by Annie Seaton
As he crossed the scuffed lino tiles towards Adam’s office, Connor watched Liam through the window. He pulled a bag from the back of his ute just as Dru’s small, dark blue sedan turned off the main road from the mine. Liam waited behind his vehicle until Dru had parked her car. As she got out and crossed the road he didn’t take his eyes from her.
Sleaze, Connor thought.
When Dru was inside the security building, Connor tapped on Adam’s half-open door and stepped inside. Adam was staring intently at the screen in front of him.
‘Adam. Got a minute?’
‘Hey, Connor, what can I do for you?’ Adam took his eyes from the screen for a second before turning back to concentrate on it.
‘Just wanted a chat with you about a couple of things. You’re a hard man to find. I’ve been looking for you for a while.’ Connor leaned forward slightly until he could see the screen.
*
Dru’s sweaty palms slipped on the steering wheel as she turned onto the approach to the front security gate of Matsu. She needed to keep calm; if Adam was watching she didn’t want to alert him to anything being different. Her bag was sitting on the back seat of her car where she always kept it when she travelled to Kununurra. A small measure of relief eased her tension when she saw Connor’s ute parked next to three others in the small car park adjacent to the security building. She recognised Connor’s and Liam’s but the other two were generic Matsu utes.
Maybe Adam’s, maybe not.
She had no idea when or where they would try to retrieve the diamonds from the bottom of her bag. Dru was on edge and trying not to act nervously. She relaxed and smiled, trying to look like someone who was about to enjoy their rostered days off.
The bus with the departing staff on board was parked at the airport terminal and as the workers disembarked, the crowd outside the terminal grew. Connor had deliberately timed her arrival to coincide with their departure to lessen any attention on her. She pulled up at the gate and the security officer gave her a nod.
‘Grab your bag and come across to the scanning room, love. Jump on the end of the queue.’ He flicked her an apologetic glance. ‘Hope you’re not in a hurry. The bus just unloaded about fifty workers for the flight out to Perth.’
‘No, it’s okay. I’ve got plenty of time.’ Dru smiled as she climbed out of her car and grabbed her bag off the back seat. From what she could see, the security process was in full swing and everything appeared to be working today. Her hands slipped on the vinyl handle of the bag as nerves took hold of her again. The jar of cream—wrapped in the carbon paper but without the diamonds—was safely wedged back underneath the lining in the bottom of the bag.
She pushed open the door and joined the end of the queue, forcing herself to stand casually.
The guy in front of her looked at his watch. ‘Plane’s late.’
She nodded and shot him a smile, taking the opportunity to look around without appearing obvious.
No sign of Connor or Adam. The doors to the two offices in the terminal were both closed.
*
‘Yeah, what’s up?’ Adam’s attention was firmly on the screen again. Connor waited until he could see Dru’s blonde hair at the end of the queue. He intended keeping a close watch as her bag went through X-ray. He wouldn’t have to watch Hennessey for much longer.
‘Equipment playing up again, is it?’ Connor moved his chair closer as he nodded towards the screen. Adam’s face was flushed and his short hair was standing up in spikes as though he’d been running his fingers through it. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the back of his neck.
‘No. All good. We’ve fixed that, I think.’
‘What was the problem?’ Connor settled back into his chair as the queue on the screen moved forward.
‘Electricity supply.’ Adam watched as Dru neared the front of the queue. His voice was distracted. ‘It was spiking and interfering with the cameras.’
‘An easy fix, then.’ Dru’s bag moved through the X-ray machine as Connor answered.
*
The queue began to move quickly, and the X-ray conveyor belt came into her sight. The guy manning the camera looked familiar. Dru reached the metal-topped bench near the camera and lifted her bag up. Her hands were tingling, but she ignored the discomfort.
As her bag slid closer to the X-ray machine, the queue shuffled forward to the body scanner arch.
‘Hey, Dru.’
Her head flew up. Liam Carruthers had joined the queue behind her. She put her hand to her chest and forced her voice to normality. ‘Hi. You off shift too?’
‘I’m outta here. Flying to Japan for a ski. Getting away from this heat.’ He was still wearing his hi-vis jacket and Dru wondered why his ute was in the car park if he was flying out.
She nodded with a brief smile; her nerves were on edge because there was no sign of Connor.
‘I’m meeting Jules in Darwin. What about you?’
Dru shrugged and kept her voice nonchalant. ‘Just going home for a few days.’
The second security guard called her across to the body scanner and she gave Liam a wave. ‘Enjoy the snow.’ She stepped up to the scanner and stood there until he waved her through. ‘Next,’ he called to Liam.
Dru’s knees were shaking as she picked up her bag and crossed the room to the exit door. Nobody called her back. There was still no sign of Connor; the door to the office was still closed. He must be in there with Adam. She stepped outside into the blistering heat and crossed to her car.
She flinched and pulled her hand back from the door. ‘Shit.’ The handle was burning hot even though it was late afternoon and the sun was low.
‘Car’s been checked over,’ the guard in the small building called out. ‘You’re right to go.’
‘Thanks.’ Dru climbed into her car and turned the fan to high. She fiddled with the dials for a moment, marking time, and then pulled out her phone to check whether Connor had messaged to say how long he’d be. A horn tooted and she looked up; there were two more work utes waiting to park in the small bay for a security check. Reluctantly she nudged the automatic lever into drive and pulled out onto the road.
*
The screen flicked to another view and Steve Jarvis’s face appeared. It was as though he was looking directly at them. If Connor hadn’t been watching so closely he would have missed the almost imperceptible nod. Adam reached over and switched the screen off. ‘Looks like everything down here is working okay. So, what can I help you with?’
‘Just a couple of the procedures in the safety manual for the recovery room. I just wanted to let you know I’ve suggested a couple of amendments.’
‘I’ll make a coffee and you can tell me about them now.’ Adam pushed his chair back.
‘No thanks. I’m fine.’ Connor was anxious to get to his ute and follow Dru now that she was through security without a problem. ‘Short of time, sorry. I’m heading out today for a break, and I’m about to hit the road. I’ll email you.’
Adam crossed to the coffee machine. ‘A coffee will keep you awake,’ he insisted.
Connor glanced at the closed door. He didn’t want to alert Adam to there being anything amiss so he nodded. ‘Okay, just a quick one.’
Adam opened the cupboard and took out two cups and the jar of coffee before he slowly filled the kettle.
Connor tried to hide his impatience. ‘What was Carruthers’ problem before? I noticed him in the mess a couple of weeks back. He’s got a short fuse.’
Adam shrugged as he flicked the switch on the kettle. ‘He’s a dickhead. Always has been, always will be.’
‘What was he so upset about?’
‘Just a family matter. Nothing to do with work.’ Adam pulled out the chair and sat down again.
‘Family?’ Connor stilled.
‘Yeah. Didn’t you know he’s my brother-in-law? Our wives are sisters.’ Adam laughed. ‘You know what they say; you can pick your friends but not your family. I lucked right out t
here.’
Holy fucking hell. Adam Hennessey and Liam Carruthers were related. The implications hit Connor like a sledge-hammer. Liam would be through security by now and on the road behind Dru. And he’d watched her so closely when she’d left her car.
No wonder Hennessey was so keen for him to stay.
‘Just remembered something. I have to go.’ Connor didn’t look back as he hurried from the office and out to his ute. As soon as he was on the road, he’d call John and get the police involved.
‘You haven’t been cleared from inside, mate. Sorry. You’ll have to go back and take your bag.’ The security guard leaned out of his booth and the boom gate stayed down.
Bloody hell. The very security system he’d been so focused on was going to hold him up. Connor grabbed his bag and ran back into the terminal. The office door was closed again.
Chapter 35
Before Dru reached the turn-off to Smokey Creek Road, a Matsu ute sailed past her with a toot of the horn. But it was Liam, not Connor; he must be flying out from Kununurra. The red dust kicked up by his tyres obscured her vision and it gave her a reason to slow down. Connor had said to drive slowly so he could catch her up. Her palms were slick with sweat and she wiped them one at a time on her cargo shorts before reaching for the bottle of water.
‘Come on, Connor,’ she whispered under her breath. ‘Hurry up.’
In the next few minutes two more Matsu utes passed her car but neither of them was Connor’s vehicle. Dru forced herself to stay calm and reached down to switch the radio on, taking her eyes from the road for a brief second. If Connor hadn’t caught up to her by the time she reached the Great Northern Highway, she’d park and wait there for him.
The radio blared on and she turned her attention back to the road. A vehicle was stopped ahead of her. She hit the brakes and her car slewed to the shoulder, its front wheels spilling over the slight incline.
When she got closer, she saw that it was Liam’s vehicle; the M was missing from the tailgate. He had stopped almost in the middle of the road.
She pulled up beside him and put her window down. ‘Jeez, Liam, I almost ran into you. What’s wrong?’ He was crouched beside the back wheel of the ute.
He stood and wiped his hand on the back of his trousers. ‘Bloody nail in the tyre! I haven’t got time to change it. My flight to Darwin leaves at eight o’clock. If I miss it, I’ll miss my international connection. Shit.’
Dru’s blood ran cold as apprehension took hold. She’d been flying to Darwin every fortnight for over six months and she knew the schedule. There was no night flight out of Kununurra. She kept her voice bright and casual, although she knew full well he was lying. ‘You’ve got plenty of time to change it. It’s only an hour and a half from here. It’s just gone five o’clock now. You won’t miss your flight.’
He strolled over to her car and leaned in the window. As she stared up at him, she saw his glance flick to her bag on the back seat. She swallowed as he looked back at her.
‘You’re going to Kununurra, aren’t you?’ He laughed. ‘Of course, you are. Where else is there to go in this godforsaken place? Hop out and give me hand, will you?’
She shook her head. ‘Sorry, haven’t got time. I’m going down to Wipporing and calling into Rocky’s place on the way out.’
‘Rocky’s at work.’
‘Oh?’ Dru swallowed. ‘I thought he was on leave.’
‘He was heading up to the processing plant as I drove out.’
‘Are you sure?’ Dru tried to stall for time. ‘Anyway, I have to go. I know there’s a couple more utes coming along behind me. One of the guys can help you.’
‘I thought you were one of the guys, Dru.’ Sarcasm laced his voice as he opened her car door. His expression was set and his eyes were cold.
Dru’s mouth dried as she looked up. She reached for the handle to pull the door shut again but he held onto it firmly.
‘Get out of the car, Dru.’ His voice was hard.
‘No. I have to go.’ Dru put all of her strength into an attempt to pull the door closed. Liam flung the door open again. Reaching across, he released her seatbelt before grabbing her shoulder with one hand and her braid with the other.
‘Get out of the fucking car.’
Her head jerked back and tears sprang to her eyes as Liam pulled her out of the car by her hair.
‘No!’ Dru struggled against his hold, but he was too strong for her. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ She jerked her head to the side and tried to escape his punishing grip.
‘Don’t make me hurt you, Dru.’ Liam pulled a knife from his pocket with his other hand and Dru’s eyes widened as he flicked it open.
‘Bloody hell, Liam. What do you think you’re doing?’
‘Who’s coming behind you?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Answer me, bitch.’ He let go of her braid and stared at her.
Dru reached a shaking hand up to her stinging scalp and glanced back. In the distance towards the mine, a cloud of red dust swirled into the sky. ‘Connor Kirk and a couple of others were in the car park.’
He looked along the road as she looked back at him.
‘Put the knife away,’ she said softly.
‘You’re coming with me,’ he growled.
‘No.’
Liam took a step towards her and Dru put her arm up instinctively. He slashed at her and pain lanced through the inside of Dru’s forearm. She froze as he lifted the knife again.
‘Get in the fucking ute.’ His voice was a snarl.
Dru pulled away from him and shook her head. ‘Why?’
‘Do as I say or you’ll be fucking sorry.’ Liam grabbed her arm and dragged her across to his ute. He shoved her up and into the passenger side and slammed the door behind her. The locks clicked shut as Dru sprawled across the passenger seat.
Dru pulled herself up to a sitting position and looked out the window. Liam was running back to her car about twenty metres away. Her arm felt wet and she gagged as she looked down. Blood was streaming from a long gaping wound. Her head spun but she forced the nausea down as she scrambled across to the driver’s side.
I have to get away.
Liam’s ute was the same as hers back at the mine and she knew that the unlock override for the door was on the driver’s door next to the window buttons. She pressed it and then opened the driver’s door and half climbed, half fell into the fine red dust in the middle of the road.
‘Hey! Stop!’
Dru stumbled to her feet and took off. She sprinted up the middle of the road, cradling her injured arm against her stomach, fighting the dizziness that was threatening to overcome her. She couldn’t believe that Liam had slashed her arm. She had to get away from him. If he’d cut her once he would do it again.
‘Stop there, you bitch.’
Dru slowed for an instant and looked back over her shoulder. Liam had her bag and was throwing it into the back of his ute.
Her breath came in harsh gasps as she tried to put more distance between herself and the two vehicles. The dust cloud up the road had disappeared and there was no sign of any cars between them and the mine.
Where the hell are you, Connor? This was exactly the scenario that he’d expected. Dru had thought whoever had stashed the diamonds in her bag wouldn’t try anything until Kununurra. And Connor and Greg had discounted Liam.
But now that he had showed his hand, Liam wasn’t going to let her get away from him. A door slammed, followed by the rattling roar of his diesel engine. Dru turned away from the road and jumped down the slight incline. Perspiration dripped from her forehead into her eyes, and she reached up with her good arm and brushed it away as she ran down the rocky hill as fast as she could.
Desperately looking around, she noticed a narrow ridge off to her left and she ran towards it. Her feet slipped on the small rocks on the side of the hill, and she stumbled as she began to climb again, managing to regain her balance before she pitched headfirs
t onto the uneven ground. Between the Matsu Range and the Purnululu National Park, the semi-arid savannah grasslands rolled in waves of volcanic ridges and hills riddled with caves and gorges. If she could get over the lip on the edge of the ridge there would have to be somewhere to hide and give Connor time to get here. Her phone was in the car so she couldn’t call for help.
Her breath hitched and her head spun as she stumbled up the hill. In the distance, Liam’s motor stopped and a car door slammed. Rough branches scratched at her face and legs as she pushed her way through the scrubby bush.
God, she’d hoped Liam would take off once he had the bag. But now she knew he wouldn’t let her get away.
Dru’s chest burned with the effort of climbing the steep hill. Each gasping breath of hot air she took in burned her throat and dried her mouth. If she could just get to the edge before he caught up with her.
Come on, Connor!
Taking the final step to the top of the ridge, Dru gasped as a deep, sloping drop on the other side yawned below her.
Not a blasted cave to be seen.
For a moment she stood looking down the steep hill to a gully dotted with boab trees. A shout from behind spurred her on and she jumped down, putting her good arm over her bleeding forearm to protect it.
Over and over, she half rolled, half slid down the slope. Sharp rocks and sticks bruised her body until her right leg jarred against the rough edge of a fallen log and she came to a sudden stop near the bottom of the hill. Lying there, trying to catch her breath, Dru looked up. Liam was up on the edge of the ridge, with his hands on his hips. She watched as he carefully climbed over the edge and began to make his way down towards her.
Dru blinked and swallowed as the view in front of her shimmered and faded. Her arm was throbbing. Blood and clear fluid were seeping out of the cut. The edges of the long wound gaped open, sticky with red dirt; her cargo pants and shirt were damp with blood. She had to fight this faintness that was pricking at the edges of her vision; she’d got this far and there was no way she was stopping now.