Body in the Gorge (Cockatoo Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) (6 page)

Becca gave him good punch on the arm. She stretched “I feel like a walk before Dinner as our lunch was so late. Troy its my turn to take you out for Dinner later do you want to join us Chloe?”

They both looked at me, I waved them off. “You two go ahead I’ll start tidying up the caravan in preparation for our departure tomorrow, I’ll also let Madge know we’re leaving and pay the rest of the account, then get my own Dinner and I have a good book to read.”

The next morning we stowed everything in the caravan ready for moving and hitched her to the car and set off for Emma’s Place. We parked the caravan in some shade near the shower hut but not too close.

Emma came striding over. “Hi let me show you how to feed the babies, I’ll need your help this afternoon as we’re having a Barbecue tonight to raise money for the care of the sick and injured animals. So I’ll be too busy to do any of the feeding, Of course you are invited to the party and by now you may know a lot of the people who are coming. We do have a lot of animals in care at the moment, more than usual so I’m really happy you could stay for a little while.”

We all walked into the big barn. And gazed around at lots of cages and containers spread all over the space. Emma lead us to a small cage. “I get a large variety of birds and animals here because there aren’t enough carers in Central Queensland, in the city, carers usually specialize in one type of animal but I get all sorts.”

A tiny face with dark eyes was peeping out of a nest in the bottom of a box inside the cage. Emma pulled on some leather gloves and picked up the youngster and quickly wrapped him in a thick cloth which was a bit ragged at the edges. You will want to put gloves on when feeding this fellow he is nearly weaned of milk and is gaining weight and attitude fast. His claws and teeth are very sharp.” Emma picked up the bundle and pulled out a little bottle of milk with a teat and offered it to the animal.”

I moved closer “He’s so cute what is he?”

“This is a spotted tail Quoll he must have fallen off his mother’s back while she was out finding food. A tourist found him on the path in the Gorge. We only handle him when he needs a feed we don’t want him too used to humans as he’ll be placed back in the wild in Carnarvon Gorge where tourists walk. A feisty biting quoll would not be a tourist attraction. Once he is weaned we will only touch him again when the vet checks him before release. They are naturally nocturnal animals very rarely seen in the wild. Emma handed him over to me to finish the feed and moved over to a large aquarium and pulled out some mealy worms.

“Give him a few of these now and some more with his next bottle this afternoon. Emma handed Becca another bottle of milk. “This one is for ‘Magpie’ she pointed to a cloth bag hanging on the wall, it was starting to wriggle. Becca took the bottle over to the bag which now had a wallaby head fully out and looking for breakfast. Emma stopped in front of a large blackboard on the wall. “I’ve got a schedule of feed times and all the information on each animal’s food just go by this and you’ll be right and I won’t be far away if you need me.”

After the babies were fed we followed Emma to a garden shed outside where she pulled out buckets, brooms and shovels and rubber gloves. “Right this morning’s job is to clean all the enclosures.”

She led us to the closest cage which belonged to ‘Cracker’ the cockatoo. As soon as the door opened he hopped onto Emma’s shoulder, climbed around her back and fluttered over to my shoulder, lucky I had another denim shirt on as Cracker’s long claws gripped on tightly.

Emma looked up in surprise. “Wow he really likes you, he has gone to you again.”

I rubbed Cracker’s feathers behind his neck, his eyes closed in bliss “You like that.” I whispered

Emma handed me a brush “Okay this cage is yours to clean just sweep it out change the water and fill up the seed and pellets.” She turned to Becca, “come and see our most endangered animal.”

They headed off towards a large well built enclosure. I hurriedly finished with the cage and with Cracker still on my shoulder I caught up with them in time to hear Emma say, “Tom grumbled about making this enclosure, he had to bring in large concrete pipes for the sleeping dens this was over concrete floors which were covered with dirt for digging, the tractor worked hard that weekend. We have a smaller version for the Echidnas. But we had to be sure this was safe from any wild dogs thats why we have the netted wire over the top as well.”

We both lent over the concrete wall and peered through the wire covering it, all we could see was a hairy nose sticking out from the hole made by the pipe and lots of sand and topsoil.

“This fellow was brought to us by a park Ranger from up north in the Epping Forest National Park. He found the mother dead from a dog attack, he looked around for a joey and found this one hiding in a nearby hollow log. I’d really appreciate an album of photos of the girl they are so rare. In a few days we’ll bring her out for a photo shoot.”

After everything was cleaned and all the animals fed it was lunch time.

I walked over with Cracker still on my shoulder. “Emma do you mind if Cracker comes back to the caravan with us for a while?”

Emma grinned, “no that’s good I’m afraid I don’t have much time to keep him company so he’ll enjoy that, he is really a social animal. Now I’ve got to go and organize a party, I’ll see you later.”

I made some sandwiches for us and a bowl of vegetables and fruit. Becca made our cups of tea. We all helped ourselves to food. When Cracker picked up a piece of carrot with his claw Becca swung her camera up and Cracker posed nicely.

“He’s a bit of a ham, I’m going to have some great animal photos for magazines.” Becca predicted

“Oh yes,” I said through a mouth full of sandwich, “and I can see in my mind a series of children’s books based on different birds and animals!” Cracker bobbed up and down in agreement.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Barbecue

In the middle of the afternoon Becca looked up from her book. “It looks like people are arriving already Chloe, I think we’d better feed the animals now before too many guests arrive.”

Cracker fluttered from the back of the chair onto my shoulder as I put down my sketch book and stood up. Once all the feeding was finished. I found a treat for Cracker and locked him in his cage much to his disgust.

“I’ll get you out again tomorrow.” I promised so he turned to investigate his food tray.

We were surprised to see how many cars were already parked over in the paddock next to the farmhouse, smoke was already rising from the barbecue area. We hurriedly had our showers and changed our clothes. As I arrived back at the caravan from the shower block, Becca passed me carrying the camera.

I was surprised. “Are you going to take photos tonight?”

Becca stopped at the car and raised the back, “No I just want my camera out of sight it costs too much to loose it or all the photos I’ve taken, I haven’t been able to download them here. Come on lock the ‘van door and lets go meet some locals.” Becca urged.

The first one to greet us even before we even arrived at the barbecue area was none other than Troy.

“Hi Becca.” His grin was as wide as his face.

“Hello to you too.” Becca replied with an equally wide grin.

Feeling a bit invisible I left them to it and wandered off to the farmhouse. I wandered into the kitchen and found Emma.

“Do you want some help?” I asked

“No you go get some food and mingle, you are a guest tonight.” Emma said as she pushed me out the door.

I accepted a glass of wine from a young man who looked at home behind the temporary bar drink table. He toasted me with his beer bottle as I left him and headed for the food table. This table was overflowing with cooked meats and salads all in a variety of bowls and dishes. I could see everyone who came to this barbecue had arrived with a plate of food and added to this wonderful feast. The smell of meat cooking on the barbecue was making my stomach growl.

“Here Dear have a plate.” I looked into the kind eyes of Amelia Brown.

“Hello Mrs Brown, thank you.” I accepted the plate she handed me. “You must be relieved the person found in the Gorge was not your granddaughter.”

Amelia’s eyes clouded. “I am, yes there’s still hope for my Amy I suppose.”

A woman dressed in a pressed jacket and slacks grabbed Amelia’s arm. “Have you enough food on your plate Mother we are sitting over at that table.” She hurried Amelia off over to a table set up away from everyone else.

I filled my plate and carried the plate and drink over to a table where I spotted Madge from the Caravan Park. “May I sit here?” I indicated the empty spot.

Madge patted the seat “Yes plenty of room, you need to eat after doing all the animal chores. Emma is good at delegating jobs.”

I smiled, “Oh we are enjoying the work, the animals are lots of fun and very interesting.” I looked around me as I ate. “I think I recognize quite a few faces, there’s the local constable and Jim the helicopter pilot and his mechanic and of course Troy the Park Ranger.”

Madge nodded. “Yes Emma’s fund raisers are popular, the animals benefit from the extra funds and we all enjoy an excuse to get together, of course the young ones love to party. We always put up notices in the caravan park, so we get a few tourists along too.”

A few of the men and ladies had formed a band and now live music began and nearly all the younger crowd and even some older dancers joined in the frolic. I watched as Mr Brown grabbed hold of one of the young men dancing with an attractive girl who’s blonde hair swung with the music. The poor young man was dragged off to a Range Rover which immediately drove off in a cloud of dust. I just saw a wave of a hand from Amelia Brown as the car disappeared down the driveway.

“Not a very social lot except for Amelia.” I observed.

Madge grunted, “At least we have their money first, I don’t think many will miss them except that girl who just lost her dancing partner.”

I looked at Madge. “Did Sally mix with any of these boys here?”

“Well now you come to mention it I can remember the exact same thing happening to her once when she was dancing with the precious son. I can see what you’re thinking, but I can not see that young man being a killer he is too much of a Mummy’s boy!” Madge shook her head as she gathered up the used dishes and headed off to the kitchen.

I sat there sipping my wine and pondering on our conversation, suddenly I was bumped in the back, I turned round to see a girl holding the mechanic’s hand push past and move off towards the dance area to join in. There was certainly a crowd here tonight.

Constable Mathews took Madge’s place, he had two bowls.

“Here Chloe have some of Emma’s delicious pavlova, it’s worth coming here just for it.”

“Well thank you Constable, you’re spoiling me.”

“Oh just call me Chris, I’m off duty now.”

I tasted the sweet desert, the meringue just melted on the tongue and the fruit was just the right contrast to the sweetness of the cream and meringue. “You’re right this is delicious.”

The bowls were soon empty. Just then the band stopped for a break and everything went strangely quiet. A loud squawking could now be heard coming from the animal enclosures.

I sat up straight. “Is that Cracker?”

Chris stood up “Who?”

I jumped up and ran towards the aviaries with Chris close behind. A dark figure ran off from between the Car and the Caravan. I ran over to Cracker’s Cage to check him. “Cracker are you alright?”

Chris was peering in the open door of the caravan. “Someone has been in your caravan.”

Troy and Becca arrived in a hurry and both asked in tandem, “what’s wrong?”

I hurried over too and we all peered in the door to see our clothes and things tossed onto the floor and tumbling out of the doorway.

I groaned, “What was he looking for?”

Chris was examining the back of the car closely, “he’s tried to open the car boot too.”

Becca ran over with key, she opened the boot. “Thank goodness the camera is still here.” She looked over at Cracker, “thanks Buddy!”

After checking through everything and tidying up, we all sat down with a cup of coffee.

Chris looked at Becca and Me, “are you sure you don’t want a proper investigation?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “I’m pretty sure the person I saw had on gloves and a dark cap, so I can’t identify him and nothing is missing anyway.”

Becca sat up, “Looks like he was after my camera, do you think the killer wanted to see the photos of the body, maybe he is getting worried. But when would he have heard us talking?”

Troy frowned at Becca. “You two just have to stop asking questions I think you could have stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

Chris joined in, “This is more likely a random robbery attempt, we don’t know everyone here, quite a few strangers were amongst the crowd. Its too late to question people now, more than half of the people have left now. So we won’t let our imagination run wild.” He rose to go and Becca and I both did a mock salute and in unison said “Yes Constable.” Chris laughed and waved as he left.

Troy turned to face us. “I still think you have rattled the killer somehow, would you like me to camp out here tonight?”