Chapter 13

Mai followed the river up its twists and turns. It was such a beautiful day and Nicholas relaxed further as they paddled out of town. She was pleased she could help him, pleased his eyes had lost some of the haunted look he’d had when he’d arrived. It would take him some time to come to terms with what he’d seen at the accident, to decide whether he wanted to continue to respond to those kinds of emergencies.

“Does the river go through Kit’s property?” Nicholas asked.

“Yeah, it’s one of the borders.” He had a good sense of direction. “On the weekends, when we were teenagers, we’d occasionally take Fleur’s dad’s dinghy and motor all the way up the river to visit her.”

“That sounds fun.”

She smiled. “It was. We’d pretend we were adventurers off to discover new lands. Fleur was always the captain.”

“Didn’t your parents worry?”

“Kit would bring a two-way radio down and let her parents know we’d arrived safely and they’d call our parents.”

“How did she get down to the river?”

“Motorbike. We all learnt to ride at Kit’s farm.” Those were some of her favourite memories, the days when it was just the four of them or five if Jamie came over. They would swim or ride or talk about life and what they wanted out of it. It was there that she’d first confided to her friends that she wanted to leave school and become a baker. Hannah would talk about the retreat she wanted to build, Fleur would worry about telling her father she wanted to become a nurse, and Kit was adamant that all she wanted to do was inherit the dairy farm and be a farmer.

“We did the first official musketeers ceremony by the river at Kit’s place,” Mai said. The memory was sweet.

“What’s with that nickname?”

“Kit, Hannah and Fleur were inseparable from the time Hannah moved here when she was eight,” she said. “At school it was always the three of them, and whenever they were in town, they were together. They started getting called the three musketeers.”

“Then you moved to town.”

She nodded though he couldn’t see her. “And we became the musketeers.”

“It must have been rough coming in when they were already so tight.”

“It actually wasn’t.” She smiled. “Kit and I clicked straight away. We bonded over having younger siblings to look after and that was that – I was part of the gang.”

“What about Jamie?”

“He’s an honorary member,” she said. “He didn’t hang around us at school and had his own friends, but whenever we visited Kit he was there. They lived next door to each other, the only kids in miles.”

“There’s Lincoln too, isn’t there – he’s Jamie’s brother?”

“Yeah, but he’s six years older – way too old in those days to pay any attention to us.” Mai chuckled. “We did give him the title of being our knight protector though. We had a ceremony and everything, and good sport that he is, he went along with it, vowing to protect us for as long as he lived.”

“That’s nice.”

“It was. Occasionally he still uses the title to boss us around, but he really is born to protect.” She glanced at the shore to get her bearings. “The clearing is around this bend.” Her back muscles were protesting slightly at the unfamiliar motion.

The bank sloped into a sandy beach only a few metres wide and she directed the kayak on to it. The grass that came down to the beach was longer than she’d anticipated, though it had been flattened in places. “Keep an eye out for snakes,” she told Nicholas as she followed him out of the kayak.

Nicholas paused mid-stretch and examined the grass behind him. “What do you get here?”

“Just tiger snakes and dugites.” She stamped her feet and there was no rustling in response. They were probably fine. She walked around the area, treading down the grass and when she’d made a space big enough for the two of them she lay down, propping herself up on her elbows.

Nicholas frowned.

She patted the ground next to her. “It’s fine. All my stomping would have scared away anything nearby.”

As he sat Mai heard the thud of hooves. She sat up and spotted the rider cantering along the trail that ran parallel to the river on the other side. Recognising Trent’s girlfriend, she waved. The girl waved back and continued on.

“How far does the trail go?”

“A fair way. It’s shared by horse riders, motorbikes and cyclists, so there are often disputes about going too fast.” She lay down again and this time Nicholas joined her, turning on his side to look at her.

The intensity in his eyes stirred her. She had never felt this level of passion or intimacy with a man. “You know we’re all alone out here.”

His lips quirked upwards. “You mean aside from the occasional trail user across the river?”

“We’d hear them coming.” She raised herself up on to her elbow and brought his head close to hers. Their lips met in a soft, sweet kiss. She felt it all the way through her body. This was right, so very right.

He deepened the kiss, pressing her back so she was lying down and he was on top of her, his body warm.

She hummed in approval when his hand slid up her top to her breast. He had such clever hands. She cupped his butt and brought him closer to her, his hardness pressing into her. She caressed him and he broke the kiss breathing heavily.

“Mai, we should head back to your place.”

She grinned and took the condom out of her pocket.

His glanced at the opposite side of the river.

She didn’t want him to be uncomfortable. “Come on.” She got to her feet. “We’ve got a record to beat.” She winked and pulled him up and then walked further along the shore up river where the paper barks met the water. There was another spot where they could have a bit more privacy. She pushed a bush aside and a sharp ammonia smell hit her, making her eyes water. “Wait.” Her arm shot out to stop him.

The ground in front of them was covered in a blue liquid coming from a whole lot of white plastic containers of kitchen cleaner scattered on the ground. How could anyone use that much all at once? The grass around it was already dying. Someone didn’t care about contaminating the ground or river. Selfish bastards.

“This reminds me of the containers in the shed at Foley’s place,” Nicholas said.

He was right. Worry replaced the anger and she took her phone out of her pocket and dialled. “Lincoln, I hate to bother you on your day off, but I thought you’d want to know.”

“What’s wrong, Mayday?”

“You know those barrels at Foley’s?” she asked.

“Yes.” His voice was suddenly more alert.

“Nicholas and I have found a pile of similar chemicals by the river. They’re mostly empty but a couple are leaking on the ground so we need to notify Parks and Wildlife too.”

“Where exactly are you?”

“We took the kayaks upstream to Lovers’ Landing.”

Nicholas’s eyebrows raised and Lincoln chuckled. “I’m not going to ask what you were doing.”

“Best not to,” she agreed.

He sighed. “All right. It’s going to take me some time to get out there. I’ll have to call Albany and wait for the detectives. Can you see any car tracks?”

“No.” Maybe they came via the river.

“Send me some photos so I can forward them to Albany. Can you wait out there until I arrive?”

“Sure, as long as you let Ted know we’re going to be late back with the kayak.”

“Deal.”

She hung up and took a few photos, careful not to disturb anything further.

“What did he say?”

Mai repeated the conversation as she sent the photos and she gestured him back towards the landing. “We’ll wait on the shore.”

Nicholas smiled. “Lovers’ Landing? Were you planning to seduce me this whole time, Miss On?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Well I do believe you said you wanted to break a record today.”

He grinned at her. “I do indeed.”

But there would be none of that while they waited for Lincoln.

“Do you think this is drug related?” Nicholas asked, nodding towards the barrels.

“Maybe, but whoever dumped them can’t be local. Everyone knows this spot is popular. Those drums were bound to be spotted sooner rather than later.”

“Yeah, or someone was desperate to hide them quickly.”

He had a point. Could it have been Gordon? She still hadn’t called him. “Shoot.”

“What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t tell him the whole truth. “I just remembered I need to call Gordon about last night.”

Nicholas’s face went white. “Shit. I didn’t tell you.”

She grabbed his arm. “Tell me what?”

“The accident this morning.” His voice hitched. “Same blue sedan as outside your cafe, driver was called Gordon.”

Mai’s legs buckled and Nicholas hauled her against his chest.

The drug dealers, the guns.

What had she done?

What had she allowed to happen? She shook her head. Get the facts first. “My age, bald, kind of shifty looking?”

He nodded.

She closed her eyes. It had to be him. She should have called Lincoln last night. If she’d called him, he would have arrested Gordon, and Gordon would still be alive. “What caused the accident?”

“Jeremy thought he’d missed the curve in the road. He was high as a kite, delusional as well, saying someone was trying to kill him.”

She’d left him in that situation, left him at the mercy of men with guns. But it didn’t quite make sense. Creepy Guy could have shot Gordon, but he’d let him go, let him drive home high.

He hadn’t been high when she’d seen him. And he’d said he wasn’t a user – but he could have been lying. She needed to ask Lincoln for more details, had to know if the crash was an accident.

“Mai, are you all right?”

She nodded, stepping away from him, straightening up. “I’ll call the hospital when we get home.”

What if Creepy Guy had given Gordon the drugs, or run him off the road? Gordon must have done something to irritate him. And if Creepy Guy was behind it, was she putting herself in danger by calling Lincoln?

She didn’t know what to do.

Nicholas’s arms came around her in a hug. “They might have been able to save him.”

Mai could tell he didn’t think so, but she could pretend as well. “I hope so.” She tilted her head so she could see him. His eyes had the haunted look again. “How are you feeling about the crash?”

“I won’t forget it in a hurry,” he said. “But I’m all right.”

“I’m glad.” She looked at him, really paid attention to his face. He was a lot kinder than she’d given him credit for, a lot more fragile than she’d expected him to be. She enjoyed being with him, being someone he turned to. In a short space of time she’d come to care for him. “Do you want to come to my parents’ for dinner tomorrow night?”

His eyes widened and she hurriedly added, “No pressure or anything. You might enjoy a home-cooked meal.”

“I’d love to. What time?”

“Six. I’ll pick you up just before.”

“I’ll be ready.”

They settled into a comfortable silence. Another family of swans, or perhaps the same ones, swam past and there was the occasional splash as a fish jumped. Little wrens flitted amongst the trees, calling to each other and some kind of insect chirped. She lay back using one hand as a pillow as she stared up at the tree branches above her. It didn’t seem right to enjoy this peace, when Gordon could be dead, when her decision had directly affected whether someone lived or died.

Nicholas lay next to her and took her hand. “Thank you for suggesting this. It’s what I needed.”

She forced a smile. “Me too.”

They lay like that until the hum of a motor downstream reached them. They both sat up and a few minutes later a large dinghy came into view with Lincoln at the helm. It was quite crowded with three others in the boat: a darker skinned man who looked like he had Middle Eastern heritage and a blonde female, both in plain clothes and whom she assumed were detectives, and Will, the Aboriginal park ranger who worked for the Parks and Wildlife Service and came into her bakery daily.

She got to her feet, brushing the dirt off her shorts. Lincoln threw her a rope and she steadied the boat as they all disembarked.

“Can you show us what you found?” Lincoln asked. “Use the same path as you did last time.”

Mai wanted to ask him about Gordon’s condition, but instead she nodded and took them through the grass to the containers.

“Thanks, Mai. We’ll take it from here.”

“We’ll need a statement from them both,” the female detective said.

“Do you want it now, or shall we come into the station tomorrow?” Mai asked.

“Sergeant Zanetti can take it now.”

Lincoln stood behind the woman and rolled his eyes.

She hid her grin. “All right.”

Together they walked back to where Nicholas waited and Lincoln got out his notebook. “Tell me all your dirty secrets.”

Nicholas chuckled. “The only dirt is on the back of Mai’s shorts.”

“And yours,” Mai pointed out.

She couldn’t mention Gordon now, not with Nicholas here. She didn’t want him involved. She focused instead on what Lincoln asked, giving as much detail as she could, though there wasn’t a lot to say.

“Thanks, guys. You can go now, but don’t leave town.” Lincoln winked.

“I hope it doesn’t take too long.”

Lincoln sighed. “Me too.”

“Any news on the crash victim this morning?” Nicholas asked, shuffling his feet. “Did he make it?”

Lincoln’s face fell. “No. They couldn’t revive him.”

Mai gasped and stumbled back. It was her fault he was dead.

Lincoln caught her. “Shit, Mai, I didn’t think. Did you know him?”

She nodded. “He dated Kit in high school.”

“I’m sorry.”

She had to tell him everything. Had to explain why she hadn’t called him last night. How would she ever face Gordon’s wife again? “Slinky, I saw Gordon last night. He wasn’t high.”

“It doesn’t take long to get high, Mai.”

Frustration skirted her skin. “I know that—”

“Sergeant!” The call came from the male detective standing under the trees. “We could do with another set of hands.”

Lincoln glanced over his shoulder and waved, swearing under his breath. “I’ve got to help.” He turned to Nicholas. “Can you take care of Mai?”

Nicholas nodded.

She bristled. “I don’t need to be taken care of. I need you to listen to me.”

“Sergeant!”

Lincoln sighed. “I’m sorry, I have to go. Call me later.” Before she could protest, he was gone.

Damn it.

“What’s wrong?” Nicholas asked.

She couldn’t tell him, couldn’t risk him getting involved. She sighed. “Nothing. Let’s go home.”

Mai didn’t get the chance to call Lincoln until Monday afternoon. She’d convinced herself she needed to be alert, needed to write down what she’d seen to make sure she’d got the details right, so she’d waited until after her siesta.

Her call went straight to voice mail, and she left a message, asking him to call her.

Maybe she should call the station, but she wasn’t comfortable talking to the others. It had to be Lincoln.

Not wanting to be left with her guilt, she collected the keys to the Mortimer Road cafe from the real estate agent. She needed to write a list of the work to be done, had to make sure she had all the supplies for the busy bee on Saturday.

As she drove into the car park, her skin tightened. This was the scene of the crime, the place where she’d put her own welfare above someone else’s, the place where she could have made a difference, and hadn’t.

She walked around the back to where Gordon had been on the ground. There was nothing there to show for it. No drop of blood, no scrap of clothing, not even the weeds were crushed.

Only her guilt

Not wanting to be out in the open, she hurried back to the front door. The faster she wrote her list, the sooner she could leave.

By the time she finished she had filled two pages. She could drive into Albany to get the supplies now. She didn’t want to go on her own though. Nicholas would be working, but maybe Jamie was free. She dialled his number as she locked up.

“Please tell me you want me to do something,” Jamie said as he answered.

His plaintive tone made her smile. “Don’t tell me you’re getting tired of sitting around doing nothing.”

Jamie laughed. “As if Mum would let me,” he said. “I’ve been working at the cheese factory and I’m sick of the smell of milk.”

“I’m doing a supplies run to Albany. Want to come?”

“Yes, a hundred times yes,” he said. “Do you need me to pinch the ute?”

“That would be great. I’ll be out in twenty.” She hung up and then headed out to the Zanetti farm.

 

Jamie was lounging on the old sofa out on the wrap-around verandah when she pulled up. He was on his feet and at the gate before she got out of her car. “In a hurry much?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.” He seemed agitated, his palms rubbing against his jeans and shuffling from foot to foot so she quickly got into the old Zanetti ute.

When they were on their way, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m feeling a little stir-crazy.”

It was more than that. Her own concerns forgotten, she took a good look at him. His fingers tapped the steering wheel and he bit his bottom lip, his eyes glistening. “What happened, Jamie?”

He shook his head, not looking at her.

Something was definitely wrong. Concern fluttered over her skin. “Pull over.” When he kept driving, she put a hand on his arm and said more sternly, “Pull over.”

He pulled off the road and lowered his head to the steering wheel. He started shaking.

Mai’s heart leapt into her throat and she undid her seatbelt, sliding across the bench seat to put her arm around him. “Tell Mayday what’s wrong.”

The noise that came out of him was half laugh, half sob.

She’d never seen him so upset. She held on to him until the shaking subsided and he took a deep shuddery breath. He lifted his head and wiped the tears away. “Sorry about that.”

Mai shook her head. “Are you going to tell me what it was about?”

“Everything kind of hit me at once.”

She waited, knowing he would explain in his own time.

“My teaching contract wasn’t renewed at the end of the year,” he began. “I’ve been applying for jobs, but so far no luck. I might be unemployed when school goes back in a couple of weeks.”

That was ridiculous! Jamie loved teaching, and was so damned good at it. “I’m sorry.”

“That was the first hit,” he said. “Then Sandra wasn’t happy about me coming back to Blackbridge for the holidays.”

Mai had never met Jamie’s girlfriend, but she didn’t like what she’d heard about her. She was demanding and high maintenance, and anytime Mai had called Jamie while she’d been over, the conversations had been cut short. Sandra didn’t like Jamie having female friends.

“Surely she knows how much you love coming home, and how you help your parents out while you’re here.”

He shook his head. “She doesn’t understand. She called me just after you did today and announced she was coming down to visit for the weekend.” He sighed. “She hasn’t accepted any of my invitations and now she decides to come on the one weekend when we’re working on your cafe.”

She didn’t want to cause him any trouble. “That doesn’t matter, Jamie. You don’t have to come. I’m sure there will be plenty of people there.”

“No, Mai, I want to help.” He turned to her. “I told her I had plans, that I was helping you and she got angry, accused me of cheating on her and dumped me.”

Mai gaped at him. “Who are you supposed to be cheating with?”

He raised his eyebrows at her.

“Me?” Mai laughed and held out her hand. “Give me your phone and I’ll call her back. Tell her she’s mistaken.”

“The thing is, Mai, I’m not upset. I’m relieved.”

“Huh?” She frowned, examining him to make sure he wasn’t losing it.

“I stayed in Perth because of her. I liked being in a relationship and she was really good in bed, but I’ve missed you and the other musketeers.”

“We’re not quite the same as your girlfriend.”

“No, you’re better.” He sighed. “I miss my family and I’m always jealous when you tell me what you’ve been up to.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I’ve got no job, I’ve got no girl, and there’s nothing stopping me from coming home.”

Mai squealed and hugged him hard. “That’s fantastic! Wait until the others find out. Kit’s probably got a contact at the School of Agriculture. You might be able to get a job there. And there’s not a lot of cheap accommodation around town, but you could probably bunk in with me at Fleur’s.”

Jamie chuckled and held up a hand. “Slow down, Mayday. I’ll sort out my own accommodation thanks very much, but I hadn’t thought about the ag school. I’ll give them a call when I get home.” He started the car. “Thanks, Mai. I feel better. Now, let’s get your supplies.”

“Absolutely.” She smiled. She’d needed some good news.

And Jamie moving back to Blackbridge was the best news she’d heard all day.