When she came up the next time, the jetty where his boats were tied up was between Ash and her. She trusted that meant he couldn’t see her. She rolled onto her back again and let herself be carried along by the water. All the while she watched the bank expecting to see Belinda or Ash looking for her. She hoped Li and her friend were all right. If Savannah could just make it back to her place she could phone for help. Maybe Ethan would be there. How pleased would she be to see him right now?
Her face sank below the water and she came up spluttering. She reached down and worked at her shoes to get them off her feet. After several dips under water they came free. She gave a momentary thought to their cost then banished it. What did it matter? It was more than likely she’d disappear under the water with them, never to be found again. She could hardly feel her arms and legs and her body felt so heavy. Savannah closed her eyes. She was tired and very, very cold.
CHAPTER
46
Savannah crawled out of the water and lay sprawled on the sandy bank at the bottom of the path to Jaxon’s shack. She dug her fingers in the sand, grateful to be there. She rolled onto her back and closed her eyes until shivers racked her body with such force they frightened her into action. She needed to warm up. She tried to stand but her legs wouldn’t support her properly. She half crawled, half hobbled up the path.
At the end of the drive she tried to stand again. Her stomach convulsed and she retched. All she could taste was river water. She dragged herself across the lawn to the glass doors. They were locked.
She muttered a string of language through teeth clenched so hard together her jaw ached. She made her way around the house pausing a minute to stare blankly at the space under the carport where her car should have been. The shudders coursed through her body with such force they hurt. She struggled along the back verandah. The back door was locked as well. She huddled against it. She was sure she hadn’t locked it when she’d gone out for her run this morning but that seemed so long ago. Maybe she had. Defeat threatened to engulf her. Then she pushed away from the door.
There was a spare key in the shed. Mustering her strength, she crossed the back lawn. She tripped and stumbled over the hose in the fading light. Jasper barked and she jumped in fright. She looked hopefully in the direction of Ethan’s place but there was no bike and no lights. No help would arrive unless she called for it. She forced herself to keep moving.
She was so relieved when the shed door swung open. She dug her fingers into the hidey-hole. The key fell from her numb fingers. She picked it up and made her way back to the shack.
It took her several attempts to get the key in the lock but finally she was inside. She tugged the key out and latched the door behind her. She grabbed a towel to wrap around herself as she passed the bathroom on her way to get her phone. The dining table was empty except for a mug and Jaxon’s stupid motorbike statue.
She tried to focus as she rubbed the towel vigorously all over her body. Where was her phone? She unlocked the sliding door and checked the outside table. No phone. Then she remembered Jaxon’s landline. She didn’t need a mobile to call for help. She stumbled back inside towards the office.
“I thought you’d end up back here if you didn’t drown.”
Savannah stopped. She thought her ears were playing tricks on her. She turned slowly. The towel slid to the floor and her heart skipped a beat. Belinda was standing just inside the door with something in her hand.
“Is that a …?”
“Gun.” Belinda waved the weapon in Savannah’s direction. “Yes, it is.”
It looked like a kid’s plastic toy.
“I’m sorry it’s come to this, Savvie, but you’ve caused me some grief today.” Belinda’s lips turned up in the tight smile that Savannah now knew was false.
“I can’t let you spoil everything,” she said. “That silly little bitch Li nearly did.”
Savannah gripped the table for support. “You haven’t … you haven’t …” She stared at the gun.
“Killed her? No.” Belinda gave a horrible cackle. “She and her friend are already not long for this world. I won’t have to waste a bullet on them.”
Savannah’s brain went to fudge. She’d promised Li she’d help her and now she’d end up being no help at all.
“Whereas you, my dear friend, are way too fit.” Belinda waved the gun slowly up and down. “You might need some help to disappear.”
“We’re friends, aren’t we?” Savannah still couldn’t believe this other side to Belinda was real.
Belinda gave a snort. “I had to get close to you. You were easier to take in than that brother of yours.”
“Jaxon?” Savannah’s heart leapt. Had Belinda killed him?
“If he’d just stuck to his electrical business – houseboats bring too many people. Our quiet patch of the river was getting far too busy. Ash started tinkering with the boats. We thought it might put Jaxon and his customers off but he got suspicious. Then gullible little you came along.”
Her words stabbed at Savannah. She’d been taken in by Belinda. It was just like the pretty girls back at school who thought it would be fun to have a fat friend. She had thought they were her friends just like she’d believed Belinda to be, but they were cruel. Sucked in again, Savannah.
“There’s a good view of your place from the top deck of those houseboats,” Belinda went on. “I kept watch while Ash did whatever he could to sabotage the boats.”
“You sat in the chair?”
“Did I leave one out? That was careless.”
“The signs, and …”
“The toilet paper.” Belinda cackled. “I thought that one up. The steering cable was Ash. He’s into the mechanics of boats. The gunshot wasn’t one of his better ones. He thought people would blame Gnasher and get a bit hysterical.”
Savannah gave a brief thought to her suspicions. It all fell into place now.
“Unfortunately Ethan came to your rescue,” Belinda said, “but I was working on that.”
Savannah gasped.
“What? You didn’t think he fancied you, did you? You’ve got a nice set of boobs, Savvie, but you’re no match for me. Ash was supposed to suck you in but he’s never one to be charming. You’ve mucked it all up with your attempt at rescuing Li.”
Savannah’s head was spinning. Not only had Ethan used her but he’d been helping Belinda. She sagged against the table. They’d joked together about Belinda and Ash but the joke was on her. And he’d said he’d spoken to Jaxon but maybe it was an elaborate hoax. Her holiday at the river had turned into a bad fairytale. Everything she’d thought was real was fake. Jaxon’s warning about the neighbours really did include them all.
“Gnasher and Li?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t waste one of my girls on that stupid old man. Hopefully he was drunk enough he won’t even remember he saw her. The girls are my imports. Brought into the country to please my clients.” Belinda’s eyes narrowed. “Trouble is those two bitches were too smart for their own good. Wouldn’t do as they were told. Had to get rid of them.” She waved the gun. “And now you. Lucky I got Ashton to dig such a big hole.”
Savannah gaped at her.
“No-one’s going to think to look for two illegal immigrants under a dead horse.” Belinda’s red lips curved up into a ghoulish smile. “Or for a nosy neighbour who leaves a note saying life’s not worth living.”
Although she was already chilled to the bone, a deeper shiver shuddered through Savannah. She flinched as Belinda made a sudden move to the right.
“Put this on.” Belinda tossed her jumper at her.
It slipped through Savannah’s fingers to the table. The fabric had felt warm against her skin. She couldn’t resist picking it up and pulling it on. With the warmth she felt something turn inside her. Savannah had already come across more than her share of two-faced people. She’d been through too much in her life to lose it to this cow. She wasn’t going to be the victim again.
Belinda took her p
hone from her jacket pocket.
In the gloom beyond the door, Savannah glimpsed a movement. She was surprised to see Jasper watching intently, his ears pricked. An idea began to form in her muddled brain.
“Ash will come once I call him,” Belinda said. “Don’t want you distracting him with your half-naked body. That’s how Li got away. Bloody men. Always thinking with their –”
“No, no, no!” Savannah yelled with all her might. She snatched up the motorbike and threw it.
The statue hit Belinda on the shoulder and bounced against the glass. Jasper leapt through the open door with a growl and latched onto Belinda’s hand. She screamed and the gun and the phone fell to the floor.
Savannah pushed them out of the way with her foot.
“Good job, Jasper,” she said while frantically trying to think what to do next.
“Yes, good job, Jasper. Sit.”
Belinda and Savannah both gaped at the apparition that stepped through the door.
“Gnasher?” Savannah croaked. He was dressed in khaki with bits of bush hanging off him. There were streaks of something black on his face and his funny floppy hat had more bush on it. In his hands he held a rifle.
“Looks like you don’t need my help here,” he said to Savannah.
“I’m glad to see you,” she said. She was unsure of his mental state but he was clearly on her side for now.
Belinda edged to the door and Gnasher raised his rifle to her nose. “Sit down,” he said. And she did.
Savannah felt a nudge at her fingers. Jasper sat at her feet among the broken pieces of Jaxon’s statue. She looked down into the dog’s deep, kind eyes. She squatted and threw her arms around his neck. He was warm and soft. Tears brimmed in her eyes. She’d been frightened of him all this time and it turned out he was her one true friend. She looked beyond him to Gnasher with his gun pointed at Belinda. Maybe she could count two friends on the river.
CHAPTER
47
Ethan slowed at Savannah’s drive and relief flooded through him. Every light in the shack was on and Belinda’s car was under the carport. Savannah must have been with Belinda all along. Her absence was probably to punish him for his duplicity and who could blame her.
He’d just call in to see her for himself, hand over the money for the houseboats and head off. He parked his bike under the carport and walked around to the front. As he drew level with the sliding doors he stopped. The blinds were pulled up and the scene inside was like some kind of bizarre tea party.
Savannah, Belinda and Gnasher were all sitting around the table. Savannah was wrapped in a thick blanket with that weird beanie on her head, clutching a mug. A gun and a phone sat on the table in front of her. Gnasher had dressed himself up as if he was on manoeuvres.
Jasper was at Savannah’s feet but he rose as soon as he noticed Ethan through the glass. Savannah looked up, Gnasher turned and it was then that Ethan saw his rifle. It was pointed at Belinda. Her hands were tied to the back of the chair with a tie. Ethan recognised it. Jaxon had worn it to a fundraiser in Riverboat Point just before he’d left. Her feet were tied, one to each chair leg, with garbage bags.
Ethan slid the door open slowly. He didn’t want to make any sudden moves that might upset Gnasher. Jasper came to meet him.
“Someone want to tell me what’s going on here?”
“At last,” Belinda gushed. “You’ve come to save me. These two have become quite delusional.”
“Shuddup!” Gnasher snarled.
She pursed her lips and glowered at him.
Gnasher turned to Ethan. His eyes were focused and clear.
“Seems we’ve had some human traffickers in our midst,” he said. “Scum of the earth.” He looked like he was going to spit then thought better of it.
Ethan scratched his head. “Who?”
“Belinda here and that pasty-faced brother of hers. I’ve always thought they snuck about too much.”
That was rich coming from Gnasher but Ethan let it go. He turned his attention to Savannah.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she said. “Although there’s no longer any need to pretend that you care.”
Her voice was as cold as steel. Surely she was taking her anger with him too far.
She looked exhausted huddled under the blanket, her fingers clenched around the cup.
Ethan could see it was empty.
“Mind if I make a coffee?” he asked.
Savannah stared into her empty cup.
“I’ll have one too thanks, Digger,” Gnasher said brightly. He was enjoying himself.
“I’d have one but I seem to be tied up.” Belinda jigged her shoulders up and down.
“Shut up, scum,” Gnasher said. He waved the rifle under her nose.
Belinda glared back at him but remained silent.
Ethan moved slowly to the kitchen and boiled the kettle. He brought back a coffee for him and one for Gnasher.
He could see Savannah was shivering under the blanket.
“How about I make you another?” He reached for her cup.
She gripped it tightly then let him take it.
He brought back the steaming mug of tea and placed it in front of her beside the gun. Then he sat. Now there were four of them around the table. Ethan looked from Savannah to Gnasher.
“So, is someone going to fill me in?” he asked.
“I was on a bender last night. Woke up this morning to find a Vietnamese woman staring at me. She was dripping blood and yabbering. I thought she was VC come to get me. Fired a shot into the air to scare her off. Savannah here turns up and takes the girl away. I went bush, curled up under a tree and slept it off.”
Savannah leaned towards him. “What made you come over here?”
“Once I’d had a bite to eat and my head cleared I realised I hadn’t imagined it all. There were drops of blood on my kitchen floor. I was worried. If she was VC you might be in trouble.” He shifted his rifle closer to Belinda again. “Turns out you were in a different kind of trouble. I was almost too late. Lucky Jasper was on to it.”
“I was glad to see both of you,” Savannah said.
“No VC here, mate,” Ethan said.
“I know that.” Gnasher looked him squarely in the eye.
“Why don’t you put the rifle down for now? The prisoner’s secure.”
Gnasher nodded. He propped the rifle against his chair within easy reach.
Ethan bent down and ruffled the ears of his dog. Jasper lay stretched out between him and Savannah.
“What have you been up to, mate?”
“I saw him outside. I don’t know what made him come but I was glad to see him.” Savannah spoke softly. She was staring into her cup. “I remembered that day when we … when we were painting and he thought I was attacking you. He came to your rescue. I hoped he might do the same for me.”
Ethan felt a surge of pride in his chest. “And he did.”
She nodded but didn’t look at him.
“Talk about soppy cosy neighbours,” Belinda snapped. “You lot deserve each other.”
“Shut up, Belinda.” Ethan and Gnasher spoke in unison.
She turned her piercing stare on Ethan but said nothing.
He took a mouthful of coffee and studied Savannah. Her face was pale and her lips had a blue tinge. She still wouldn’t look at him.
‘Where did you take the girl, Sav?” he asked gently.
A look of horror crossed her face and she leapt to her feet. “Li,” she said. “I should go and get her out.”
“Out of where?”
“Belinda has her locked in a shed.”
“Sit down, girlie,” Gnasher said. “Ambos are on their way. Let them deal with it.”
“But Ash –”
“Won’t do anything unless he hears from Belinda,” Gnasher said. “And you have her phone.”
The blanket fell away from Savannah’s legs. She was wearing a pair of three-quarter running pants and below that, on her shi
ns were long red gashes. Her feet were bare.
“What happened to you, Sav?” Ethan asked.
She looked down at her legs as if she was puzzled to see them.
“Belinda had her locked in the shed with this Li and her friend,” Gnasher said. “Savannah cut her way out and swam back here to get help.”
“Stupid bitch,” Belinda snarled. “You were so needy it was easy to suck you in. I read you like a book. Knew you’d come straight back here.”
Savannah turned on Belinda. “You’re the one tied up waiting for the police to arrive,” she snapped. “You’re going to pay big time for all the misery you’ve caused Li and the other women you’ve treated like bits of disposable rubbish.” Savannah put her hands on the table and leant across at Belinda. “I hope they lock you up and throw away the key.”
“You go, girlie,” Gnasher cheered.
“Listen,” Ethan said. He could hear the deep throb of a helicopter.
Alarm spread over Gnasher’s face. He hunched his shoulders and picked up his rifle.
“Friendlies, Gnasher,” Ethan said.
Then they heard the sirens and a boat on the river. A bright light swung along the bank below them.
“Help’s here,” Ethan said. Gnasher maintained his guard but Savannah’s shoulders drooped and the blanket fell. There was mud on her pants and her jumper was undone. He could see her skin underneath it was muddy and her bra a murky brown. She must still be in the clothes she swam in. She started to shake.
“Sav, you need a warm shower,” he said.
She picked up the blanket and wrapped it around herself again then she turned her determined look on him.
“Not till I know Li’s safe,” she said.
“At least take your wet clothes off.”
She sat down and tugged off her running pants oblivious to the rest of them. She dropped them on the floor then wrapped the blanket tightly around herself again.
“Happy now?” she said.
Ethan could see she would take no more notice of him. Hopefully they’d learn soon enough of Li’s fate.
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