More Than A Journey Home

Chapter Five - Fifth Discovery

Lavender hasn’t changed a bit. Her smile, the colour of her hair, the same damn perfume that drives him crazy and only belongs to her. The brief feel of her back in his arms, if only out of sympathy. It was all too much to take in. He did not expect to see Lavender while he was here. Hell, he didn’t even know she still lived out here in this godforsaken place. He had no clue that she was married. And to whom? Who had she pledged her life to? Who had she fallen in love with? Married!! The thought had his stomach in knots. And yet, what right did he have to be upset? Mason left. Walked out. Changed his phone number and told no one where he was going, or where he had ended up.

Slamming the palm of his hand against the steering wheel in frustration, he kicks up the private road beneath his wheels, pushing the Patrol to its limits. Mason can’t think about Lavender right now. Shit needs to be sorted so he can get back to his life in the city as soon as humanly possible. ‘I will hire people to take care of the station. I will sell for the best possible price I can, then this place, these people, will never be a part of my life again,’ thinks Mason.

Pulling around the curve to the house, sending swirls of red into the air as he slams on the brakes, he stares at the latest surprise before him. Parked up close to the house are a police cruiser alongside Bryce’s old ute. With no sighting of the visitors themselves, one can only assume they have gone inside uninvited. As Mason carries the groceries up the front stairs, he confirms his suspicions when he notices the screen door hanging straight and secure. Bryce has been acting as a handyman during his absence. Mason should be grateful, but is feeling more annoyed than anything else.

“Thought I heard the car pull up, says Bryce as he makes his way out the front door to offer a hand with the packages. Hope you don’t mind, but Detective Irving called just after you left for town, requesting a meeting with us both. I said I would meet him here, and we could wait for you together. We’re just set up in the kitchen” Bryce leads the way back down the hallway and starts placing the grocery bags on the kitchen counters. Detective Irving stands as Mason enters behind Bryce, holding out his hand and introducing himself. “Detective Peter Irving, Mr CoalBriar. Sorry we are meeting under such tragic circumstances” Mason indicates his hands full of shopping and joins Bryce to unload them at the counters. “I’m sorry, Inspector, but I am starving and intend to make myself something to eat. If you don’t mind, you can either stay and watch or you can make an appointment for another time,” says Mason, hoping Irving will reschedule. “Oh, by all means, please, make yourself something. I am more than happy to wait and conduct our conversation while you attend to your hunger. I understand from Mr Willcott that you had a long journey yesterday and not the best night’s sleep.” Mason throws Bryce a withering look and starts hunting around in the cupboards for a fry pan.

The heavy aroma of a hearty steak sizzling away soon fills the kitchen. If Mason did not have two men waiting upon his time, he would have cooked up a round of potatoes and bacon to accompany the slab of red meat he was about to devour. Mason pulls up a chair and tucks in to what he cannot deny is the best steak he has eaten since moving away from home. You just can’t beat a fresh slab straight from the slaughter to tantalise the taste buds and leave you wanting more.

“I want to start by saying how terribly sorry I am for your loss, Mr CoalBriar. It must have come as quite a shock, hearing of your parents’ passing and the means by which it occurred. We are, of course, running an investigation into the murder/suicide of your parents as is required by law. As you are next of kin and their only child, we need to talk to you about your relationship with your parents. If you have any information at all that could help us in our inquiries, I would be most grateful”.

“Inspector, I haven't seen or heard from my parents for fifteen years, so I'm unsure how I can help you. All I can say is that it has shocked me greatly that my father left the property in its current condition. He was a proud man, and this station was his life.” Mason replies,
“I would think that your father shooting and killing your mother, and turning the gun upon himself would be your top priority.” Inspector Irving appears unnerved by Mason’s response. “Please do not misunderstand what I am saying here. Of course, finding out why my father committed this heinous crime is a priority. It speaks also to the entire mystery that we find before us,” explains Mason.

“Correct me if I'm wrong, you and your father didn’t exactly see eye to eye; there was always tension between you?” Irving treads carefully, while Mason peers over at Bryce, who looks very sheepish and a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Mason, Inspector Irving and I have already spoken. As I am the one who found your parents, I was interviewed on the same day. You understand, I’m sure,” says Bryce, who squirms in his seat like he’s about to burst his bladder. “Then if the two of you have already chewed the fat, why are you here now?” Mason directs his question to Bryce. “I can answer that for you.” interjects Irving. “Mr Willcott feels responsible for what happened to your parents. He feels it only right to be here.” “Why on earth would you feel responsible? Mason asks. What aren't you telling me, Bryce?”

With a nod from Irving, Bryce fills Mason in on details he didn’t feel he could share with him that morning. “Your father became different these past years, Mason. More angry, more distant. I know he was a hard man to be friends with, but we were friends. At least I thought we were. I haven’t set foot on this farm in over ten years myself. Not until last week. Your father forbade my coming here anymore. He accused me of having an affair with your mother, that I was your biological father, and that is why you and he never got along. That he never really had a son to begin with. He started looking at all the shearers with suspicion, thinking they too had a thing for your mother. Thomas accused me of trying to steal the homestead. Take it all away, including Beth. None of this was true.

It appeared he was losing his mind. Your poor mum didn’t know what to do. It was becoming unbearable. Beth would say to me sometimes, ‘You don’t understand Bryce. It isn’t his fault.’ But she would never tell me anything other than that. The workers became confined to the sheds, and the immediate surrounds only. Anyone caught anywhere near the house faced instant dismissal. They moved the sheep to the top paddock. This way, the workers only had to herd them down to the sheds from there, thus avoiding the house and any of the yards close by. When your mum ventured into town, Thomas only allowed her an allotted amount of time. Beth had to be back within the space of two hours, no longer. If she was late, Thomas would go looking for her.”
“How do you know what was happening if my father denied you access?” Mason asks. “Mick Pickman, one of the shearers. Used to come by from time to time for a beer and a break from all the insanity. Mick is a decent bloke. Respected your mother greatly, and when Thomas started going around the bend, Mick looked out for Beth. From a distance, of course.”

Inspector Irving, from his position at the table, is watching Mason closely. Bryce continues. “Beth remained unseen for a ‘period’ of time. Roughly twelve months. Your father told everyone she was sick. The doctor recommended that she remain indoors as much as possible. It was an ailment of some sort. Something in the air causing severe respiratory attacks. Beth needed to be placed on oxygen. Of course, no one believed Thomas. It sounded ridiculous. However, the doctor was making house calls throughout the time, so there was obviously something going on. We just never found out what. Then one day, Beth started appearing again, like nothing had happened. She looked well. Appeared relatively happy. But your father was anything but. He was walking around as if the darkest of thunderstorms raged within him. This was also when the property started declining. Mick reported that the life was just gone from your father. The care factor worsened. I tried approaching Thomas. I came by one day to see if maybe the years gone by would have softened his resolve. Maybe your father would be grateful to see an old friend. Instead, he hunted me away from the property with a shotgun. It was the last time I walked onto this this land until a week ago.”

Mason doesn’t know what to say. He feels numb. Why didn’t his mother reach out to him? She was the only person he gave his new mobile number to when he left. He told her she could call him anytime. If she ever needed anything, she had only to ask. Or if she just wanted to talk, to shoot the breeze. Perhaps she was more disappointed and angry than he thought. It’s not like he reached out to her either. When he left for the very last time, he had seen the pain and anguish in Beth’s eyes. But he left the ball in her court. If she wanted to reach out to him, to connect with him, she would. How stupid he had been? How careless? Beth was a proud woman. Reaching out was not something she would do. He sees that now. He should have seen it then. The guilt sets in. Not for his father, but for Beth. Regardless of his father’s shortcomings, Beth loved the man. She devoted herself to him. With all his faults, she stuck by him no matter what. Mason should never have left her alone with him. He should have been the one to call, to check in with her. Make sure she was managing, that she was okay. Not that she would have told him if she weren’t.

“What are you hoping to find, Inspector?” asks Mason. “How do you think I can be of help to you? It appears Bryce has more answers for you than I have.” Mason throws Bryce another untrusting look. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this while we were sitting having coffee this morning? I asked what you could tell me, and it certainly wasn’t what you’ve just unleashed now.” “I’m sorry, Mason, I have handled this badly. I should have said more this morning, but I didn’t think the timing was right. You have only just arrived home. I wanted to give you some time to settle in, find your feet before hitting you with it all. It’s a lot to take in, I’m sure you’ll agree,” says Bryce.

“Mr CoalBriar, allow Mr Willcott some understanding here if you can,” says Inspector Irving. “It was a terrible shock for him when he discovered your parents, and unlikely he will ever unsee the carnage your father left behind. Can you think of any reason Thomas would want to end it all and take your mother with him?” asks Irving.
“My father was a selfish prick, Inspector” Mason’s tone is hard and angry. “That alone would be enough of a reason. He would not have allowed my mother to live on without him. Especially if he had thoughts of her moving on with another man. What I will say is that my father loved my mother in his own strange way. I don’t understand it, I’ll never understand it, but my parents were strong in their marriage and their commitment to each other. My mother allowed me to walk away, and though she had the means to contact me, she chose not to. Instead, she stayed true to Thomas, and in the end, that was her biggest mistake. If we could shelve this interview for another day, I would be grateful. This is a lot to take in. I need some time to get my thoughts and emotions together. I’m sure you can understand. I’m not trying to be difficult or to hold up your investigation.” Mason feels pale and shaky and needs some time alone to process everything he has just been told.

“I do indeed, Mr CoalBriar,” says Irving with genuine sympathy on his face. “I also understand that you have funerals to arrange and that will take some time. How about we get together in a few days? Would that suit you better? We have taken all we need from the property in terms of evidence, photos, fingerprints, etc so you are free to move about the home. Interestingly, we found no fingerprints belonging to anyone other than your parents in the dining room, which is strange considering that we found three scotch glasses upon the table. All were half full, but no prints other than your father's were upon them. The chairs looked like someone had almost thrown them; they were in disarray and lying on their sides. But again, no prints other than those of your parents. We also found paperwork strewn across the table, so we ran some analysis, finding nothing,” explains Irving.
Mason can only stare at Irving, not knowing what he was trying to say. Was he implying that his parents had been entertaining though no one showed, or something more sinister? Beth and Thomas were never the entertaining kind. They preferred their own company after a hard day’s work. In fact, Mason has no recollection of their ever entertaining in friendship. This makes no sense. “I only managed a cursory glance around the house this morning. And for your information, before you may ask, I have not been inside my parents’ bedroom and have no desire to enter it now, if ever. If you could leave me your contact details, I will arrange a time with you to return later in the week.” With that, Mason stands and heads towards the front door, signaling his strong desire to be left alone.

Irving and Bryce follow him down the hallway, and both turn to offer him their support should he need it. Mason assures them both that he will be fine and closes the door firmly behind them, cutting off any further attempts at conversation.
His head is pounding from everything that has happened so far today, and it isn’t even lunchtime. Mason heads back to the kitchen to clean up. Washing the dishes and frypan, returning them to where they came from. He can picture his mother smiling at him in appreciation. For keeping her kitchen clean and tidy, as she always had done.

As Mason reaches for his duffle with thoughts of a long overdue shower foremost in his mind, he again hears the strange noises from this morning. It sounds like it is coming from the back of the house, towards the laundry room. The sound is a shuffling, scraping or scratching mixed with what appears to be almost like a chain rattling with the movements. Could his father have left one of the farm dogs alive? Chained up under the house where the kennels stood. Surely not. Surely someone would have found any animals left alive when they were doing their search of the property? He must be imagining it. If there was a dog out there, it would bark and cry by now, hearing human voices and footfalls in the house above. Most likely, it was the sound of rodents foraging for something to eat and disturbing things in their wake. Deciding this seems to be what he is most likely hearing, Mason heads for the stairs and the bathroom above.