The Twisted Knot Read Online Free PDF Page A

had Bob reacted so angrily? Bob was usually up-front, no guessing games with him.
    There was no one at the front counter, no other staff around. Sammi sidled into the sergeant’s office knowing Bob was the only one in there.
    â€˜What’s up, Sammi?’
    â€˜I looked up Peter Woodford on the system.’
    She was taken aback by the way he glared at her. ‘Leave it alone. You know you can get into trouble poking through files on the computer when it’s not your business.’
    The harsh tone of his voice shocked her. Not like him at all.
    â€˜But it is my business. I opened the letter at the front door. I have every right to run the name through the system.’
    Bob grunted and turned to his computer, so his back was facing Sammi.
    â€˜It was years ago that Woodford . . .’ Sammi chose her words carefully – this was obviously a sore point for Bob, ‘. . . came to police attention. I’m wondering why this would be brought up again now. As you said this morning, it’s ancient history.’
    â€˜I don’t know. Someone trying to make trouble. People don’t like him. Don’t buy into it, okay?’
    â€˜But what if –’
    â€˜Just leave it alone.’ The tone of Bob’s voice made Sammi shut her mouth and turn away. She didn’t want an argument. Not with Bob. Not with anyone.

6
    â€˜I don’t know if you’ve heard . . .’
    The woman lowered her voice and leant in conspiratorially to Kelly. She was paying for her petrol but had a little something extra for Kelly.
    â€˜. . . Pete the Ped’s been abusing another girl.’
    â€˜No!’ Kelly had been in high school the first time she’d heard rumours about Peter Woodford. Janey had been in the grade above her and the gossip around the school had been rampant. In hindsight, she realised how unfair it had been on the poor girl. But still.
    â€˜Who?’ Kelly asked.
    The woman shook her head. ‘The victim’s family don’t want to go to the police this time. Not after what happened with Janey.’
    Kelly nodded her head sadly. ‘It was horrible, wasn’t it? The police did nothing. He never went to jail or anything.’
    â€˜And now he’s doing it again.’
    She hadn’t really grasped the gravity of the situation when it had happened. As a teenage girl, she’d been interested in the scandal of it all, rather than giving any thought to the effect on the people involved. But now, Kelly could understand why the new victim’s family weren’t keen to approach the police. The poor girl would have to go through police interviews, physical examinations, and then – if the last time was anything to go by – nothing would happen anyway.
    â€˜I don’t think we should stay silent,’ the other woman was saying. ‘Us locals, everyone who remembers what happened last time, we need to take matters into our own hands. We have to make sure the police do something. Or at least run him out of town so it never happens again.’
    Kelly nodded thoughtfully. ‘I’ll talk to a couple of my old school friends. Everybody remembers Janey. Let me know what we can do.’

7
    It bothered Sammi. It bothered her all day, niggling at the back of her mind even while she was occupied with other tasks. It continued to bother her that evening as she and Gavin had dinner.
    Why had both Bob and Mel responded so defensively to the accusation against Peter Woodford?
    She and Gavin ate on their back deck, just on dusk as the daytime temperature descended with the sun. It should have been a pleasant time, the two of them, with a steak dinner, a glass of wine and a sleepy dog under the table. But Sammi couldn’t shake the puzzle of Peter Woodford. On the spur of the moment, she decided to see if Gavin could fill in any of the blanks. He hadn’t lived in Angel’s Crossing when the girl had reportedly been abused, but