Daintree

by Annie Seaton

  Jeremy waved his hand as she held his gaze. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’ll be a great day and I’d love to help out.’

  ‘The hospital has held the tug-of-war trophy for the past two years so the pressure will be on,’ Cissy said with a smile as she looked from Emma to Jeremy.

  Troy moved closer to Emma and she turned to him. It was almost as though he was putting out a challenge to Jeremy.

  ‘And the success is more to do with Emma’s organising since she arrived than any team talent,’ Cissy added. ‘It was all her idea and this is the third year it’s run. Gets bigger and better each year.’

  ‘When is it?’ Jeremy asked.

  ‘Next weekend, so you’ve got one week to train.’ Cissy lifted her arm and pretended to flex her muscles.

  Everyone laughed and Jeremy looked down as his buzzer vibrated on the table. When he came back with his meal, Troy and Emma had their heads close in a private conversation.

  *

  ‘So where was this exactly?’ Troy had turned his full attention to Emma and they kept their voices low as the conversation at the table washed around them. She’d given the matter of the smuggling a lot of thought when she’d left the hospital and slipped over to the clinic to get changed for dinner. Troy would be the best person to ask about her suspicion that someone was taking wildlife from the rainforest. She told him about the plastic tubes she’d found in the grove, and the fact that someone had stolen Wilma’s snakes.

  ‘About twelve kilometres south of Cape Tribulation. There’s an old road that turns into a track that goes to the foot of Thornton Peak.’

  Troy nodded and rubbed his hand over his jaw. ‘I know it. We’ve already proposed it as one of the tracks for the new eco-walking tours from the centre. I’ve been out there a couple of times. So what were you doing way out there?’

  ‘I was collecting some bark I use to make a lotion for treating burns.’

  Troy’s brow wrinkled into a frown. ‘Not from the rainforest?’

  ‘No, a friend has a few acres that run to a grove adjacent to the national park. Don’t worry, Troy. I know the rules.’

  He stared at her. ‘You do know what the plastic tubes are used for, don’t you?’

  ‘They’re used to carry birds.’

  Troy looked around before picking up their empty glasses. ‘Come with me and I’ll get us another drink. We’ll go outside where it’s private.’

  Emma was aware of Jeremy’s interest as she followed Troy from the bar to the wide doors that opened onto the deck overlooking Dalrymple Creek. Jeremy and Troy’s preening had her confused. It was almost like the mating ritual of the local riflebird, trying to catch the female’s attention. Why would Jeremy even care; he hadn’t wanted her in Sydney so what cause did he have to be jealous now?

  Troy leaned on the railing with his back to the water. The moon was full and the moonlight reflected off the large white boulders along the edge of the slow moving water. The lazy burbling of the creek carried across to them.

  ‘Can I ask you to keep something confidential, Emma?’ Troy lifted her chin with his fingers and she wondered what he was about to ask.

  She nodded slowly. His eyes were a deep brown and surrounded by dark eyelashes. ‘Of course.’

  ‘You’ve been really helpful sharing what you’ve seen. What I’m about to tell you is extremely sensitive and if it gets out, it could mean the end of months and months of work.’

  Emma nodded again. ‘Of course you can trust me.’

  Troy leaned in closer and the fragrance of his aftershave wafted across; an unusual woodsy and citrus mix. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her and her stomach clenched in anticipation but he moved back a little as he spoke.

  ‘I think you’re right about those tubes. I know there’s wildlife smuggling going on in the Daintree and it’s why I asked to be transferred up here. While I work at the rainforest centre I can keep an eye on what’s going on and share anything important with the higher-ups at National Parks and Wildlife. Sadly, there’s not enough government funding to conserve these areas to the level they need. It’s so easy for our wildlife to be smuggled out of the forest. And out of the country.’

  His face was shadowed but the strong planes of his face contrasted against the light along the edge of the verandah. Emma was impressed by Troy’s passion.

  She frowned. ‘It’s really happening up here?’

  Troy nodded. ‘A lot of our wildlife goes out of Australia every year. Not just in the Daintree. All over the place. It’s a huge business with links to organised crime. I’ll pass on what you told me to the Parks and Wildlife guys in Cairns.’

  ‘What will happen?’

  ‘Just go about your business as usual, but it would be wise to stay out of the rainforest for a couple of weeks.’ Troy turned and looked at the creek as it gurgled over the rocks below them, just a few metres from the back of the club. He sighed. ‘Don’t trust anyone. You’d be very surprised to know who’s involved in this town.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘I can’t tell you. I don’t have any proof. If even a whisper of this got out, or if someone suspected that you knew about it, it would put your life in danger. I don’t want to put you in that position.’

  ‘Seriously?’

  Troy ran a hand through his short-cropped hair and the bronze-coloured ring on the middle finger of his left hand flashed in the light.

  ‘Believe me, Emma. Don’t mention it to a soul, not even your closest friends.’

  ‘I’ve already been to the police station and talked to Sergeant Smith about George’s assault but I didn’t mention anything else. I just said that Wilma was having some issues out on her place.’

  ‘Who’s George?’

  ‘Oh, sorry. You probably don’t know him. A friend of mine was assaulted out in the rainforest last weekend. Near where I saw the plastic pipes.’

  But Emma didn’t mention that Jeremy, George and Wilma all knew about the suspected smuggling.

  ‘That’s okay. I’ve already had a word to the sergeant myself.’

  Emma was surprised that Troy had already been to the police. ‘Why would I be in danger?’ she asked.

  ‘These guys will do anything to get the wildlife. If you get in their way, or see what they’re doing, they’d have no hesitation in—’ Troy reached down, took her hand and squeezed it. ‘Look, it makes some bad people a lot of money. Up here, it’s snakes and birds, and their eggs. And it’s a two-way street.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Wildlife out, drugs in. It’s easy for them to fly the wildlife out via South East Asia on small planes. The big players bring drugs in, and ship the wildlife on the return flights.’

  ‘I saw a plane the other night,’ Emma said slowly.

  ‘You did?’ Troy narrowed his eyes. ‘Where?’

  ‘A small plane landed across the river from my place.’

  ‘Where do you live? Near this river?’ Troy gestured to the water below them.

  ‘No, my place is upstream, across from the Daintree village. The old airfield is about half a kilometre west of the village.’

  Troy turned to face her and his eyes lit up with excitement. ‘The National Parks guys said they suspected a plane was coming in but they were looking further north. Their information source has disappeared. I’ll let them know.’

  Emma swallowed and widened her eyes. ‘Disappeared?’

  ‘I told you it was a dangerous business. What did you see?’

  ‘It was dark. All I saw was a white ute and a couple of figures.’

  ‘Did you mention that to the police?’

  ‘No.’ Emma bit her lip. ‘I didn’t know it was suspicious.’

  ‘Tell me more about your friend who lost her snakes. Do you know if she has a permit?’

  ‘She’s Aboriginal. Does she need one?’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ he said slowly. ‘Does she have anything else there?’

  Emma hesitated. She didn’t
want to get Wilma into trouble. ‘She’s a harmless old lady who keeps pets for company.’

  ‘Emma, don’t be naive. For all you know she could be collecting them for smuggling.’

  She pursed her lips. ‘No chance of that. Wilma has an affinity with the land. She’s proud of being an Eastern Kuku Yalanji woman and she would never do anything to hurt the environment.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll trust you on that. Back to what you actually saw. So you only saw some tubes on the ground? No sign of any birds or eggs?’

  ‘Oh yes, I saw the most amazing bird. He put on a performance for me.’

  Troy regarded her intently. ‘A performance? What sort of bird?’

  Emma described how the cockatoo had drummed on the tree.

  His eyes narrowed. ‘Did it have dark pink patches on its cheeks?’

  ‘I can show you.’ She lifted her phone and played the video for the second time that night.

  Troy watched in silence and Emma took the opportunity to study his face in the moonlight. His features were strong and his lips were full. The video finished and she turned the phone off.

  ‘That was amazing.’ Troy was almost dancing around with suppressed excitement. ‘That’s a palm cockatoo. They’ve never been seen this far south.’ He turned away and murmured, ‘Bugger.’

  Emma waited as he stared over the water, deep in thought. Finally she asked, ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘If there are palm cockatoos breeding there, we need to keep the tourists away to give the colony a chance to build up. We’ll have to find another track for the rainforest walk. Shouldn’t be too hard.’

  He glanced down at his watch and then inside. ‘I’ve got to go, Emma.’ He put his finger to his lips. ‘And please remember what I said. Not a word. Not to anyone else. I’ll go and see the sarge again and tell him to keep really quiet on any investigating they might do.’

  Emma nodded and then followed him back inside and went back to the table as Troy headed for the door. It was as though he’d forgotten all about her. The brief dismissal rankled a bit.

  ‘Everything okay?’ Jeremy watched curiously as Troy pushed open the door.

  ‘Yes. Troy had to go back to work.’

  ‘Do you want to go somewhere for a coffee? I’d like to finish our conversation.’

  Emma laughed. ‘You’re not in Sydney anymore, Jeremy. The only place you’ll get coffee at nine o’clock on a Friday night in this town is from that urn over there.’ But he was right. It was time to put the past to rest.

  ‘Neither of us are working tomorrow. I’ll come into town. I have to pick George up anyway.’

  ‘Before you go, can I ask you something personal?’ Jeremy leaned close and she jumped as his arm brushed against hers. ‘Are you and Troy a couple?’

  She lifted her face to him, a strange emotion running through her. One she couldn’t put a name to.

  ‘No, we’re not.’

  Chapter 16

  Saturday morning

  Crooked Cottage

  For the second weekend running, Emma had an early visitor to her house.

  Her night had been disturbed by dreams of snakes and birds, and as soon as she woke she headed for a hot shower. She slipped on a light cheesecloth dress and left her hair loose to dry. Bowser was scratching at the back door and Emma rolled her eyes.

  ‘At this rate, I’m going to need a new back door.’ The timber was chipped where he’d been scratching away, but there was no way she was going to let him out during the night. She opened the door and he shot out. Leaving the door ajar, she crossed to the sink and yawned as she filled the kettle, and switched the gas hob on.

  As she waited for the water to boil, Bowser started yapping outside. She hurried across to the door. ‘No more snakes, please.’ She’d had enough reptiles this week to do her for a lifetime.

  But it wasn’t another snake. Jeremy was pulling the punt up to the post, and as she watched he looped the rope over to it. She wasn’t sure if she was pleased to see him or not. Brushing her fingers through her damp hair, she crossed the yard and stood by the back gate.

  ‘Interesting place to live.’ He turned a high wattage smile to her. ‘But then you never did things by halves. And I mean that in a nice way so please don’t go getting cross at me again.’

  ‘What are you doing here, Jeremy? I thought we were going to meet in town. How did you know where to find me?’

  She’d got used to seeing him at the hospital over the past week but she was still assailed by conflicting emotions every time she saw him. Once they got the past out of the way, it would be easier.

  Or so she hoped.

  She followed Jeremy’s movement as he turned and waved. George was standing over on the other side of the river. He waved back and climbed into his ute and soon it was chugging up the slight hill to the village.

  ‘Ah. So George told you how to find me.’

  Jeremy’s grin was wide. ‘In exchange for discharging him.’

  ‘I suppose it saves me a trip into town,’ she conceded, folding her arms. ‘So here you are.’

  ‘Are you going to invite me in?’

  She shrugged and led him inside as Bowser jumped around his legs asking for a pat.

  Traitor.

  Jeremy reached down and scratched the dog’s ears. ‘Nice little cottage.’

  Emma watched Jeremy look around. His arms were loose by his side and his stance was relaxed.

  ‘I wouldn’t mind something like this myself.’ He turned to face her. ‘I’m looking for a place at the moment.’

  ‘You wouldn’t last a week here. A dicky water pump. A gas stove and hot water that are both very temperamental.’ Emma folded her arms and observed him. ‘It’s not your style at all. You need to be looking out Wonga Beach way.’

  Jeremy’s smile faded. ‘And what would you know about my style, Emma?’

  She tilted her head to the side and looked at his immaculate clothes, running her gaze down from his perfectly pressed T-shirt, his designer label jeans and his perfectly polished boots.

  ‘I saw where you grew up.’ She managed to keep the bitterness from her voice. She’d come to believe that Jeremy must have been pleased to see her go; her leaving had been an easy out for him and she was sure that was why he’d never answered her letter. As soon as she’d hung up on that call with his mother, Emma had attempted to ease her broken heart by saying goodbye to Jeremy in a long letter—email and text were too casual for what she wanted to say. She’d poured her heart out, told him all about the manner of Dad’s death and spoken of the grief of losing their much-loved father. She’d told him of Mum’s decline and how concerned she was about Dru. And even though she knew that they wouldn’t be a couple any more—she’d even managed to wish him happiness with Polly— she’d also promised to let him know her contact details when she settled into university in Townsville.

  Obviously she’d been naive to think they could have remained friends. He’d never replied so she had known exactly where she stood, and as much as she had been nursing a broken heart, his lack of reply had hardened her. Jeremy was more like his mother than she had ever realised: the Jeremy from the days and nights in her little flat in Surry Hills must have been a dream she had created in her heart. No wishing her luck at the new university. Not one word of sympathy had come her way. His mother had been telling the truth. Polly was on the scene and Emma leaving town was a convenient out for Jeremy.

  Their relationship would never have lasted. Emma’s world was a long way from Jeremy’s. And that’s why she couldn’t understand what he was doing up here in a little town like Dalrymple, so far from where he belonged.

  The room hummed with tension.

  ‘I grew up how and where I did because of the family I was born into. It doesn’t necessarily mean that I belonged there. Or that I was happy there.’

  Emma stared at him. ‘Look at yourself, Jeremy.’

  His eyebrows lowered and his forehead wrinkled in a frown. ‘You think the way I look
tells you what sort of person I am? I thought you of all people knew me better than that, Em.’

  ‘Of course it does. You’re good-looking, you wear the best clothes, confidence oozes out of you. I was never good enough for you or your family.’ She couldn’t help the catch in her voice. How had their conversation got so serious this quickly?

  ‘Maybe I wasn’t good enough for you. Your causes seemed to be taking up most of your time before you left me.’ He leaned back against the doorframe and folded his arms as he stared back. It was hard to read the expression on his face. ‘You don’t know me now and you obviously never did. I loved you and you walked away.’

  ‘You were happy to see me go! It saved you the trouble.’ Her voice rose and she stabbed her finger in the air towards him. The tension ramped up and Bowser slid beneath the table.

  ‘How the hell can you say I was glad to see you go? You broke my bloody heart.’ He took another step towards her. Emma could swear she could feel the warmth radiating off his skin.

  ‘Don’t lie to me. There’s nothing to be gained.’ Emma’s voice roughened and she rubbed at her eyes, angry that he could bring her to this state. From a casual visit to a full-blown argument in less than three minutes; that had to be a record. She shook her head. They’d argued in Sydney but at least they’d always been honest with each other. Now his words were slicing her heart open all over again.

  ‘I’m not lying. One day you were there and we were happy, and then I came back from that football trip and you were gone. Without a word. Not one fucking word.’ Jeremy ran his hand through his hair. ‘I left dozens of messages on your phone before I realised you weren’t going to answer me.’

  Emma lowered her head. She didn’t trust herself to look at him.

  ‘I lost my phone somewhere between Sydney and home. There was so much happening, I didn’t ever bother chasing it up.’ Her voice was low and as full of emotion as his.

  ‘What was I to think? And what do you mean there was so much happening?’ Emma lifted her head as Jeremy grasped her hands with his. ‘That stuff you said about Polly being around when we were together, that’s absolute bullshit.’ His voice lowered. ‘We did get together, but it was a long time after you left me, and it wasn’t real anyway. If you were struggling with uni I could have helped. Or was it just Sydney? Or was it me?’ He pulled away and ran his hand through his short hair in frustration. ‘Christ, Emma, I had no idea you were having trouble.’