She winked as she smiled. ‘Coming right up.’ She cracked two eggs into the pan, then lifted the coffee pot from the bench. ‘Want some coffee?’
He nodded. ‘Please.’
Her father held up his own mug as Marion poured the dark liquid into the mug in front of Mac. ‘I’ll have a top-up, too, while you’re at it.’
Marion tilted her head.
‘Please,’ her father said hurriedly. She arched an eyebrow. ‘Marion,’ he added.
‘Of course,’ she said demurely.
Jac watched as Marion placed her hand on his shoulder and leaned over to pour him coffee. Was her father … blushing?
‘So, all went well last night?’ Mac enquired as he started to eat his breakfast.
Now she was blushing. Those dreams… She nodded as she dropped her gaze to her plate. ‘Fine.’
‘Nothing … untoward?’
‘Nope.’
‘Good.’
‘Yep.’
Her father glanced between them. ‘So. Fences, huh?’
‘Yep,’ she said, as Marion served Mac his eggs.
‘I’ve made you a packed lunch,’ Marion said, pointing to a container on the kitchen bench.
‘Thanks, Marion,’ Jac said, surprised. She hadn’t expected the older woman to do that.
Marion waved a hand as she bustled over to the sink. ‘Oh, it’s no trouble.’
‘What is Scott doing while you’re off galliva—checking fences?’ her father asked.
‘He’s checking all the gates along the highway,’ Jac informed him, then sipped more coffee. ‘Then he’s got to round up the sheep in the south paddock, because the dipping contractor will be here in a week.’
‘Oh. I might go with him, then,’ Tom suggested.
Jac coughed into her mug, then set it down on the table. ‘That sounds great,’ she said, sincerely. ‘I’m sure Scott would appreciate your help.’ Her father was going to ride along. She tried not to dance in her seat. Marion winked at her over her father’s shoulder, and Jac hid a smile as she stood to clear her place at the table. Mac scooped up the last of his eggs, then did the same. Jac leaned over and kissed her father on his cheek. ‘See you later.’
‘So, which fence are we checking first?’ Mac asked as he followed her out the back door. She stepped over the third plank, and then pointed at it in silent reminder to Mac, who also avoided stepping on the weakened timber. She really needed to fix that. Soon.
She leaned down to pick up her boots and tipped them over to shake. ‘I’ll figure we’ll head out—holy mother of god,’ she shrieked, jumping back as a small brown snake fell out of her boot and onto the veranda.
Mac yanked her back behind him as the snake’s body uncoiled. In what seemed like a blur of movement, Mac grasped the cricket bat that leaned against the wall, leaned down and slid the spine of the bat under the snake. Lightning fast, he scooped up the snake and flung it off the veranda. It made a thud when it landed on the ground three metres away, and then it slithered into the bush, away from the house.
Jacinta sagged against the wall of the house as her father opened the screen door. ‘Did you just scream?’
‘Snake,’ she rasped.
‘Where?’
‘Gone.’ She waved in the general direction of Mac, who was returning the cricket bat to its spot, and then beyond to where the snake had disappeared.
‘It’s not gone under the house, has it? I don’t want the bugger to pop up somewhere else inside—like the dunny.’
Mac shook his head. ‘No, it’s gone in that direction.’
‘Well, I guess those solar snake repellers don’t work, after all,’ her dad said. Jacinta shot him an exasperated look, and he nodded. ‘Fine, we’ll get that vermin mesh you were talking about the other day. You can have your snake soother after dinner.’ He winked before heading back inside.
‘Snake soother?’ Mac queried.
‘A whiskey after dinner,’ Jacinta told him. ‘My grandfather started the tradition, because Grandma almost fainted one year. Gave her a whiskey to calm her down. She actively went looking for one the next year.’
She gently kicked over both boots, then picked them up by the sole and shook them over the railing. She was relieved to find there were no more unwelcome visitors in her shoes.
Scott trudged around the side of the house, and looked surprised when he saw them all standing on the veranda. ‘Morning folks. What’s up?’
‘I just found a snake in my boot,’ Jac told him. She felt a little awkward seeing both Mac and Scott in front of her, after the events of the day before. Scott glanced about, then up at her.
‘Are you okay?’
She nodded. ‘Fine.’ She pointed in the general direction of where she’d last seen the snake. ‘He was only a little one. He’s gone off that way, so I’d keep all the dogs in, just for a little bit, and give him time to escape.’ She looked over at Mac, who wore a faintly amused look on his face. ‘Let’s get going,’ she told him. She slipped her shoes on, then trotted down the steps to her car.
She had to lock her knees a little. While snakes were not uncommon, it was still a little nerve-wracking to find one in your boot. She shuddered. Thank god she always shook them out. She’d hate to think what would have happened if she’d slipped her foot in without checking first. She eyed the tall man striding along next to her. He’d used his body to shield her. She swallowed. That had been … brave. She blushed, remembering her shriek. Hell, she’d have climbed up over him, if he hadn’t moved so fast. He probably thought she was such a wuss. Her legs were still trembling, just a little. She clenched her hand into a fist. Enough of that. Snakes, schmakes. Wasn’t the first one of the season, and it wouldn’t be the last. She was just caught by surprise by that one. She lifted her chin. Besides, she already knew he thought the worst of her. Adding fraidy-cat to the list wasn’t going to make a difference. Her lips tightened as she remembered his words from the day before. She reached for the ute’s door handle, and realised her hand was trembling.
‘Why don’t you drive?’ she suggested suddenly across the tray of the ute.
Mac’s lips lifted a little. ‘Shaky, huh?’
‘No,’ she lied. ‘I just thought if you drive, then you can go wherever you like. That way I’m not taking you on a wild goose chase away from the action.’ She injected her words with frost. Damn, that had stung.
He arched an eyebrow as she threw his words back at him. Then he shrugged. ‘Fine.’
They walked around to the opposite sides of the vehicle, and she climbed in. The sooner they got going, the sooner she could get rid of him.
Mac shook his head, slightly incredulous, as they bounced along the track. He’d tussled with a brown snake. Sure, snakes were part of the territory out this way. They even got a few in town. He and his dad had had to remove the occasional reptilian intruder that had slid into the hotel over the years, and he’d encountered a few out this way with Jamie… A smile lifted his lips as he remembered the cute little Irish dance skips Jac had done when she’d seen the snake. His smile fell. Thank god she shook out her boots. He shuddered at the thought of what could have happened.
‘Do you normally find snakes in your boots?’ he enquired.
She shook her head. ‘No. I found a redback spider once. That’s why I always check.’ She patted her chest. ‘But that definitely gave me a shock.’
His gaze dropped to her chest. Oh, god, he had to stop doing that. He turned his attention back to the track—although calling it a track was being generous—as she continued.
‘We don’t normally see them anywhere near the house—we clear out the garden, don’t leave anything around they can hide under, and this year Dad wanted to try these new solar snake repellers—they don’t seem to work, though.’
He frowned. ‘Really?’
She nodded. ‘It’s been so dry this winter… I mean, if we’d had lots of rain, and saw the brush come back a little, with birds and mice and spiders, I could understan
d, but we haven’t, so…’ She shrugged.
‘Does everyone put their shoes out on the veranda?’ He had seen a number of shoes, but wasn’t sure who owned them.
‘Yep.’
‘And the snake picked your boot,’ he murmured.
Jacinta nodded. ‘Yep. I’m surprised it didn’t die of asphyxiation—I’ve nearly worn these boots to death.’ She frowned. ‘Do snakes smell?’
‘With their tongues,’ he said absently.
Jacinta made a gagging noise. ‘Ugh, that’s worse. It had to taste my foot odour.’
Mac chuckled as he gazed out at the landscape. ‘So, tell me, how do we get to Brandy from here?’ They were coming up to a fork in the track.
‘You don’t remember?’
He shrugged. ‘It’s been years, Jac.’ That’s why he’d thought she was involved—she knew where all the skeletons were buried, figuratively speaking. She indicated the right fork, and he drove on.
They were silent for a while, and he looked at her a few times. She’d fixed her gaze out of the passenger window, and looked quite prepared to spend the trip in utter silence.
The shock of the snake had worn off, and now she was freezing him out.
He turned back to the track. Classic Jac. Every time she got pissed with him or her brother, she’d give them the silent treatment.
Back then, he’d enjoyed the peace that came with it. Now, though, not so much. Especially after the kiss. He wanted to talk with her. He wanted to listen to her. He wanted to find out more about her… He’d enjoyed the day before. Mostly. He’d learned she was easy to talk to, and had a great sense of humour. He racked his brain, trying to think of a way to break the ice—because apparently saving her from a brown snake wasn’t enough to thaw her chill.
‘I saw Mum and Dad last night,’ he said conversationally.
She nodded.
O-kay. ‘They said to say hi.’
‘Say hi back.’
He grimaced. ‘Well, Dad and I aren’t really talking, but I’ll pass it on to Mum.’
She folded her arms. ‘I understand how your father feels.’
He pressed his lips together. He guessed he’d opened himself up to that one.
‘Jac, I’m just trying to do my job,’ he said, sighing.
‘Stop the car.’
He shook his head. ‘No, I’m not going to let you storm off on me—’
‘Stop the car—we’re here,’ she said louder.
‘Oh.’ He braked, then eyed the opening of the tunnel. It was set into a low hill, and even from here he could see the tyre tracks at the front. ‘Stay here.’
He shut off the ignition, then climbed out of the cab, scanning the area as he did so. They were in the middle of a range of hills, without the clear view to the horizon. Plenty of places for someone to hide a car, or a number of trucks. He started to walk slowly toward the mouth of the tunnel.
Then he heard the car door slam behind him. He halted. Turned.
Jacinta was strolling toward him. She, too, was scanning the vicinity.
‘I told you to stay in the car.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah, but you didn’t really expect me to, did you?’ She passed him. Today, her shirt was tucked in at her waist, and he could see the swing of her hips. He shook his head as he caught up with her.
‘Stay behind me, then,’ he muttered, then wagged a finger at her frown. ‘And yes, that one I do expect you to do.’
He pulled her behind him, then sidled up to the tunnel. The opening wasn’t quite big enough for a car, but he couldn’t assume the tunnel was empty. He stopped at the opening, using the supports as a shield. He peered inside. There were lights strung between the supports, all the way in, although they currently weren’t on. He eyed the ground. Car tracks led up to the opening, and then smaller tracks, as though they were using a gurney or trolley, led inside. He pulled out his mobile phone and snapped a couple of photos.
Jacinta pointed to the tracks. ‘They’re the same as the ones from the other night.’
He looked over his shoulder at her. ‘How can you be sure?’
‘Three small tracks in the centre, the middle one with a zigzag pattern. It’s the same,’ she murmured confidently.
His eyebrows rose. ‘Since when did you become a tracker?’
‘I read a lot of Nancy Drew books as a kid.’
‘Of course you did,’ he muttered. He glanced back at the car. ‘I think you should go back to the car. Pretty please?’
She was about to protest, then stopped. ‘You know, that’s not a bad idea.’ He watched, surprised, when she jogged back to the car. That had been a lot easier than he thought it would be.
He turned back to the tunnel, unclipping his holster as he stepped inside. He put his hand on the butt of his handgun, and was about to step further when he heard the familiar, quiet click of a safety release. He halted, then turned to face Jacinta, who was just entering behind him, holding a rifle.
‘What are you doing?’ he hissed.
She gave him a confused look, as though it was obvious. And maybe it was, but he hoped he was wrong.
‘I’m your backup,’ she hissed back, lifting the rifle as though he couldn’t see it.
‘Are you crazy?’
‘Think of me as your partner,’ she told him in a low voice.
‘You are not my partner. You are not even a cop,’ he whispered back to her, wanting to shout the words instead.
‘If you think I’m just going to let you wander in there unprotected, you’ve got another think coming.’
His eyes rounded as he lifted his own weapon. ‘I’m not unprotected.’
‘And now you’ve got me and Jane,’ she snapped back in a whisper.
‘You named your rifle Jane?’
‘Well, I actually named her Calamity Jane. I just call her Jane for short. What do you call your gun?’
‘I don’t have a name for my gun,’ he growled. ‘Because I’m a professional, I don’t name my guns like pets or kids. I’m trained for this. You’re not. Do you even know how to use that thing?’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘Gee, it’s been a while. Mind if I use you for some target practice?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Of course I know how to use her.’
His eyes rounded. Her. She called her rifle a her.
‘Now, are we going in or not?’
He gritted his teeth. He didn’t know what was worse, having her follow him into a potentially dangerous situation, or her sitting outside in the car with a loaded gun. ‘Come on,’ he muttered, ‘but stay behind me and do exactly as I say—and for god’s sake, don’t shoot me.’
He turned away, and although he heard her mutter something, he didn’t quite catch the words—but ‘shoot’ was definitely in the mix, along with ‘misery’.
He crept forward. The further they went into the tunnel, the darker it got. The tunnel seemed to pitch down at an angle. He fished his torch out of his trouser pocket and kept it low to the ground to minimise stretching the light, just in case there anyone was further inside. He noticed the pipe running along the ground, the white PVC a stark contrast against the dark red earth. He trained the light up the walls, and stopped when he saw the lights wired from one post to the next. He had no idea where the switch was, or the generator, but these lights definitely weren’t from the original mine. No, they were a recent addition. They wandered a little further, and the air started to smell distinctly unpleasant. Mac about-faced, grasped Jacinta’s arm, and walked them both outside toward the ute.
‘What? Why aren’t we going in there?’ she asked.
‘I’ve seen enough,’ he said. He checked his phone, his lips tightening when he saw there were no bars. ‘I need your phone.’
Jacinta reached inside the cab and removed the phone from the centre console. ‘Here.’ She eyed him as he punched in the numbers. ‘There’s something in there, isn’t there?’ she whispered.
He nodded. ‘And it’s toxic as hell.’
Her eyes glist
ened. She turned away from him, and she slid the rifle into the space behind the seats in the cab. Her shoulders were hunched as she stepped away. He made his call, and told his sergeant of their discovery. Several long minutes later, he hung up.
‘Now what?’
He turned to face Jacinta. She looked devastated. ‘Now, we wait.’
‘Is it—it’s more drugs, isn’t it?’ She wrapped her arms around her waist.
The pipe that was installed to help draw out the fumes from the lab, the harsh smell of chemicals indicating the lab was in recent use, the newly installed tunnel lighting … it all showed a significant investment in this operation. ‘Yeah.’
‘Those bastards,’ she whispered. She straightened, her fists clenching. ‘I want to burn it to the ground,’ she said, and strode to the back of the ute. He jogged around as she lifted up the lid on the tool box. She withdrew a box of matches as she reached for the jerry can that was strapped in against the side of the tray, and his eyes rounded. Good grief, she actually meant it.
He placed his hands on her arms, preventing her from lifting the container of fuel. ‘Uh, you can’t do that, Jac. That’s destroying evidence.’
‘I can’t let that poison get out on the streets,’ she told him firmly, although she let go of the fuel.
‘It won’t,’ he assured her quietly. She turned around to face him, and although her face was pale, her expression was grim.
‘How can they do this?’ she said, staring past him at the tunnel. ‘Damn it. How dare they come on to my property and use it like their own? And drugs,’ she cried, her hands rising to clench in her hair. ‘Drugs.’ Her hat fell back off her head, onto the tray of the vehicle.
‘Hey, we’ll stop them.’ He reached out to grasp her shoulders, and found she was trembling. Whether it was from fear or rage, he couldn’t tell.
‘I hate them,’ she whispered fiercely. ‘They’ve made me a party to this. I want to make them pay. For Brayden, for Kelsey, I want to hurt them so damn bad.’ She uttered the words through clenched teeth.
Okay, so rage it was. His brow dipped, and he stroked her arms, trying to calm her. ‘Is Kelsey your friend from school?’
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