AC05 - Death Mask

K
ATHRYN
F
OX
is a medical practitioner with a special interest in forensic medicine. She is the author of the internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed thrillers
Malicious Intent
,
Without Consent
,
Skin and Bone
and
Blood Born
.

Her debut novel,
Malicious Intent
, won the 2005 Davitt award for adult fiction and her books have been translated into over a dozen languages.

Kathryn lives in Sydney and combines her passion for books and medicine by being the patron of a reading programme for remote and Indigenous communities that promotes the links between literacy and health.

www.kathrynfox.com

Also by Kathryn Fox

Malicious Intent
Without Consent
Skin and Bone
Blood Born

KATHRYN
FOX

First published 2010 in Macmillan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited
1 Market Street, Sydney

Copyright © Kathryn Fox 2010

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication data:

Fox, Kathryn, 1966– .
Death Mask/Kathryn Fox.

ISBN 978 1 4050 3995 6 (pbk.).

Women forensic pathologists – Fiction.
Sex crimes – Investigation – Fiction.

A823.4

Typeset in 12.5/14 pt Bembo by Post Pre-press Group
Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group

Papers used by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd are natural, recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

These electronic editions published in 2010 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney 2000

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.

Death Mask

Kathryn Fox

* * *

Macmillan Digital Australia
www.macmillandigital.com.au

Visit
www.panmacmillan.com.au
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For Daniel, Sarah and Duncan, for being you.

I’
d like to thank a number of people who continue to believe in my passion. Cate Paterson, Louise Bourke, Isobel Akenhead, you are all champions. And to my wonderful agents, Fiona Inglis and Euan Thorneycroft, thanks for your integrity and faith.

My fantastic assistant Renee Lauer deserves a special mention. Thanks for your support, organisation and humour, even during the fifth rewrite!

H
annah spun around in her dress, still unable to believe this day had arrived. The ivory duchess satin felt luxurious against her skin. The strapless style seemed to widen her narrow shoulders and enhance her bust, particularly with the hand-sewn pearl detail. At the same time, the A-line skirt accentuated her waist and glossed over her hips. She’d never felt so attractive.

For once she wasn’t self-conscious about her body. She looked womanly and was proud of it. Years of being teased about the size of her hips no longer mattered. They would bear the children she and Brett wanted so much.

Hannah looked in the mirror and checked her hair. Three hours at the hairdresser’s; the highlights, hot curlers, the teasing and pulling, had been worth it. Wearing her hair up and off her face accentuated her cheekbones and lengthened her neck. The makeup was heavier than she was used to, but the beautician promised it would look natural in the photos.

She put her hand up to her face and caught the sparkle from her finger. The engagement ring she had worn so proudly for the last six months glistened in the mirror. The bright lights in the motel bathroom made it look blinding – well, almost.

There was a tap on the door.

‘Hannah, the photographer’s wanting a few more shots
before we leave. Dad’s meeting the car around the front. We don’t have much time.’

She took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door. Her younger sister had tidied the room and thrown pink rose petals on the bed. The gesture brought tears to her eyes.

‘Oh no you don’t!’ Dakota threatened. ‘You look so beautiful. Don’t go messing up your makeup now!’

The pair hugged tightly. Hannah felt like the luckiest woman in the world as her eighteen-year-old sister lifted the lace veil from the chair. The antique comb fitted snugly into the back of her bun.

‘Now you look perfect. Brett will be so proud.’

A husky voice interrupted from the doorway.

‘Remember, I got married at your age and it was the biggest mistake of my life.’

‘So Dakota and I are mistakes? Thanks, Mum.’ Hannah had hoped her mother would be happy for her, but that was too much to ask. The daughters had heard it all before and didn’t need another lecture, especially not now.

The older woman stepped forward and straightened the gold and diamond cross Hannah wore around her neck. ‘You girls are the best thing that ever happened to me. I just don’t want you making the same mistakes. If you’re having doubts or want to put it off for another couple of years, just say so. If that boy really loves you, he’ll wait.’

‘We already waited until the end of the football season so our friends could come.’

‘You mean
his
friends. Your father was loyal like that, only to everyone but his family.’

Hannah was embarrassed that her mother would talk like this in front of the photographer. She hoped he was too busy snapping candid shots to listen.

Dakota handed her the bouquet and Hannah smiled for the camera. She glanced at the bed while the photographer worked away. A small part of her wondered if Brett would have waited much longer. Her purity pledge had strained their relationship,
but he knew when they met how committed she was to her faith. Tonight they could make love for the first time, right here, only metres away from the beach they had camped on the night Brett proposed.

Her mother lifted the front section of veil over her face. ‘Just remember, marriages can be made or ruined on the wedding night.’

‘God, Mum, give it a rest. She’s nervous enough without your doom and gloom. How about you go check on Dad?’ Dakota saw their mother out before returning to collect her own bouquet. ‘Don’t worry, after another wine she’ll be telling all the single women about the horrors of childbirth.’

Hannah laughed, but had to admit to being more than a little apprehensive about her first sexual experience. What if it hurt? What if there was blood? Suddenly it didn’t seem so romantic. She felt the waves in her stomach tumble.

‘Mum’s talking complete rubbish,’ Dakota winked. ‘The secret is finding the right man. Which reminds me, I’ve got your present.’

She reached under the bed and removed a slim box tied with a satin ribbon. Inside was the softest silk camisole and panties, with a matching robe. Hannah felt her cheeks redden. She hadn’t thought of lingerie; this was sexy but not too revealing. It was perfect.

‘I’ve got a set just like it, and you should feel like a woman for your first time.’

Hannah locked eyes with her sister. ‘Are you saying … ?’

A cheeky smile burst across Dakota’s face. ‘For months, and I can tell you it’s worth waiting for.’

So that’s what happened at university. Hannah was not shocked, but she was still surprised. The two of them were close, but there were many things she didn’t know about her sister. She wondered if there was anything she didn’t know about her husband-to-be.

‘It’s time,’ Dakota almost whispered. ‘After tonight, your life is never going to be the same again.’

Brett Dengate waited nervously on the sand. So far, so good. When Hannah’s regular minister had cancelled first thing this morning with food poisoning, a mate from the footy club had come to the rescue and called in his uncle who was a celebrant. Uncle Lionel looked more like Uncle Fester, but there was no point upsetting the bride with details. Pity, Brett thought, that her bitch of a mother hadn’t come down with poisoning too.

‘Don’t worry, son, the woman usually does turn up. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.’

Brett’s first instinct was to punch Uncle Lionel’s face in, but he counted to ten and breathed. To be honest, he wasn’t worried – until now. What if Hannah had second thoughts or, worse, what if she found out somehow? Loose lips, as they said. It only took one person to ruin everything. If anyone had let anything slip, he’d find out and sure as hell make them pay.

Hannah would make a loyal wife. She worshipped him and, unlike other women, she didn’t ask too many questions. She understood he had obligations that didn’t include her. She understood he was the boss. End of discussion.

His best man, Lurch, patted him on the back.

‘Don’t worry, it’ll be over before you know it.’

Despite the cool change, Brett wiped the sweat from his hands on his cream linen trousers. The wind gusted. Women guests clutched at their skirts and the odd hat as dark clouds moved in overhead.

‘Mate, you need to get this show on the road before it pisses down.’ Lurch opened his jacket to reveal a hipflask. ‘Want some Dutch courage?’

As tempting as it was, two morning beers were enough for the moment. ‘Save it for later.’

‘Everyone’s looking forward to the reception, if you know what I mean.’ He waved towards the road. ‘The rest of the boys just arrived.’

Brett glanced up. The entire team was here, many with their wives and girlfriends. He thought back to everything they had gone through together. The best mates you could ever have.

From the first days at high school they had been like family, only better. You could always depend on them. When he broke a wrist during a game, his team mates finished the retaining wall for his boss so he still got paid. That’s what mates did – they covered for you and watched your back. And you did the same for them.