Kakadu Sunset

by Annie Seaton

  ‘Sorry, all flights have been cancelled for the afternoon.’ She took another step back and turned to leave the hangar. ‘Too much smoke. If you go over to the main office, they’ll refund you or give you a voucher for one of the other tours.’

  The guy shook his head. ‘Uh-uh. I want to go up now.’ He looked around. ‘Where’s your partner?’

  Ellie ignored his question and waited for him to come out onto the tarmac with her. He followed her outside slowly and a small shiver ran down her spine. He pulled a cigarette from his top pocket and she shook her head. ‘No smoking.’ She pointed to the large sign on the side of the building.

  He put the cigarette in his mouth but didn’t light it. ‘So are you going to take me up or not?’ His hands fidgeted with the lighter and Ellie looked around. There was no one in sight. She had a feeling this guy was trouble.

  He reached out and took her arm but Ellie gritted her teeth and shook his hand off. ‘I already told you; flights are cancelled. Walk over to the office with me and I’ll sort out your refund myself.’

  ‘Did you hear me?’ He grabbed her again and Ellie looked down at the thick fingers holding her hand. ‘I’ve paid and you’re taking me up now. The smoke doesn’t concern me.’

  His fingers pressed hard and Ellie tried to pull her hand away, but he had a firm hold.

  She lifted her boot and stood on Henry’s foot at the same time as she pulled her arm away. ‘Let go of me!’

  ‘You’re going to pay for that.’ His voice was low but it was the cold smile and the expressionless eyes that raised the hair on her neck.

  As Ellie ran away from him, across the tarmac and through the gate, the sound of a mower came from around the nearest building. Relief surged through her as Terry waved. She crossed the lawn towards the ride-on mower.

  ‘What’s up?’ Terry yelled above the noise of the engine. He reached down and turned it off. Ellie turned and pointed to the guy who was walking quickly in the other direction. ‘It’s okay. Just a creep being difficult when his flight was canned.’

  ‘Want me to deal with him?’

  Ellie smiled and shook her head. ‘He’s gone now.’

  Terry climbed off the mower and stood beside Ellie as they watched Henry cross to the car park.

  ‘Might be a creep, but he drives a Mercedes.’ Terry let out a low whistle of appreciation as the vehicle roared down the road and turned onto the highway with a squeal of tyres. ‘More money than brains, that’s for sure.’

  ‘A black Mercedes.’ Ellie muttered beneath her breath, as she remembered where she’d seen it before. Heather had seen a Mercedes the night that Bill had been hurt. That was the night before she’d gone up with Henry the first time.

  Was it the same car?

  ‘You sure you’re okay? You’re a bit pale.’

  Ellie forced a smile onto her face. ‘I’m fine, thanks, Terry. It’s just been a big couple of days.’

  Ellie spent the afternoon in the office over in the main administration building, catching up on paperwork and surrounded by others. She could have done it in the office in the hangar, but the encounter with that guy had unsettled her. Maybe her imagination was running wild because of Sordina’s murder, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. When Kane was back – there was no sign of him yet – she’d go back over there to work in the office in the hangar.

  The main office was busy with tourists coming and going, and she helped out when the queue was long, taking several bookings for ground tours and sunset cruises.

  Amanda, the afternoon receptionist, thanked her as the last tourist headed off towards the wharf. The two-hour sunset cruise was about to board and the rush for bookings had finished. ‘It’s been so busy today. I appreciated your help.’

  ‘I thought Heather was supposed to be in the office with you today?’

  ‘No, she and Jenny have shared duties in the crèche and day spa.’ Amanda looked up at the clock. ‘Although she’s probably finished by now. We closed the day spa early because we were short-staffed. How about an early snack at the bar? I think we’ve earned a break after this busy afternoon. And I hate going home to that small unit in Jabiru.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan. I’ll go over and see if she’s finished up.’ Amanda had only started at the lodge a few weeks before Ellie went across to Queensland. By the sound of things, she was still finding her way in the loneliness of the Territory. ‘You should move into one of the staff apartments here. A bit more company for you onsite.’

  Ellie opened the door and looked around. Most of the clouds had cleared and the sky was shot with the lingering remnants of smoke from the burn-off. Molten gold edged the pink clouds and rays of soft light filtered down towards the horizon on the other side of the river. She paused and took a deep breath, letting the natural beauty seep into her. Guests were milling around the lawn between the two buildings, cameras at the ready to snap the sunset. With the smoke hanging in the sky tonight, it would be a photographer’s dream. She looked up as she crossed the manicured lawn. The crocodile-shaped building usually made her smile, but this afternoon, the eyes that were set in the peak of the roof glinted ominously as the rays of the setting sun flashed off the high glass windows. She glanced over her shoulder as footsteps crunched on the gravel behind her but there was no one there. Just her edginess keeping her company.

  Ellie almost ran down the path between the overhanging bougainvilleas and pushed open the door of the crèche. Heather was sitting at the desk with her hands over her face.

  ‘Hey. You okay?’ Ellie crossed the room and Heather looked up.

  ‘Hi. Yeah, just a bit tired. It’s been a long day.’

  ‘Tell me about it. You and me both.’ Ellie dropped onto the sofa beneath the window and looked up in surprise as a little voice called out to her.

  ‘Ellie!’ Andrew ran across holding a plastic, wind-up train. ‘Watch this.’

  ‘You know these kids?’ A strange expression crossed Heather’s face.

  ‘Yeah, I’m an old friend of their dad. I went to school with his –’ Ellie stopped as Heather pushed her chair back suddenly and it tipped over with a crash.

  ‘So you know their mother too?’ Her voice was strained.

  ‘I’ve only got to know Gina while they’ve been staying here. She’s lovely.’ Ellie frowned; she’d never seen Heather so tense.

  Heather’s hands were crossed against her chest and she looked away.

  ‘Go and get me some tracks and I’ll help you build a circle for the train to go around. Okay?’ Ellie smiled down at Andrew.

  While Andrew was engrossed in pulling out the blue plastic sections of track from the toy box, Ellie stood up and followed Heather over to the window. ‘What’s wrong? Are you all right? Is your dad still okay?’

  Heather nodded but still her eyes wouldn’t meet Ellie’s. ‘Yeah, he’s fine. I’m fine. It’s all good. I’m just waiting for them to . . . to be collected and then I’m going home.’ Her voice was fast and her words ran together. ‘I have to go home.’

  ‘I came over to see if you want to have dinner with Amanda and me.’

  ‘No. No, I have to go. Dad’s . . . he’s left his car for me.’ Heather shook her head and her voice was shaky. ‘I’m really tired.’

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Yes.’ Heather wouldn’t meet her eyes.

  ‘I can watch the kids till Gina gets here if you want?’

  ‘That’d be good.’

  ‘Where is she?’

  ‘Don’t know, she didn’t say where she was going.’ Heather’s eyes were darting around and her breath was catching as she spoke. ‘Just dropped the kids off.’

  Ellie put a hand on her arm. ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

  ‘Yes. I told you I’m fine.’ Heather hissed the answer at her and Ellie took a step back with her hands up.

  ‘All right. All right. No need to get pissy with me again. I thought we’d sorted that.’

  ‘Sorry, I’m cross because she’s late. It
’s been a long day.’ Heather’s lips trembled. ‘You know I’d rather work in the office than in the crèche.’

  ‘I want Mummy.’ Ellie moved her gaze over to the little girl. Binny had her thumb in her mouth and her little eyes were huge.

  ‘Yes, sweetheart.’ Ellie crouched down beside her and smoothed her hand over the little girl’s hair, conscious of Heather’s gaze. ‘She shouldn’t be too long now.’

  ‘I’ll just get my keys.’ Heather hurried to the desk, pulled out her keys and closed the drawer with a snap. Ellie rose and followed her across the room.

  ‘Do you think she might have gone on the sunset cruise?’ Ellie glanced at the two children. Binny was leaning against her brother and as Ellie watched he put his little arm around her and she snuggled in.

  Heather shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘The kids look tired. What time did Gina drop them off?’

  ‘They’ve been here since I opened up.’

  Ellie put her hands on her hips. No way. ‘All day? Have you tried to call her?’

  Heather dropped her eyes. ‘Yeah. Not answering.’

  Ellie pulled out her phone. ‘I’ll try.’

  Heather quickly grabbed her hand. ‘No point. I just called her.’

  ‘Are you sure you’ve got the right number?’ Ellie pulled up Gina’s details, and read the number as Heather double-checked it on the sheet in front of her.

  ‘Yep, that’s right. I’ve just tried it, twice. It went to voicemail.’ Heather stared at her as her words ran together. ‘Maybe her phone’s flat. Or maybe she did go on the sunset cruise. There’s no service up on the billabongs anyway. I have to go. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.’

  Something wasn’t right. Heather was acting strangely. A shaft of unease lodged in Ellie’s throat. This all felt wrong.

  ‘Okay, you go then. She must have gone on the sunset cruise and didn’t realise how late it came in. That’s the only place she could be.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Heather picked up her bag and headed quickly for the door.

  ‘Heather?’ Ellie was surprised at her friend’s haste to get away. ‘Will you please swing by the bistro and tell Amanda not to wait for me?’

  ‘All right.’

  Ellie frowned as the door closed. She crossed to the window; it was almost dark. She watched Heather turn in the opposite direction to the bistro and hurry across to the back of the day spa. Bill’s old Land Cruiser was backed right up to the staff entrance. Heather opened the driver’s door, jumped in, and black smoke billowed from the exhaust as she drove towards the main gate of the lodge. She indicated and turned onto the highway.

  Thanks pal, for telling Amanda not to wait. Heather’s behaviour was bizarre. Ellie frowned as she walked over to the children. She pulled down a couple of large cushions off the sofa and switched the television on. Once the kids were engrossed in the children’s program, she took out her phone and flicked through until she found Gina’s number and pressed call. Like Heather said, it went straight to voicemail. She wondered if she should call David to see if he knew where Gina was; it wouldn’t hurt.

  She kept her voice low as she called Call Connect. ‘Parliament House, Darwin, please.’ Once the call was picked up she asked for the office of the Chief Minister. While she waited for it to be answered, she dropped into the chair at the desk and reached over to the drawer. It was partially open and a piece of bright red paper was caught in the top. ‘No fracking for Kakadu’ was emblazoned across it in big letters. A public meeting was happening tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.

  Join us and be part of the fight to keep this ancient land healthy for all of our children, black and white. Hear Bill Jarragah speak about the dangers to our environment.

  She opened the drawer wide to pull out the paper for a closer look, and something shiny caught her attention.

  Ellie gasped and put her hand over her mouth, but the children were too engrossed in the television to hear her. She reached in and pulled out a crystal-encrusted phone case. There was an iPhone loose in the drawer beside it.

  Chapter 27

  5.00 pm Friday

  Parliament House, Darwin

  ‘You bastard.’ David closed his eyes and grasped the handset tightly as the chilling laugh came through the line. ‘Where is she? Where are my children?’

  ‘David, David. Calm down. There’s no need to be like that. She’s in good hands.’

  Fairweather’s voice sent ice through David’s veins. He’d been trying to reach Gina ever since the news had broken of Panos Sordina’s murder that morning. After several attempts, he’d given up on her mobile and called the main number of Makowa Lodge, but there’d been no answer when they’d put the call through to the room. He’d tried to convince himself that she’d let the battery run flat, or she’d gone out and left the phone in the room, but deep down, his conviction that something was very wrong gelled into certainty as the hours had passed: Fairweather had her. The confirmation turned his stomach to liquid.

  ‘Your wife is fine.’ His voice was friendly as though they were having a social conversation. ‘But you know what you have to do, don’t you, to make sure she stays fine?’

  ‘Why? Why now?’

  ‘You let me down with the boundary change vote, David. So I thought you needed a little prompting to make sure you vote the right way this time.’ Fairweather sighed. ‘I really thought I had made the consequences clear to you.’

  David clenched his hand around the phone. He had no choice but to submit. ‘I will vote for your drilling licence. You have my word. But so help me, if you harm one hair on Gina’s head . . .’ He kept his voice level and strong.

  ‘Now, now, David. You don’t want to get me cross.’ Fairweather’s voice hardened. ‘One of your colleagues made me cross yesterday. And I heard on the radio he had a very unfortunate accident last night.’

  David eased himself down into his chair as Fairweather’s meaning registered. ‘Sordina?’ His voice was hoarse and he struggled to take a deep breath. The air was thick and hot, and a trickle of sweat ran down the side of his face. ‘Where are my children, Russell?’

  Fairweather laughed. ‘I really don’t know. I’ll be in touch soon, David.’

  David stared at his mobile as the call disconnected at the other end. His hand was shaking as he put it down on the desk and searched frantically for his car keys. Everything was moving in slow motion and his ears buzzed as though a thousand cicadas were in his head.

  Oh God, where are Andrew and Binny? Surely they hadn’t been left alone in the apartment.

  He’d try Gina’s phone one more time before he jumped in the car and raced down the Arnhem Highway. Maybe she still had it on her. Maybe she’d hidden it, or switched it off.

  His fingers were shaking as he pressed speed dial. David stared straight ahead, willing her to pick up. Again it went straight to voicemail. As he threw it to the desk in frustration, the landline on his desk buzzed and he grabbed the phone. ‘David Johnson. Who’s calling?’

  ‘A call for you, David.’ Helen’s voice was hesitant. ‘She wouldn’t say who it was, just that it was important. Do you want to take it?’

  ‘Yes. Please.’

  The call clicked across. ‘Who is this?’

  ‘It’s Ellie. David, is that you? Look, I’ve got Gina’s phone and I’m a little bit concerned.’

  Ellie? Why does she have Gina’s phone?

  ‘Ellie. Listen to me.’ His voice was shaking as he rushed the words out. ‘Do you know where Gina and the children are?’

  ‘Andrew and Binny are right here with me.’

  Thank God. ‘Are they okay?’

  ‘Yes. They’re fine. We’re in the crèche. Gina dropped the kids off here this morning, but David –’ He could hear the hesitation in Ellie’s voice ‘– she’s very late coming back. I was wondering if she mentioned going on a tour or anything.’

  Relief that Andrew and Binny were safe was overlaid by his desperate fear for Gina’s safety.
‘Ellie, listen to me. Listen very carefully. Hang up the phone and wait. I’ll call you back from another line.’ David was sure that Fairweather had his phone tapped, somehow, and he didn’t want him to know what he was planning. The man’s reach seemed to spread everywhere.

  David threw the phone onto the desk and ran for the door, his car keys in his hand.

  *

  Ellie locked the door and drew the blinds while she waited for David to call back. For extra security she pulled a large box of toys against the door. David’s voice had sent a shiver down her spine. Something was very wrong. It was only a few minutes until the phone rang and Ellie snatched it up.

  ‘David?’

  ‘Listen carefully, Ellie. I want you to do everything I say. Where do you live?’

  ‘In a staff apartment at the back of the lodge.’

  ‘Look, I know it’s a big ask, but I’m on my way to the lodge now. Can you get the kids over there and lock the door until I get there? And don’t tell a soul.’

  ‘I can do that. David, what’s going on?’

  ‘I’ll explain when I arrive. You said you’ve got Gina’s phone. How much charge has it got?’

  ‘It’s switched off. Wait a minute.’

  She powered it up and waited. The battery icon showed about eighty per cent. ‘Plenty.’

  ‘Good. I’ll call you on it when I get there.’ David’s voice dropped and Ellie sensed he was trying to hold it together. ‘Are you sure the kids are okay?’

  Ellie looked over to the corner. Binny had fallen asleep against her brother and Andrew’s eyes were heavy. ‘Yes. Yes, they’re fine. Ready for their dinner, I guess, but I’ll feed them.’

  ‘Keep them safe. Lock the door and don’t let anyone in. Not even anyone you know. Not even anyone you trust. No one. And Ellie, thank you. I owe you.’ David’s voice cracked as the call disconnected.

  Ellie carried Binny on her hip, and she locked her little arms around Ellie’s neck as they walked the path to the back of the lodge. Binny’s soft lashes brushed Ellie’s face in a butterfly kiss as her eyes closed. Ellie inhaled the sweet smell of the little girl’s hair and took a deep breath. She wondered where Gina was. And worried why Kane was so late getting back.