A Family Secret

My great grandfather had found me when I re-entered Gayndah, Queensland, and checked back into Hover and Grove’s Caravan Park. No clue how, no clue why. Sure it concerned me, considering the safety measures I put in to ensure my family did not know I was investigating my mother’s and grandmother’s suspicious deaths.

The receptionist at the park had handed me the letter from who claimed to be my great-grandfather wanting me to see him at the Maryborough nursing home.

Dear Edwina,

I am John, your great-grandfather on your mother’s side of the family. I truly doubt your grandfather spoke about me, he never did like me that much.

The reason why I’m reaching out is because I’m dying and hold some important information regarding your grandmother’s death. You are investigating her aren’t you?

Please call the Maryborough Nursing Home, I don’t have much time, about a week left they reckon.

Sincerely,

Great-Grandpa John

Confusion washed through me. Nobody ever spoke of my mum’s side of the family. For all I knew this person was telling the truth, or was someone or wanted to scare me.

‘Wasn’t there a family tree around here?’ I asked Kimi. The pup beside me cocked his head to the side not fully understanding the English sentence. ‘That’s okay, I know you don’t speak English. God! It has to be around here somewhere.’

I patted his head and scuffled through the loose papers on the floor of my van, all from the three boxes of evidence from my grandmother’s and mother’s cases.

‘Ah ha! Found it,’ I exclaimed as I gripped onto the A3 piece of paper.

I didn’t need to look far to see John Michaels on my mum’s side of the family. It was a very bizarre family tree.

What I was looking at were the women stemming from my mother’s side all dying within two years of their only child being born. Meanwhile, each men they married had one or more sibling, and they’re mothers were still alive.

What was causing the women on the maternal side to die?

My mother was healthy for all I know according to my paternal grandmother. Her death was a mystery to us all, especially as dad refused to talk about her or acknowledge she even existed. All I knew was that she ended up wrapped around a tree along the Flinders Highway, but she was fully alert, driving the speed limit, no alcohol or drugs in her system. It was very bizarre indeed, but then again, things happen. A Kangaroo could’ve jumped across the road for all we knew.

Granddad never spoke about her either, only ever stating how much I looked like her with my long wavy auburn hair. How he looked at me sent shivers down my spine.

Since being on the road, I dyed it chocolate, darkening it. I may have temporarily ruined the interior of my van’s bathroom, but it was well worth it; I no longer looked like my mum or grandma.

‘What did they die from?’ I asked the air as I highlighted the death dates or the mothers and birth dates of the children, including mine. ‘Police claim suicide for gran, car accident for mum, but what about all the others?’

There were so many coincidences. Neither mum nor gran died by natural causes. There was nothing about the older women in the family to signify any genetic cause or if an illness was the cause of death.

I phoned up the nursing home to ensure that the person who sent me the letter was in fact John Michaels and not some random who wanted to spook me.

‘It is John Michaels. A mister Thomas Marrow had booked him here several years ago now,’ the receptionist said.

That was mighty impressive from my granddad. How I had managed to go 25 years without knowing anything about my great-granddad was mighty impressive. Shows just how secretive the men were, but why?

‘Oh, okay.’ There was a short awkward pause. ‘He said that he wanted to see me?’

‘Yes, you’re currently in Gayndah aren’t you?’

How did they know that?

‘Uh, yeah, about 1.5 hours away.’

‘Great, we’ll see you tomorrow.’

Two beeps rang through the phone and I pulled it away from my ear.

‘Dammit. Whatever he needs to tell me, better be worth the three hour round trip.’

Nobody could know what I was up to. Not even Cooper. I couldn’t raise any alarm bells.

I packed up the evidence in their correct folders and placed them into their corresponding boxes. Ensuring every last page was right where it needed to be. I dragged the boxes along the floor and lifted the mattress up, using the boxes as leverage to keep it up as I dropped them in one by one into the vault.

My technique had gotten better over the past several days and found a few tricks to hoist the mattress without hurting myself. I was quite proud.

‘Ready to head on out again?’ I asked my dachshund.

I ensured that every latch was closed and that my shower and toilet were in the driving position. Kimi’s ramp placed in the underfloor compartments along with his emptied food and water bowls. All that was left to do was lock Kimi into his car seat and i could head back onto the road.

What on earth could this man say that could make this trip so worth it? And how did he know where I was?

Who was I kidding.

I wasn’t safe anymore.

‘Cooper needs to know.’ I turned the engine over. ‘Hey Google,’ I said clearly towards my phone. ‘Call Cooper.’

‘Calling Cooper,’ Google replied as I drove out of my camping spot.

‘Hey Wins, what’s up?’ Cooper’s cheery voice echoed through the speakers almost straightaway.

‘I may have run into a little problem,’ I replied. ‘I didn’t want to tell you, but I have to.’

‘Okay?’

‘I think I’m being followed.’

‘That’s a pretty big claim, are you sure?’

‘A letter arrived, I just parked and opened it. I literally just re-entered the camp ground in Gayndah. It was here waiting for me at the front desk when I checked in.’

‘Holy shit!’

‘It gets better.’

‘How?! How can it possibly get better?’

‘It’s from John Michaels, my maternal great-grandfather. He’s at in Maryborough at one of the town’s nursing homes.’

‘Sweet Jesus, I gotta tell Tulls.’

‘Just get a unit to the one at the home, they can check the van. I don’t know who’s following me, but …’

‘I got you. Tulls is here with me now, he’s called officers to get there when you arrive.’

That’s all I ever could have asked for. I hung up and continued out of town towards the town of Maryborough.

***

Just as I pulled into the driveway of the nursing home facility, a police car pulled up beside me.

‘PI Hollinville?’ The officer asked.

‘Yes,’ I replied.

‘You requested back up for a potential following?’ I nodded. ‘You’re part of the team that Detective Sam Tully is running?’

‘Yes Constable …’ I couldn’t read his name badge.

‘Guliford,’ he replied. ‘I’ll check the van out, but can you please tell me where you’ve been first?’

‘Of course.’ I took a deep breath in and exhaled as I spoke. ‘I left Brisbane at approximately 11.40 am five days ago and got into Gayndah at around 3.40pm after stopping for groceries at the local IGA probably around 3.20pm? I don’t know the exact times.

‘I then headed to Malborough/Sarina road at 9.20am the next day, stopping at my grandmother’s, or really grandfather’s, Ford Galaxie. Then headed to a woman named Jacqueline’s place I don’t know the exact times, I’ll have to check my notes. Umm, then I got to the Homestead in Sarina to speak to locals. Spent a couple of days there. Then I came back to Hover and Grove’s Caravan Park about two hours ago.’

‘Alright, I’ll check the car for any Air Tags or other tracker devices.’

‘Thank you, mind watching Kimi, he’s my 10 month old dachshund.’

‘Of course.’

Me - 12.45pm: At the home now. A Constable Guliford is checking out my van now.

Cooper - 12.46pm: Awesome, he’s a good one. And don’t worry, we’ll make sure everything is good from our end too. Did anyone give you the impression that they talk to your family members?

Me - 12.46pm - No. Anyway, will talk once I’m out. I’ll get recordings.

Cooper - 12.47pm - Be safe.

I headed into the reception, my body cam switched on. There was no telling what may arise during this meeting and I needed to be prepared.

‘Hi, I’m Edwina Hollinville for Mr John Michaels,’ I said to the receptionist.

She nodded and passed me the sign in form.

‘I’ll take you to him,’ she said.

‘Thank you.’

I followed her down the hallway that smelt like a mix of sterilisation, body waste, and old people; a very odd combo.

‘He’s right down the end to your right,’ she said. ‘Room 143.’

‘Thank you,’ I replied.

I continued down, passing an open courtyard area on the right, packed to the brim with elderly patrons enjoying a book reading in the sun. It was a nice place despite the eery air from being in an old persons’ home.

R-143.

I knocked loudly, unsure of my great-grandfather’s hearing ability.

‘Nurse Herron, that you?’ A frail voice called.

‘No sir, it’s me, Edwina,’ I replied.

‘Ahh, come in my child.’

It was a large room with one hospital bed in the centre, coming out from the wall. The place smelt of hand sanitiser, they must’ve just cleaned in here, it was a strong scent than that in the hall. Blinds were open, letting in the gorgeous sun through the windows. His room had the most beautiful view of flower beds.

‘You got my letter?’

‘Yes, I did.’ I replied. ‘Say, how did you find me?’

‘Your grandfather told me,’ he said.

‘But —’

He smirked wickedly, it was the same look my granddad would give me. Shivers ran down my spine but I held onto my composure.

‘Now shall we get onto why I called you here?’

‘Fine,’ I replied. ‘Though I am curious as to know how he found me.’

‘We men must stick together.’

Curiouser and curiouser. What the hell is going on?

I did have a few thoughts now of what this man could possibly want, none of them good. My body cam my only means of protection now.

‘You’ve probably seen your family tree by now,’ he said, his voice changing projection and pitch, dropping low and husky.

‘Y — yes,’ I replied.

‘I killed your great-grandmother.’

Well that was predictable; still unbelievable though. ‘How’d you do it?’

‘I made it look like she killed herself. I took the knife, stood behind her and drove the knife into her abdomen. Twirled it around. Took it out and stabbed and twirled it twice more.’

He was reliving it as he spoke. There was a slight twinkle in his eye as he spoke that caused more shivers to run down my spine. My heart rate spiked.

‘And police didn’t suspect you?’

‘Why would they? It looked like a suicide.’

‘So there was a note?’

‘Oh yes, there was a note. Forced her to write it too.’ He took his frail arm and haphazardly pointed towards his closet. ‘There’s a box in there. I want you to pull it out and take it. Has all the evidence if you don’t believe me.’

‘Why are you telling me this now?’

‘Darling, I’m dying, what’s the point of taking this to my grave? Might as well tell the truth now.’

I shrugged.

He unfortunately had a point.

I pulled a pair of gloves from the “medium” box and moved a chair over to the melamine cabinet.

‘So, can you shed any light onto why every women on my mother’s side of the family died after their first born were born?’ I asked as I pulled down the discoloured plastic box from the top shelf. It had a label stating “Francesca’s belongings”. This was getting weirder by the second and I wanted to get out of there but I needed to know if my granddad killed my gran. The evidence I had sure pointed in that direction.

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Yeah you do. Your wife died just a year after gran was born, then gran died just days after my mum was born. Mum died two years after I was born.’

‘No clue what you’re talking about,’ he repeated sternly. ‘Take the bloody box and get out of here before I change my mind.’

The way he hissed at me was all too familiar. Both my dad and granddad had the same tendencies. I was too familiar with the belts and cigarette butts, a stern talking to was the lesser of the punishments but still instilled enough fear to obey.

There was definitely more to this story and I think I got it. Now it was only a matter of proving what I suspected, and it started with my great-grandfather’s box of Francesca’s belongings.

I practically sprinted back to my van where Constable Guliford was with my van door open for Kimi to allow the breeze to keep him cool.

‘My great-grandfather just admitted to killing my great-grand mother, this is her box of belongings may be trophies I’m not sure.’ I said to him.

The officer stared between me and the box, unsure of where to even begin.

‘We need to head to the station, will you be okay to drive?’

‘Uh, maybe?’

‘You look green, I’ll take the box.’ He took the box off me and motioned to Kimi who stared at me with the puppy dog eyes.

‘Let’s go for a ride Kims,’ I said to the pup, carrying him to the police vehicle.

The van was locked up tight and all I had to focus on now was the box that sat behind me.

‘Do you reckon he’s tellin’ the truth?’

‘I don’t know but I could tell that he was eyeballing me like a piece of meat. Like he wanted to either kill me or something. I’ve met a lot of people in my short career, but this — this takes the cake.’

‘Once we get to the station we’ll get you some water and food, and we’ll sort through the evidence together. Promised Coops I’d keep you safe, so long as you’re in Maryborough, I’ve got you.’

If Cooper trusted him, could I?

Am I safe at all?

I’ll just keep my body cam on, just in case. Can’t trust a soul now.