Back to the Pilliga

by Tony Parsons

  ‘Have you got her away yet?’ I asked.

  ‘Just about to. Gaye and the policewoman are going to go with her and we’ve got her booked into the hospital,’ Morris said.

  ‘Her mother is flying up early a.m. She’s got her own plane,’ I told him. ‘Mrs Kendall is a very important lady in the business world. She’s moved heaven and earth to have her daughter found. There wouldn’t be many women who would see the Commissioner twice to get advice on how to proceed. I’ve got a tonne of respect for her,’ I said.

  ‘How’s the shoulder feel?’ he asked.

  ‘The local is just starting to wear off. They gave me some tablets for the pain. It’s not too bad. Nothing like last time,’ I said.

  ‘Pity that had to happen. Everything else went off so well,’ said Morris.

  ‘Gaye deserves a commendation. When I saw the tip of that rifle barrel poking through a crack in the doorway I yelled to her to get down and she still kept the other two covered with the shotgun as well as staying in front of their firearms. She was very cool under pressure,’ I said.

  ‘You both deserve a commendation, Lachie,’ said Morris.

  ‘Nah, keep my name out of it. I couldn’t have done the job without police help right down the line. Also I’m being well paid for my services. It should make good headlines for the cops,’ I said.

  ‘As soon as we’ve apprehended Brewster and the others, I reckon we’ll have something on the news tonight. I’d say it would be the main item,’ he said. ‘I’d better get back and see what’s happening,’ said Morris.

  ‘Yeah, I’m sure she’ll get through it,’ I said.

  What will you do now, Lachie?’ said Morris.

  ‘I’m going to finish packing up here and head back to town. I’ll stay with my sister tonight and look in at the hospital to see Caroline tomorrow morning,’ I said.

  ‘Do me a favour and don’t say anything to Gaye about me pulling out. Just tell her I thought she did a great job and that I couldn’t have had a better partner. Tell her I didn’t want to be around when the media hawks arrive because I want the focus to be on her and you guys,’ I said.

  ‘If that’s the way you want it,’ he said.

  ‘That’s the way I want it. I take it that your boys or the Stock Squad looked for stolen cattle on the Challis place?’ I said, changing the subject away from Gaye because I’d grown close to her and it was going to be hard to leave her.

  Morris nodded. ‘More than once.’

  I told him about the creek paddock back in the pines and how to find the place. ‘There are cattle there now and maybe they’re stolen cattle. You might be able to nail the Challis bunch with some additional charges.’

  ‘Thanks a lot for that, Lachie,’ Morris said with a gleam in his eye. ‘We’ve been after that old bugger and his family of cronies for years.’

  ‘It’s a clever set-up. They’ve drilled a tunnel through the end of the ridge and camouflaged two gates. I wouldn’t have known about it except that I went that way to look for Caroline,’ I said.

  Morris walked back to his car. ‘You’ll come and see me before you leave?’

  ‘Of course and I’ll be watching the news tonight,’ I said, smiling.

  ‘Okay, see you, and thanks again for everything you’ve done,’ he said before driving away up the hill.

  I looked around the campsite. Even though my job was done I had the strangest feeling about leaving this place. Though I’d been here for only a couple of days I’d experienced real happiness with Gaye. There was a strength and dignity about her that touched me deeply. I’d also appreciated her willingness to share in the duties about the camp. There was no rancour about her and she certainly wasn’t self-centred. Besides her personal qualities I felt a huge sexual attraction towards her that I hadn’t experienced for many years. I had the strangest feeling that despite the difference in our ages, we could make a real go of marriage. But I was determined that, no matter what, I wanted to marry a woman who was keen to live on a farm.

  I had just about finished packing everything in to the four-wheel drive when a police car skidded to a halt on the sandy track beside the campsite and the two-striper who I’d met on my way to Coonabarabran wound down his window. The one-striper beside him was the young chap who had talked photography with me.

  ‘G’day, Mr Photographer,’ the two-striper said with a grin. ‘You’re a turn-up for the books. You did a great job.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I said.

  ‘I was right when I said I’d seen you before,’ the two-striper said. ‘You were in a picture with the Sergeant and a couple of other blokes who got medals,’ he said, giving me a grin and a thumbs-up before taking off in a cloud of pink dust.

  I took a last look at the rock pool and waterfall and then I got in my vehicle and drove away.

  CHAPTER 20

  I thought a lot about Gaye as I drove back to Coonabarabran before forcing myself to concentrate on my future plans.

  I intended to return to Sydney and hunt up some temporary accommodation while I worked out what to do next. I cursed my brother for being such a dickhead. I didn’t blame Nicole one little bit for leaving him and putting his future ownership of Kamilaroi on the line. He’d got himself involved with another woman and Nicole wasn’t the kind of woman to wear that.

  It would all be a great concern for Mum, who didn’t deserve to be worried at her time of life. She hadn’t experienced an ideal marriage but there had been compensations because she’d loved us children and then got on well with Nicole. And she loved Stuart and Nicole’s three girls. She wouldn’t be enthralled with the prospect of another woman taking Nicole’s place and I didn’t blame her.

  The possibility of Kamilaroi going out of the family saddened me enormously because when it all boiled down I loved the place. It was a big property, running excellent sheep and cattle as well as producing good crops most years. It wasn’t the greatest grazing or cropping country but there was a uniqueness about it that tugged at my heart. The smell of rain on the distinctive sandy-pink soil and the delight I experienced in mustering sheep and cattle in pine-dotted paddocks were just a couple of reasons I loved it. But I couldn’t work with Stuart. It was as simple as that.

  I would have to find another property somewhere else. I’d had a gutful of dealing with crims and crime. I wanted to work on the land again and be part of a community of decent, hard-working people who talked sheep, cattle and crops. I wanted to get married again to someone who shared my love of the land. And I wanted two or three kids to grow up with the same appreciation for the country I had.

  As secrecy no longer mattered, I detoured to buy a carton of beer and a couple of bottles of white wine. After that I dropped into Tiger Murphy’s butcher shop to buy some meat.

  ‘Lachie Sinclair!’ Tiger boomed when he saw me walking into the shop. We shook hands enthusiastically – we’d played cricket together and he’d been there when I’d heard the terrible news about Kenneth.

  ‘How’re things, Tiger?’ I asked.

  ‘Fair enough, Lachie. Still keeping my head above water. The cockies are still whingeing and still buying flash cars. There are a lot more tourists coming here now that the local mob have done something about Coona’s history. What brings you back to the bush?’

  ‘I had a case here. You might see it on the TV news tonight and I suppose the local rag will blow it up. It was a joint operation with local and Sydney police,’ I told him.

  ‘I heard rumours about a big operation out at the Brewsters. Jeff Ashcroft – he’s a new ambo – dropped in and said he was headed out to the Gorge,’ he said.

  Lord, but news travelled fast in the bush. You couldn’t spit but the entire population would know about it inside the day.

  Flora was surprised to see me back so soon but, as always, pleased too. ‘I expected you to be away for at least a week,’ she said as she kissed me.

  ‘We managed to wrap up the case fairly quickly,’ I said as I handed over the drinks and meat. />
  ‘I told you that we don’t expect you to bring anything, Lachie. We don’t see much of you and we love to have you with us,’ she said.

  ‘I like to contribute, Flora. How are your guests?’ I asked,

  ‘Still a bit apprehensive. At least Nicole is. Vickie is getting a bit restive. She isn’t a girl who likes to be tied down. What on earth happened out there?’ Flora asked.

  ‘Watch the evening news tonight, sister dear. There’s a big story about to break except that I won’t be mentioned in it. The police will get all the credit but that’s the way I want it. I’m being well paid for what I did so they’re welcome to the limelight,’ I told her.

  ‘Have you thought any more about Kamilaroi?’ she asked.

  ‘Fairly constantly, Flora. I don’t like the idea of parting with my third of it but I can’t see any way around it. Yes, I could come back to my third of the place but I don’t want to be feuding with Stuart for the rest of my days. In ordinary circumstances Stuart might be able to buy me out but he’s going to lose half of his third of Kamilaroi if the divorce goes ahead so he won’t have the equity to borrow money to buy me out. He might be able to borrow enough to pay Nicole her half of the settlement. What are you planning to do with your third of the place?’ I asked.

  ‘Laurie and I discussed it in the light of the anticipated divorce. We’ll probably hang on to my third. We don’t need the money and we’re putting what it makes into a fund to pay for the kids to go to university. We could probably pay Stuart some sort of a manager’s wage to look after the place. It might help him through a difficult period,’ Flora said.

  ‘That’s very generous of you and Laurie. He’s acted like a little Hitler since he took over the running of the place, given that he’s done a good job. Still, nobody can stand him. Tiger Murphy told me he doesn’t buy Kamilaroi livestock now because he’s got no time for Stuart. I never thought he’d stoop to whacking Nicole. And I believe he slapped Vickie too,’ I said.

  ‘Yes, he did,’ agreed Flora.

  ‘Flora, as much as I hate the idea of breaking up Kamilaroi, I think it’s time for me to pull up stakes and start off somewhere else. I’ll talk things over with Mum tomorrow,’ I said.

  ‘Is there a woman on the horizon for you?’ she asked.

  ‘Only in my dreams, but I’m at the stage now that I’d marry again if I could find the right person,’ I said. ‘And she’d want to live on a property because I’m determined to go back to the bush.’

  ‘Have a shower and a drink, Lachie. You look a bit worse for wear,’ said Flora.

  ‘Thanks, Sis. I’m all right,’ I said, though the thought of never seeing Gaye again still had me feeling despondent. ‘I have to make a call to Sydney before I do anything.’

  I sat down in Laurie’s office and rang Mrs Kendall and gave her a more comprehensive report than I’d had time for earlier in the day. The important thing was that she had her daughter back. She’d lost a bit of weight and she probably still had a few bruises from the beatings the Challis lot had given her but otherwise she was healthy enough. How she was mentally was another matter. I told Mrs K that Caroline had been transported to Coonabarabran Hospital and that I would call and see her in the morning. I assured her that Caroline hadn’t been raped.

  Mrs Kendall said she hoped she’d see me at the hospital. ‘Thank you again,’ she said warmly. ‘I don’t understand how you managed it but that doesn’t matter right now. I’ve rung the Commissioner and given him my thanks and congratulations. I realise it was you who broke the case but I also recognise that the police went right outside their usual role to support you and I’m really most grateful that they did,’ she said.

  She was, of course, right. I couldn’t have pulled it off without police support. Having Gaye with me, not to mention the way she played her role, put the icing on the cake.

  Next I rang Christine and gave her the news that we’d successfully resolved the case and that Caroline Clemenger was safe and being checked over in hospital. She was thrilled, of course. I told her I’d be back in a couple of days and we talked for a little while about what had been happening in Sydney while I was away. She and Dasher clearly had everything under control. I told her that my sister-in-law and my niece might arrive before I did and perhaps she’d be able to help get them settled into the Neutral Bay place.

  After a shower and a drink I felt a whole lot better. Nicole was very restrained but Vickie was very bubbly. Sheila was a bit brighter on this occasion and looked nice in a red pant suit.

  Needless to say everyone sat in utter silence when the television news came on. Caroline Clemenger’s rescue and the arrest of local man, Jim Brewster, and his associate Zane Reid, along with several members of the Challis family, dominated the news. Gaye stood with Senior Sergeant Morris and his area superintendent while he was being interviewed. It was a huge success for the police.

  There was a babble of conversation in the aftermath and Vickie asked me if this was the case I’d been involved in. I told her that it was but that I didn’t want to talk about it.

  When the front door bell rang unexpectedly all conversation ceased. Nobody else was expected for dinner.

  When Flora came back from answering the door Gaye was behind her and my heart leapt.

  ‘There’s a young woman here to see you, Lachie,’ said Flora with a glint in her eye.

  ‘I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner,’ said Gaye looking just a mite less assured than I remembered her out at the camp. Perhaps she hadn’t expected so many people.

  Before I could reply, Laurie, in true Laurie fashion, leapt to his feet. ‘You’re not interrupting dinner. We haven’t started yet. Please stay and have dinner with us. It’s just a family gathering. Here, let me get you a drink. What will you have?’ he asked.

  Gaye looked at the drinks on the table before answering. ‘I’ll have a white wine, thank you.’

  Laurie grabbed a chair and put it down next to mine before handing her a glass of wine.

  ‘Have you had dinner?’ Flora asked.

  ‘No, I haven’t long finished at the station. There was some stuff to wrap up and I’m going out bush again in the morning,’ Gaye said. ‘Are you sure I’m not interrupting anything?’

  ‘Of course I’m sure,’ Flora said with one of her million dollar smiles.

  Gaye sat down and leaned over towards me. ‘You didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye to you,’ she whispered.

  ‘Sorry about that. I hate goodbyes. And I didn’t want any nosey parker reporter finding me there. I wanted you and the police to get all the credit,’ I said.

  ‘Well I wasn’t too happy to find you gone. I thought we were on a better footing than that. Giving me and the police all the credit for a job of that dimension is one thing but running out on your partner without saying goodbye is something else,’ said Gaye.

  ‘You were busy and I wanted out of there. The job was done and it was all police work from there on,’ I said.

  ‘I’m . . .’

  But whatever Gaye was about to say was interrupted by Brett.

  ‘We just saw you on television. You’re a detective,’ he said.

  ‘That’s right. I’m a detective,’ Gaye said with a smile.

  ‘Do you have a gun?’ Brett asked.

  ‘Yes, I do,’ said Gaye.

  ‘Crikey,’ Brett stammered.

  Back in the dining room I found Vickie in conversation with Gaye. They had their heads together and seemed to be getting on very well. Maybe Gaye would be a good contact for her in Sydney. I couldn’t imagine my niece coming to any harm in Gaye’s company.

  I reckoned it wouldn’t be long before Flora got Gaye away under some pretext so that she could winkle more out of her than she’d managed with me. Sure enough, supper gave her that opportunity.

  After all the family had gone to bed, Gaye and I were left alone in the dining room.

  ‘Lachie, why did you clear off so quickly?’ Gaye asked.

  ‘My job w
as done. I didn’t want to be there when the media gang arrived. I wanted to give you and the police the opportunity to shine. I couldn’t have done it without yours and their support. It will do the police in the area a lot of good. Besides, I hate goodbyes,’ I said.

  ‘But we worked so closely together on the case,’ she said.

  ‘Look, I enjoyed working with you, Gaye. You’re a talented cop and a very nice person to boot and I have some good things to remember from our stay out there. The assignment wouldn’t have been the same without you,’ I said. ‘Are you going back to Sydney tomorrow?’

  ‘No, probably the day after. I have to go out to the Challis place and Morris wants me to show him that cattle set-up you located. I think Morris has been in touch with the Stock Squad about it,’ said Gaye.

  ‘I see. Well I’m sure you’ll get a commendation and a promotion. I’ll be telling Ballinger that you came up trumps,’ I said.

  ‘Thank you, Lachie. I want you to know that I think you’re the best person I ever worked with,’ she said.

  ‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘This will probably be my last case unless there’s more waiting for me in Sydney. I’ve decided to get out of this game as soon as I can manage it. I hope you go a long way. You’ll be a sergeant in no time after this.’

  ‘Maybe, maybe not. I haven’t decided that I’ll stay on for the long term. I’d like to get back to the bush too. If my Dad had been a better manager I’d have a place to go back to today but the “ifs” make a lot of difference, don’t they?’ she said.

  ‘An awful lot,’ I agreed.

  I saw her to the door and then walked with her out to her car, heart racing. I wanted more than anything to put my arms around her but was too scared of rejection to do so. I reckoned that maybe heaven was very close but the thought of being wrong held me back.