"Okay!" Tyler turned the tractor across the road, reached the kerb and edged slightly forward. He peered through his swishing windscreen wipes and rubbed the glass. Yes, he could see where the branches of a small tree had been smashed. "Looks like the spot."
He zipped his jacket up, flipped the hood over his head and headed out. The other two followed and as usual, Sam bounded out to land in a pile of snow that just about buried him. Undeterred, he jumped out and disappeared down a long incline partly hidden by foliage. He skidded out of sight but was replaced by excited yelps.
"Sam's found something," Renee commented and followed the dog.
The Land Cruiser came into view. It was lying on the side with the engine crumpled and roof flattened as if it had rolled before ending up in its present position. Sam had already jumped up on the topside and made his way along to the front. The windscreen had gone but Sam peered in through the gap, looked back and gave a little whimper.
There was a smell of diesel but no sign of any smoke or flames and the vehicle was at the base of a dip so wouldn't fall any further. It appeared safe to approach. Tyler called Sam back and, followed by the other two, walked around the underside and past the wheels. The front was a mess with the engine pushed back between the front wheels. He decided to go around the other way for a bank blocked him but was now behind the two women who had seen his predicament and were already around the other side.
"Oh hell!" Aza muttered
She was bent forward and could see inside where the windscreen had been.
Tyler found a position where he could also see inside the cab. There was blood everywhere and airbags hid most of the view. He could, though see as crumpled steering wheel with fingers from one hand gripping it.
"Look!" Renee said from beside him. "He's still alive. I saw his hand move."
Tyler lifted the driver's airbag enough to see terrified eyes staring at him. "Don't move," he said. "We're here and will get you out."
The man looked at Tyler before he shifted his eyes beyond him. "So you've come here to gloat, Doctor Perry?" he gasped. "I hope you're satisfied."
Tyler turned and saw Aza step back looking hurt but already Renee had placed an arm around her shoulders.
"I came to help him," Aza whispered. "Why does he despise me so much?"
"Ignore him," Renee said. "It's just his reaction at seeing you. You're someone he can blame for what happened."
"Just go away and leave me," Hardy screamed. "That bitch has already ruined my life."
Tyler turned and glowered at the man. "If you really want us to leave, we shall," he said. "It's snowing again, you appear to be hurt quite badly and there is nobody else nearby. Nor can anyone get here for an hour or more. Unless we help, I doubt if you'll be alive by then." He moved the airbag further and gripped the man's shoulders. "Swallow your pride, Man. Do you really think Aza came out here in freezing weather just to gloat at you?"
Hardy shook his head. "Guess not," he muttered.
"Right, so let's see what we can do to help. Where does it hurt the most?"
"My right leg. I think it's broken. Also my chest feels tight and I'm cold." His lips shivered. "So cold." His eyes sort of rolled, he began coughing and blood oozed out his mouth before his whole body jerked and sort of flopped back.
Renee reached in and felt his neck. "He's unconscious but is still alive," she said. "Unless we do something, he won't last long."
Tyler turned to Aza. "Will you call the emergency number and say we need a helicopter here as soon as possible. Use the grid reference on the tractor's dashboard map."
"Right," Aza said and disappeared back up the bank.
"Now what?" Renee asked.
"We need to cut away the door frame and crumpled roof. I brought my metal saw. After that..." He glanced back at Hardy. "That metal across his chest needs to be moved but it'll be too hard to just pull away. I'll use the winch from the tractor.
AZA WATCHED AS TYLER drove the New Holland forward to face the edge of the incline. A winch was attached to the front bumper beneath the bucket that was set to its highest position. He played out the wire rope and came back to examine the wreckage.
"I brought the saw to cut the roof away from him," Renee said to Tyler
"And I've got a blanket," Aza added
The professor was still unconscious but she wrapped the blanket around him as best she could and covered his face top protect him from any sparks when Tyler began to cut the metal. As she did so, she glanced down and saw blood oozing out from where his smashed leg disappeared beneath the debris.
'He's still bleeding," she called. "You'll need to be careful. If the metal pressed against his leg is removed it may also release any pressure on his leg and more blood could gush out."
"Perhaps we should wait for a rescue team to arrive," Renee said. "They have more expertise than us."
Tyler crawled down beside them. "I don't think we have time," he said. "That crossbar came in between the airbags and is pressed right across his chest. I don't think he can breathe properly. It needs to be cut away." He stood back and glanced at Aza. "You're right about his legs. If I attempt to pull the metal away it could injure him more. However, do you agree that I should cut away that metal bar across his chest?"
Aza felt Joseph's neck for a pulse. It was still there but appeared erratic. As well, he was making a gurgling sound as if, even in his unconscious state, he was struggling for breath. "Do it," she said and moved aside so Tyler had room.
He started the saw that was a relatively small one with a circular blade to cut metal. Renee held back the side airbag to give him room while Aza held the blanket up to shelter the victim's face while still allowing him to breathe.
The sudden howl of the blade cutting into metal made her jump in fright. She could see sparks flying up in an arch and blue smoke made her cough. Tyler did well. The blade cut though the metal quite quickly but the bar did not move even after it was cut.
"I can't cut the other side," Tyler said. "It's too close to him."
"So use you winch," Renee suggested.
Tyler nodded. He picked up the hook attached to the wire and wrapped it around the bar until it was secure. "Will you get in the cab and start winching it in?"
Renee nodded and called Sam to accompany her before scrambled up to the tractor.
"What say I stand at the top of the bank and hand any messages onto Renee?" Aza said. "I doubt if she'll be able to see what is happening from the cab."
"Good idea." He tested the hook to see that it was secure and shouted to her when she had reached the bank top. "Okay. I'll signal if I want Renee to increase speed or to stop!"
If it wasn't for the snow that was now falling in huge flakes, Aza would be able to see both Renee and Tyler. As it was, all she could see of Renee was her hand on the steering wheel as the wipers swished back and forth.
She ran up to the tractor and opened the door. "Give me a toot if you understand what to do and a long blast if you need to stop for any reason."
"Right! Wave when you want me to start winding the winch in."
Aza returned to her position on the bank where she shouted and waved at Tyler. He waved back and she held her arm up and waved at Renee to begin. The wire tightened slowly with Tyler making circular movements with his forearm that Aza repeated. He held up his hand to stop and again Aza repeated the instruction. She noticed Tyler bend forward to test the now taut wire and also checked the blanket around the professor.
He waved to start and continued the visual instructions. It worked well with Renee operating the winch like an expert. As the wire wound in there was a creaking sound and Aza could see the wire wind up. It took a few more manoeuvres before the metal bar was twisted up about sixty degrees. Tyler waved to stop and shouted out that the metal was off Joseph's chest.
Aza and Renee went back down.
The victim was still stuck with his lower body buried in the debris that Tyler examined.
"I could pull more away,"
he said.
"No," Renee retorted. "We can do no more. He is breathing better. We need to keep him warm and give him water but that's all."
"You're the boss," Tyler said and winked at Aza.
Hardy's eyes flickered and opened. He appeared disorientated for a moment before finding Aza to focus on. "Still here?" he spluttered after coughing up blood. "You were always stubborn, Aza."
'I would not leave you here to die, Joseph." She was surprised that he used her first name. "Would you like a drink?"
"Please..."
He gulped down water from the flask held to his lips and stared at her again. "It was all yours, you know."
"What was all mine?"
"All that research. It was brilliant. I went off on a tangent and would have never succeeded."
Aza frowned. Never in her years of working with him had he paid her a compliment such as this. It was always, "A reasonable theory, Doctor but...' There was always a 'but' that at first motivated her to try harder but more recently just made her antagonistic for she knew that she would never please him or have him acknowledge her efforts. Now, in a couple of sentences he did just that.
"We were a team," she whispered.
"Ahh yes, a team."
Aza moved the flask away from his lips and watched as he closed his eyes. Anxious, she held her finger beneath his nose and felt him breathing out air. He was still alive but for how long?
CHAPTER 16
Not one, but two helicopters flew in through the snow to land on the highway. One was the red and white rescue helicopter and the other, the police. Four police officers in flak jackets and carrying rifles fanned out in different directions and a man in a suit stepped towards them. Two medics in green coveralls with backpacks of medical gear on their backs emerged from the rescue helicopter and headed towards the wreckage.
Tyler recognised the man in the suit. It was Detective Sergeant Brody Cleveland who walked up and shook all their hands.
"You lot can't stay out of trouble?" he said. "To think I left a warm office to come to this godforsaken place." He wiped snow off his eyebrows and patted Sam.
"We expected the rescue helicopter but not you lot," he said. "Why this great show of power?'
"Desperate criminals require it," Brody replied. "We thought he might have had you holed up at your top tank and be popping arrows at you."
"I thought you had a hard time proving anything against Hardy," Renee said.
Brody rubbed his chin and nodded. "You're right. We're still gathering evidence on the case but are about to nail him on that historical murder case in Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have requested an extradition." He glanced at where the medics were heading to the wreckage. "If he's still alive, that is."
Aza replied. "Now the medics are here, he should survive. We didn't like to shift him."
"Wise precaution," Brody replied. "So you won't be needing our Arm Defenders Squad after all?"
Tyler nodded, Brodie spoke into a radio and the three officers with rifles all stood up from positions around, walked back to their helicopter and waited in a line.
One of the medics walked up to them. "We've got the patient stabilised but if you could use your winch it will be easier to move the vehicle off his legs than our lightweight gear."
"Sure," Tyler replied and glanced at Renee. "Can you be in the tractor again?"
She nodded and walked across to it while Tyler, Aza and the detective went down to the wreckage where the second medic was bending over Joseph.
It was lucky that they had waited for when the wreckage was pulled off Joseph's lower body there was a gush of blood from a nasty wound in his upper leg. The medics were capable and soon stopped the flow with several stitches and a tight bandage after deadening the pain with an injection. As well as this, his other leg was broken below the knee. Again, this was expertly attended to as one medic managed to relocate the bone that had bent out the wrong way but hadn't actually pierced the skin.
'This will help," she said. "However his ankle has been crushed and there could be several smaller bones broken in his foot. You were correct in not trying to help him yourself." She turned to Joseph who had awoken but was still in shock. "Hello Joseph. My name is Alison and I'm your medical officer. We're going to lift you onto a stretcher so just relax. There could be some pain at first but the injections to your lower body should deaden most of it."
"Can I tell him why we are here?" Brody asked.
Alison turned to him. "Is it really necessary? As you can see he is in no condition to abscond. When we get to hospital he'll need immediate surgery to fix his broken leg and he'll also need his chest x-rayed. There could be a couple of broken ribs."
Brody nodded. "Fair enough but he will need a police escort at the hospital."
"Something serious?" Alison whispered.
"It is," Brody replied without adding any more. He stepped back and stood with Tyler, Renee and Aza while the medics carried Joseph up the bank and into the rescue helicopter.
Alison asked Tyler for a few contact details before she boarded the helicopter. It rose above them and flew away through the still falling snow.
"Do you want the Land Cruiser hauled up?" Tyler asked Brody. "I have a contract to maintain this section of the highway and this includes helping in accidents such as this."
"No," Brody replied. "We will want to check it all out first. I noticed there was a crossbow as well as a rifle aboard. It's to be treated as a crime scene."
"What crime?" Aza asked.
"We believe you were his intended target but I guess you know that. We also believe he was working on his own this time but the possibility of there being an accompanist must not be overlooked." He frowned. "This man is a ruthless killer and I'll assume nothing about his intentions."
"So what do I do?" Aza asked.
"Go back with Tyler and Renee to be with your partner and baby. A police guard will stay overnight. You won't see them but they'll be there. Finish your holiday here but tell me of your travel arrangements when you head back to Auckland. I don't advise any tramps in the hills, though. This is remote land so be vigilant. Okay?"
"We'll look after her," Renee said.
They waited while the police spent half an hour or more examining the wreckage. The rifle and crossbow as well as what appeared to be luggage were removed and loaded onto the helicopter. Tyler never noticed them leave but realised that two officers hadn't climbed back in the police helicopter. Brody gave them a wave, shut the door and the helicopter rose into the sky, turned and disappeared from view.
"Okay," Tyler said to Aza and Renee. "Let's head home."
NOT A LOT HAPPENED over the next two weeks. The highway was reopened and the huge snowstorm of the year before did not eventuate. With the fresh coating of snow, the ski fields became well patronised and their store did well by providing coffee and petrol to tourists heading towards the ski fields or onto the West Coast. Their cottages were quite well supported and the new lodge was full on most weekends, though Tyler's original idea of attracting school parties had not eventuated. However, he was optimistic about the coming spring season when the walking bridge over the new track was finished.
Aza, the baby and Sofia had returned to Auckland so Renee spent much of her time in the store and became good friends with Sandra whose bright personality helped when all those inevitable little things went wrong. It was unusual, therefore to find on the Friday morning, one of their busiest days of the week, that Sandra appeared serious and quiet.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Renee said to her friend when they were having a coffee break after a couple of busy hours.
Sandra stared at her over the cup of coffee. "Is it that obvious?" she asked.
"That's something is wrong? Yes!"
"It's my husband Norm. We've been at East Ridge Station for twenty years now." She glanced at the table and stirred her coffee. "He's been sacked and we have a month to vacate the house that goes with the job."
/> "But why?"
"No employer is allowed to discriminate because of age but I reckon that's the reason. Being almost sixty, he's a little older than me and has had some back trouble lately. I guess the demands of shepherding has taken its toll." Sandra looked up. "I guess we should have seen it coming but..."
"I know," Renee whispered. "But what was their official reason for firing him?"
"They're downsizing. Apparently the more fertile lower lands are just leased from another company, one of those city corporations that just buy and sell land and companies. It seems that it has been bought out and the new owners might want the lower farm back when the contract expires later this year."
"Was that company Fredrick Brooks Holdings?" Renee asked.
"I think that's the name. How did you know?"
Renee shrugged and decided not to tell Sandra she had inherited the property, so just muttered something about reading about it in a farmer's magazine.
"It's worse than that," Sandra added. "Our house is part of the lower farm so doesn't even belong to East Ridge Station. It's not fair for the house right next door is empty as the new shepherds are all single guys who live in the hostel the station provides for them. Norm's boss said it was out of his hands and he had his own problems."
"Sounds like him," Renee muttered. She didn't like the East Ridge Station manager and over the years Tyler and herself had had several minor disagreements with him, mainly over boundary fences and stock that got out onto the highway. "So what will you do?"
"I don't know. Norm hates the city but he needs a job somewhere. He has been on farms all his life. Oh it's been a good life but the pay has been low and we haven't much in savings. I doubt if we can even afford the deposit for a house. What bank wants to give someone our age and situation a mortgage anyway?"
"So you need a new home as well as a new job for Norm?"
Sandra nodded. "That's why I appreciate this job here and the increased hours so it's full time. I actually earn almost as much as Norm now."
"So you would stay in the district if you could?"
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