The Search by Margaret Clark

that much money in the store,’ said Mum. ‘That’s plain stupidity.’
    ‘The bank in Lorne shuts at five, remember, and she couldn’t leave the store before that, so what’s she supposed to do with it?’
    ‘There’s things called night safes,’ reminded Tim.
    ‘Yeah, and she’d probably get mugged driving there to deposit the money.’
    ‘Liz, lower your voice. There’s a houseful of people still asleep.’
    Liz looked at her watch, gave a cry and jumped to her feet. ‘I’ve got to get down there early because she’ll be busy with the police and we’ve got to cook brekkies.’ She rushed to the door then looked across at Tim. ‘Where are you and your mates off to today?’
    They hadn’t spent one day at Coolini Beach even though the surf yesterday had been good. The search. That was their mission in life. The ultimate waves. They’d found some yesterday at Moonlight Head, butthere were always bigger, better waves to find. The search would never be over.
    ‘Dunno.’
    ‘Well, drop into the store and meet my friend Flick and we’ll shout you a shake, okay?’
    ‘Made by you?’ He grimaced but she knew he was only teasing. ‘I’ll see.’
    Liz shot down the road at a fast jog. She’d meant to get there earlier but Tim’s appearance in the kitchen had thrown her. She hardly ever saw him now he was at uni and in residence at one of the halls. And when he was home, either here or in Melbourne, he was always off surfing. Dad and Mum both said he needed a girlfriend to steady him down. Tim partied and cruised through life not exerting himself, which was showing in his uni results, even though he was managing to pass.
    Liz reached the store. Although it was only ten past seven a cop car was already there.
    ‘What’s going on?’
    Rob the dunny budgie was trying to peer inside and the door was locked.
    ‘Kay got robbed last night,’ said Liz. ‘She was bound and gagged when we found her after the beach party, but she wasn’t hurt. The police are probably getting the details.’
    Liz knocked on the door. She couldn’t see Flick, but then she remembered that she wasn’t starting till eight. Kay poked her head out from the office and came to unlock the door. Of course Rob was hot on Liz’s heels.
    ‘Are you open for business as usual?’ he asked. ‘I want some eggs and bacon.’
    ‘I can make it for you,’ said Liz, looking at Kay, who nodded briefly before disappearing into the office again.
    Liz switched on the hotplate and while it was heating she found the bacon and got a plate and cutlery ready. Two more customers came into the store wanting bread, milk and papers, so she served them before cooking Rob his breakfast.
    ‘Do you want tomatoes or hash browns with that?’ she called to Rob through the servery.
    ‘No. Just bacon and eggs.’
    ‘Liz, the police want to have a word with you,’ said Kay, coming into the kitchen. ‘I’ll take over.’
    Liz went into the office. The two officers were looking at the cut ropes lying on the floor as if by some miracle the pieces were going to writhe themselves around to spell out the name of the perpetrator.
    ‘You found Kay last night?’ the older one said to Liz.
    ‘Yes. I was with Flick and Braden. They both work here.’
    ‘You didn’t see any strange cars in the area? Or hear anything?’
    ‘No, we’d been at the beach party and there was a lot of noise, you know, like loud music and everyone yelling and having a good time.’
    The police took her statement and were about to leave when a mobile phone rang. The officer pulled it off his belt and answered it.
    ‘Yes? You have? Well, that solves this case then, doesn’t it?’
    He looked at Flick as he turned off the mobile and replaced it on his belt.
    ‘Seems like Kay was right. Billy Weezy’s been picked up at Portland after he lost control of his car on a bend and hit a tree. He was found unconscious at the wheel and a lot of money was in a bag on the front seat.’
    ‘So Kay