Tuesday night
Makowa Lodge
Ellie had a shower, trying to clear her mind and shake off the heavy feeling that filled her. But she was quick, because every little noise, every branch hitting the outside wall, had her jumping.
She pulled on a pair of jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt, and left her hair loose. The temperature had dropped a little and she shivered as she crossed the lawn, aware of the shadows between the buildings. Was the intruder who had stolen the box still around?
She turned along the path that ran behind the kitchen and froze as she caught a flash of white in her peripheral vision. Pressing her hand to her chest she took a deep breath; her heart was pounding. The wind gusted but it was only a white plastic bag blowing from the garden. Muttering to herself, she reached down and carried it across to the bin at the back of the building.
Light shifted in the trees ahead as she stepped back onto the path, signalling the approach of a car. The light intensified as the headlights shifted to high beam, bathing her in bright light and almost blinding her. The engine stopped but the lights stayed on, highlighting her like a rabbit caught in a spotlight. Ellie put her head down and hurried along the path to the bar, irritated by how jumpy she was. She glanced back to the car park as she reached the bar area; it was quiet there and the lights were still on high beam.
Kane was beside the bar chatting to Steve and he lifted his glass in a greeting. He took a sip of his beer and leaned nonchalantly against the wooden counter, but his eyes stayed on her. A shiver ran down her back and her mouth went dry.
Ellie lifted her hand and pushed her hair back over her shoulder, wishing she’d braided it. Her heartbeat had settled but now Kane was there to add to her confusion. She was aware of his eyes on her as she crossed the lawn, stepping carefully around the family groups sitting on the grass. She flicked a glance over at Heather, who was talking to a man Ellie hadn’t seen before, but Heather looked away.
‘Hey there. Would you like a drink?’ Kane’s voice was soft. ‘Everything okay?’
‘Yes. A soda water would be great, thanks. My throat’s dry.’ Ellie forced a smile to her face. ‘My nerves are a bit frazzled.’
Kane leaned forward and took her hand just as Heather looked across at them. ‘What happened?’
‘Someone’s been in my room again.’
‘Again?’
Ellie nodded. ‘Yes, second time this week.’
‘Why didn’t you mention it before? Anything stolen?’
She bit her lip as she stared at him. ‘Just a box of old stuff that your mother found at the farm. Nothing important.’ She looked down as Kane’s thumb rubbed soothingly along the back of her hand. ‘The scary part is that they went through my underwear.’
Kane frowned as he took her hands and squeezed them. ‘That’s off.’
‘It’s rattled me a bit. I wondered –’ She cut off her words and watched his fingers as he gently wrapped them around hers.
‘You wondered?’
‘Nothing.’ She swallowed. ‘When your mum gave me the box I thought there might have been something in the papers to shed some light on his suicide.’ Ellie bit her lip and shook her head. ‘But there wasn’t. I guess I was clutching at straws. There’s been some crazy stuff happening this week.’
Kane’s eyes were intent as she looked up at him. ‘What do you mean?’
Ellie filled him in on the activity she’d seen at the back of the farm and the information that Emma had conveyed on Skype. ‘Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hold with Mum’s theory but I called Panos, and since then someone’s been snooping around in my room.’
‘And you think there’s a connection?’
Ellie shrugged. ‘I really don’t know what to think.’
‘I passed a guy near the steps of the apartment block this afternoon.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘He was carrying a small box.’
‘Did you recognise him?’
‘No. I just assumed he was someone on the staff I hadn’t met before.’
‘What did he look like?’
‘Tall, well built, short-cropped blond hair. He nodded and I didn’t think anything of it.’
Steve finished serving the guest on the other side of Kane and interrupted them. ‘Drinks?’
‘Just a soda water for Ellie, please, mate.’
Steve picked up the post-mix siphon and made an elaborate show of pouring a drink for her, and Kane inclined his head towards Heather’s table. ‘Want to sit down and chill for a while? I think you need to tell me a bit more about what’s going on.’
‘Not yet. Let’s leave Heather in peace for a while.’ Ellie relaxed a little. He was so much more comfortable around her since they’d cleared the air over lunch. More natural, with no macho posturing to hide behind. And it was a relief to share her worries.
‘One soda water with a twist of lime.’ Steve laughed as he passed her the drink and she rolled her eyes when she saw he’d put a paper umbrella in the lime slice.
‘Have you seen Bill around, Steve?’ She couldn’t see him over at the staff table where he usually sat.
‘He was over there with Heather a little while ago, but I think she put the skids under him. She’s found an unsuspecting tourist already. How long is it going to take you ladies to realise that I’m the best catch around here?’ The Irish accent thickened, and a mournful expression replaced his smile as he looked at Kane. ‘Don’t try and get lucky with the locals here, mate. Waste o’ time.’
‘We just have high standards.’ Ellie fought the heat that was running up her neck into her cheeks and Kane looked across to the window as though there was something interesting out there all of a sudden.
Ellie frowned at him as a knowing smile crossed Steve’s face.
As Kane stared outside, Ellie was struck again by the authority that emanated from him. Even in his casual chinos and collared shirt, he exuded confidence. He turned back suddenly and she realised he’d caught her staring.
‘How was your afternoon?’ Ellie sipped her drink and looked over to the tables. This time she caught Heather’s gaze but her friend looked away again.
‘I sorted out the hangar and ordered a few parts. That last guy had really let things run down.’
‘Mike was a bit casual in the hangar.’
Kane’s face closed and his voice tightened. ‘There’s no excuse for that.’
‘True. But we managed.’ Ellie tilted her head to the side. ‘You know, I do appreciate how thorough you are with the birds. It’s good to know they’re in good hands.’
‘You’ll get used to the way I operate.’
‘In everything you do?’ Ellie smiled up at him.
Steve shook his head. ‘Ha! Now I know the secret. You have to be more than a simple barman to get Miss Ellie here to flirt with you.’ She hadn’t realised that Steve was still there. She’d been too focused on Kane.
Kane’s smile was lazy, and a tremble rippled down Ellie’s back. He lowered his voice. ‘Were you flirting with me?’ He tapped his lips with one finger and Ellie tried hard not to focus on his mouth, although it was a pleasure to see him smile. Those lips had taken her to heaven and back on Sunday night.
‘Me, flirt? No way.’ She kept her words light. They were putting on a show for Steve but each of them knew the subtext.
‘Come on, let’s go sit down and wait till Bill comes back.’ She picked up her soft drink and followed Kane across to Heather’s table. The table was almost full; a few other staff had joined Heather. The tourist guy had moved on.
Ellie looked around before pausing behind Heather. ‘Where’s your dad?’
‘Don’t know where he’s got to.’ Her voice was short and Ellie reached out and put her hand on her arm.
‘Can we talk?’
Heather shrugged and looked away. ‘Whatever.’ Finally she turned back to Ellie but her brow was wrinkled in a frown. ‘Why do you want see Dad?’
‘I want to ask him about something.’ Ellie slid in beside Heather and watched as Kane walked around and took the empty space opposite her.
‘What about?’
‘Nothing important. Just some business stuff.’
‘He’ll be back soon.’ Heather shrugged and turned her back but Ellie wasn’t going to let a lifetime friendship be jeopardised by one silly mistake. She leaned closer to her. ‘Come for a walk with me while I wait for him.’
‘Why?’ Heather looked from Ellie to Kane and finally she stood.
‘We’ll be back in a minute.’ Ellie gave Kane an apologetic smile for leaving him at the table alone. ‘Mind our seats.’
They strolled over to the river and stood on the boardwalk but Heather didn’t speak. She stared out over the dark water and Ellie jumped as the boardwalk swayed beneath their feet and she crouched down. A huge black pig was rutting in the reedy grass beneath them as a dozen or so little piglets sniffed around in her shadow. The strange sound of the Makowa whistling ducks on the side of the muddy riverbank filled the air with a cacophony of sound. Small birds zipped through the leaves that overhung the boardwalk, catching the mosquitoes that were beginning to buzz around their heads.
‘Look, I know you’re royally pissed off with me, but it just happened. I never meant to hurt you.’ She stood up and looked at Heather. ‘We were both carrying on like adolescents anyway.’
‘Okay. I was being a bitch.’ Finally Heather turned to her. ‘I’m sorry. If the truth be told it was good to see you letting your hair down on the dance floor with him that night. You’ve been way too serious lately.’
Ellie smiled as relief flooded her. ‘Thanks. I’ve had a bit on my mind this week, and I’d hate to lose my best friend over a one-night stand.’
‘So he wasn’t as good as his looks promised?’ Heather laughed when Ellie shook her head, embarrassed.
‘No . . . yes . . . I mean, I don’t kiss and tell.’
‘Hey, you used to when we were at school.’
‘We’re all grown up now, Heath, but still friends?’
‘Of course we are.’ Heather bumped her shoulder. ‘Come on, Mr Fly Boy will be getting lonely. So why just a one-night stand then? Give yourself a chance to practise.’ A small smile lifted her lips as the moonlight shone on her face. ‘But if you –’
Ellie grabbed her arm. ‘Come on, girlfriend. Let’s go back and keep him company while I wait for your dad.’
*
Kane had been pleased to see Ellie walk in; if he was honest, she was the only reason he’d come to the bar. She’d been in his thoughts most of the afternoon. No, more than that. Ellie Porter had been in his head ever since he’d first laid eyes on her climbing into her helicopter. If he’d thought sleeping with her was going to help him forget about her, he’d been dead wrong there. And now with his protective instincts flaring to life, he had no chance; the thought of someone breaking into Ellie’s room worried him.
After Heather and Ellie took off outside, he sat at the table soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. It was a long time since he’d let himself just sit and chill; it was cathartic clearing his mind and listening to the conversations around him.
When they came back, each with a smile on their face, Ellie sat beside him and Heather headed for the door.
‘I’ll go and see what’s holding Dad up,’ she called out.
The familiar feminine smell of Ellie, as her thigh pressed against his, set Kane’s body aching with need. His libido was not paying any attention to his resolve of not getting involved and he tried to withdraw into himself a little.
‘Have you talked to your mum today?’ Ellie’s brow wrinkled in a frown as she looked at him. ‘I was worried about her after I saw her yesterday.’
‘She’s okay.’ He knew his voice was terse but, hell, it was bloody hard not to put his arm around her and pull her close.
‘I don’t want you to think I went down there to pry, but she talked about you.’
Kane ran his hand through his hair. He knew exactly what his mother would have said. ‘I suppose you got the war hero story. Don’t believe a word of it. That’s the sanitised version of a monumental fuck-up.’
‘She said you were healing.’ Her voice was quiet.
Kane stared hard at her for a moment and she held his gaze without blinking.
‘Look, it’s not my business. Where you came from or where you’ll go to next has nothing to do with me.’ Her chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath, and Kane realised she was affected by his proximity as much as he was by hers. ‘But she asked me to be your friend –’ she gestured around the room ‘– so I guess this is what friends do.’ Ellie hesitated and then put her hand on his arm. ‘Your mum didn’t look well.’
‘No, she’s not.’ Usually Kane would have left it at that, but as Ellie’s concerned eyes held his, he suddenly felt the need to share. Before he could voice his deep concern about his mum’s health, Ellie continued speaking.
‘Your mum looked out for mine when Dad died. If there’s any way I can help out, please let me. I’d like to.’
‘Thank you. I’m going to try and get her back to Darwin tomorrow. To look at apartments. Fancy a drive?’
‘What time?’ Kane noticed Ellie’s hesitation.
‘After lunch. We’re both on the same shift, which will make it easy. You’ve got three flights to take up in the morning.’
‘Yes, longer flights . . . and yes I would love to come. I’d like to help out if I could.’ She stared up at him and he couldn’t look away from her blue eyes. ‘I’m having lunch with someone, but I’ll make it an early one unless you want to get away before noon?’
‘No, as long as we get away by one that’s fine. I’ve lined up a couple of places to look at around four o’clock. If Mum’s up to it, we can have an early dinner and drive back. Maybe I can tempt you with a potato pizza?’
Ellie smiled at him and nodded.
Heather came back and stood behind Ellie. She looked as surprised as he was; they’d been in their own little world there for a moment.
‘Hey, Kane. Excuse us for a minute? I just need to talk to Ellie again.’
Their voices were low and Kane turned back to survey the crowd. Most of those couples with children had left and the bar was emptying out. He thought about going back to his room. A couple of nights out was more socialising than he’d done since before the crash in Afghanistan.
Closing his eyes, Kane blocked out the sound of the room around him and thought back to that last night in the desert. He waited for the usual surge of adrenaline to settle in his chest, but he must have been more relaxed than he thought. There was a pang of sadness, but none of the physical symptoms that usually took over when he thought about what had happened. He let himself test the memory – slowly – like opening a photograph album and flicking through the pages. Taking slow, easy breaths, he let his muscles relax. His pulse stayed steady and his heart beat slowly in his chest. Dirk and Jerry had been playing cards, and Hawk had been strumming on her guitar. The conversation was animated, with the usual swearing when someone got a bad hand.
If they’d known it was their last night of their lives, what would his crew have talked about? Would they have questioned what they were doing in this godforsaken desert fighting a war that could never be won? Kane waited for the guilt to come slamming in, but it stayed away. The usual pain blocking his throat didn’t come. It was sweet relief; the violence of his reactions when he was feeling that pain frightened him.
He opened his eyes slowly and looked around. There was no point wishing he could go back; he couldn’t change what had happened. In a way he was pleased Ellie knew some of his background – maybe he was beginning to let go a little bit. Kane straightened his posture and stretched his legs out in front of him as he looked at her. A comfortable, almost mellow feeling had settled in his bones.
She and Heather were still deep in conversation as they walked back to the table and a lull in the crowd noise let their words carry across to him.
‘Do you want me to come with you?’ Ellie was looking up at her friend with a frown. ‘Just be a bit careful out there.’
‘Let me go and see if his car is in the car park. Maybe he changed his mind and went home. The old bugger refuses to turn his mobile on so I can’t text him.’ Heather headed towards the door.
‘Everything okay?’
Ellie glanced at Kane. ‘We can’t find Bill. Heather’s car’s still out of action and she needs a lift home. I’m going out to help her look for him.’
He jumped to his feet. ‘Not by yourselves. I’ll come with you. I said I’d fix her car but the cable hasn’t arrived yet.’
‘She’s just gone to check the car park.’ Ellie bit her bottom lip.
‘How will she get home if he’s gone?’
‘She’ll probably stay. It’s a good hour out there on a dirt road.’ Ellie frowned.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘It’s not like Bill. He’s really not been himself lately.’ Ellie came to an abrupt stop on the lawn beside the covered area of the bar. Heather was standing in the doorway, her face wet with tears. Ellie ran over and put her arms around her.
‘What’s wrong?’ They led Heather away from the noisy crowd.
Heather hitched a sob. She turned and looked up at Kane. ‘Can you help me?’
‘What’s happened?’ Ellie kept hold of Heather’s arm.
Her voice broke. ‘I don’t know what to do. His car is still in the car park. His keys were on the ground and there’s a big smear of blood on the door. Really big. And on the ground too.’
Ellie threw a worried look at Kane.
‘Show us where his car is. Maybe he’s just hit a kangaroo or something on the way in.’ Kane kept his voice calm, even though all of his senses were on full alert.
When they reached the old battered Land Cruiser – and it did look like it had hit plenty of wildlife in its day – Kane crouched down beside it and ran his fingers over the smear of blood on the driver’s door. It was still wet. The dark maroon stain covered the chrome of the door handle and ran down in a broad splatter of drops to the ground where a large stain covered the gravel.
‘Maybe he cut his hand when he tried to open the door.’ He looked around. ‘Where were the keys?’
‘On the ground over there.’ Heather pulled them from her pocket. The leather of the key ring was damp with blood.
Ellie nodded. ‘Kane’s right. That’s what’s probably happened. He’s probably gone to the office to get the first-aid kit. Come on, we’ll go and look for him.’
‘As long as he hasn’t passed out on the way.’ Heather hurried away towards the administration building, closely followed by Kane and Ellie. The office was in darkness and the door was firmly shut; the only light shining through the glass window came from the drinks refrigerator inside.
Heather walked across to the staff entrance and tried to turn the handle. Kane put his hand on Ellie’s before she could follow.
‘Is there anything else I should know about Bill?’ He was surprised at the level of Heather’s distress.
Ellie shook her head as Heather walked back to them.
‘Later,’ she said in a soft voice.
‘Is there somewhere else around here he might have gone for help?’ Kane directed his question to Heather and she shook her head.
‘Everyone lives off site apart from you and Ellie.’
Kane was surprised; he’d assumed that the staff apartments were full.
‘Most of the staff live at Jabiru,’ Ellie explained. ‘And most of the Aboriginal staff have homes in the settlements along the river. So there’s really no one here apart from me who Bill would go to for help.’
‘Maybe he went down to your apartment?’
‘Maybe he did.’ Heather turned swiftly and followed the path to the back of the lodge. They hurried after her.
‘What were you going to tell me before?’ Kane kept his voice low as their footsteps crunched on the gravel.
‘Bill used to drink a lot. We used to find him passed out all over the place, but he’s been to AA and he’s been dry for a long time.’ Ellie leaned over and whispered close to his ear as Heather walked ahead of them. ‘She’s probably worried that he’s passed out somewhere now. He’s been acting a bit strange this week.’
‘If that’s the case, I hope he’s nowhere near the river.’
‘Oh, God.’ Heather’s harsh gasp filled his ears. She had stopped dead at the end of the path. Kane pushed past her and ran across to the figure lying prostrate on the path at the bottom of the steps near Ellie’s room.
‘Look after Heather.’ Kane crouched beside the unconscious man and placed his fingers on his neck, searching for a pulse. He let out a relieved breath as the strong beat pulsed steadily against his fingertips. ‘He’s alive.’
Kane rolled Bill into the recovery position. He sat back on his heels for a moment and pulled his own shirt off, rolled it up and placed it beneath Bill’s head before he ran his hands gently over the man’s body, looking for the injury that had caused the blood to be on the car door. The sounds of a car’s wheels moving slowly over crushed stones at the edge of the road behind the staff apartment block distracted him and Kane glanced up as the headlights swept across them. It was then that he saw Bill’s hand.
‘Whose car is that?’ Heather’s voice was thready.
‘It’s a Mercedes. I saw the badge on the back when it turned.’ Kane looked up as Ellie put her hand on his shoulder but he barely registered her touch on his bare skin.
‘Is he drunk?’ she asked.
Kane shook his head. ‘I don’t think so.’ He’d leaned forward to sniff Bill’s breath but there was no smell of alcohol coming from him.
Bill moaned and tried to sit up but Kane put his hands on his shoulders. ‘Stay there, mate. I just want to check you out.’
‘Do we need an ambulance?’ Ellie’s voice was calm.
Kane shook his head as he turned and stared up at Ellie, his stomach clenching. The blood was starting to get to him.
‘It would be quicker to take him to the medical centre ourselves, wouldn’t it?’ He swallowed and kept his voice steady as he searched the ground around them, but he couldn’t see what he was looking for. Ellie nodded as she looked at Kane, picking up the warning he was trying to convey.
‘What’s wrong with him?’ Heather crouched beside them. ‘It’s okay, Dad. We’re here now.’
‘His hand is hurt. I think he’s lost a fair bit of blood and that would be why he passed out. We need to get him to the hospital.’
Kane looked across the car park, remembering the sound of the car slowly driving away. He wasn’t ready to tell them that one of Bill’s fingers was missing.
*
After binding Bill’s hand with a bandage from the first-aid kit in Ellie’s car, Kane drove to the medical centre. Ellie and Heather sat in the back of his Jeep and they’d supported Bill between them as they’d sped up the dark highway.
‘What did you do, Dad?’ Heather asked but Bill just shook his head and stared ahead, his bound hand pressed against his chest.
‘Were you looking for Ellie? Is that why you were down the back?’
‘Button it, Heather. Enough with the questions, can’t you see a man’s in pain?’ Bill dropped his head to his chest and closed his eyes.
There was no traffic on the road and it only took twenty minutes to get to Jabiru. Ellie had called ahead and one of the resident doctors met them in the emergency department.
‘I’m going to admit you, mate.’ The doctor finished his examination and patted Bill on the shoulder. ‘I’m going to give you a good slug of local anaesthetic and antibiotics while I do what I can. And you can tell me exactly how you managed to rip your finger off.’
Bill tried to sit up but the doctor’s hand stayed him.
‘I can’t stay. I have to be in Darwin tomorrow afternoon.’ Bill jutted his chin out and Heather stepped forward.
‘I’ll look after Dad when I get him home.’
The doctor shook his head. ‘I won’t put him in for surgery till the nursing staff comes on at seven in the morning, but he needs to stay here tonight. It’s more than a few stitches. The rest of you might as well all go home and get some sleep.’
Kane and Ellie waited in the car while Heather had a few moments with her father. Ellie sat in the front with Kane and Heather was quiet in the back seat as they returned to the lodge. Ellie turned sideways in the seat and looked back at her friend in the last, dim light from the streetlights before they turned onto the highway. Heather’s hand was over her eyes.
‘Did your dad say any more about what happened?’
‘No.’ Heather rubbed her eyes. ‘But he told me to stay with you and not go home.’
‘That’s a good idea. It’s way too late for you to drive out to your place,’ Ellie agreed. ‘But I still want to know what happened.’
‘Leave it Ellie, it was just an accident. Like we thought.’
‘How could it be an accident?’ Ellie finally gave into the fear that had settled in her chest. ‘The way Bill was the other day, and with what’s happening at the farm I –’
‘Dad talked to me about that after you left.’ Heather’s voice was sharp. ‘He said you’re imagining things, just like your mother.’
Ellie clenched her hands on her lap as anger surged through her. ‘It’s something to do with the Aboriginal council or the environmental committee, isn’t it?’ It was dark now and Ellie couldn’t see Heather’s expression.
Kane reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘What happened the other day?’
‘Bill warned me off when I asked him some questions.’
‘Like he said, Ellie, just drop it. It was an accident.’ Heather’s voice was short.
There was no more conversation until they got back to the lodge.
Ellie pushed opened the door of her apartment. Kane raised his hand and stepped in first and flicked the lights on. ‘It’s okay. All good.’
‘You can have my room. I’ve got an early start. I’ll sleep on the sofa.’ Ellie frowned as Heather nodded and walked past her into the bedroom. The door closed behind her with a loud click and Kane raised his eyebrows.
Ellie crossed the living area and stood by the bedroom door. ‘Something sounded a bit off, didn’t it?’
‘It did.’
‘I’m not going to let it go.’ Ellie pushed open the door and sat beside her friend as she lay back on the pillow with her hand over her eyes. ‘What’s going on, Heather? I know there’s something. Why would someone do this to Bill? Has he been threatened?’
Heather’s eyes flew open and she stared at Ellie. ‘What?’
‘I think I know what’s going on.’
Heather’s face closed. ‘You heard Dad at our place. He’s right. Just stay out of it.’
‘For fuck’s sake, Heather. Someone tortured him tonight. They cut his finger off. What the hell is going on? Why are you both acting so strangely?’
‘It was an accident. No one cut his finger off. You have a vivid imagination, Ellie.’ Heather rolled over and turned her back. ‘I’m tired. Just forget it. Dad’s got things under control.’
Ellie closed the door quietly and crossed to the small kitchenette. She looked over at Kane, who was standing just inside the door. ‘A cuppa or something stronger?’ She lifted her eyebrows and waited for him to answer. He’d been to his room and changed his shirt while Ellie had been in the bedroom with Heather.
‘Coffee would be good, thanks.’
The kettle boiled with a soft whoosh. Ellie poured the water and let out a soft sigh as the aromatic orange fragrance of her tea calmed her jangling nerves. She carried the two mugs across to the door, and waited for Kane to slide open the screen door. He seemed to understand that she wanted to sit outside in the quiet dark of the night. The air was still and only the occasional ominous splash from the river and one stray bird call broke the silence. The sounds of Kakadu were about the only thing she could rely on lately.
Ellie looked over the top of her cup as Kane stared into the darkness. ‘What do you think really happened to Bill?’
Kane swung around in his chair and put his cup down. ‘He refused to let the doctor call the police. He’s insisting it was an accident.’
‘He’s lying.’
‘Of course he’s lying. Injuries like that don’t happen by accident. Not opening a car door. What’s going on? Who would do this to him?’
‘It’s too much of a coincidence, isn’t it?’ Ellie shook her head from side to side, tears welling in her eyes. ‘He’s a good man. He wouldn’t do anything wrong.’
‘Ellie.’ She jumped as Kane reached over and took her hands that she had clenched in her lap. ‘I want you to be careful. It’s way more than a coincidence.’
‘This is a tourist park, for God’s sake. A resort where you’re supposed to have a good time. Not the back streets of the Darwin waterfront.’ She stifled the sob that rose in her throat and met Kane’s eyes squarely. ‘I’m sure Bill’s hiding something and it has to do with the work at the back of the farm. His “accident” worries me. Now I think Heather knows something too. That thug scared me and someone has been in my apartment twice now. And now that I’ve have seen the drilling with my own eyes, I know Mum is right about the fracking. And maybe about . . .’ She couldn’t put her doubt about Dad’s death into words and her breath caught. Kane held her close and his hand was warm in the small of her back.
‘Why would Bill be involved in anything to do with the farm?’
‘He’s on the committee that’s involved in protecting the environment. They make decisions about mining licences. I may be making a big leap in my thinking but what if he was attacked as a warning?’ Ellie drew in a shaky breath and swallowed. Her throat was dry from all the emotion coursing through her. ‘There’s no other reason for anyone to hurt him.’
After his out-of-character behaviour with her on Sunday, Ellie knew she was right. Bill had got wind of something happening there. Maybe he was being warned to stay out of it. Whatever it was, she was going to get to the bottom of it.
If only there was someone I could turn to. For years, Ellie had held it together, not wanting to lean on Mum or Emma. A great sense of desolation filled her and she put her elbows on her knees and dropped her face into her hands.
‘Shit, oh shit.’ She muttered the words in frustration.
Finally she lifted her head and met Kane’s eyes. She knew he’d been watching her, she could feel his gaze on her. She needed someone to help her find out what was going on; she couldn’t do it by herself.
Ellie held his eyes and saw only concern and kindness. She let her gaze travel across his face and he stared at her as she examined him. His short hair was brushed back from his high forehead. Laughter lines that spoke of happier times were traced in small white creases in his tanned face. But his eyes were hooded and she could see the touch of dark shadows beneath them.
We all carry our own secrets and our own grief.
Kane stood slowly and held out his hands. Ellie took them and he pulled her to her feet. He embraced her and the feeling of safety she’d experienced in his arms came rushing back.
His steady breath blew gently on her hair as she leaned into him. ‘Don’t worry. I’m with you on this. There is something going on. What Heather said about your mother was cruel but I got the feeling she was trying to upset you so you’d stop asking questions.’
‘So did I.’
They stood in the dark on the verandah and the world grew quiet around them. Kane’s fingers drew lazy circles on her back and Ellie trembled as the warmth of his hands pressed against the thin fabric of her top.
‘It’s a long time since I held anyone like this. Even before the accident in Afghanistan, I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with anyone. It was too dangerous and too hard. I saw how some of my crew suffered when they had to leave their families behind for each deployment.’
Ellie rested her cheek against Kane’s chest and let his voice soothe her.
‘I can’t bear to think what their deaths did to those families. I’ll tell you about it one day, but it’s why I won’t fly.’ His voice was steady but Ellie could hear the emotion behind the words he uttered. ‘I’m glad you visited my mother yesterday. I don’t know exactly what’s wrong with her, but it’s not right that she’s there on her own. I don’t care what Sordina says. I’m going to insist she goes back to Darwin closer to medical care.’
‘She does look very weak.’ Ellie’s voice shook. It was hard holding back what Susan had confided.
‘You know, I lost touch with Mum for a while after she remarried. I suspected he was marrying her for money but she wouldn’t have a bar of it. She’s always seen the good in people.’ His voice was bitter. ‘I guess I’ve been proved right now. When we’re in Darwin I’ll go and see him. I’ll find out what’s going on at the farm.’
‘Thank you.’
Neither of them spoke for a while. Ellie put her head back down onto Kane’s shoulder. He smelled of mint and a woody aftershave and she drew in her breath, enjoying the feel of his arms around her; comfort given and comfort shared.
‘It will be a long way to go and see her if she moves back to Darwin. Will you stay working here?’ Ellie swallowed, thinking how much she would miss him when he left.
The sounds of the night surrounded them as the nocturnal wildlife became more active. Slowly Ellie drew back; as much as she’d have liked to, she couldn’t stand there in his arms all night. She tipped her head to the side and looked up at Kane. ‘Listen. The northern bullfrog.’
His eyes were dark and anticipation ran through Ellie as he held her gaze. An indefinable change hovered in the air between them as a smile tipped the corner of his lips. Kane’s expression softened and his voice was low.
‘I don’t really have frogs on my mind at the moment.’
He lowered his head and the diamond stars were blotted out as his cool lips brushed against hers. She stood on her toes and let her lips cling to his as he pulled her closer to him.
‘Where are you going to sleep for what’s left of the night?’
She smiled. ‘My sofa.’
‘Come down to my room?’ His smile was gentle and a warm feeling rushed through Ellie’s chest.