Next Summer

Part 5

Detective Jim Townsend listened on the phone to a report on the search for Summer Mills from his partner Detective David Cameron.
"I think she's a ghost, Jim," Cameron was saying, "I got her maiden name from marriage records. It's Bannister, but she apparently has no driver's licence here in New South Wales or in Queensland. She isn't on any electoral roll, and that Paterson guy couldn't even tell us which real estate firm she allegedly worked for, or who the friend was that she said she was living with after her husband died."
"So I suppose you can't find any photos of her either?" Townsend asked.
"Not as yet. I'll go and see her late husband's family. They might have kept some wedding photos of the two of them. I will also try and track down her parents who apparently live in North Queensland."
"Okay then, keep searching," Townsend hung up the phone. He sat there for a few minutes looking once again at the security photo of the young woman who had quite possibly murdered Susan Phillips. Who was she? Summer Bannister maybe? He hoped David was successful in tracking down their "ghost".

Late that afternoon he received an excited phone call from Luke Paterson. "I've found her, Detective," he said, "I've found Summer."
"Okay, calm down, Mr Paterson and give me the details.
"I saw her photo on a website. Two weeks ago she was at an official government dinner at State Parliament House. She was the partner of one of the MPs, I think his name is Andrew Mitchell. I'll email you the link. He must be her latest boyfriend, and her hair was a different colour. She must have dyed it light brown. It was black when I knew her."
"Thank you, Mr Paterson. Yes, please email me the link to the photo, and tomorrow I'll pay this MP a visit."

It was another long gruelling day at parliament, and Andrew was looking forward to getting home for a couple of well deserved drinks and maybe a little relaxing fun with Serena....if she was there. She had been out quite a few times recently, claiming to be visiting friends. And she was so temperamental. This morning when he had asked her about the broken glass stuck in her clothes she had practically bitten his head off, telling him it was nothing.
With some trepidation he opened the door to his apartment. He stopped in surprise. Serena was standing at the kitchen counter writing something on a sheet of paper. A large packed suitcase was on the floor by the front door.

"Oh you're back already," she said turning around to face him. "I thought I'd be gone before you got home. I was leaving you a note."
Andrew continued to stare at her. "Your hair," he said.
"Yeah, do you like it?" she asked with a slight smile. "I think black suits me better than brunette, don't you?"
"Y-yes," he stammered, "You look great. But where are you going? What's with the suitcase?"
She gave an exaggerated sigh. "Isn't it obvious? I'm leaving you, Andrew."
"You're what?" he couldn't believe what she had just said. He walked up to her and tried to put his arms around her, but she pushed him away. "You can't leave me."
"Yes I can. It was fun while it lasted, Andrew, but the magic is gone. The spark just isn't there anymore. I've found someone else who I really love."
"You don't mean Charlotte Johnson?"
"Don't be stupid! That was just a ten minute fling. Anyway I'm going. The taxi will be here in a minute. I've left your credit card on the counter. I must have maxed it out. It doesn't work anymore." She started walking to the door.

"But, but you can't just leave me," Andrew pleaded desperately. "I left my wife for you. I'm giving up my family for you. I doubt if my kids will ever talk to me again. Please."
She gave a heartless laugh. Surely you can't have been that naïve? Did you really think I was going to stay with you for good? That we would get married and have a happy home with kids? You're more stupid than I thought. Good bye, Andrew. Have a nice life."
She picked up her suitcase and went to walk out the door, but Andrew grabbed her wrist. "No, you can't go!" he shouted.