Performing was more exhilarating than she remembered. She should have done this years ago: played in some small, out-of-the-way pub, where the only publicity was a poster in the local grocery store. In a place like Merrijig, she didn’t have to worry about someone from the media discovering her past. None of the locals would care anyway. They’d accepted her because Bev and Karl had accepted her. They would be her friends if she let them.

  The realisation enabled her to truly let go for the first time in years. The energy of the crowd, the connection with the band, the joy of the music, it all surged through her in glorious cohesion with the music. Braver than she’d ever been before, she let her gaze wander, got glimpses of the crowd further back from the stage. She could see Billy and Cat sitting at the table in the corner. They looked like a couple enjoying a night out together. Billy had his arm around Cat who was swaying to the music, tapping the beat on the table with her hand.

  She was responding to the music. Not Lexi’s music, but it didn’t matter. Her heart and soul went into it anyway. And it was touching her sister, making her respond.

  Maybe that was her way to reach Cat, to really speak to her, wherever she was hiding. Maybe Cat didn’t blame her or hate her. Maybe she just couldn’t understand the emotions inside Lexi when she tried to express them in words.

  The thought made the moment sweeter. It made her want to shout, but instead, she looked down at her hands flying across the keyboard, becoming the music as Daemon’s voice thrummed through her. The moment seemed too good to be true.

  She had Daemon to thank for it.

  Chapter 17

  He had watched her dancing, allowing this one to touch her, then that one. Slut!

  Whore.

  Daughter of Eve.

  She had forgotten she belonged to his brother. And now his brother was gone, she belonged to him.

  Was that not the ancient biblical law? What belonged to one man became his brother’s on his death. One couldn’t argue with ancient law.

  He had come so close to her, hand skimming hand as they passed in the dance. He’d smiled at her as they passed. She’d smiled back.

  The thrill of being close to her was almost too much, but he held on, keeping the sensation at a painful peak, just like he’d been taught.

  When she got up on the stage to play, the fear in her eyes took him to the edge and he couldn’t hold it in anymore.

  The girl he’d been dancing with, her hair cut and colour so like hers, seemed willing enough as he nipped out the side door where nobody was watching, and ran across the paddock with her towards the edge of the bush. Cold air caressed his skin, but he didn’t care. Neither did the girl as they tore at each other’s clothes and he screwed her against the silver and dawn bark of a ghost gum.

  A whore through and through.

  She struggled as he forced her down, but that was only pretence. She wanted this. Everyone wanted this. That’s what his brother-master had always told him when he’d wrapped his fingers around his throat and pushed inside him.

  The sound of her cries was muffled by his hand over her mouth. His fingers dug into her throat as he drove into her over and over until he spilled his sacred seed, just the way he’d been shown.

  Thou shalt go forth and multiply!

  The commandment was so loud in his head he thought he might have shouted it. His fingers tightened. The whore shuddered under him, once, twice and then was still.

  Hearing the music in the distance, he stood and brushed himself off. Leaving the girl he’d used at the base of the ghost gum, he returned to the hall, able now to deal with the joy on her face as she played with the band.

  She needed another lesson in fear and humility.

  Providence and his brother had made him the one for the job.

  Her eyes landed on him as she looked blindly out into the lights. The accidental contact felt like a caress. Soon she would see him for real.

  Then she would truly know he was her destiny.

  Chapter 18

  Lexi swung out of her bedroom the next morning and practically skipped down the hall, still on a high from last night.

  Playing with the band had been one of the most amazing experiences of her life. She’d wanted it to go on forever, but when she and Daemon and Craig had come off the stage, Daemon had been pulled away by his fans. Then Billy said he needed to take Cat home. Bev wasn’t able to leave because she had her duties, so he needed Lexi to go with them to put Cat into her PJs.

  Lexi had left—surprised at how reluctantly—but not before Daemon had pressed another electric kiss to her lips and made her promise to have breakfast with him so they could chat.

  She pressed her hand to her stomach at the very thought of being alone with him again. The fluttering inside had turned into rampaging elephants in an instant and suddenly the smell of eggs and bacon wasn’t so enticing. She was about to turn around and make her way to the front door when Bev called out, ‘Is that you, Lexi love? You have a visitor.’

  She walked into the kitchen and came to a stop, breath caught in her lungs. How could he look so good after such a late night? He lounged against the far bench near where Bev was cooking, long legs crossed, the sleeves of his soft blue shirt pushed up showing off his forearms.

  Something went liquid inside her and she stumbled.

  God, did she have a thing for forearms? His made her mouth water.

  His vibrant blue eyes flared a little as his gaze met hers. ‘Hi,’ he said softly.

  ‘Hi,’ she said equally softly. ‘You’re here.’

  ‘Yeah. Bev caught me wandering aimlessly outside and asked me in for some breakfast. How could I say no?’

  Her lips twitched. ‘You couldn’t.’

  ‘No. I couldn’t.’

  ‘Why don’t you two help yourself to a coffee or tea then take a seat?’ Bev said, her focus on the skillet in front of her. ‘Breakfast is almost ready. You can eat up and then head off to whatever meeting you planned on having. Or you can not mind me and just chat here.’

  Not likely. Aware of Daemon watching her, Lexi grabbed two mugs and pointed at the pot of tea. He nodded.

  ‘Bev was just telling me how she and Karl came to work for you,’ he said as he took the mug from her.

  She raised her brows. ‘Was she?’ It was a good story with a broken-down car, a runaway cow and mud up to her ankles as part of it. Bev always made it sound like the funny hand of fate. Fate or coincidence, Lexi was just thankful every day they had come into her life when they did. ‘Don’t let me stop her.’

  ‘She finished. It’s an amazing story.’

  ‘Yeah, it is.’ She sat at the table and noticed a setting was missing. ‘Where’s Karl?’

  ‘He had breakfast an hour ago,’ Bev answered.

  ‘So early? You both had a late night.’

  ‘No rest for the wicked.’ Bev chuckled as she turned back to the stove. ‘Besides, he had a few things to do in the barn before he has to go and pick Jenny up. Her car’s in the shop.’

  ‘Jenny’s coming today?’

  ‘Uh-huh. I have to go help the ladies finish cleaning up the barn, so she’s coming to help Billy get Cat ready for her water therapy later.’

  ‘I could have done that.’

  Bev waved her hand. ‘You’re busy with the band. Besides, Jenny doesn’t mind. She’s saving up the money for when she goes to Melbourne next year.’

  ‘It’s good to see her moving forward,’ Lexi commented.

  ‘Yes, it is, isn’t it?’ She cocked her brow at Lexi, a world of meaning behind her words. Lexi ignored her, lifting her tea and taking a sip, aware of Daemon’s assessing look. Bev turned back to her cooking. ‘It looks like we raised more money last night than ever before thanks to you and the boys. Not to mention the cheques you all wrote were so generous.’ She glanced over at Lexi. ‘You were wonderful onstage by the way.’

  ‘She was, wasn’t she?’ Daemon said.

  Lexi shrugged. ‘I was okay. The band really made the set. And Daemon … I’ve never seen you perform live before. You’re pretty amazing.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Was he blushing? She became aware Bev’s gaze was on them, a knowing look on her face. She frowned at her friend.

  Smothering a smile, Bev put bread in the toaster. ‘I’m not a fan of most popular music but I enjoyed it. And the kids really appreciated it. I don’t think there’s been so much excitement around here since The Man from Snowy River was filmed in the area back in the eighties. It was nice of you all to do that for them.’ She placed two thick slices of ham beside the eggs in the pan.

  ‘It was our pleasure,’ Daemon said. ‘Anytime you want us to play to help raise some money for charity, we’re there for you.’

  Lexi stared at him. ‘That’s very generous.’

  ‘Too generous. I wouldn’t ask,’ Bev said.

  ‘I hope you do. It’s one of the things we love about our fame—that it can bring attention and funds to good causes. And helping out friends just makes it even more worthwhile.’

  ‘Well, thank you. I’ll keep that in mind,’ Bev said, blinking rapidly before turning back to her pans. ‘I hope Lexi will join you again some time.’

  ‘I’d love that.’

  ‘Phil will join them next time,’ Lexi blurted out. ‘They don’t need me.’

  ‘Something tells me you’re wrong about that.’ Bev caught the toast as it popped out of the toaster, buttered it, then plated up two plates with eggs, thick slices of ham and some fried potatoes and placed the plates in front of them. ‘No leaving the table until you’ve eaten at least half of that, love. I swear,’ she said to Daemon, ‘she never leaves time for a good breakfast, but with you here, she might just.’

  ‘I understand just needing to get to work. The music takes you over that way.’

  ‘Yes, but it’s a good way to run yourself ragged. You eat up too. You’re too skinny.’

  Lexi opened her mouth to protest—Daemon was just the right combination of long lean muscle and breadth across chest and shoulders—but thankfully the phone rang and she snapped her mouth closed before she could say something she simply could not take back.

  ‘Eat. I’ll get that.’ Bev pointed at their plates before heading up the hall.

  ‘The maestro has spoken,’ Daemon said gravely then breathed in, eyes closed in bliss before tucking in.

  Lexi chuckled at his dramatics then cut into the ham. She hadn’t imagined seeing him today would be like this, but somehow, this was better. Less … overwhelming.

  Bev’s cheerful greeting as she picked up the phone drifted down the hall.

  A gasp a moment later had Lexi turning to look up the hall.

  Bev stood, hand to her mouth, staring dumbly at the phone. Scrambling around the table, knocking a chair to the ground with a clatter, Lexi didn’t answer Daemon’s, ‘What’s wrong?’ just ran up the hall, heart pounding.

  Had her stalker amped up his campaign to making phone calls? But as she reached Bev and saw the tears in the older woman’s eyes, the paleness of her skin, she knew something else entirely had happened.

  Daemon appeared at her side and she gestured to him to help support Bev as she took the phone from the woman’s shaking hand. ‘Hello?’ she said, tentatively.

  ‘Is this Miss Jay?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘This is Constable Creeson from Mansfield Police Station. As I’ve just told Mrs Smart, there was a murder last night during the dance.’

  ‘A murder?’ Her gaze met Daemon’s. Held. The strength there, evident despite the shock at her words, helped her to ask calmly, ‘Surely you’re joking?’

  ‘I wish I were. Young Duncan Baker found the body first thing this morning. She’d been raped and left in the bush bordering the barn paddock. We assume it occurred sometime last night while the dance was on.’

  ‘Oh, my god.’

  ‘Murder’s not something we deal with around here and I—’ He swallowed loudly, cleared his throat, his voice full of withheld tears. ‘Detective Senior Constable Parish and Sergeant Ashmore will be around later to question you about the incident.’

  She turned to wrap an arm around Bev who was sobbing now against Daemon’s chest, her entire body trembling. ‘Question us? You think someone at the dance did it?’

  ‘At this time we don’t know what happened or who committed the crime. But talking to everyone who was at the dance could help point us in the right direction.’

  ‘I’m sure everyone here will be happy to cooperate. What do you want me to do?’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Jay.’ His sigh was full of relief. ‘Could you ask everyone there to stay put today? The investigating officers will be out probably midday, maybe later. I can’t give you an exact time—we’ve got a lot of people to question. I hope that doesn’t inconvenience you?’

  ‘No. Not at all. Whenever suits you.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Jay. We’ll try to make it as painless as possible.’

  ‘May I ask … if it’s not inappropriate … who was the girl?’

  Constable Creeson swallowed hard. ‘Jenny. Jenny Harrison.’

  ‘Oh, no!’ He had to be wrong. ‘But she was at the dance last night. She was having fun. I just …’ Daemon’s hand on her shoulder steadied her. She was talking nonsense. She better than anyone knew how quickly violence could happen.

  ‘I know. I was there. I danced with her. But she’s been positively identified and I—’ His voice was choked, and he sniffed.

  ‘You knew her well?’ she managed to say around the tears thickening her throat.

  ‘I did.’

  ‘I’m sorry. So very sorry for your loss.’

  The constable cleared his throat. ‘Thank you. Same to you. I know she worked for you a fair bit.’

  ‘She did.’ She bit her lip, sucked in a breath. ‘I’ll make sure everyone stays put until the detective and sergeant get here.’

  ‘Thank you, Ms Jay.’

  She hung up the phone then wrapped both arms around the older woman. Daemon put his hands on her shoulders, holding her steady as Bev sobbed. Finally when Bev’s sobs subsided, her gaze met Daemon’s for a moment, before she gently set Bev away from her. ‘Here, we should sit you down.’ The older woman’s gaze was raw, pleading, as if asking Lexi to tell her it wasn’t true, that it would be okay. But Lexi couldn’t tell her that. Jenny was dead and there was no making that right. ‘Come on. Let’s get you seated with a nice cup of tea and I’ll call Karl.’

  ‘He’s working in the coral and won’t hear the phone. God, he’ll be leaving to pick her up soon.’ Bev’s breath hitched.

  ‘Do you want me to go get him?’ Daemon asked.

  Lexi didn’t want him to leave, but she needed to stop Karl and get him up here to help support Bev, so she nodded. ‘Help me get her to the kitchen first.’

  Daemon did so before running off, the door slamming shut behind him.

  A hot ball of anguish pushed at Lexi’s chest, but she shoved it back and grabbed the kettle to fill it up. She couldn’t break down now. She had to be here for Bev.

  The kettle hadn’t even begun to boil when both men came running in, Karl heading over immediately to comfort his wife, his face full of his own stoic-withheld grief. She watched them, tears a hot press in her eyes, uncertain what to do. Then she remembered. ‘I have to go tell the others. The police want to talk with them.’

  ‘I’ll come with you.’

  She nodded, letting Daemon take her hand, holding on tightly as they went out the door and rushed to the gym to find Billy.

  Billy was getting Cat ready for a session but stopped as they ran in, his gaze going to their clasped hands. She didn’t care what he thought. She needed Daemon’s touch right now. It was the only thing stopping her from breaking in two. Then Billy’s gaze went to her face and he snapped upright. ‘What is it?’

  She pulled Billy away from Cat—she didn’t want her sister to hear any of this. ‘Jenny’s been murdered.’

  ‘What?’

  She repeated what the constable had told her.

  ‘That’s … I … I can’t …’ He ran his hand over his jaw, gaze flickering to Daemon who stood steadily by her side. ‘Is there anything I can do? Is Bev okay?’

  ‘Karl’s with Bev now. The police are coming later to question us all. They’re hoping someone might have seen something at the dance to give them a lead. They asked us all to stay put.’ She waved at Cat. ‘Just try to keep things normal here.’

  ‘Where are you going?’ he asked as she made her way to the door, Daemon close by her side.

  ‘We have to tell the lads,’ he answered for her. ‘The police want to talk to all of us.’

  Everyone was still in bed when they got to the Barn House, but once they were roused and told what had happened, only Nigel objected to staying until the police arrived. He had important meetings in Melbourne this afternoon with a tour promotor to sort out the band’s next Australian tour and it was going to be difficult to get everyone together again as two of the team were due to fly overseas on holidays tomorrow. Craig volunteered to call Phil and Melissa and get them back here from their romantic idyl at the rented house while Lyall got on the phone and arranged to drive Nigel to Mansfield to speak to the detectives before he flew back to Melbourne.

  ‘You can stay here if you need to,’ she said to Daemon as she turned to leave.

  ‘No. I want to stay with you. If that’s okay?’

  She nodded, not trusting her voice. He still held her hand, so she led him outside then hurried back to the house.

  When they walked into the kitchen, Karl was holding Bev, patting her back. Lexi hovered at the doorway, not knowing whether to intrude on their private grief. But Bev looked up and put out her hand, eyes full of tears, and Lexi rushed over.

  Karl took position behind his wife, letting Lexi take his seat and hold Bev’s hand in hers.

  ‘I’ll get the tea ready,’ Daemon said quietly.

  As Bev sobbed, Lexi tried to will comfort through touch, through the connection of Bev’s hand in hers.

  Karl stroked Bev’s hair, squeezed her shoulder. ‘Come on now, sweetheart. Stop crying. It’s not going to help anything.’

 

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