Chapter 17
Alex was just trying to finish her breakfast when Immy came downstairs still in her pyjamas. She’d finished work for the Christmas holidays now and wouldn’t be going back for a week. Quinn had left early, not to avoid awkward questions with Zara but because he needed to go back home to get changed.
‘Hey,’ Immy said, stretching and yawning sleepily. ‘How did the stakeout go last night?’
‘Well, we saw someone in disguise delivering a bauble. He was wearing one of those inflatable T-rex costumes. The poor guy was staggering and sliding all over the place and then he fell over and Quinn went to help him out.’
That was all truthful but Alex wouldn’t be telling her sister that she’d finally found out it was Quinn all along, not unless Quinn told her she could tell Immy.
She’d promised him full anonymity and, while she knew she could trust Immy completely, she didn’t want to go back on her promise.
She felt a bit bad about having to lie to Immy and Zara but it was only a little lie or a workaround of the truth.
‘So did you find out who it was?’ Immy asked.
‘No, Quinn didn’t think it was fair.’
‘I can’t believe you saw St Nick last night and you’re still no closer to finding out his identity. You had the perfect chance to unmask him, Scooby-Doo style, and you didn’t take it.’
‘It didn’t really seem fair, the poor guy had fallen over.’
Immy took a sip of her coffee that Alex had made for her. ‘I think I know who it is.’
‘You do, who?’
‘I think it’s Quinn.’
Alex’s eyes widened in surprise that Immy had figured it out too.
‘But he was on the stakeout with us, in the car, when we saw the T-rex.’
‘Yes, the perfect alibi.’
‘Ohhh! You think he got someone to cover for him, pretend they were St Nick to give Quinn a watertight alibi?’
‘Exactly,’ Immy said, proudly. Clearly all the cosy mysteries that Alex had forced Immy to watch had rubbed off on her.
‘What makes you think it’s Quinn?’ Alex asked.
‘Well, the fact that the majority of the baubles were found in and around Christmas Gardens is a bit suspicious, it gives Quinn plenty of opportunity. The person clearly knows things about us: Zara’s love of roller skating, her favourite colour, your favourite flowers.
It’s definitely someone who knows us. And lastly, while it would make sense that St Nick is delivering these baubles with some kind of scarf and hat covering his face, I don’t think he’s walking round the town in full disguise.
Someone would see him and it would be too noticeable if it was something ridiculous like a unicorn costume or an inflatable T-rex.
Also, the T-rex costume is really hard to manoeuvre in at the best of times; I’ve been in one and it’s really difficult – factor in several inches of snow and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
You said the poor guy was slipping and staggering all over the place.
If St Nick was using the T-rex costume on a regular basis, he would know how hard it is to walk in it and either he’d get better at walking around in it or change the costume for something more practical.
The person in that costume last night clearly had no idea how to walk safely in it.
I would guess it’s the first time he wore it.
Which means either St Nick knew you were there and knew he would have to amp up the disguise so he wouldn’t be recognised or that wasn’t St Nick, just someone pretending to be. ’
‘But he had the bauble,’ Alex protested.
‘Yes, so if it wasn’t St Nick, it was someone in cahoots with him. And if it was the real St Nick, someone, probably Quinn, told him you were going to be there.’
‘So if Quinn isn’t St Nick, you think he’s St Nick’s accomplice?’ Alex asked.
‘Exactly. I have no actual proof. I think in a court of law they would say this was circumstantial at best. But I have my eye on young Quinn Campbell.’
Just then Alex heard footsteps coming down the stairs, this time not filled with excitement and joy, but sounding as if Zara was plodding. She arrived in the kitchen a few moments later.
‘Hey, you OK?’ Alex asked.
‘Just tired,’ Zara said, yawning widely.
Clearly the late-night stakeout had taken its toll.
‘Are you going to work already?’ Zara asked, sitting down at the breakfast table.
‘Not yet, but soon. Are you ready to go?’
Zara yawned again. ‘Soon.’
‘Or, if you don’t want to go to work with your mum today, you can stay here and help me wrap the presents,’ Immy said.
‘Oh can I?’ she asked her mum.
‘Of course.’
‘Yes!’ Zara did a little victory punch. ‘I’ll be in charge of ribbons and bows.’
‘That sounds like a plan,’ Immy said.
‘Great idea,’ Alex said. ‘Then you can take it easy and be well rested for tonight. You have your roller skating Christmas party, you don’t want to miss that.’
‘Oh yes,’ Zara said. ‘I’m really looking forward to that.’
Although she didn’t sound like she was looking forward to it, Alex knew she was just tired and would be feeling much more alert and enthusiastic in a few hours’ time. Zara wouldn’t miss a chance to do roller skating for the world and tonight there was a roller skating disco, Zara’s favourite thing.
There was a knock on the back door as Quinn let himself in.
‘Hey.’ Quinn came over and gave Alex a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘I’m just popping in as I’m off to work early today because I’m leaving early this afternoon for my rugby club Christmas party tonight.’
‘The murder mystery one?’ Zara asked, her eyes lighting up. Anything to do with gore and she was invested.
‘Yes, I have to go as an evil mad scientist, so I’ll have to spend a few hours this afternoon getting into my costume.
I’ve been watching YouTube tutorials on how to make yourself look old with special effect make-up, so I’m going to have a go at doing that this afternoon to make my skin all saggy and wrinkly. ’
‘Will you send us photos?’ Zara said, excitedly.
‘Of course. I’ve been looking forward to this for months, it will be a lot of fun, but I’m probably most looking forward to seeing everyone’s costumes. Everyone normally puts in a lot of effort. I’ll take photos of everyone and text them to you.’
Zara had a mobile phone which unlike many of her friends she almost never used.
It was off most of the time. She just took it out with her in case she needed to ring Alex for any reason.
It made Alex feel happier knowing she had it in an emergency or if Zara needed her.
It made Zara roll her eyes every time Alex asked if she had it with her.
At least looking out for photos from Quinn’s party might actually make Zara want to take it with her tonight.
‘You’re going to look so funny,’ Zara said, resting her head on her arms.
‘Right, better go, I’ll catch you later.’ Quinn gave Alex another quick kiss, ruffled Zara’s hair, gave Immy a wave and ran out the door.
Immy gave him a mock suspicious glare as he ran down the path, which made Alex smile. If only she knew.
Alex walked into the Wonky Tree Studios a short while later and went straight up to see Quinn. He looked up from where he was working when she walked in and smiled.
‘Hey.’ He took her in his arms and gave her a kiss. He suddenly looked wary. ‘I have some news. Tina has issued a public apology.’
‘She hasn’t,’ Alex said, in surprise.
‘Have a look for yourself.’
Quinn fished his phone out of his pocket, swiped the screen a few times and then handed it over.
Alex could see the post was on the neighbourhood forum, just like the last one. There was a part of her that almost didn’t want to read it.
Tina Parker-Barrington: I would like to formally apologise to Alexandra Campbell for my previous post. It was not my place to cast judgement on someone else’s relationship and I’m not sure why I felt the need to negatively comment on something that makes someone else happy.
Alexandra and her daughter have had a tough few years and I wish them both only happiness from here on in.
‘That’s nice, and she’s taking complete accountability for her actions,’ Alex said, looking up from the screen. ‘I’m not sure what you said to her to make her do such a U-turn with her feelings, but it worked.’
‘Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about—’
‘Hang on, let me finish reading.’
It has also come to my attention that Liam was not as squeaky clean as everyone was led to believe, which goes to show no one can really know what goes on behind closed doors and what people are secretly living with. My heart breaks for what Alex had to go through.
Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, or as the bible says, ‘Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.’ We should all be mindful of throwing stones at our neighbours when we all have our own faults and weaknesses.
Alex read it through again and felt her blood run cold. She looked up at Quinn. ‘What did you tell her about Liam?’
‘I was going to tell you but—’
She took a step away from him. ‘What did you do? You’ve told the most indiscreet person and the biggest gossip in the whole of Lovegrove Bay my deepest secrets. Why the hell would you do that?’
‘They’re not your secrets, they’re Liam’s. And why are you still protecting him after all this time?’
‘I’m not protecting him, I’m protecting Zara. Do you think I ever want her to find out what her dad was really like before he died, what he did to me? No kid needs to hear that.’
Quinn pushed his hand through his hair. ‘Look, I just didn’t want anyone to think he was this perfect man, because he was far from that.
People loved him and, regardless of this statement from Tina, people will still look at you unfavourably because they feel you are betraying the memory of this wonderful, beloved member of the community.
I just felt they needed to know he wasn’t so saintly. ’
‘So you told the whole town that he was an alcoholic? That’s my business and you had no right to share that.’
‘I only spoke to Tina and I never—’
‘Look at these comments,’ Alex interrupted.
“What do you mean, Liam wasn’t squeaky clean,” and “What do you know that we don’t?
” and this one “Come on, Tina, dish the dirt.” Dish the bloody dirt, like my life is now this exciting form of entertainment.
It was bad enough when people were gossiping because I was dating Liam’s brother but now they have something extra exciting: I was married to an abusive alcoholic. Why would you do this?’
‘I was trying to protect you. But I didn’t—’
‘Protect me, you’ve destroyed me,’ Alex interrupted.
‘I’ve destroyed him, not you. People will feel sorry for you.’
‘I don’t want their pity.’ She took another step away from him. ‘I don’t want to even be near you right now.’
‘Listen, I never told—’
‘Please stop talking, and if you respect me at all, you’ll stay away from me for the rest of the day.’
‘Alex, wait, I didn’t tell her…’ Quinn started but she turned and walked away, refusing to listen to what he had to say and, thankfully, he didn’t follow her.
She needed time to process this. How could she correlate the man she loved, the man who was so kind he would leave painted baubles around the town for everyone to find, with the man who had betrayed her secrets so easily?
She knew he’d done it to try to help her, but he had chosen the worst possible thing to share.
She felt sick at the thought that pretty soon the whole town would know Liam was an abusive alcoholic and that meant Zara would hear about it too.