by Annie Seaton
‘The emails were from a guy at Mary River. He said there’s been a heap of discussion over the past month about moving the border of Kakadu south to allow for hydraulic fracking up on South Alligator River, but it’s been kept quiet. A company called Black Coal Holdings is pushing for a licence to drill. From all accounts there is a big shale gas deposit there. And I looked at the map.’
Ellie shook her head. No way. ‘The South Alligator River is part of the border of the old farm.’ Her mind was spinning with the implications. ‘Why hasn’t there been an uproar about this? There’s always been opposition to mining in the national park and it is traditional land across the river. Remember all the demonstrations at the Ranger mine when we were kids? And Panos owns the farm so where does this Black Coal Holdings company come into it? I’m going to see Bill Jarragah again tonight. He must know something.’
‘You mean Bill who used to work on the farm?’
‘Yeah, Heather’s dad. There was an article in the paper the other day about Sordina meeting with his Aboriginal council. He’s been acting strangely ever since.’ Ellie took a deep breath. ‘Do you know what fracking does to the environment?’ She’d read up on it when she’d been looking for the article she’d seen on Kane’s iPad.
‘No, only what’s been in the emails to Mum.’
‘Even though they reckon it could be really good for the economy, there are so many risks involved. It’s scary stuff. Read some of the articles on the internet. The chemicals they use can leach into the water table. They’ve even blamed earthquakes and global warming on fracking in other parts of the world.’ She turned to pace back the other way. ‘God, I cannot believe this. I wonder if Dad knew about the gas deposits.’ A memory of a conversation tugged at her mind.
Emma’s voice was firm. ‘Promise me you won’t go back to the farm. I have a bad feeling about this. You don’t want to alert them to anything.’
‘Them? Who?’
‘Whoever’s behind it. Whoever owns that company. There’s so much money to be made out of all that stuff in the ground. Are you sure you want to stir up trouble?’
Ellie burred up. ‘I love this place and there’s no way I’m going to let the environment be destroyed. I don’t care that it’s on our old farm, I’d fight it wherever it was.’
‘You’re so like Dad.’
‘I’m sorry, Em, but I can’t sit back and watch this happen. There’s too much apathy in the world today. This is Kakadu, a World Heritage site, for God’s sake.’
‘I know. But I’m worried about you. I just wish you’d move over here with us and leave it all behind. You could get a job flying out of Cairns to the reef.’
‘I don’t want to leave here; you know that. This is my home. I love the Territory.’
Ellie pinched her nose hard until her eyes watered. ‘There’s something else. When I was out there today, Susan Sordina gave me a box of Dad’s stuff.’
‘What was in it?’
‘School reports and merit certificates for the three of us. It was taken from my room today while I was at work.’
‘What do you mean taken?’
‘Someone broke into my room.’
‘Have you reported it?’ Emma’s voice was almost a squawk. ‘And who’d be interested in that old stuff?’
‘I haven’t had a chance but I will. And I don’t know why. It had Dad’s name on the lid. Maybe they thought there was something in there.’
Something incriminating. Damn, I hate thinking about all this. And talking to Emma about it made it seem so real. The past all came slamming back with a vengeance. The fear, the grief, the uncertainty. Now she could understand the confusion her mother had felt for the last five years. That unbearable feeling of being let down by the person she’d loved so much. And always the question: Why?
A pang of regret settled in Ellie’s chest. They should have been more understanding. They should have listened, and not assumed it was the grief causing Mum to make up crazy stories.
‘Holy hell, Ellie. You be careful.’ Emma held her gaze.
‘Em, you know how we went through Dad’s papers when I was staying with you? Do you know if Mum ever looked at Dad’s emails? I know he had a Gmail account. I remember helping him set it up.’
‘I don’t know. How about I broach it carefully over dinner?’
‘Thanks.’
‘Em?’ Ellie dropped her hand from her face and slowly shook her head from side to side as she stared at her sister’s face filling her screen. ‘Mum can’t be right about Dad’s . . . death, could she?’
‘I honestly don’t know, Ellie. Look, let’s talk more another time. Mum’s out of the shower. I’ll tell her the connection dropped out.’ Emma lowered her voice. ‘When we get home tonight, I’ll see if I can find anything else in her stuff. If I do, I’ll email it all to you. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid? Please? And be careful.’
‘I’ll be careful. I’ll call if Bill knows anything, too. Tell Mum I’ll ring her tomorrow.’
Only when Ellie logged off and closed the laptop did she realise that she hadn’t mentioned Kane at all.
Chapter 17
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 r
attled 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.