Tall Drink of Slaughter by Clare Kauter

Author:Clare Kauter [Kauter, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

WILD ANIMALS DO NOT MAKE GOOD DINNER GUESTS

Unlike the serial killer of the same name, the emus of Dunkerton’s Salty Beach aren’t known to have killed anyone. Yet.

EP 45: DUNK COST

“That must have been the case Lisa wanted me to look into for the podcast,” said Cash. “Her mother’s disappearance.”

“Sounds like she was right about it being a murder.”

Cash nodded. “Hard to imagine it was an accidental death if someone kept her in their freezer all these years.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Twenty years is a long time to keep a body on ice. Wasn’t she covered in freezer burn?”

Jed shook his head at me. “You keep asking these questions, but you don’t actually want to hear the answer.”

He could be right about that. “I knew it was weird that Lisa was wearing jeans,” I said. “I should have realised it wasn’t her straight away, but they looked so similar. At least with the face slightly smushed and frozen like that.”

“Why dump her now?” Cash mused. “And where is Lisa?”

I shrugged. “Maybe I panicked unnecessarily because she left me her key and a cryptic message. Maybe when I went to her van today she was just out.” Though why she would have left Ramona roaming the forest alone I had no idea.

“You should try calling her,” Jed suggested. “Maybe she’s fine.”

I nodded and pulled out my phone, but when I rang her number the call wouldn’t connect. I sent her a text as well in case her phone was turned off or flat, telling her to contact me and let me know she was okay.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” said Jed.

“Probably.” I wished I felt more certain.

“Does she usually keep her phone charged?”

“No,” I admitted. “It’s an old model and she forgets to plug it in. It goes flat all the time.”

“Then it doesn’t mean anything that she hasn’t answered your call.”

“I know.”

“And if she thought she was about to die, surely she would have raised the alarm rather than ask you to mind her pet,” said Cash.

“Good point,” said Jed.

I glared at him.

“Though you’re still a terrible person, et cetera,” he added.

I nodded once. “That’s better.”

“If she thought she was in danger, she could have told me,” said Cash, unfazed by Jed’s tepid insult. “She knew about my podcast. She must have known I’ve helped people out of dangerous situations before.”

“So generous of you,” I said with a fake sweet smile. “Does Yobin assist when you take in damsels in distress or do you prefer to keep her out of your business affairs?” I was quite proud of the ‘affairs’ wordplay, but it turned out to be a waste.

“Did you just call her Yobin?”

I ignored the question. “Anyway, since my friend’s not dead, there’s no longer any reason for us to work together.”

Cash raised an eyebrow. “And there’s nothing I can do to tempt you to stay?”

I rolled my eyes. “You disgust me.”

“I’m so proud of you,” said Jed, patting my shoulder. “It usually takes you way longer to get to that stage.

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