Dead Tide by Fiona McIntosh

Author:Fiona McIntosh [McIntosh, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781761046483
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

18

It was the early hours and sleep eluded Jack.

He sat now on the deck of the shack at North Beach, with only a tiny battery lamp on, preferring to let the inkiness of night close around him. He was rugged up in trackpants and a hoodie, plus a blanket, sipping on a Milo that he hoped would encourage sleep. For now he allowed himself to be soothed by the constant motion and restless sound of the water.

Here the sea surged and retreated with a rhythm that worked with his warm drink to settle him. He liked it better than the English Ovaltine or Horlicks, though he’d heated it too much so he blew on it as he looked up, enjoying the theatre of the night sky. The clear, vast sky explained the cold air, but the stars! Good grief, it was worth it. The people who lived out this way were blessed, having that as their ceiling every night. Was this one of the best places on the planet to stargaze? It had to be. The Milky Way was so clear in southern skies, he couldn’t tear his attention from it.

Jem Maddox landed in his mind in this moment of awe, and it was so unexpected, he forgot to wait and sipped, burning his tongue on the Milo.

‘Bugger!’ The expletive sounded wholly appropriate, sitting on an Australian beach. Now that would be several days of singed tastebuds. Damn Jem Maddox! Why was she in his head suddenly?

Because she’s connected, that’s why. His internal detective’s voice was always happy to chat.

That’s not a given, he answered. She was likely an innocent caught up in whatever her husband was.

This was how it usually worked for him and he knew to let the conversations in his mind play out. Connections came and he tested them before firm links could be made – or not. His mentor and former chief had counselled him from his first days as a detective constable: ‘You’ve got an organised mind, Jack, a good policeman’s nous, and your instincts are sharp. Trust them. Let them lead you but don’t jump too fast. Keep testing.’

The back of his brain was shuffling cards, laying one out in front of him for his consideration: Jem.

All right, let’s do it, he thought with a sigh, staring at a scraggy patch of grass on the sandy beach, illuminated by the tiny lamp on the deck. The light was attracting every insect for miles, he was sure. He stood to turn it off and now Nature took over, showing off; the glittering mantle above, the restless sea moving towards him and then backing off, the slim slice of light curving around the right edge of the moon, highlighting its surface even to the naked eye. He searched out Australia’s famous Southern Cross. Someone – he couldn’t remember who – had told him April was the best month to start stargazing.

Ah, it had been one of the police guys at the pub. ‘Start looking from about eight and turn south east .

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