CMYK (MATT LAM) SPINE 32.

09mm

THE
T here were a few minutes when I was alone with her in the autopsy
room. I felt wild. Absent. Before I could stop myself I was leaning close

DARK LAKE
to her, telling her everything. The words draining out of me as she lay there.
Her long damp hair hanging off the back of the steel table. Glassy eyes
fixed blindly on the ceiling. She was still so beautiful, even in death.
Our secrets circled madly around the bright white room that morning.
Rocking back and forth on my heels as I stood next to her, I knew how far
in I was again, how comprehensively her death could undo me. I looked
at Rosalind Ryan properly for the last time before breathing deeply, readying
myself, letting her pull me back into her world, and I sank down, further
and further, until I was completely, utterly under.

A beautiful young teacher has been murdered, her body found in the lake,
strewn with red roses. Local policewoman Detective Sergeant Gemma
Woodstock pushes to be assigned to the case, concealing the fact that she A HOT SUMMER. A SHOCKING MURDER...
knew the murdered woman in high school years before.
But thats not all Gemmas trying to hide. As the investigation digs deeper

SARAH BAILEY
into the victims past, other secrets threaten to come to light, secrets that
were supposed to remain buried. The lake holds the key to solving the
murder, but it also has the power to drag Gemma down into its dark depths.

The Dark Lake is an addictive crime thriller,

a mesmerising account of one womans descent
into deceit and madness, and a stunning debut
that is already causing a stir around the world.
A TOWN OF SECRETS
WAITING TO EXPLODE.

SARAH BAILEY
Cover design: Romina Panetta
Cover photograph: Valentino Sani / Arcangel (lake);
iStock (rose petals)

FICTION

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 THE
DARK
LAKE
SARAH BAILEY

Dark Lake TITLE.indd 2 30/11/2016 9:58 AM

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 The extract on page 192 from The Velveteen Rabbit, written by Margery Williams and
illustrated by William Nicholson, is from the 1922 edition, published by Doubleday
&Company, Inc., New York.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the
authors imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual events, locales
or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First published in 2017

Copyright Sarah Bailey 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior
permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968
(the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever
is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational
purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has
given a remuneration notice to the Copyright Agency (Australia) under the Act.

Allen & Unwin

83 Alexander Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Australia
Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.allenandunwin.com

Cataloguing-in-Publication details are available

from the National Library of Australia
www.trove.nla.gov.au

ISBN 978 1 76029 589 9

Set in 11/17 pt Minion Pro by Midland Typesetters, Australia

Printed and bound in Australia by Griffin Press

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The paper in this book is FSC certified.

FSC promotes environmentally responsible,
socially beneficial and economically viable
C009448
management of the worlds forests.

Dark Lake_PAGES.indd 4 28/03/2017 2:24 pm

 now

When Ithink back to that summer something comes loose in my

head. Its like a marble is bouncing around in there, like my brain is
a pinball machine. Itry not to let it roll around for too long. If Ido,
Iend up going funny behind the eyes and in my throat and Icant
do normal things like order coffee or tie Bens shoelaces. I know
Ishould try to forget. Move on. Its what Iwould tell someone else
in my situation to do. Probably Ishould move away, leave Smithson,
but starting over has never been a strength of mine. Ihave trouble
letting go.
During the day its not so bad. Ill be in the middle of doing some-
thing and then my mind wanders to her and the little ball ricochets
through my head and Istop talking in the middle of a sentence, or
Iforget to press the accelerator when the lights go green. Still, Ican
usually shake it away and keep going with whatever I was doing
without anyone noticing.
Its amazing what you can keep buried when you want to.
But sometimes, late at night, I let myself think about what
happened. Really think. Iremember the throbbing heat. Iremember
the madness in my head and the fear that pulsed in my chest. And
Iremember Rosalind, of course. Always Rosalind. Ilie flat on my
back and she appears on my bedroom ceiling, playing across it

vii

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 SARAH BAILEY

like a lightless slide show. Iclick through the images: her in grade
one with her socks pulled up high; her walking down Ayres Road
towards the bus stop, backpack bobbing; her smoking a cigarette on
the edges of the school oval; her drunk at Cathy Ropers party, eyes
heavy with dark liner.
Her at our debutante ball, dressed in white.
Her kissing him.
Her lying on the autopsy table with her body splayed open.
I cant even tell anymore whether the pictures are from my
memories or ones I came across during the case. After a while,
everything starts to blur together. A few times Ive got it all mixed
up and Ben ends up on my bedroom ceiling, sliced open on the
autopsy table. When that happens, I get up, turn on the hallway
lights and go into his room to check on him.
Once it was all over Ipromised to make a fresh start. To stop
letting the past weigh me down. But its been hard. Harder than
Ithought it would be. So much happened that summer. It lives on
inside me somehow, writhing around like a living beast.
Its weird, but in a way its sort of like Imiss her.
I miss a lot of people.
One memory I do have that I know is real is from our final
year of high school English. It was warm and the windows were
open on both sides of the classroom. I can still feel the breeze
that ruffled across us as Mrs Frisk roamed around the room firing
questions at us. We were studying Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.
This class was different from the English classes in earlier years.
If you made it this far, you were serious. Even the boys would
generally pay attention. No one sniggered at the love scenes like
they had a few years earlier.
Rose always sat up the front, her back ruler-straight from years
of ballet, her thick caramel hair spilling down it like a wave. Ialways

viii

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 THE DARK LAKE

sat near the door on the other side of the room. Icould look at her
from there. Watch her perfect movements.
What do you think Shakespeare is getting at when he declares
that these violent delights have violent ends? Mrs Frisks forehead
beaded with sweat as she stalked around the edges of the room,
stepping in and out of sun puddles.
Well, its foreboding, isnt it? offered Kevin Whitby. You
know theyre doomed from the start. Shakespeare wants you to
know that. He loved a good warning to set the scene. These days
hed be writing shit-hot anti-drug ads.
Soft laughter bubbled up from the class.
Its a warning, sure, but I dont think hes saying they should
stop.
Everyone paused, caught in the honey of Roses voice. Even
Mrs Frisk stopped pacing.
Rose leaned forward over her notebook. I mean, Shakespeare
goes on to say, And in their triumph die, like fire and powder.
Which as they kiss consume. So hes basically saying everything has
consequences. Hes not necessarily saying its not worth it. Ithink
hes suggesting that sometimes things are worth doing anyway.
Mrs Frisk nodded enthusiastically. Rose makes an important
point. Shakespeare was big on consequences. All of his plays circle
around characters who weigh up the odds and choose to behave in
a certain way based on their assessments.
They didnt make great choices for the most part, said Kevin.
They all had pretty bad judgment.
I disagree. Rose looked at Kevin in a way that was hard to cat
egorise as either friendly or annoyed. Romeo and Juliet were all-in
right from the start, even though they knew it probably wasnt going
to end well. She smiled at Mrs Frisk. I think that kind of conviction
is admirable. Plus, its possible that the happiness they felt in their

ix

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 SARAH BAILEY

short time together outweighed any other happiness theyd have felt
if they lived their whole lives apart. She shrugged delicately. But
who knows. Those are just my thoughts.
I think about that day often. The fresh fragrant air pouring
through the windows as we debated the story of the two young
lovers. Rose lit by the sun, her beautiful face giving nothing away.
Her elegant hands diligently making notes, her writing perfect
compared to my own crude scrawl. Even back then, she was a
mystery that Iwanted to solve.
There were a few minutes when I was alone with her in the
autopsy room. Ifelt wild. Absent. Before Icould stop myself Iwas
leaning close to her, telling her everything. The words draining out
of me as she lay there. Her long damp hair hanging off the back of
the steel table. Glassy eyes fixed blindly on the ceiling. She was still
so beautiful, even in death.
Our secrets circled madly around the bright white room that
morning. Rocking back and forth on my heels as Istood next to
her, Iknew how far in Iwas again, how comprehensively her death
could undo me. Ilooked at Rosalind Ryan properly for the last time
before breathing deeply, readying myself, letting her pull me back
into her world, and Isank down, further and further, until Iwas
completely, utterly under.

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 Chapter One
Saturday, 12 December, 7.18 am

Connor Marsh jogs steadily around the east side of Sonny Lake. He
throws a quick glance at his watch. He is making great time and it
feels good being out of the house and running in the fresh air. The
kids were crazy this morning; theyd woken at six and were still
bouncing off the walls when he left the house an hour later. The
place is way too small for two little kids, especially boys, he thinks.
And Mia was in such a foul mood. He cant believe that she had a go
at him about the fishing trip next weekend. He hasnt been away in
ages and has been taking the boys to footy or soccer every Saturday
morning for over two years now. Connor grimaces, frustrated at
how unreasonable she can be.
His feet pound along the dusty track, making an even beat.
One, two, one, two. Connor often finds himself counting when he
is trying not to think too much about running. His legs burn more
than they used to and his ankle hasnt been the same since he fell
off the ladder at work a few years back. Still, he is fitter than most
guys his age. And he has a full head of hair. Lots to be grateful for.
The day starts to wake in earnest. Connor catches glimpses of
the sun through the messy tips of the gums. Another scorcher is

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 SARAH BAILEY

on the way. Birds trill from their lookouts and the wispy haze of
sleep across the lake is starting to clear. Connor sighs. Hes taking
the kids to a fifth birthday party at ten, followed by a seven-year-
olds birthday party this afternoon. Weekends sure are different
these days. He would give almost anything to crack open a beer
and watch the cricket in peace.
Connor steps heavily on a stick. It flicks up and scratches along
his shin.
Shit. He stumbles before regaining his balance. The cut stings
as it breaks into a thin red line. He slows his jogging, panting. He
wont bother doing another lap now; he needs to head back home
anyway to help get the kids ready for their party marathon. Walking,
he places his hands on his hips as his heartbeat calms, breathing
jaggedly from his mouth.
A duck flies low across the water, wings outstretched. Rubbish dots
the edges of the lake. Chip packets and Coke bottles are held hostage
by the rocks and submerged branches. The heat has caused the lake to
creep away from its banks. Tree roots are exposed like electric wires.
Connors eyes scan the water. He really should come running here
more often; get back into a routine. He can remember training here
for athletics years ago, doing laps around the track before school,
the burn in his thighs. He notices the gaping eye of the stormwater
drain, pitch black against the glare as it disappears into the clay wall
of the lake. A little further along, Connor notices something caught
at the waters edge; it appears to be made from some kind of fabric.
He squints and realises he is looking at hair swirling out past a line of
reeds. His feet lock to the ground. It looks like human hair, a womans
blonde hair. His heartbeat picks up again. His limbs feel hollow. Two
steps forward confirm it is indeed a woman face down in the lake.
Bare white arms are visible every time the water ripples and long-
stemmed red roses bob across the top of her watery grave.

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 THE DARK LAKE

A cluster of swans watches Connor from under the old wooden

bridge. One of the birds lets out a low, haunting cry.
He drops to his knees and worries for a moment that he will be
sick. His breathing slows and then quickens again. He looks back
at the body and then jerks his gaze away. Barely thinking, he dials
triple zero and thrusts his phone against his ear.

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 Chapter Two
Saturday, 12 December, 7.51 am

I stand in the shower with my head against the wall as blood oozes out
of me. Ihad guessed Iwas about six weeks along but hadnt been sure
exactly. Iwonder if my denial has made this happen; my complete
lack of acceptance. My sheer desperation for it not to be real. The
blood mixes with the water before it disappears down the drain and
Isqueeze my eyes shut and wish Iwas a little girl again, tucked up
in bed, my mothers soft pout of a kiss pressing against my forehead.
God, Imiss her.
Scott left early this morning to beat the traffic. Hes secured a
couple of weeks concreting work on a large housing development
just north of Paxton, a town about thirty ks east of Smithson. Ben
is at my dads; he slept there last night because of our early starts.
Dad will be getting jumped on about now. Ben is always so cuddly
in the mornings.
I can hear my phone ringing but Idont move. The cool tiles feel
firm and reassuring against my skin as Ispread my palms out on
either side of my face. Trying to focus. Trying to feel normal. After
a few minutes Ilift my head. My vision takes a while to adjust. My
guts ache, the pain settling in low and deep.

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 THE DARK LAKE

Im exhausted. Ifeel separate to my body. To my mind.

I know Ishould probably go to the hospital but Ialso know that
Iprobably wont.
The bathroom is misty with steam. The bleeding seems to have
slowed. I wash myself carefully and turn off the tap. The pipes
shudder through the walls. Istep out of the shower and pull a dark
grey towel around me. Ilook at the mirror but Iam just a blur in
the fog. In the bedroom, I throw the covers across the bed and
kick a slipper underneath it, stopping for a moment and leaning
forward to catch my breath as sharp pain runs through me again.
Idress quickly, lining my pants with a pad before pulling on black
jeans, a plain grey t-shirt, low black boots. The temperature is
climbing steadily and the leftover heat from yesterday still lingers
unpleasantly in the house. Ipour a glass of water and throw back
a couple of Nurofen. Then, staring at the wall, Ithink about the
day of loose ends in front of me: paperwork, a few reports to
follow up, a cold case Jonesy has asked me to review. Ipicture my
small desk in the middle of the stations main room and wish that
Ihad an office. My mobile rings again as Iam towel-drying my
hair: its Felix, and Ilook at his name on my phone and think a
million things.
Yep, hi. Ikeep my voice light. Im on my way. Im just about to
walk out the door.
Go straight to the lake, Gem, he says, and I love the way his
accent curls around my name.
I try to understand what hes saying. Why? Whats happened?
A bodys been found. Its a teacher from Smithson. A Rosalind
Ryan.
The room turns upside down. Isit heavily on the bed as Iclutch
at my throat, forcing myself to breathe. Felix keeps talking, oblivi-
ous. She used to be a student there too, apparently. Your age. You
probably knew her.

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 SARAH BAILEY

Set in between a burst of mountain ranges, Smithson is a little oasis
of greenery in the middle of endless fawn-coloured acres of Aussie
farmland. Smithson is known for catching the rain that runs from
the mountains, which is ironic as its the surrounding farms that
actually need it. Its changed a lot over the past decade. Carling
Enterprises, a major cannery business, built a manufacturing plant
on the outskirts of the town in the late nineties, just as Iwas finish-
ing school. The large silver structure already looks grossly out of
date but is nevertheless a hive of activity. It milks the surrounding
area dry, sucking the fruit from the trees and yanking the vege-
tables from the ground, and in return spits out over ten million
cans of tinned fruit and vegetables every year. This productivity
has slowly but steadily grown Smithson from a modest population
of just under fifteen thousand to one of almost thirty thousand.
Factory workers, truck drivers, engineers, food scientists, market-
ing people: new faces are everywhere. Suddenly, Smithson, the
Noahs Ark town that had always proudly boasted two of everything,
multiplied. There are five bakeries now, and thats just in the town
centre. Someone told me that Carling does this all over the world:
bases itself in regional areas where the land is cheap and permits
are easy to come by, and implants its business into a community,
completely changing the landscape and the culture. In fairness,
Smithson probably needed a bit of a kick in the arse, but it can be
unsettling watching the giant trucks descend on our little world,
the roads groaning under their weight, the smoke streaming out
behind them.
To the east of the town centre is a large lake surrounded by dense
bushland and a popular community park. Sonny Lake is really
Smithson Lake but no one ever calls it that. Idont know why, but

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 THE DARK LAKE

its been Sonny Lake as long as Ican remember. Even the road signs
read This Way to Sonny Lake. My parents were married there in a
very bohemian ceremony back in the seventies. Ive got a photo of
Mum from that day on my bedside table. It was taken just after she
and Dad said their vows. There are daisies in her hair and a glass of
punch in her hand. She looks about twelve.
The lake backs onto the main high school. When I was in
primary school Iused to come down here with Mum to feed the
ducks and to hunt for four-leaf clovers in the grass. In my high
school days, the lake was where we came to smoke cigarettes,
drink stolen alcohol and kiss boys. The old gazebo on the little
bridge across the water provided the perfect place for a ghostly
sance, and the ancient wooden tower in a nearby clearing was
a great vantage point from which to see if someone was coming.
Once you climbed its creaky, winding staircase, you reached a
lookout where you could see the entire lake, the main highway
and all the way to the high school. It was also a great place to hide.
Before he died, Jacob and Ihad spent hours up there talking and
kissing and more. Iclose my eyes briefly, picturing his young face.
He feels so far away now.
I try to avoid coming here.

Sonny Lake is already swarming with cops who are fencing off
nosy passers-by. The lake is a popular hangout in the summer and,
around two years ago, the council built one of those modern, soft-
edged playgrounds at the north of the park to complement the
rickety old one that remains to the west, but Ive never thought to
bring Ben; there are way too many memories lurking around for a
Sunday afternoon play date.

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 SARAH BAILEY

Several people in jogging gear huddle nearby, talking quietly to

each other as Iwalk past. Then Ispot him. Detective Sergeant Felix
McKinnon, my partner. My insides bubble gently and as always
I marvel at the effect he has on me. His brow is furrowed as he
bends down to talk to one of the forensic guys who is brushing
at the ground just off the path. I see a white tarp a little further
down in the reeds. Casey, our photographer, is snapping away to
the leftof it.
I allow myself to process the fact that Rosalind Ryan is dead.
Isuddenly feel startled to find myself a fully grown adult. Iremember
how her summer school dress moulded to her womanly figure.
I remember the way my own uniform brushed below my knees,
how I tried to pin it at the waist and the hem to look more like
hers. Ibreathe deeply and exhale slowly. Walking down towards the
lake, Iset my face to blank. Itry to block out the well-worn images
of Rosalind that are fighting to settle in my vision. Itry to block out
everything. The sun is cracking through the last of the clouds and
beats down like fire. The air is sharp. Dry. We are going to have to
move quickly. We need to get her out of here.
Hey, Isay.
Hi. Felix smiles up at me, squinting into the sun. You okay?
My vision blurs with patches of white. Yep. Ishrug his question
away. Igesture to the white tarp. What are you thinking?
Hard to say. We IDd her from a coin purse in her jacket that
had a school library card in it. Theres nothing else on her except for
her keys, which were also in her jacket. No phone or bag that weve
been able to find yet. He wipes at his forehead, already beaded with
sweat. Fuck its hot. Felix is still trying to get used to the relent-
less heat that invades Smithson every Christmas. She was in the
water when the guy found her but Anna doesnt think she drowned.
She thinks she was strangled. But theres also a nasty injury on her

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 THE DARK LAKE

head. No visible stab or gunshot wounds. Well know more when

we move her, obviously. He staggers to his feet. A few grey hairs
glint above his ears. The skin around his eyes wrinkles as his gaze
meets mine. Ilook away before Icant.
So did you know her? Remember her from school? he asks.
I nod and look out across the lake. Two ducks bob along side by
side, the beautiful markings on their faces like stage masks.
Shes not the kind of person you forget.
Yeah, Ifigured. Were you friends though?
It was high school! We were all friends until we werent. You
know what its like when youre that age.
He raises his eyebrows and looks as if hes about to say some-
thing else, so Icut him off before he can. Felix, is this our case?
Hes still looking at me curiously but says, I think so. I was
in when the call came through and Jonesy asked me to call you.
Matthews might kick up a stink but yeah, Ireckon its ours.
A familiar current pulls through me. A new case. My head
clicks into gear as Itry to start firming up the possibilities. But
its Rosalind Ryan lying dead over there in the water, Ithink. Its
her. My usually reliable brain is stuck on an image of her face and
it glitches over and over like a buggy computer screen. The click
of Caseys camera forms a steady beat behind us and the sound
bores into my ears. Ideliberately take a few deep breaths before
Isay, Good. Ireally want to work this one. Look Ifinally turn
to meet Felixs eye I knew her a bit from school but its not an
issue. Honestly. Itry to ignore the throbbing in my abdomen. So
who found her?
That guy over there with Jimmy. He went to Smithson High too,
but Ithink hes older than you. Hes pretty shaken up. His wife is
coming to get him soon. Names Marsh.
I look at the well-built man clad in running garb sitting on a

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 SARAH BAILEY

park bench with Jimmy, one of our constables. Ithink the man is
Phillip Marshs older brother. Idont think weve ever spoken.
Ill go and talk to him.
Okay. Dont be too longwe need to take a look at her before
we get out of here.
I make my way over to our witness, trying to remember his
name. Spencer? Cooper? Something like that. Hello.
Jimmy and the man look up at me.
Im Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock.
Jimmy smiles at me briefly. This is Connor Marsh. He found the
body of the young lady this morning. He was running laps.
Hi, Connor, Isay.
To be honest Iwas only going to do one. One lap. Im not as fit
as Iused to be. Connor doesnt look at me as he speaks. His eyes
are fixed on a stick near his feet. He is nudging it back and forth
between them.
Tell me about when you first saw the body, Isay.
He kicks at the stick again. God, it was so weird. You know? He
looks up at me again and theres a flash of recognition in his eyes. Im
pretty sure that after Ifinished school and started going to the gym
behind the library Id see him there lifting weights. He squints and
turns his gaze to the lake. I was running. Just down there, along the
bend. He points down to a curve in the path about twenty metres
from Rosalinds body. I wasnt thinking. Well, you know what Imean:
I wasnt thinking about anything in particular. I was just running.
Idecided not to do another lap and started to slow down and then
Isaw her in the water. He breathes out heavily. I didnt know what
she was at first. Thought it was probably rubbish or something. And
then I sort of realised what I was looking at in a weird moment.
Itotally freaked out. Connor pushes his hair back from his eyes and
says, I heard one of the cops say shes a teacher at the school.

10

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 THE DARK LAKE

I hold his gaze but Isay nothing and keep my expression neutral.
I know the one. She went there too, like us. She was really pretty.
Connor looks at me. Probably in your year, Ireckon.
Jimmys head snaps towards me. Iignore him.
Connor, did you notice anyone else this morning? Anyone
hanging around? Anything at all that you can remember might be
helpful.
He is looking at the ground again. Inotice the top of a tattoo
snaking out of his ankle sock. It looks like the Smithson Saints
Football Club emblem. I dont think I saw anyone. Maybe there
was a girl in her car when Ifirst pulled up in the car park. Talking
on her phone. Ithink Iremember that.
Anything else? Ipress.
I dont think so. Well, not really. I think I ran past someone
walking their dog at some point. A guy, I think. An older guy
maybe. Sorry, it was pretty early and Iwasnt paying attention.
Thats okay. If you recall anything else just let us know.
Do the flowers mean anything?
The flowers?
Connor nods. Yeah, there were flowers around her in the water.
Looked like roses.
I exchange a look with Jimmy. He shrugs subtly. We cantspecu
late at this stage. Well obviously be investigating everything.
Ispeak smoothly but my blood has turned white-hot.
Can I go soon? My wife is coming to get me but shell have
the kids with her, so Ithink Ishould wait near the car park. He
glances down towards the crime scene and shivers despite the heat.
Nothere.
Thats fine, mate, Ill come with you.
Jimmys calmness is always reassuring. Hed make a great voice-
over artist selling life insurance or something.

11

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 SARAH BAILEY

Hey, Connor, one more thing, Isay as they get up. You didnt
touch the body, did you?
No way. Ididnt even go very close. To be honest, Im not good
with stuff like that.
A good way to be, mate, a good way to be, Jimmy says, leading
Connor away.
Rocking onto the balls of my feet, I survey the scene again.
A couple of young girls wearing neon running shoes and black
lycra are clutching at each other, their faces ashen. Theyre
probably Smithson students, Ithink, grimacing. There are a few
mothers cautiously pushing their children on the swings and
half-heartedly helping them to navigate the slide as they fix their
eyes squarely on the activity near the edge of the lake. Ican hear
the low hum of a chopper approaching. Bloody reporters. We
need to keep moving.
Felix sees me coming and breaks away from the techs, raising his
eyebrows in a question.
The guys clear, Itell Felix. Saw nothing, knows nothing. Well
pull him in later today or tomorrow to get it all logged and double-
check with his wife for an alibi, but Idoubt he can help us.
I didnt think so, says Felix. Well, cmon, lets talk to Anna and
get this done so we can get moving.
I was going to suggest that exact thing.
We smile briefly at each other as we walk along the rocks to
where the reeds start. I see the dark entrance to the stormwater
drain and cant help feeling that someone could be watching us
from in there.
Hey, Isay to Felix, shaking the paranoia away, whats with the
flowers? Connor Marsh said her body was covered in them.
Yeah, he says, turning his head so Ican hear him. Long-stemmed
red roses were floating all around her in the water. Fucking creepy.

12

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 THE DARK LAKE

I picture it, thinking for a brief moment how perfect she would
have looked covered in roses under different circumstances, and
keep following Felix. Suddenly I experience a jolt of emotion so
strong, Ithink Iwill fall into the water. This cant be real. Ifocus on
remaining upright, my eyes fixed on the back of Felixs head, and
breathe deeply.
Grey water laps gently at the brown dirt under my boots
and then Isee it: a foot, pale and ethereal, floating out from beneath
the tarp. I remember watching Rose on the podium at the end
of the local pool on a swimming sports day, her dainty feet squared
together as she bent down low, snapping her goggles on, ready to
jump into the water.
Hey, Gem! Annas head appears from the other side of the tarp.
Hi, Anna, Isay, shielding my face from the sun and stepping
over a dirty plastic bag, crab-walking along the edge towards her.
Anna is standing knee-deep in the lake in her waterproof scrubs.
She looks like an astronaut. Ican tell she is hot; her face is red and
her fringe sticks to her forehead in messy little lines.
Right, she says, when we are close enough. Well, guys, you
know the drill. We have a deceased female, twenty-eight years
of age. Her birthday wouldve been on Christmas Day, actually,
according to her ID, which is a Smithson Secondary College teach-
ers library card. Shes been dead for at least five hours, but it could
be up to eight; the water makes it hard to tell. Ill be able to be more
accurate later. Like Isaid to McKinnon earlier, Ithink she was dead
before she hit the water. Theres a large wound on the side of her
head. Id guess she was struck with a rock or something with rough
edges but this should be clear when we do the autopsy. There might
be dirt or gravel that confirms the weapon. Id say she was stran-
gled too, based on the marks on her neck, and obviously Ill want
to run tox as well. Im thinking lovers tiff. Or a random attack,

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 SARAH BAILEY

especially if her wallet is missing. Anna pushes damp hair away

from her eyes. Either way, this isnt pretty. It looks like shes been
assaulted too: her underwear is missing and there is some bruising
around her thighs and upper arms. Again, Ill know more when we
get her back to base. But Ican rule out suicide and accidental death
for you. This is a homicide.
I look at Felix. He is staring down at Rosalind, seemingly deep
in thought.
Anna gestures for the forensic team to come and get Roses body.
The reporters have arrived and are roaming up and down the police
line like hungry lions. Isee the black puff of a microphone bobbing
along above the small crowd. The glint of a camera lens. The flick of
sleek, TV-ready hair.
Great, the last thing Ineed today is a run-in with pocket-rocket
reporter Candy Fyfe.
Anna puts her hands on her hips. Okay, guys, Im done here.
Weve taken all the shots and bagged everything. Nothing that
I think will be helpful. Mind you, theres bloody rubbish every-
where. Water never helps.
Yep, much better if everyone was killed in the middle of a wide
open sports field on a still day, says Roger cheerily. Roger is one of
our longest-serving forensics. Hes been with the Smithson police
force for almost forty years and has a perpetually sunny attitude
regardless of the situation. I often picture him at home, happily
telling his wife about his cases: Yes, the dead girl was strangled, it
seems, murdered in cold blood. Pass the salt, please, darling.
Roger and Fred, our other forensic guy, pull up the tarp and place
the stretcher carefully underneath Roses left side. Above us is the
belly of a low-flying helicopter, and Icome around the right side to
block the view of her body. Rose is pulled onto the white surface.
Her face is exactly as Iremember it. A Disney princess beauty: her

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 THE DARK LAKE

even features waiting patiently for a princes kiss. When Iheard a

few years ago that shed returned to Smithson and was a teacher at
the school, Iwas disappointed. Iwanted better for her than that.
Her hair hangs to the side, and Fred picks it up and pulls it along
her face so that it rests across her shoulder and down the side of her
arm. He looks at her as if she is a sleeping child. Iremember that
Freds wife had their first baby a few months ago and Iwonder what
is going through his mind.
Rosalinds toenails are painted a vivid blue and there are silver
rings on her fingers. Her brows and lashes are dark against her
pale skin. I remember trying to re-create those eyebrows in my
bedroom. Even though my colouring was much darker than hers,
it had never looked right.
Fred and Roger close the body bag around her. The marks on her
neck are almost black. Her dark chocolate eyes stare unflinching into
the burning sun. The harsh buzz of the zip and then she is gone.
Right, well, Ill see you all soon, Im sure. Annas already
checking her phone as she walks off towards the car park.
We instruct the field team to begin the search.
Start with the area around the lake, Itell Charlie, our field lead.
Then move into the playground and the bushland. And get rid of
all these people. Its a bloody nightmare.
Several uniforms start instructing people on the outskirts of the
police tape to leave. Iwatch as a teenage boy casually holds out his
phone and takes a photo of Rosalinds body being bundled into an
ambulance before sprinting off towards the town centre.
Were already running out of time to get in front of this thing.
I turn back to the lake. The water gives nothing away.
Once everything is set in motion, we get into my car and head
back to the station. Felix is listening to voicemails. He reaches over
and gives my hand a slow squeeze. A deep shiver plays through me.

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 SARAH BAILEY

Ipull my hand away and flick on the radio to drown out the buzz
in my ears. The ache has settled deep in my groin where my belt is
pressing and Ishift my weight, trying to placate it. Icant tell how
much Im still bleeding and want desperately to get to the bathroom
at work. Iwant to be alone.
I brake suddenly, seeing a red light just in time. Felix throws
me a look but Ikeep my gaze on the road. Rosalind Ryan is dead.
Rosalind Ryan is dead, Ithink, over and over. And then Ithink that
somehow Ialways knew that something like this would happen.

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 Sarah Bailey is a Melbourne-based writer with a background in
advertising and communications. She has two young children
and currently works as a director of creative projects company
Mr Smith. Over the past five years she has written a number of
short stories and opinion pieces. The Dark Lake is her first novel.

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