Chapter 65
Chapter Sixty-Five
R ose found Evie some old clothes that she no longer needed, so at least she had a change of outfits. The next day, she made her way into town and shopped at a large store called Best and Less. Using the money she had saved from the bait shop, she carefully purchased some underwear, a couple of T-shirts and a pair of shorts. A five-dollar cotton dress on the sale table at the front of the store fitted perfectly. When she looked at herself in the change room mirror though, she was shocked. She was thin. Painfully thin. The word, gaunt, came to mind as she ran her hands over her face. Dark shadows hung under her dull, lifeless eyes and her cheeks were pinched. At least she still had a bit of a tan. All the walking on the beach to Matilda’s place over the previous months had at least given her that.
By the time she returned to Rose’s place, she felt like she had some possessions to her name. While she was in town, she also rang Baker from a phone box. ‘I’m here with Rose. I’m safe and I’ll let you know where I’m going next. Rose said she has a plan for me to go somewhere further south. A quiet safe house. She just has to talk to one of her friends.’
It had been reassuring to hear Baker’s voice, and she hoped he realised how much she appreciated what he and Matilda had done for her. Baker’s voice lacked its usual positivity and he sounded tired. ‘That’s great, Evie. They’ve arrested all the other men involved with the fire, and your name hasn’t come up at all. I think the statement you gave, and considering the circumstances, you should be right. The Sergeant knows he can reach you through me at any time. Mum sends her love.’
‘Oh, tell her I miss her already. One day I’ll come back and see her.’ Her voice fell as she spoke. It was more than likely that unless she had to go back to Yeppoon for a court case or similar, she would never return there. She shuddered at the thought.
‘A solicitor will ring you about Bob’s will, or probably lack of one. I’m not sure if you’ll get anything out of the shop or house. I don’t think you had insurance, plus this is arson, so it will be complicated.’
‘I don’t care. I don’t want anything from it. It’s dirty money as far as I’m concerned.’ She thought of all her hard work, the years of putting her heart and soul into the bait shop, while Bob had been slowly destroying it with filthy money from drugs.
It was hard to say goodbye, and she could hear the angst in Baker’s voice. ‘I miss you, Evie. I wish things had turned out differently between us.’
He really was so kind and sweet. Baker and Matilda had been her only friends over the last few years. ‘Thank you,’ she replied, her heart heavy, knowing he had hoped for a different outcome between them.
When she put the phone down, she felt the gap widen between herself and Yeppoon. A numb feeling filled her and she methodically opened the door of the phone box and walked slowly back towards Rose’s place.