9. Jacaranda Summer

They swung their clasped hands together as they strolled down the alleyway in the moonlit night. The girl giggled a little in delight when the lad stopped and put his arm gently around her waist.

'Give us a kiss, luv', he said, his voice breaking slightly. The girl leaned forward and gave him a chaste peck on the cheek. 'Aww, Jess!' protested the boy pulling her in closer. But Jess broke from his grasp and danced away.

'I'll give you more than a kiss if you catch me, Bryan!' Jess tossed off the school bag she had looped over her shoulder and ran a short distance away. She looked back coyly at Bryan and made smacking sounds with her mouth.

'Jess! Don't be such a dag!' called Bryan as he started to trot after her in the dark. Jess turned and streaked off into the night with Bryan in hot pursuit.

…..

Sergeant Bill Hobart looked sadly down at Jessie Hamilton, only 16 and lying dead in the backyard of her Nan's place. Like a rain of violet snow, the jacaranda tree she lay under had dropped a blanket of petals covering her with a brilliant shroud. A clashing splash of red on her forehead indicated how she had died. Bill could see 'Nanny' Beryl Hamilton sitting on the rear veranda watching him stoically. She had found Jessie early this morning when had she came out to feed the chooks. He could see the line of her footprints through the purple petals coming up to Jess, then scuffling back to the house. Nan had called him on his home phone, as they had known each other since Bill was a lad, she had been calm but insistent that she had wanted him to be the one see to her grandchild first. Bill had come over immediately after making a quick call to Lawson to report in and now he was waiting for back up and Doctor Blake to arrive.

Bill stood by the body, looking carefully but not disturbing the scene. He had felt Jessies' neck for a pulse, just in case, but she was stone cold. Jess was dressed in her blue checked summer school uniform with short white socks and black patent leather school shoes. He took careful note of how she was lying, flat on her back with her arms at her sides, her legs neatly together, shoes pointing to the sky. Her lovely long chestnut hair had come adrift from its ponytail and was splayed around her head, mixing in with the blossoms. Jess's blue eyes were open and staring lifelessly at the sky, violet petals dusting her face. All in all, she looked like a pre-Raphaelite romantic vision.

Stepping back gingerly and ducking under the low branches of the sprawling tree, Bill retraced his footprints through the purple petals. He made a slow circuit of the yard, his eyes scanning the ground. At the rear of back yard, just left of the chook shed was an open gate leading to the service alley behind. Bill stepped into the alley and looked left then right. About 100 feet or so to the right he spotted a school bag abandoned in the gutter. Striding quickly over he picked up the blue bag and peered inside to find a collection of various 5th form text books, binders, a pencil case and a blackened banana. Pulling out the maths text book he flipped it open to read on the fly leaf 'Jessie Hamilton, 5C'. Also scrawled on the inside cover was a drawing of a heart with 'I luv B.' scrawled inside it. Bill put the book back into the bag and hooking the bag over his arm he returned to the yard.

Bill was completing his circuit of the back yard when he heard Lawson's voice at the side gate. Glancing at Nan for permission, he strode over and opened the gate to let in Chief Inspector Lawson and Dr. Lucien Blake.

'Bill,' greeted Blake shortly.

'Doc,' responded Bill in acknowledgement.

'What have we got?' Lawson was equally brusque.

Bill flipped open his notepad; not that he needed to, it was just comfortable to have in his hand while he spoke, 'Young Jessica Hamilton, 16 years old, she lived with her Grandmother Beryl Hamilton. She was out late last night at the end of year school concert. Her Nan had gone to bed early so didn't know she hadn't come home. Found Jess under the jacaranda tree this morning when she came out to feed the chickens.' Bill nodded his head in the direction of the girls' body. Then he held out the school bag he had found, 'Looks like she dropped this in the alley behind the house.'

Lawson glanced inside the bag briefly. 'Ballarat High.'

Bill grunted in agreement.

'How is Mrs. Hamilton taking it?' asked Lawson.

Bill glanced up at Nan. 'Hard. Jess was her only grandchild, her son's girl. He died in Korea. Her daughter never married, lives over in Maldon.'

'Best you go sit with her while Blake and I have a look, okay? And call the daughter and see if she can get over here today.'

Bill nodded. As Blake and Lawson moved over to the girl's body, Bill turned and approached the rear veranda where Beryl 'Nan' Hamilton was sitting, staring out at the jacaranda tree. He looked up at her and asked, 'Mind if I join you Nan? Do you want a cuppa?'

Nan broke off her gaze from what was happening in the yard to look at Bill. Her watery blue eyes stared at him uncomprehending for a moment then she nodded at him. 'Please Bill, just sit here with me for a bit.'

Bill mounted the steps to the veranda, put the school bag down and sat on the bench next to Nan's chair. He reached over and gently took her hand in his. 'I'm so sorry, Nan. So sorry. Jess was a grand little sheila.'

Nan sighed, her eyes filled with tears. 'What'll I do now Bill? That's the last of my boy, John, gone. You're not supposed to outlive your grandchildren.' She shook her head miserably. Bill put his arm around Nan's shoulder and held her. After a bit he managed to cox her to her feet and bring her into the house. Bill didn't want Nan to see the Doc messing about with Nan. He sat her down in the kitchen and made her a strong cup of tea with lots of sugar in it. While she was drinking it, he called Nan's daughter June (her number was on the fridge) and told her what had happened. June would be there in about an hour or so, she said.

Bill returned to Nan and watched her carefully. She was a strong woman but he was worried how the shock had affected her. After a few moments Nan looked up at him and asked, 'Can I see her? Can I just go see her one more time before they take her away?'

Bill considered. 'Well Nan, if you are sure...?' Nan nodded tearfully.

'I am sure it will be alright but I need to ask the Doc first, you just sit here and finish your tea. I will be right back and get you.' Bill got up and strode out of the house, down the veranda steps and over to where Blake and Lawson were viewing the body. Blake was crouched down and carefully manipulating Jess's head and shoulders. Lawson stood to one side observing. Bill walked around the back of the tree behind them and ducking his head under a low branch.

'It's very strange,' Blake was musing, 'Look how she is positioned. Almost as if someone has laid her out like this, arms at the sides, legs straight…'

'Boss?' inquired Bill.

Lawson looked up in query, 'Yes?'

'Nan would really appreciate seeing Jess before the ambos take her away. She was too shook up earlier to really see her. You think that would be okay?'

Lawson considered and asked, 'Lucien? what do you think?'

Blake looked up from what he was doing and nodded. 'Can't see how it will hurt, she is a strong character from what Bill says. It may help her. I've seen everything I can here, anything else will need to be done in the morgue.'

Bill quickly turned to go back the way he came and almost ran into the low hung branch he had ducked earlier. Putting his hand out to steady himself he crouched under and slipped to the other side, his hand running over the dark bark of the tree. Bill stopped and looked down at his hand in shock, there was blood on it.

'Doc! Look at this,' Bill pointed out the blood on his hand and then looked closely at the branch. 'There's blood here, and look,' Bill pulled a long strand of chestnut brown hair that had been snagged on the rough bark of the branch.

Both Blake and Lawson came around to see what Bill had discovered. 'I think she clocked herself,' said Bill in surprise.

Blake nodded in agreement, 'I think you are right. Also, I cannot be certain until I have examined her more closely, but she may have broken her neck.'

Lawson blinked. 'She must have been pushed hard into the tree for that to happen...'

'Or,' mused Bill, 'was running from someone or something and forgot to duck.'

...

Lawson stood by the side gate and held the ambulance crew back while Bill careful held Nans arm and escorted her down the back stairs and over the lawn to where Jessie lay. Blake stood respectfully to one side as he watched Nan crouch down and gently stroke the girl's chestnut hair. She pulled a pair of small embroidery scissors out of the pocket of her apron and snipped off a long lock. Carefully coiling the tress, she tucked it into the pocket. Then she brought her hand to her mouth, kissed it, and transferred the 'kiss' to Jess's cold cheek.

'Goodbye my Jessie-girl. Love you. Be good.' She said with a catch in her voice.

Nan looked up to Bill who gave her his arm and helped her to rise. Bill walked her back into the house, where they sat together in the lounge room as the ambos took Jess away.

…

Blake came in to wait with Bill and Nan for June to arrive. He was concerned for Nan and offered a light sedative to help her sleep.

'No, Love. I'll be right. June will sit with me tonight.' Nan was adamant she did not need it.

Blake looked at her and considered. 'Well, I'll leave something with June just in case. Better to have it there and not need it than regret not taking it, eh?'

Nan just smiled at his sadly. 'At my age Love, you don't ever get much sleep anymore. The bones ache too much for comfort. Ach, I don't know what I'll do without my Jessie-girl! She was always willing to help out, such a joy to have around. Never was a bother like some girls are at that age.'

Bill looked over to Nan, this was just the segue he had been hoping for, 'No boy-trouble then, Nan?'

She gave a bit of a chuckle, 'Jess had a few fellas' panting after her for sure! But she was good as gold, there was nothing to them. Just all good mates.'

'So, nobody special, really?' Bill continued.

'That Bryan White bloke from the 6th form class seemed really interested. But Jess told me there wasn't anything serious between them. She was really keen to do well on her Leaving and get into the HSC so she could go to new Monash University in Melbourne. She was clever you know. Really smart. She used to sit under that there jac'randa tree while studying. Overgrown weed of a thing. Said if a blossom ever fell on her head it meant good luck for her exams.' Nan sighed. 'Said she was going to go to that university. Imagine that, University! And me never even getting to finish primary.'

Bill gently said. 'Not for the want of smarts, Nan. I know where Jess got that from.'

'Mum! Mum! Are you alright?' The front door swung open and Nan's daughter June ran in. She hurried to her mother's side and enveloped her in a hug, holding her tightly. All of Nan's carefully maintained composure broke and she began to weep in her daughters' arms.

…..

Bill and Doctor Blake took their leave of the two mourning women. Waiting outside for them was Lawson and the three met to compare notes.

Blake said. 'I'll do the autopsy this afternoon, but I don't think it will tell us much more than what we already suspect. Death from head trauma compounded by spinal injury in the neck.'

Lawson nodded. 'We just need to find out how it happened, and who laid her out like that and why.'

Bill spoke up. 'Nan said that she had an bloke, a 6th form boy, Bryan White. I don't know him, he doesn't have any form that I know of. But in her maths textbook she had written hearts around the letter 'B', so maybe more was going on there than Nan suspected.'

'Right,' said Lawson, 'Bill, head up to the High School and see if you can speak to the lad. Mind how you go Bill, don't frighten him, just talk.'

Bill grunted.

….

Bill waited uncomfortably outside the Principals' office at the Ballarat High School. He squirmed a little on the hard, wooden seat. This reminded him all too much of the times he had waited for a promised canning outside this very office. The receptionist looked at him with a steely gaze and bade him to enter.

It was a quick discussion with the Principal, John Halliday. Halliday was shocked and saddened to hear of Jessies' death. No, she had been no trouble, rather, a joy to teach. She had been a clever girl and only last night had brought honour to the school with her reading of some Shakespeare sonnets at the concert. She was going to be sadly missed. The Principal was concerned but agreed to pull Bryan White out of his afternoon English Literature class to talk to Bill. A page for 'Bryan White to come to the office' was promptly announced over the school P.A.

...

Bill waited in an unused school room for Bryan to be brought to him to interview. Desks and chairs were lined in rows. A map of the world showing the red of the Commonwealth was pinned to one wall and a portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth stared across the room at her printed domain. Bill pulled over a chair and sat down. The dusty smell of chalk tickled his nose and Bill sneezed.

'Bless you,' said Principal Halliday from the doorway.

Bill looked up to see Halliday enter the room accompanied by Bryan White. The Principal had a firm grasp on Bryans' upper arm. Bryan was a tall, gangly boy of around 17 or so, just on the verge of manhood. His face was pale and aprehensive.

'Young White here, tried to do a runner when he heard you were looking for him. We caught him just leaving the school grounds.' Halliday gave Bryan a little shake.

'Siddown.' He thrust him down into a school desk chair.

'I don't know what you want to talk to him about Sergeant, but I had better stay and listen.' Halliday sat in the chair next to Bill.

Bill gave a bit of a grunt. 'Humph. Right, you're Bryan White?'

The boy nodded fearfully.

'You were Jessie Hamilton's boyfriend?'

Bryan didn't say anything, his eyes skittered around the room searching for a way out.

'White!' barked Halliday, 'Answer the question!'

Bryan jumped and looked at Bill, then nodded his head. 'Yes, I was walking out with Jess.'

'And last night?' asked Bill. 'You were with her last night?'

Bryan nodded again.

'You walked her home? What happened Bryan, what happened to Jessie?' Bill's voice was gently but insistant. Bryan broke.

'Sorry, I'm sorry. Oh, I'm so sorry, it was an accident! We were just mucking about...' Bryan started to cry.

Bill pulled a large handkercheif out of his pocket and handed it to Bryan, who took it and wiped his eyes and blew his nose. Halliday glared at Bryan and started to speak, but Bill held up his hand and gave him a look. Halliday subsided.

'Bryan,' Bills' voice was soft and gruffly gentle, 'tell me. You'll feel better if you tell.'

Bryan drew in a shuddering breath and started to speak, 'It were such a great night. The concert was the best one ever, everyone said so. Jessie was terrific... we were...' Bryan hesitated.

'Go on,' Bill encouraged. 'You and Jess?'

'Me and Jess, well, Jess was my girl. Someday we were getting married... later...but sometimes we...'

'You filthy little...'growled Halliday.

'Quiet!' barked Bill to Halliday. Turning back to Bryan he said in a consoling voice. 'It's okay Bryan, what happens between a bloke and his girl is private. As long as the bloke doesn't hurt her. You didn't hurt Jess, did you?'

'No! Never! I loved Jess! But Jess was... well, sometimes she liked to tease a bit, lead a bloke on, you know?'

Bill nodded, letting Bryan continue.

'She wouldn't let me kiss her, unless I caught her. Jess was being a bit of a goose, she was running about in the dark. She liked playing 'kiss chasey' like we were a couple of little kids. She ran down the alley ahead of me. I could hardly see, the moon was clouding over.' Bryan drew in another sighing breath. 'She ran ahead, I couldn't catch her. She ran into her Nan's yard and I almost got her, but she sort of put on a burst of speed and.. and..' tears ran down Bryan's face.

'Yes?' asked Bill softly.

'There was this sort of a thump.'

'A thump?'

Bryan had a look of misery on his face. 'A thump. I couldn't see Jess anywhere. I looked around the yard and then I saw her on the ground under the tree. She was just laying there, she didn't move. I couldn't get her to wake up.' Bryan voice was panicked as he relived the scene. 'I shook her but she wouldn't wake up. She wasn't breathing. She wouldn't wake up!'

He put his head in his hands and sobbed.

Halliday looked at Bill horrified. Bill made a soothing motion with his hand to keep Halliday quiet.

'Why didn't you try and get Nan, Bryan? Why didn't you go tell someone?'

'I don't know! I just... I just thought that maybe... I don't know what I thought. That she would wake up in the morning maybe. That she wasn't really dead, she couldn't be dead! I don't know. I didn't know what to do. So I just sort of straighted her up a bit, she was all sprawled out and I wanted her to be comfortable... Then I kissed her... she looked so beautiful laying there in the moonlight, she didn't look dead at all... and I went home...' Bryan put his head back into his hands and mourned.

...

Later that day Bill was back in the Station typing out his report. Blakes' autopsy report had arrived suporting Bryans' story; fragments of bark had been found in the Jessies' head wound. Death by misadventure would be on the death certificate. No charges would be laid against Bryan. Lawson had agreed with Bill that to charge Bryan would serve no purpose, he would have his entire life to live without Jess as punishment enough. Bill had spoken to Nan and she also agreed that it sounded like a horrible accident and no one could be held responsible.

'Just a couple of kids, just mucking about in the dark,' Nan sorrowed. 'But Bill, I'm having that damn weed of a tree chopped down. I don't think I can bear to look at it ever again. It didn't bring my Jess no luck. No luck at all.'

...