Cadavers' Cave: Jane Doe Mystery, #4

Author's note

C

adavers' Cave is the fourth book in the mystery/paranormal series featuring Jane Doe.

This book is set a few months on from the third novel Haunted Heart.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Ho is now second in command in Jane's Special Cold Case Squad, joining his wife, Detective Constable Angela (aka Angel) Nguyen and friend Detective Sergeant Stan (aka Bluey) Johnson in the team.

Chief Superintendent Jane Doe, now has a formidable list of special Cold Cases on her desk. Whilst enjoying her weekend off, a gruesome news item on the TV, takes her immediate attention. Little does Jane know at that moment, this news item will become her next case, Cadavers' Cave. It proves to be one of the saddest and confronting cases in her career.

Again, as the author, I've used settings that I'm familiar with and love within my home state of Victoria, Australia.

Prologue

(Saturday)

J

ane and Oliver were at home alone with their dogs, Spunky and Sassy. Sassy's puppies had blossomed into delightful 16-week-old bundles of joy. They had been sold to responsible owners, with the assistance of the Cavalier King Charles breeder's club. Kylie and Khan, Steve Ho's and Angela Nguyen's twin children now had the two 'pick of the litter' puppies.

It was a quiet weekend, and a calm but cold winter's morning. The doorbell rang.

Jane put down the Saturday newspaper she was reading and looked at Oliver, That will be the Ho family and the puppies!

Oliver smiled at her, and looked at his watch. Right on time, as expected, my love. Let them in, and I'll put the kettle on.

Jane walked quickly to the front door, and thought; So much for the quiet weekend. But we love them coming. They are like our surrogate family, and we love them all dearly, including the puppies!

Jane greeted the Ho family at the front door. After big hugs from her two godchildren, Kahn and Kylie, everyone...including the 4-month-old puppies Kit and Kat... all entered the house.

Make yourselves at home, everyone.

There was a brief moment of chaos as the puppies were greeted by their parent dogs, Spunky and Sassy.

Angela sat down on the couch and said, Tell Auntie Jane and Uncle Oliver how clever Kit and Kat are.

Khan puffed his chest out and took a deep breath. The puppies have just 'graduated' from puppy class at the local vet puppy school in Sunbury this morning. They are now ready to go to Doggie Primary School.

Jane laughed. What clever little puppies indeed. So which doggie school are they going to, Khan?

The one near here. It's on every second Saturday morning, so we'll be able to call in here afterwards and see you all. He paused for a quick breath and added, Um, that's if it's okay with you, Auntie Jane.

Of course it is, Kahn. We love having you and Kylie visit us, and your mum and dad too, of course. I'm so proud that you are both responsible owners. The puppies can socialise with other dogs, and learn good dog manners when out in the public, and at home too. Well done, you two.

Kylie, the shy twin, finally managed to get a word in past her brother. We only want to do beginners and grade one at this stage, Auntie Jane. But if they like it, we may go further...that's if mum and dad want to drive out here every two weeks, ha, ha! But we all love to come to your lovely country home, Auntie Jane and Uncle Oliver, on the way home. Besides, I think it's lovely for Kit and Kat to see their doggie mum and dad too.

Oliver brought in some cups of coffee for the adults. Would you like a soft drink, kids? Or would you rather take all the dogs outside for a play in the sun?

Khan replied, Thanks for the offer of a drink Uncle Oliver, but we'll go outside and play with the dogs.

Let's go! replied Kylie. The two of them rushed out the door, the puppies following closely behind. In less than fifteen seconds, quietness descended upon the living room.

Ah, a bit of peace and quiet for a short while, remarked Angela with a wry smile.

The adults enjoyed a quiet coffee and occasionally peered out the back windows to check the children and the four brown and white furry Cavaliers running around the enclosed paddock adjacent to the house.

The talk eventually got onto some work chat.

We'll need to choose the next cold case file on Monday morning, said Jane.

Angela sipped from her cup and responded, Just a suggestion, but why not check on one of the missing people cold cases. It would bring some real closure to the poor families who have waited for a long time to find out what has happened to their missing family member.

Oliver nodded his head. That's a great idea. One of those cases will be a good puzzle for us to tackle...and of course I can get stuck into doing some profiles for you all.

I agree too, said Steve.

Jane smiled. Okay. We'll have a look through the missing person's files and see what we can find on Monday, when we're back at work. Now no more talking shop, it's our weekend off, remember!

The back door opened again, and in bounded Sassy and Spunky, followed by the puppies, the kids not far behind. They all looked a little tired and cold.

Oliver fetched two mugs of hot chocolate for the children. They immediately sat down and with their hands clasped tightly around the mugs for warmth, started to drink.

Finally, with morning tea finished, the Ho family got ready to depart.

Steve was the first to get up, saying, Time for us to go home, methinks. It's been a long morning for the puppies. I think they'll sleep all the way back to Melbourne.

There were more hugs around, and finally, the Ho's left.

Jane and Oliver waved goodbye at the front door. By the time they got back inside, they saw Sassy and Spunky curling up on their dog mats for a quick nap.

Right, Oliver, it's time to enjoy the rest of our relaxing weekend. Jane kissed him lightly and then grabbed her newspaper and sat down to read.

Day One

(Sunday)

E

arly in the morning, down the southern coast at Point Lonsdale, an English couple, Mary and Frank Hudson, had finished a delicious country breakfast of bacon and eggs with baked beans and toast.

Frank stretched his arms over his head, Well, love, it's time for us to venture out into that cold weather and walk off some of this food.

Mary laughed. We'd better get our water proof parkas, scarves and gloves, dear. It looks like our weather back home in Liverpool...cold, wet and windy!

Right oh! Let's go back to our room and rug up. I'm keen to explore the beach behind the lighthouse today. The manager said it's a very rugged coastline.

Ten minutes later, Mary and Frank stepped out the front door of the guest house.

A southerly icy wind swept around their faces.

Brr, I reckon that's coming straight of the Antarctic, love, called out Frank, raising his voice to be heard over the howling wind.

At least the rain has stopped and the sun is beginning to peek through those clouds. Time to explore the back beach, as requested, sir! She grinned at her husband.

Steady on old girl, we're on holidays, not at work. No formalities needed here. The Police station in Liverpool is thousands of miles away.

They walked up the road towards the lighthouse. It stood majestically at the top of the headland, overlooking the western side of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The entrance was commonly called by the locals as 'the Rip' and was a 3-kilometre-wide entrance where the ships were guided through the dangerous narrow stretch of water by a local pilot.

Ooh, look, Frank, an American tanker has just come through the rip!

Frank looked through his binoculars. "It's called the Virgo Sun...and it's not American, it's flying a Liberian Flag. She's heavy too! He looked at the App on his iPhone. Destination Geelong, gross tonnage 59164..."

I believe you, Frank, giggled Mary. Her husband loved to watch ships going to and fro back home, using the app to identify the ships. You're a true ship spotter, love. She put her arm through his and guided him down the pathway that led to the rugged beach below.

They were now sheltered by the large headland beside them. Mary opened her guide book. Look Frank, if we go around the rocky beach ahead of us, we'll be able to see the cave where a convict escapee, called William Buckley, was adopted by the local Aborigines and with whom he lived for 32 years. He is thought to have lived in this cave beneath Point Lonsdale lighthouse.

Trust you to find some interesting historical fact about this place, love. Okay, let's go and explore the cave, or I'll never hear the end of it!

He put his arm around her and they stepped onto the hard sand as Mary continued to read aloud from her precious travel guide. Point Lonsdale was named in 1837 after Captain William Lonsdale, the first police magistrate of Port Phillip. A pilot service for ships passing through The Rip was established beneath Shortland Bluff in 1838. A signal station was established at Point Lonsdale in 1854. The operator, Captain Preston, built a house there. His nearest neighbours were two kilometres away. After a stone lighthouse was constructed at Queenscliff in the 1860s, the old wooden structure it replaced was rebuilt at Point Lonsdale in 1867. It was superseded by the current structure in 1902.

Look up to the top of the cliff. Isn't she a beauty? He pointed to the imposing white lighthouse towering above them. And she's still operational too. I must book a tour of the tower later today. There are half hourly visits from 9 am to 1pm.

Why not? You like your lighthouses and ships and I like places with history... Mary started to read from her travel guide again. Did you know that during the construction of the current lighthouse over a century ago, a crowbar penetrated a thin layer of rock and ended up in the hideaway cave of William Buckley...?

You're kidding, love... No, you're not. But that's really interesting... Ah, look, there's the cave! Frank pointed to the entrance nearby.

Oh, Frank... we can't go in. It's closed with an iron gate!

Bloody shame, Mary. There's not even a plaque relating to William Buckley. Oh well, love, there's another nice cave for you to explore down there. Shall we have a look?

Of course! You won't be able to drag me away from here until I see inside it.

The couple struggled against the strong southerly wind that was blowing in from the south, straight off Bass Straight. Heavy rain had fallen overnight, leaving everything pristine. It was low tide, revealing a lot of rock pools, their water shimmering and rippling in the wind.

Frank approached the cave first. It's dark in here. He pulled out his tiny travel torch. Ah, that's better. What an Aladdin's cave this is.

They both walked over the hard sand, dodging small sandstone rocks. The cave was protected from the wind by the adjacent headland.

Mary pointed with her travel torch. Frank! What's that over there? See, it's half submerged in the sand. It looks like something large has been wrapped in lots of plastic... A large dog?

Or something half exposed, Mary. See, there is a pile of rocks on top of it, and the water from the high winter tides and wild weather has brought the water up into the back of the cave, undermining where it's been buried.

Jack got