained Scarlet, ensconced in the armchair with a box of pizza.
    Leaning against the same chair was Quinn, with her own pizza, so clearly fair and equitable distribution had been achieved. I got a drink of water in the kitchen, keeping an eye on the television from over the island bench, and then came back to sit on the couch beside Lucy, who was eating an apple. She smiled.
    ‘Fond of fruit, are you?’ I asked.
    ‘Well, yeah. I
am
a vegetarian.’
    ‘Ssh! It’s on!’
    ‘
Welcome back,
’ said the middle-aged male newsreader. A small picture behind him showed my mother’s house, barely recognisable, beneath the words
Murder in Majic
.
‘In breaking news, police have revealed that a man whose body was found in the burnt-out garage of a house in the town of Majic was murdered. Larissa Wheatfield has the story.’
    The screen flashed to a young woman standing outside my mother’s house, microphone in hand. The blue canvas was in place behind her but surrounded by many more people. Firefighters in their bulky uniforms and police with fluoro vests and several men in coveralls sifting through the rubble, masks over mouths. The reporter began talking. ‘
Thank you, John. Yes, an overnight fire has destroyed much of this house in Majic, near Lake Eppalock, and left a family distraught.
’ The camera panned out and a crowd of neighbours could be seen on the footpath, looking suitably distraught. There was a fire engine there as well, plus a darker station wagon that might well belong to the coroner. From the edge of the screen, Larissa Wheatfield continued. ‘
An elderly woman rescued from the house during the height of the inferno has been taken to hospital in a stable condition, but sadly the body of a male was found after the fire was brought under control.
’ The camera switched to a panorama of the house, from good to bad, finally pausing on the remains of the garage. The voice continued, but this time without Larissa’s image, and I guessed that this section had been added later. ‘
Preliminary investigations indicate the fire was deliberately lit, and that some type of accelerant was used. And in news just in, police have confirmed that the man was already dead at the time of the fire, and they are now treating the case as homicide. As such, they are asking for anyone with information about this Majic murder to come forward.
’
    I was still staring at the television as the male newsreader filled the screen once more, having segued to the obesity levels of teenage girls. I blinked, but the words echoed.
The man was already dead … was murdered
.
    ‘Fuck me,’ said Ruby, and then whipped around. ‘God – sorry, Mum!’
    I nodded, because for once she took the words right out of my mouth.
    Scarlet was nodding as well. ‘Homicide! That’s really serious!’
    ‘Is that your professional opinion?’ asked Quinn. ‘Thank god we’ve got you!’
    ‘Shut up, shortie. Mum? Did you know about this?’
    ‘Not a clue.’ I took a deep breath, let it