‘Hey, I’ve got your coffees!’ yelled Lisa as she stood at the top of the cement boat ramp.
Rebecca was reluctant to leave. She wanted to swim in the gentle Gulf waters. She knew the colder Southern Ocean waters off Kangaroo Island weren’t going to be as warm and paddle friendly, and she wasn’t a surfer. She was grateful that at least Penny’s shack was in a protected bay overlooking Backstairs Passage.
They climbed back into the Rover, and Penny drove through the quaint township of Normanville and turned right, taking them past the beautiful Links Lady Bay Golf Course and on to Second Valley, Delamere, and finally to Cape Jervis.
Penny pulled the vehicle into the line of cars waiting to board the ferry.
‘I hope Backstairs Passage isn’t going to be rough today. I don’t want to bring up my breakfast,’ said Lisa gloomily.
‘The water’s like glass,’ said Penny.
‘That’s what you said last time, and a freak wave crashed over the bow and nearly took me with it,’ said Rebecca.
‘Okay, well, you can’t help the odd freak wave. Just don’t stand by the railing,’ said Penny.
‘Some safety plan,’ Lisa said with a sigh.
Kangaroo Island
Penny sat down with a meat pie in a brown paper bag. Lisa and Rebecca looked at her in disbelief.
‘How can you eat that on a boat that’s swaying like this one?’ Lisa asked as she stared straight ahead at the Cape Jervis lighthouse. Rebecca knew Lisa was trying to keep a single point of focus in an attempt to avoid seasickness. She also knew the smell of the meat pie wasn’t going to help.
‘I need to go to the bathroom,’ said Rebecca, after getting a strong whiff of the pie. She wasn’t feeling that great herself.
Rebecca held on to the rails on both sides of the metal steps as she carefully made her way down below. She was about to turn into the galley leading to the toilets when she saw people she recognised. They were seated on plastic chairs facing starboard. One of their profiles belonged to Philip Hendy. She would recognise that nose anywhere. Sitting on one side of Hendy was the Chinese businessman Bo Yong and, on the other, Sue Barker.
‘Hell,’ said Rebecca under her breath before making a sharp turn toward the toilet.
Joining Lisa and Penny up on deck, Rebecca said excitedly, ‘Guess who I just saw downstairs?’
‘Who?’ asked Penny.
‘Philip Hendy, Sue Barker, and Bo Yong!’
‘What are they doing on board?’ asked Penny.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Rebecca as she looked at Lisa’s pale face.
‘No!’ yelled Lisa as she rushed to the rail and vomited violently down the side of the ship.
‘Oh great. I can’t eat this now,’ said Penny, throwing the rest of her pie into the bin.
‘Oh, I feel like crap,’ moaned Lisa as she returned to the bench. ‘How much longer until we get to Penneshaw?’
‘About half an hour,’ replied Penny.
‘Anyway, how about Hendy, Yong, and Sue Barker being on the boat? I wonder what they are doing, going to Kangaroo Island,’ said Rebecca.
‘Perhaps they’re being tourists,’ said Lisa faintly.
‘I know, perhaps they are involved in that proposed golf course resort? Hendy and Sue have the golfing connections, and Yong has the money and business connections,’ offered Penny.
‘Yeah. Good thinking. That could be it. We should follow them to see where they are staying,’ said Rebecca.
‘What the hell for?’ asked Lisa, eyes still glued to the lighthouse on the far shore.
‘Because they may be up to something. I still think they may be involved in the murders somehow, and I want to keep an eye on them,’ said Rebecca.
‘As long as it doesn’t interrupt our holiday. You’ve come here for a rest. As Gary said, they have the evidence to convict Sol; you don’t need to chase down suspects who aren’t even suspects,’ said Penny.
‘Just humour me, Penny.’
‘What’s new? But Sue’s my friend. I think I should say hello,’ said Penny.
‘No, Penny. Please don’t. Not yet anyway. As I said, just humour me. Let’s just see where they’re going first.’
‘I don’t feel right about this,’ said Penny.
The ferry manoeuvred itself into the slipway at Penneshaw and the huge bow doors were lowered. Rebecca and Lisa waited for Penny to drive the Rover up into the car park, all the while keeping a lookout for Hendy, Yong, and Sue Barker.
Rebecca jumped into the passenger seat next to Penny, and Lisa climbed into the back. ‘Quick, there they go. In the black Chrysler. Follow them,’ said Rebecca as she pointed toward the black car.
Penny turned the wheel, pulled out of the car park, and followed.
After they had been driving for about ten minutes Penny said, ‘Well, we’ve just gone past American River and the shack. I reckon they’re on the way to the Southern Ocean Lodge, another hour and a half away.’
‘You’ve got to be joking. I want to go for a swim,’ said Lisa, who had regained most of her colour.
‘We can go for a swim later. In the meantime, enjoy the view,’ said Rebecca, just as Penny swerved to avoid an echidna slowly making its way across the road.
A little further along, Penny said, ‘Hey, look at the wedge-tailed eagle on the bend ahead. It’s eating roadkill.’
Rebecca looked up to see an enormous wedge-tail jump back off the road, as the black Chrysler made no effort to avoid the enormous raptor.
‘Hey!’ yelled Penny. ‘He could have hit that eagle. What the hell is he playing at?’
Rebecca knew Hendy was driving. ‘Obviously doesn’t place much value on life.’
‘And I’d keep a bit further back if I were you. You don’t want them to think we’re following them,’ said Lisa.
‘There’s only one main sealed road from Penneshaw to Cygnet River. They’d think it strange if there weren’t cars behind them,’ said Penny.
Rebecca turned around and saw a long convoy of cars. She knew most of them would be just off the ferry. They could be going to any number of places, including Cygnet River, Kingscote, Seal Bay, Flinders Chase National Park, or indeed Southern Ocean Lodge, where she thought they were probably heading.
‘If they’re here to do business, they’ll be staying at the Lodge,’ said Penny emphatically.
An hour later, they pulled into the Lodge’s car park, and saw Hendy, Yong, and Sue enter the hotel.
‘So now what?’ asked Lisa.
‘Well, after I pop in to find out what the guests’ itinerary is, we can go back to Penny’s shack,’ said Rebecca.
‘How do you know they will have an itinerary?’ asked Lisa.
‘I stayed here when it first opened. It’s all inclusive—meals, wine, and excursions. They have a planned schedule for guests. I know most of the staff, as they had this thing about calling everyone by their first names. I’ll just say I’m planning on doing another feature based on their upmarket champagne excursions, and they’ll give me their current itinerary. No probs.’
‘Well, I’m not driving all this way to turn around and go straight back without at least a drink,’ said Penny.
‘But we’re not dressed. I’m wearing thongs,’ said Lisa.
‘Doesn’t matter. I’m sure I can worm my way in,’ said Penny.
‘I wouldn’t count on it. They don’t serve the public off the street. It is strictly guests only unless you’re with an guest,’ said Rebecca as she got out of the car. ‘You two stay here, and I’ll shout you lunch at Blue Lagoon at Vivonne Bay on the way back to the shack. It’s not far,’ said Rebecca as she strode off.
Rebecca stepped up to the entrance and opened the big double doors to the great room. Even though she’d seen the view before, it still took her breath away. The rugged Southern Ocean was laid out in front of her. The white spray from the crashing waves blurred the line between the ocean and the sand. The great room was dotted with a mixture of white and grey leather ch
airs and sofas, matched with blond wood tables. A black, oval-shaped open fireplace was suspended in the middle of the room, hovering above travertine floors. Rebecca looked around, expecting to see Hendy, Yong, and Sue booking in. She caught a glimpse of them being led down the corridor by one of the staff. Another staff member, who was standing at the reception desk, recognised Rebecca.
‘Hi, Rebecca. Are you joining us again?’ asked Hannah.
‘Hi, Hannah. No, not this time. I’m holidaying on the island but I’m staying with some friends in a shack. The reason I’m here is I’ve decided I want to do a feature on the picnics and trips you take the guests on while they’re staying on the island. Any chance I could get a copy of your current itinerary?’
‘Of course. Why don’t you help yourself to a drink at the bar while I get it?’
While Rebecca felt a pang of guilt helping herself to a glass of champagne while the girls sat in a hot car, she didn’t let it stop her.
‘Here you go. Let us know when the feature is going in,’ said Hannah, handing Rebecca that week’s itinerary.
Rebecca leisurely finished her glass of champagne while sitting in one of the comfy leather armchairs swivelled to take in the best view down the coast.
‘Got it,’ she shouted as she approached the Rover and waved the itinerary above her head.
‘You took your time,’ said Penny.
‘Yeah, they took a few minutes to get it for me,’ said Rebecca, guiltily.
‘Okay, let’s get going,’ said Lisa. ‘I’m hungry and thirsty.’
They travelled about thirty kilometres back along the South Coast Road before turning the vehicle right onto a dirt road. It wasn’t long before the Rover crested the last rise. Before them lay Vivonne Bay.
‘Wow. Have you ever seen a more beautiful bay? And look at that cool old jetty,’ said Lisa as she pointed to the storm-ravaged jetty.
Blue Lagoon was an old converted shack, only about a hundred metres from the jetty. Two sides of its fibro walls had been replaced with folding glass doors that had been fully opened to take advantage of the beautiful day. An odd assortment of tables and chairs spilled outside under the shade of a large awning. The view to the jetty and the bay was spectacular.
‘Let’s sit outside,’ suggested Rebecca.
‘Absolutely,’ responded Lisa.
‘I’ll go get the menus,’ said Penny.
Rebecca and Lisa sat down at one of the few remaining free tables, and Rebecca rolled out the itinerary.
‘Looks like they’re going to Seal Bay tomorrow morning, followed by a visit to Raptor Domain, and Remarkable Rocks. On Wednesday night they’re going on a Fairy Penguin Tour and on Thursday they’re off on a picnic lunch to “spot kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, and other native wildlife”,’ read Rebecca.
While Rebecca was listing the itinerary, Penny joined them, handing out the menus.
‘So what are you suggesting—that we follow them to all these places?’ asked Lisa incredulously.
‘Why not? At least be in the vicinity of the major attractions at the same time they’re visiting. They’ll have their own private tours, and we won’t be able to go on the picnics, but we can hang around the other sites. It’s the only way to keep an eye on them and to see what they’re up to.’
‘But if they’re here on business, why would they be playing the tourist and visiting all these sites?’ asked Penny.
‘Because they are paying over a thousand dollars a night each for the privilege. It’s all-inclusive. I bet your bottom dollar they will fit in at least some of the tours on top of any business meetings. They’d be mad not to.’
‘But, Bec, how are you not going to be seen?’ asked Lisa.
‘You mean, we. You’re both coming with me,’ said Rebecca as she put down the itinerary and picked up the menu.
‘Well, Houdini?’ asked Penny.
‘We will be seen. I’m been thinking about it and I’m now okay with that, it’s just a coincidence that we are on KI at the same time doing touristy stuff. That’s the reality. I don’t care if they think we are following them. Their reaction might be revealing.’
‘I thought I’d be lazing about on the sun lounge, doing a bit of swimming, eating, and drinking, but it looks like we are going to be busy,’ said Penny sounding regretful.
‘There’ll still be time for lazing about,’ insisted Rebecca as the waitress came up to take their orders.
A couple of hours later they drove along unsealed Mad Creek Road, through dense low-growing narrow-leaf mallee, turned a bend and came over the last sand dune. Patches of mallee honey myrtle, kangaroo thorn, drooping sheoak, and dryland tea tree bushes surrounded the limestone and weatherboard shack. The limestone walls forming the oldest part of the shack were left in their natural state, whereas the ‘newer’ extension in weatherboard had been whitewashed some time ago. Over the years the whitewashed walls had faded to a mellow yellow under the Australian sun. The shack’s window frames, verandah posts, and shutters were painted in a Mediterranean blue that had become faded and heavily chipped. It was no more than ten large steps through the sand from the shack’s verandah to the still waters of the protected bay. Rebecca thought the ramshackle shack and the setting were perfect.
They piled out of the car. There were only two bedrooms—one had a queen and a single bed, and the other had three sets of bunk beds. They decided to sleep together in the main bedroom. Rebecca would share with Penny in the queen, and Lisa would take the single. The main room housed the kitchen with its AGA cream-coloured wood-burning cooker next to the ‘modern’ 1940s green-enamelled Metters Kooka gas stove. A large farmhouse table sat to one side of the room, with a lounge area and an enormous limestone open fireplace occupying the rest of the space. Rebecca knew they wouldn’t need to light the open fire on this visit and doubted if they would crank up the AGA. A basic bathroom off the verandah could only be entered from outside.
Both Lisa and Rebecca had stayed at Penny’s shack before. The shack had been in the family for three generations, and not much had been done to it for at least two of those generations.
‘So, what do you want to do first, swim or drink?’ asked Rebecca.
‘Let’s go for a swim and then sit on the verandah with a coldie,’ suggested Lisa.
‘Done,’ said Rebecca, heading to the bedroom to change into bathers.
They raced the short distance to the water. Rebecca won and, after a few exaggerated high steps, dived into the water.
‘This is beautiful,’ said Lisa as she floated on her back.
‘Sure is,’ said Penny as she gently glided through the water.
They spent the next half an hour floating on their backs while gazing up at the clouds, glancing back to the shore and the shack or to the headland wrapping its way around the bay. They didn’t speak. It was as if they had made a pact not to interrupt each other’s thoughts.
Rebecca was the first to break the silence. ‘Okay, time for a drink. I’m turning into a prune.’
Sitting in a canvas chair on the verandah with a long glass of gin and tonic on ice, Rebecca asked, ‘What about a barbie tonight? Something simple. We could take a run into Penneshaw for supplies.’
‘No need. I’ve brought steaks, stuff for salads, crusty bread, and we have lots of condiments in the pantry and the fridge,’ said Penny.
‘Perfect. Nothing to do but to take another sip of this G and T,’ said Rebecca contentedly.
The rest of the day was spent swimming and chatting. Lisa was chilled enough to begin reading a murder-mystery novel she’d found in the bookcase next to the fireplace.
That night they fell into bed. Rebecca was the last to fall asleep. She couldn’t get Gary off her mind.
Seal Bay
The sun’s early-morning rays easily penetrated the thin rose-patterned tatty curtains. By seven o’clock everyone was wide awake. Penny fired up the small espresso machine, and Rebecca lit the barbie. By eight thirty they had finished their bacon and eggs an
d coffee. After a micro-shower in the precious rainwater, they were ready to set off for the hour’s drive to Seal Bay. According to the itinerary, the Southern Ocean Lodge tour of Seal Bay would start at ten o’clock. Rebecca expected Hendy, Yong, and Sue to be on the tour. She had booked herself and the girls on a ‘Seal Bay Experience’ group boardwalk and beach tour starting at nine forty-five. She knew the tours would likely overlap at some stage.
The guide was a good-looking young man called Larry, who looked to be in his late twenties. Rebecca couldn’t help but notice Larry’s short shorts covering muscular, brown legs. The shorts reminded Rebecca of Aussie-rules footy shorts from the 1970s. It wasn’t fashionable dress now, but she did think it was fascinating to see them up close.
‘Before we begin the tour, I want to welcome you to this land. I’m a Ngarrindjeri man. My ancestors come from across the waters in the Coorong. My great-great-grandfather was a white man, a seal hunter who came to the Island in the early nineteenth century. He stole my great-great-grandmother from her Coorong people and brought her here. I am one of their descendants. The island forms part of Ngarrindjeri dreaming and is very significant to our people. I welcome you to this sacred country.’
In Rebecca’s eyes, Larry’s credibility just went up a few notches.
Larry went on. ‘Eighty-five per cent of the Australian sea lion population live along the South Australian coast, mainly here at Seal Bay and Dangerous Reef near Port Lincoln. The other fifteen per cent live in Western Australia.
‘I am often asked what the difference is between seals and sea lions. Well, there are a few actually. Sea lions live in herds and are far better adapted to the land. They are much larger than seals with very strong front flippers that allow them to move effectively on land. Seals can only wriggle on their bellies and so spend much more time out at sea. Sea lions also have ears, whereas seals don’t.
A Royal Murder Page 15