He hesitated at the crossroads. The rest of the blokes would still be sleeping. Somehow the thought of the messy bachelor flat didn’t appeal but Anna McPherson would have the coffee made and her first batch of scones out of the oven. He’d go into Margaret River and have breakfast with the McPhersons; they were always good company.

He set off towards town, passing a police car going in the other direction. He wondered briefly where they were heading. Born and raised here, he knew most people in the district. In a rural community nothing much went on that wasn’t soon common knowledge. His stomach gurgled, reminding him of where he was heading. He turned his concentration to the road and images of Anna’s scones.

* * *

Keely looked up from her cup of tea at the sound of the sliding door. She had disposed of the cold breakfast, poured herself a fresh cup of tea and made up her mind to ask Euan to drop her into town. She was feeling much better, if still a bit sore, but she could manage on her own.

Euan stepped inside and the phone began to ring before either of them could speak. He picked up the handpiece from its cradle on the wall over the breakfast bench.

“Hello.”

Keely could hear the babble of a woman’s voice.

“Hang on, Maggie,” Euan said. “Say that again.”

He listened, then glanced at Keely with a bemused smile. She looked down at her cup. There was something about that smile that always unsettled her.

“Are you sure you haven’t misunderstood?” he asked.

Keely could hear the voice of his sister raise an octave as she replied.

“Okay, okay.” Euan patted the air as if it were his sister’s shoulders. “We’ll sort it out. It’s all some kind of misunderstanding.”

He listened again.

“Yes, alright,” he said. “I promise I’ll ring back later and let you know. Bye.” He replaced the phone and turned to Keely. “Looks like we might have some sorting out to do.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Euan poured himself a cup of tea. “It seems you’ve been reported as a missing person.”

“What?” Keely watched him carefully, expecting a teasing smile to collapse his face into wrinkles, but it didn’t come.

“The police have been to Maggie’s and she’s told them where you are and that I haven’t abducted you but…” The sound of a vehicle pulling up outside made them both look up. Euan walked to the window and peered out. “You’ll be able to explain it yourself. That’s the local police arriving now.”

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

“So, what do you think of my muffins?”