A Rat in a Gilded Cage

Twelve year old Mercedes Evans tears madly down the hill towards the safety of her 


grandmother’s house, terrified by what she later describes as an evil presence, 


somewhere on the hill behind her.  


  It is nearing the end of 1959 in Gympie, a quiet little town about two hours 


north of Brisbane. The last of the visitors have arrived at the Evans House in James 


Street where Christmas preparations come to a sudden halt when Uncle Charlie is found 


dead in his bed. It clearly is not going to be their usual quiet Christmas. Next Day Uncle 


Charlie’s friend Judge Jenkins arrives, devastated by Charlie’s sudden death. He puts a 


further cat among the pigeons by insisting on a post-mortem which reveals that Uncle 


Charlie has been murdered.

  

    When Nancy Hansen, on holiday in Gympie with her Grandmother, Mrs Evans’ 


sister, goes missing, Judge Jenkins rings his friend, Detective Superintendent Jack Parker, 


also holidaying in Gympie. After talking to Ailsa Hansen, Nancy’s mother, just arrived 


from Brisbane, he advises them to contact Sergeant Drummond who is already 


investigating Charlie’s murder. 


   Then the body of a young female is found and it seems their worst fears are to be 


confirmed. Detective Superintendent Parker takes over the case.


    Meanwhile Uncle Charlie’s case has become bogged down for lack of evidence.  


The Detective Superintendent discovers that one of the house guests has a police record.


He asks headquarters to have a closer look and their findings lead him back to Brisbane 


and a meeting with the CIB chief of drug investigations.