Kakadu Sunset (22 page)

‘No. I just assumed he was someone on the staff I hadn’t met before.’

‘What did he look like?’

‘Tall, well built, short-cropped blond hair. He nodded and I didn’t think anything of it.’

Steve finished serving the guest on the other side of Kane and interrupted them. ‘Drinks?’

‘Just a soda water for Ellie, please, mate.’

Steve picked up the post-mix siphon and made an elaborate show of pouring a drink for her, and Kane inclined his head towards Heather’s table. ‘Want to sit down and chill for a while? I think you need to tell me a bit more about what’s going on.’

‘Not yet. Let’s leave Heather in peace for a while.’ Ellie relaxed a little. He was so much more comfortable around her since they’d cleared the air over lunch. More natural, with no macho posturing to hide behind. And it was a relief to share her worries.

‘One soda water with a twist of lime.’ Steve laughed as he passed her the drink and she rolled her eyes when she saw he’d put a paper umbrella in the lime slice.

‘Have you seen Bill around, Steve?’ She couldn’t see him over at the staff table where he usually sat.

‘He was over there with Heather a little while ago, but I think she put the skids under him. She’s found an unsuspecting tourist already. How long is it going to take you ladies to realise that I’m the best catch around here?’ The Irish accent thickened, and a mournful expression replaced his smile as he looked at Kane. ‘Don’t try and get lucky with the locals here, mate. Waste o’ time.’

‘We just have high standards.’ Ellie fought the heat that was running up her neck into her cheeks and Kane looked across to the window as though there was something interesting out there all of a sudden.

Ellie frowned at him as a knowing smile crossed Steve’s face.

As Kane stared outside, Ellie was struck again by the authority that emanated from him. Even in his casual chinos and collared shirt, he exuded confidence. He turned back suddenly and she realised he’d caught her staring.

‘How was your afternoon?’ Ellie sipped her drink and looked over to the tables. This time she caught Heather’s gaze but her friend looked away again.

‘I sorted out the hangar and ordered a few parts. That last guy had really let things run down.’

‘Mike was a bit casual in the hangar.’

Kane’s face closed and his voice tightened. ‘There’s no excuse for that.’

‘True. But we managed.’ Ellie tilted her head to the side. ‘You know, I do appreciate how thorough you are with the birds. It’s good to know they’re in good hands.’

‘You’ll get used to the way I operate.’

‘In everything you do?’ Ellie smiled up at him.

Steve shook his head. ‘Ha! Now I know the secret. You have to be more than a simple barman to get Miss Ellie here to flirt with you.’ She hadn’t realised that Steve was still there. She’d been too focused on Kane.

Kane’s smile was lazy, and a tremble rippled down Ellie’s back. He lowered his voice. ‘
Were
you flirting with me?’ He tapped his lips with one finger and Ellie tried hard not to focus on his mouth, although it was a pleasure to see him smile. Those lips had taken her to heaven and back on Sunday night.

‘Me, flirt? No way.’ She kept her words light. They were putting on a show for Steve but each of them knew the subtext.

‘Come on, let’s go sit down and wait till Bill comes back.’ She picked up her soft drink and followed Kane across to Heather’s table. The table was almost full; a few other staff had joined Heather. The tourist guy had moved on.

Ellie looked around before pausing behind Heather. ‘Where’s your dad?’

‘Don’t know where he’s got to.’ Her voice was short and Ellie reached out and put her hand on her arm.

‘Can we talk?’

Heather shrugged and looked away. ‘Whatever.’ Finally she turned back to Ellie but her brow was wrinkled in a frown. ‘Why do you want see Dad?’

‘I want to ask him about something.’ Ellie slid in beside Heather and watched as Kane walked around and took the empty space opposite her.

‘What about?’

‘Nothing important. Just some business stuff.’

‘He’ll be back soon.’ Heather shrugged and turned her back but Ellie wasn’t going to let a lifetime friendship be jeopardised by one silly mistake. She leaned closer to her. ‘Come for a walk with me while I wait for him.’

‘Why?’ Heather looked from Ellie to Kane and finally she stood.

‘We’ll be back in a minute.’ Ellie gave Kane an apologetic smile for leaving him at the table alone. ‘Mind our seats.’

They strolled over to the river and stood on the boardwalk but Heather didn’t speak. She stared out over the dark water and Ellie jumped as the boardwalk swayed beneath their feet and she crouched down. A huge black pig was rutting in the reedy grass beneath them as a dozen or so little piglets sniffed around in her shadow. The strange sound of the Makowa whistling ducks on the side of the muddy riverbank filled the air with a cacophony of sound. Small birds zipped through the leaves that overhung the boardwalk, catching the mosquitoes that were beginning to buzz around their heads.

‘Look, I know you’re royally pissed off with me, but it just happened. I never meant to hurt you.’ She stood up and looked at Heather. ‘We were both carrying on like adolescents anyway.’

‘Okay. I was being a bitch.’ Finally Heather turned to her. ‘I’m sorry. If the truth be told it was good to see you letting your hair down on the dance floor with him that night. You’ve been way too serious lately.’

Ellie smiled as relief flooded her. ‘Thanks. I’ve had a bit on my mind this week, and I’d hate to lose my best friend over a one-night stand.’

‘So he wasn’t as good as his looks promised?’ Heather laughed when Ellie shook her head, embarrassed.

‘No . . . yes . . . I mean, I don’t kiss and tell.’

‘Hey, you used to when we were at school.’

‘We’re all grown up now, Heath, but still friends?’

‘Of course we are.’ Heather bumped her shoulder. ‘Come on, Mr Fly Boy will be getting lonely. So why just a one-night stand then? Give yourself a chance to practise.’ A small smile lifted her lips as the moonlight shone on her face. ‘But if you –’

Ellie grabbed her arm. ‘Come on, girlfriend. Let’s go back and keep him company while I wait for your dad.’

*

Kane had been pleased to see Ellie walk in; if he was honest, she was the only reason he’d come to the bar. She’d been in his thoughts most of the afternoon. No, more than that. Ellie Porter had been in his head ever since he’d first laid eyes on her climbing into her helicopter. If he’d thought sleeping with her was going to help him forget about her, he’d been dead wrong there. And now with his protective instincts flaring to life, he had no chance; the thought of someone breaking into Ellie’s room worried him.

After Heather and Ellie took off outside, he sat at the table soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. It was a long time since he’d let himself just sit and chill; it was cathartic clearing his mind and listening to the conversations around him.

When they came back, each with a smile on their face, Ellie sat beside him and Heather headed for the door.

‘I’ll go and see what’s holding Dad up,’ she called out.

The familiar feminine smell of Ellie, as her thigh pressed against his, set Kane’s body aching with need. His libido was not paying any attention to his resolve of not getting involved and he tried to withdraw into himself a little.

‘Have you talked to your mum today?’ Ellie’s brow wrinkled in a frown as she looked at him. ‘I was worried about her after I saw her yesterday.’

‘She’s okay.’ He knew his voice was terse but, hell, it was bloody hard not to put his arm around her and pull her close.

‘I don’t want you to think I went down there to pry, but she talked about you.’

Kane ran his hand through his hair. He knew exactly what his mother would have said. ‘I suppose you got the war hero story. Don’t believe a word of it. That’s the sanitised version of a monumental fuck-up.’

‘She said you were healing.’ Her voice was quiet.

Kane stared hard at her for a moment and she held his gaze without blinking.

‘Look, it’s not my business. Where you came from or where you’ll go to next has nothing to do with me.’ Her chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath, and Kane realised she was affected by his proximity as much as he was by hers. ‘But she asked me to be your friend –’ she gestured around the room ‘– so I guess this is what friends do.’ Ellie hesitated and then put her hand on his arm. ‘Your mum didn’t look well.’

‘No, she’s not.’ Usually Kane would have left it at that, but as Ellie’s concerned eyes held his, he suddenly felt the need to share. Before he could voice his deep concern about his mum’s health, Ellie continued speaking.

‘Your mum looked out for mine when Dad died. If there’s any way I can help out, please let me. I’d like to.’

‘Thank you. I’m going to try and get her back to Darwin tomorrow. To look at apartments. Fancy a drive?’

‘What time?’ Kane noticed Ellie’s hesitation.

‘After lunch. We’re both on the same shift, which will make it easy. You’ve got three flights to take up in the morning.’

‘Yes, longer flights . . . and yes I would love to come. I’d like to help out if I could.’ She stared up at him and he couldn’t look away from her blue eyes. ‘I’m having lunch with someone, but I’ll make it an early one unless you want to get away before noon?’

‘No, as long as we get away by one that’s fine. I’ve lined up a couple of places to look at around four o’clock. If Mum’s up to it, we can have an early dinner and drive back. Maybe I can tempt you with a potato pizza?’

Ellie smiled at him and nodded.

Heather came back and stood behind Ellie. She looked as surprised as he was; they’d been in their own little world there for a moment.

‘Hey, Kane. Excuse us for a minute? I just need to talk to Ellie again.’

Their voices were low and Kane turned back to survey the crowd. Most of those couples with children had left and the bar was emptying out. He thought about going back to his room. A couple of nights out was more socialising than he’d done since before the crash in Afghanistan.

Closing his eyes, Kane blocked out the sound of the room around him and thought back to that last night in the desert. He waited for the usual surge of adrenaline to settle in his chest, but he must have been more relaxed than he thought. There was a pang of sadness, but none of the physical symptoms that usually took over when he thought about what had happened. He let himself test the memory – slowly – like opening a photograph album and flicking through the pages. Taking slow, easy breaths, he let his muscles relax. His pulse stayed steady and his heart beat slowly in his chest. Dirk and Jerry had been playing cards, and Hawk had been strumming on her guitar. The conversation was animated, with the usual swearing when someone got a bad hand.

If they’d known it was their last night of their lives, what would his crew have talked about? Would they have questioned what they were doing in this godforsaken desert fighting a war that could never be won? Kane waited for the guilt to come slamming in, but it stayed away. The usual pain blocking his throat didn’t come. It was sweet relief; the violence of his reactions when he was feeling that pain frightened him.

He opened his eyes slowly and looked around. There was no point wishing he could go back; he couldn’t change what had happened. In a way he was pleased Ellie knew some of his background – maybe he was beginning to let go a little bit. Kane straightened his posture and stretched his legs out in front of him as he looked at her. A comfortable, almost mellow feeling had settled in his bones.

She and Heather were still deep in conversation as they walked back to the table and a lull in the crowd noise let their words carry across to him.

‘Do you want me to come with you?’ Ellie was looking up at her friend with a frown. ‘Just be a bit careful out there.’

‘Let me go and see if his car is in the car park. Maybe he changed his mind and went home. The old bugger refuses to turn his mobile on so I can’t text him.’ Heather headed towards the door.

‘Everything okay?’

Ellie glanced at Kane. ‘We can’t find Bill. Heather’s car’s still out of action and she needs a lift home. I’m going out to help her look for him.’

He jumped to his feet. ‘Not by yourselves. I’ll come with you. I said I’d fix her car but the cable hasn’t arrived yet.’

‘She’s just gone to check the car park.’ Ellie bit her bottom lip.

‘How will she get home if he’s gone?’

‘She’ll probably stay. It’s a good hour out there on a dirt road.’ Ellie frowned.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s not like Bill. He’s really not been himself lately.’ Ellie came to an abrupt stop on the lawn beside the covered area of the bar. Heather was standing in the doorway, her face wet with tears. Ellie ran over and put her arms around her.

‘What’s wrong?’ They led Heather away from the noisy crowd.

Heather hitched a sob. She turned and looked up at Kane. ‘Can you help me?’

‘What’s happened?’ Ellie kept hold of Heather’s arm.

Her voice broke. ‘I don’t know what to do. His car is still in the car park. His keys were on the ground and there’s a big smear of blood on the door. Really big. And on the ground too.’

Ellie threw a worried look at Kane.

‘Show us where his car is. Maybe he’s just hit a kangaroo or something on the way in.’ Kane kept his voice calm, even though all of his senses were on full alert.

When they reached the old battered Land Cruiser – and it did look like it had hit plenty of wildlife in its day – Kane crouched down beside it and ran his fingers over the smear of blood on the driver’s door. It was still wet. The dark maroon stain covered the chrome of the door handle and ran down in a broad splatter of drops to the ground where a large stain covered the gravel.

‘Maybe he cut his hand when he tried to open the door.’ He looked around. ‘Where were the keys?’

‘On the ground over there.’ Heather pulled them from her pocket. The leather of the key ring was damp with blood.

Ellie nodded. ‘Kane’s right. That’s what’s probably happened. He’s probably gone to the office to get the first-aid kit. Come on, we’ll go and look for him.’