Read Online Bitter Nothings by Vicki Tyley - Free Book Online Page B

the police. Me.”
    Another sigh. “Money, if you must know.”
    “And?” she prompted.
    “And nothing. I asked our sperm donor for some cash to tide me over until I get another job. You’d think it’d be the least he could do.”
    “Did he?”
    “Nope. Apparently, I’m big enough and ugly enough to stand on my own two feet.”
    “Why didn’t you ask me? How much do you need?”
    “Don’t worry about it. It’s sorted.”
    “How?” As far as she knew, Emmet hadn’t worked since the travel agency he’d been with had slashed its staffing in half six weeks earlier.
    “Like I said, forget it.”
    Easier said than done, but she let it go. For now. “So why didn’t you just tell the police what you’ve told me?”
    “It’s bad enough that I couldn’t give them an alibi.”
    “An alibi?”
    He snorted. “That would be right. I’m expected to have an alibi for the time of the murders, but you don’t. Why is that?”
    “I’m sure it’s just routine,” she said, her mind suddenly in overdrive. Why would her brother even need an alibi? “They’ll get around to me soon enough.”
    “If you say so.”
    Biting her tongue, she replaced the coffee mug she’d got out for Gabe and reboiled the kettle. When her brother was in one of his moods, talking was pointless.
    “I’m going for a shower,” Emmet said, walking off.
    Dervla took it as her cue and let herself out. He knew where to find her.
    Outside the temperature was climbing, the still air doing little to reduce either the heat or the street noise. A taste of the summer to come. She headed for home.
    Her mobile phone rang as she pulled into her driveway. She put the car in park and checked the caller ID. Sophie. “Is everything okay?’
    “And hello to you, too.”
    “Sorry, you weren’t answering your phone.”
    “That’s because this dimwit forgot to recharge her phone last night,” Sophie said. “More importantly, hon, are you okay?”
    “I could say as well as can be expected, but that—”
    “Would be lying. Hey, what do you say to some company?”
    Dervla sucked in a deep breath.
    “Too late,” Sophie said.
    A car door slammed close by. Dervla glanced in her side mirror to see Sophie, the jeans she’d been wearing when she’d left Emmet’s swapped for a bright mango-orange ruffled skirt, sashaying down the driveway.
    By the time Sophie drew level with the car, Dervla was lifting her suitcase from the boot.
    “Back from South Australia already?” The corner of Sophie’s mouth lifted.
    “Something came up.”
    “Oh?”
    “Not here.” Dervla slammed the boot. Not that she could see any reporters lurking within eavesdropping distance. But she wasn’t taking any chances.
    With Sophie trailing close behind, she humped her suitcase inside.
    The answering machine’s green light was flashing. Her pulse quickened. She pressed the playback button. Nothing from her father. Just three messages from reporters wanting a comment. So much for having a silent number.
    After detouring via the bedroom to dump her suitcase, Dervla found Sophie seated at the red gum pedestal table tucked in the corner by the kitchen, The Age newspaper spread out in front of her.
    Dervla flopped into the chair opposite. “I’ve given up reading the paper. What they don’t know, they just make up. After all, why let the truth get in the way of a good story?”
    “Nothing new here from the looks of it,” Sophie said, her eyes scanning the newsprint. “Just more of the same.” She thumbed over a page and glanced up. “You said something came up. Has there been a development? Have you heard from your father again?”
    “Yes….” Dervla kneaded her temples, her elbows propped on the table. “…and no.”
    Sophie hunched forward, her face expectant.
    “No, I haven’t heard from Dad again, but I found out that his text originated from central Melbourne, not South Australia.”
    “Whoa.”
    “Exactly, but Todd said he would get the South Australian