Ironbark (64 page)

Then Kenwood suddenly reappeared. When Leslie offered the trooper a glass of whisky, Kenwood confided to Daniel and Leslie in a friendly manner that Julian Jonstone had at last grown tired of pressuring him for answers.

‘But I'm still at a loss to understand the circumstances of Iago's death. The bullet we discovered lodged in a remnant of the overseer's cottage was very likely fired from a small pistol but curiously no such weapon has been found.' He looked directly at Daniel, before adding that he had questioned all Gideon Park's assigned labourers.

‘To a man they claimed to be drunk that night. All were delighted the Devil Himself had gone to the biblical devil.'

Kenwood's moustache twitched as if reluctant to continue. ‘Refresh my memory, Mr Browne. What
was
Mrs Browne's reason for visiting Gideon Park that night
alone
? And why did you and your wife attend Jakob Andersen's trial?'

Daniel was defensive. ‘I've told you all this before, Sergeant. Surely both reasons are obvious. We attended Jake's trial because he is
my
best friend. After hearing the jury's guilty verdict my wife suffered shock and hysteria, hardly surprising as she is with child. Dr Ross's medication quietened her but that night while we were all asleep she must have wandered off disoriented.'

Kenwood switched his focus. ‘What is your opinion, Doctor? Was Iago's death due to accident, suicide, manslaughter or murder? And why did you not perform an autopsy?'

Leslie could barely control his anger. ‘You surely know it is not ethical medical practice to dissect corpses without official sanction. Iago has been six feet under for many weeks so it's a wee bit late to ask me to determine the cause of death. But for the record I've no intention of allowing a patient in Mrs Browne's delicate condition to be questioned here or in the witness box. In her mental state her testimony would be of no value.'

Daniel was quick to agree. ‘My wife has withdrawn into a private world due to melancholia. We are concerned for her safety as well as the babe she is carrying.' He tried to hide his anxiety. Was Kenwood still suspicious? Had he heard rumours of the unorthodox relationship between Jake and Mr and Mrs Browne?

Kenwood's response was polite but evasive. ‘I'm afraid it isn't up to me whether or not your good wife – or anyone else – is made to stand trial. I am simply collecting the evidence, Mr Browne.'

• • • 

Daniel and Leslie Ross were relieved when Kenwood left. But later that same afternoon when Daniel was in the garden the sergeant returned alone on horseback.

Daniel saw Keziah watching the trooper's approach from behind the lace curtains of the attic window, so he crossed to another part of the garden in an attempt to distract Kenwood's attention.

The man was clearly in a very different frame of mind. He confronted Daniel and stabbed his finger at the document he held.

‘You see? I strongly suggest it's time you grant me access to your wife.'

Daniel tried to prevent his hands trembling as he looked the document over.

‘Only on the condition I remain with her during your interview and that her doctor is present.'

He left Kenwood alone in the sitting room and hurried to Leslie's surgery.

‘Kenwood's got us cornered. Make sure when you bring Keziah downstairs she gives every appearance of being an invalid. And brief her on the importance of saying as little as possible at their interview. Meanwhile I'll hold him at bay.'

‘Aye, lad. I'll give the lass something to quieten her.'

When Keziah finally entered the sitting room on her doctor's arm, Daniel was relieved to see she had changed from her morning dress into a dressing gown and slippers. Her face had the same ethereal quality it had had since the night of Iago's death, the expression in her eyes strangely withdrawn from all around her. Her long hair was unkempt and revealed the small patch on her skull where the hair had burned away in the fire.

Leslie Ross acted solicitously as her doctor and seated her on the sofa beside Daniel. He had clearly taken charge of the situation. Daniel gripped Keziah's hand between his own, relieved to see that the doctor was observing Keziah's every word and gesture while keeping a sharp eye on the trooper.

Kenwood did not even inquire about the state of her health. He wasted no time in waving the official document to underline the
importance of his announcement.

‘A female assigned at Gideon Park has finally agreed to make her mark on this statement. She swears she directed you to Iago's cottage that night and saw you enter that building but a short time before the cottage caught fire. Is that true?'

Keziah's voice sounded as if it came from a distance. ‘I remember asking a woman for directions to his cottage. And I remember lifting the latch on the door. But I have absolutely no memory of what occurred inside.'

Leslie Ross cleared his throat as if trying to prompt Keziah to say no more, but she continued in that flat, dreamy voice.

‘Whenever I try to remember and channel my thoughts to re-enter that cottage, I open the door – and there's nothing there. I step into a terrifying black hole in my memory. I'm no liar, Sergeant. I really can't remember.'

Kenwood leaned forward in his seat. ‘Mrs Browne. It is high time to tell the whole truth. Were you present when Iago died?'

Keziah looked confused. ‘Has someone said that I was?'

Kenwood did not answer but tried another approach. ‘Did you see who killed him?'

‘I was told later that he was dead. Do you mean to say he was murdered?'

When Kenwood nodded his head to confirm it, she answered quickly, ‘Well, whoever it was they did the world a favour. That monster deserved to die.'

Daniel clenched hold of her hand, shaken by the sudden outburst he had been unable to prevent.

The sergeant's eyes narrowed. ‘I must formally ask you, Saranna Browne. Did you or did you not contribute in any way to Iago's death?'

Leslie Ross cut across the question in his blunt professional manner but his stutter betrayed his anger. ‘My patient has told ye the truth,
Kenwood. She canna remember a damned thing.'

Kenwood held up his hand to ward off the interruption. ‘I'll thank you not to interfere in police matters, Doctor. Mrs Browne appears quite capable of answering.' He turned on Keziah a baleful stare. ‘Must I repeat the question, Mrs Browne?'

Daniel could barely breathe as Keziah appeared to turn the question over in her mind.

‘As I have no memory of his death you will have to tell
me
that, Sergeant. But perhaps this will help your investigation.'

Leslie Ross started to his feet and Daniel blinked in confusion when Keziah withdrew a letter from her pocket and handed it to Kenwood, too late for them to intercept it.

‘This proves Iago's a liar,' Keziah said.

Kenwood's expression did not alter as he read the contents. With barely a word of acknowledgement he rose and without bowing to Keziah he took his leave.

Daniel hurriedly conferred with Leslie in a corner of the room. ‘I swear I didn't know that letter existed, Leslie. I would have destroyed it. Do you think Kenwood believes her innocence?'

They both turned to look across the room at Keziah who now seemed unaware of their presence.

Leslie Ross was blunt. ‘That damned trooper's more interested in gaining promotion than seeing justice done. I dinna doubt he finally managed to obtain some assigned woman's mark on the statement under the promise of swinging a ticket-of-leave her way.'

‘I know,' said Daniel. He was too ashamed to admit his own desperation at Gideon Park. Marriage to Keziah had made him a free man. Was his wife now going to pay the price by losing her own freedom?

• • • 

When Joseph Bloom arrived by special carriage he was clearly concerned about Keziah's welfare but his presence restored a sense of calm control. In Daniel's presence Leslie gave the lawyer a quick briefing on

her physical and mental condition. As Joseph had come from Sydney Town specifically to offer them legal advice in the event she was charged with murder, Daniel knew he must take him into their confidence about his wife's true identity. Daniel was startled that Joseph Bloom showed no trace of surprise at the revelation.

‘Don't worry, Mr Browne. Every second person in the colony has an alias or two. Not only convicts. Remittance men and even some members of the upper classes are not exactly who or what they claim to be.'

Relieved by Joseph's ready acceptance, Daniel and the doctor wasted no time in escorting him to the sitting room.

‘You will not find Saranna as you knew her,' Leslie Ross warned him.

Keziah sat by the fire, the picture of domestic tranquillity as she sewed a baby's gown. She greeted them with that vague, sweet smile Daniel had come to dread.

‘Joseph Bloom, how good to see you. How are Rivka and baby Michael? Tell me, what happy occasion has brought your return to Ironbark?'

Joseph Bloom bowed on greeting her and accepted her offer of tea.

Daniel left them both together, anxious to grab a moment alone with his thoughts. He felt unable to handle much more. Jake was in Berrima Gaol in solitary confinement unable to have visitors. And for weeks Daniel had helplessly guarded Keziah as she shifted between states of emotional imbalance and unnatural calm.

Alone in the garden he heard the grandfather clock strike three. He froze at the sight of Sergeant Kenwood's return, accompanied by three young troopers.

Daniel quickly followed them inside and arrived just in time to hear Kenwood deliver the words Daniel had long dreaded.

‘Saranna Browne, I am placing you under arrest on the charge of murder.'

• • • 

With his wife in custody there was no immediate action Daniel could take to help her, so he galloped cross-country through the night to Berrima. Gaining an interview with the new prison chaplain, he begged to be allowed to visit Jake. To his surprise Reverend Parsons arranged a meeting in a cell, empty except for the shadow cast by a guard in the corridor.

Daniel was shocked by the unexpected sight of Jake's shaven head. The familiar grey eyes were ringed by dark shadows. He had to control his impulse to hug his friend and took a step backwards. Jake misinterpreted the gesture as a reproach.

‘Bloody decent of you to visit me, Dan, given I ran off with your wife.'

‘She never wanted me the way she loves you. I figure we all get what's right for us in the end, mate.'

‘How'd you manage to talk your way in here? No one got past the last bloke.'

‘I practically got down on bended knees. Told him I had urgent news about the desperate health of your woman. No name of course.'

Jake looked shaken. ‘Jesus! What's wrong with Kez?'

Daniel wasted no time in giving him the full details of her arrest and the evidence, including the significance of the letter Keziah had written to force Iago's signature.

‘Jesus wept! She did it to try to set me free!' Jake dropped his head in his hands. ‘It was me that taught her how to use that bloody muff pistol to protect herself!'

‘Don't torture yourself. Perhaps Keziah
did
use it as protection. We can't work out exactly what happened. Leslie believes she's blocked out something too terrible to remember.'

‘Rape? That bastard tried it once before!'

Daniel's quick denial of rape failed to pacify Jake.

‘I swear on my life, Dan, Keziah could never commit cold-blooded murder!'

‘The Doc says women in her condition can become emotionally unstable, capable of behaviour totally foreign to their nature. Keziah has experienced enough recent traumas to test anyone's sanity. Miscarrying a babe, your gaol sentence. Whatever occurred between her and Iago that night might well have tipped the scales.'

‘Are you telling me Kez is crazy?'

Daniel tried to assume an air of confidence. ‘No. Deeply disturbed but sane.'

‘Thank Christ we've got Joseph Bloom to defend her. If anyone can save her, Joe can.'

‘He says that if she's convicted of murder she could get Life or Tarban Creek.'

‘The lunatic asylum! Jesus, Dan, you
are
saying she's mad!'

‘No! Given time and care the Doc believes she'll fully recover. Unless Joseph can prove self-defence, it means Keziah was
not
in her right mind the night Iago was killed. Take heart, Jake. The police have found no trace of a weapon.' He hesitated. ‘Her muff pistol will
never
be found.'

Jake nodded in gratitude. ‘Tell me she'll walk free. She mustn't give birth in gaol.'

‘I can't lie to you, Jake. You're bound to hear it on the prison grapevine – best you hear it from me. The police are said to be about to arrest a Welsh woman long suspected of being in league with her lover to murder her husband. Everyone's betting she'll be the first woman executed here at Berrima. A woman's gender is no guarantee against the hangman's rope, even in these enlightened times.'

‘But Keziah's with child!'

‘Yes, and Joseph says there's no precedent under British law for hanging a woman when she's with child.'

Jake looked hard at him. ‘Jesus wept. You're saying they might do it after the birth?'

‘No, I didn't say that,' Daniel said quickly. ‘Joseph hopes he can
plead for her transfer to Parramatta Female Factory.'

‘No! Everyone knows the military use it as a brothel!'

‘Face it, Jake! There may be no better option. Joseph has an uphill battle on his hands. Keziah can't remember what happened, but she is adamant that swine deserved to die!'

‘She's dead right! Iago wasn't human. She
must
plead Not Guilty. With me holed up in the
stur
for two years, what'll happen to our kids?'