Kakadu Sunset (31 page)

Meeting Kane had set her on the right path towards her own healing. Once they’d investigated this stuff at the farm, she would decide whether she could let the past go and focus on her future. It would take some time to figure out what that future held, and whether Kane would be a part of it.

Slowly, slowly
. A frown wrinkled her forehead as her father’s words echoed through her thoughts. He’d taught her patience as they’d raised the trees from seedlings, and as he’d sat with her in the shed, waiting for her chickens to hatch beneath the special lights they’d set up. She hoped that Kane had good memories of his childhood; he was going to need something to look back on to help him grieve for his mother.

She stared straight ahead as she drove past the farm. Time for that later.

The sight of the high phone towers looming ahead at Jabiru surprised her. Ellie had been so immersed in her thoughts that she’d paid little attention to the traffic. Now the short final leg towards the lodge awaited her. A pall of smoke hung in the still air of the early afternoon, indicating the seasonal burn-off was still going. Ellie slowed down as the smoke thickened, and cursed as she came to a line of traffic stopped ahead of her on the highway just south of the Bowali Cultural Centre. She slipped the car out of gear and pulled the handbrake on, settling back to wait. If the fire had jumped the road – which it looked like it had – she could be in for a long wait.

Ellie put her head back and closed her eyes; she’d not had much sleep in the past twenty-four hours and she knew she had at least two flights to take up late this afternoon.

It was a full half hour before the caravan in front of her began to move as the traffic was allowed through. She was just going to get back in time for her shift. The revving of a powerful engine came from behind her car and Ellie glanced in the rear-vision mirror. A black Mercedes SUV was almost nudging her bumper and a memory tugged at her. Mercedes? Where had she seen one of them recently?

Once the traffic was flowing, the Mercedes accelerated with a roar and flew past her.
Idiot
.

By the time she turned into the lodge and parked near her apartment, there was barely enough time left for her to run in and change into her work clothes. Despite what Kane had said, she had to go there to get changed. Terry was mowing along the edge of the car park but still trepidation filled her as she unlocked the door. She looked around carefully, but the place was as it should be. Changing quickly, she grabbed her work boots and locked the door before sitting outside on the steps and pulling them on. She’d have to run the pre-flight check before the three o’clock flight.

The hangar was hot and the smell of smoke hung in the air. If this burn-off covered a large area, there wasn’t going to be much of a view for the tourists. She logged on and checked the weather forecast before stepping out onto the tarmac. A north-easterly change was forecast to arrive through the afternoon, which might clear the smoke. On the other hand, it could make the fires flare up more, and the flight would be a waste of time. Plus a change from the north could bring a thunderstorm, even in the dry season.

Ellie picked up the phone and dialled the office. She tapped her fingers as she waited for Jock to pick up. ‘Hey Jock, it’s me, Ellie.’

‘Where are you?’

‘I’m over in the hangar. Did the Cooinda guys come over this morning?’

‘Yeah they did. Had another flight booked, too, but they checked over both choppers before they left. You should find the paperwork over there.’

‘Yeah, see it. I just checked the forecast. What do you think?’

‘Hmm. I was just about to do the same. Give me a minute.’

She waited as the sound of Jock pounding on the keyboard came down the line.

‘How many booked?’

Ellie checked the schedule. ‘Looks like we’ve had a cancellation. Only one left. Henry.’ The name was familiar. There’d been a Henry a few days ago; tourists would often come back for a second flight when they stayed at the lodge.

‘Can it. Hang on, I’ll see if we can contact them.’ More keyboard clicking as he checked the guest register. ‘Sorry, no Henry staying here. Must be staying somewhere else. You’ll have to wait until he turns up.’

‘Okay, will do. Thanks, boss.’

‘No worries. I’ve got a meeting up at the park headquarters. Sorry but I gotta go, I’m late as it is.’

‘See if you can find a spare pilot while you’re up there. Okay?’

‘I’ll do my best.’

Ellie flicked the light switch off and closed the office door. It had become darker; the combination of low cloud and smoke hanging in the air confirming that Jock had made the right call. She turned towards the tarmac to re-lock the gate she’d unlocked when she’d arrived. A shadow moved to her right and Ellie jumped as a man appeared in front of her.

‘Holy shit. You scared me.’ She took a quick breath.

‘My apologies. I thought you were leaving. I’ve got a flight.’

Ugh
. The same guy she’d taken up on Wednesday.
Henry
. Now she remembered him. He was the one who’d wanted to fly the chopper. He’d been more interested in the workings of the helicopter, the seats, the radio and the doors than any of the scenic spots they’d flown over.

‘Ready to take me up again, love?’ He was a big man, and he invaded her personal space as he leaned close. Ellie took a step back, trying to keep a polite expression on her face.

‘Sorry, all flights have been cancelled for the afternoon.’ She took another step back and turned to leave the hangar. ‘Too much smoke. If you go over to the main office, they’ll refund you or give you a voucher for one of the other tours.’

The guy shook his head. ‘Uh-uh. I want to go up now.’ He looked around. ‘Where’s your partner?’

Ellie ignored his question and waited for him to come out onto the tarmac with her. He followed her outside slowly and a small shiver ran down her spine. He pulled a cigarette from his top pocket and she shook her head. ‘No smoking.’ She pointed to the large sign on the side of the building.

He put the cigarette in his mouth but didn’t light it. ‘So are you going to take me up or not?’ His hands fidgeted with the lighter and Ellie looked around. There was no one in sight. She had a feeling this guy was trouble.

He reached out and took her arm but Ellie gritted her teeth and shook his hand off. ‘I already told you; flights are cancelled. Walk over to the office with me and I’ll sort out your refund myself.’

‘Did you hear me?’ He grabbed her again and Ellie looked down at the thick fingers holding her hand. ‘I’ve paid and you’re taking me up now. The smoke doesn’t concern me.’

His fingers pressed hard and Ellie tried to pull her hand away, but he had a firm hold.

She lifted her boot and stood on Henry’s foot at the same time as she pulled her arm away. ‘Let go of me!’

‘You’re going to pay for that.’ His voice was low but it was the cold smile and the expressionless eyes that raised the hair on her neck.

As Ellie ran away from him, across the tarmac and through the gate, the sound of a mower came from around the nearest building. Relief surged through her as Terry waved. She crossed the lawn towards the ride-on mower.

‘What’s up?’ Terry yelled above the noise of the engine. He reached down and turned it off. Ellie turned and pointed to the guy who was walking quickly in the other direction. ‘It’s okay. Just a creep being difficult when his flight was canned.’

‘Want me to deal with him?’

Ellie smiled and shook her head. ‘He’s gone now.’

Terry climbed off the mower and stood beside Ellie as they watched Henry cross to the car park.

‘Might be a creep, but he drives a Mercedes.’ Terry let out a low whistle of appreciation as the vehicle roared down the road and turned onto the highway with a squeal of tyres. ‘More money than brains, that’s for sure.’

‘A black Mercedes.’ Ellie muttered beneath her breath, as she remembered where she’d seen it before. Heather had seen a Mercedes the night that Bill had been hurt. That was the night before she’d gone up with Henry the first time.

Was it the same car?

‘You sure you’re okay? You’re a bit pale.’

Ellie forced a smile onto her face. ‘I’m fine, thanks, Terry. It’s just been a big couple of days.’

Ellie spent the afternoon in the office over in the main administration building, catching up on paperwork and surrounded by others. She could have done it in the office in the hangar, but the encounter with that guy had unsettled her. Maybe her imagination was running wild because of Sordina’s murder, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. When Kane was back – there was no sign of him yet – she’d go back over there to work in the office in the hangar.

The main office was busy with tourists coming and going, and she helped out when the queue was long, taking several bookings for ground tours and sunset cruises.

Amanda, the afternoon receptionist, thanked her as the last tourist headed off towards the wharf. The two-hour sunset cruise was about to board and the rush for bookings had finished. ‘It’s been so busy today. I appreciated your help.’

‘I thought Heather was supposed to be in the office with you today?’

‘No, she and Jenny have shared duties in the crèche and day spa.’ Amanda looked up at the clock. ‘Although she’s probably finished by now. We closed the day spa early because we were short-staffed. How about an early snack at the bar? I think we’ve earned a break after this busy afternoon. And I hate going home to that small unit in Jabiru.’

‘Sounds like a plan. I’ll go over and see if she’s finished up.’ Amanda had only started at the lodge a few weeks before Ellie went across to Queensland. By the sound of things, she was still finding her way in the loneliness of the Territory. ‘You should move into one of the staff apartments here. A bit more company for you onsite.’

Ellie opened the door and looked around. Most of the clouds had cleared and the sky was shot with the lingering remnants of smoke from the burn-off. Molten gold edged the pink clouds and rays of soft light filtered down towards the horizon on the other side of the river. She paused and took a deep breath, letting the natural beauty seep into her. Guests were milling around the lawn between the two buildings, cameras at the ready to snap the sunset. With the smoke hanging in the sky tonight, it would be a photographer’s dream. She looked up as she crossed the manicured lawn. The crocodile-shaped building usually made her smile, but this afternoon, the eyes that were set in the peak of the roof glinted ominously as the rays of the setting sun flashed off the high glass windows. She glanced over her shoulder as footsteps crunched on the gravel behind her but there was no one there. Just her edginess keeping her company.

Ellie almost ran down the path between the overhanging bougainvilleas and pushed open the door of the crèche. Heather was sitting at the desk with her hands over her face.

‘Hey. You okay?’ Ellie crossed the room and Heather looked up.

‘Hi. Yeah, just a bit tired. It’s been a long day.’

‘Tell me about it. You and me both.’ Ellie dropped onto the sofa beneath the window and looked up in surprise as a little voice called out to her.

‘Ellie!’ Andrew ran across holding a plastic, wind-up train. ‘Watch this.’

‘You know these kids?’ A strange expression crossed Heather’s face.

‘Yeah, I’m an old friend of their dad. I went to school with his –’ Ellie stopped as Heather pushed her chair back suddenly and it tipped over with a crash.

‘So you know their mother too?’ Her voice was strained.

‘I’ve only got to know Gina while they’ve been staying here. She’s lovely.’ Ellie frowned; she’d never seen Heather so tense.

Heather’s hands were crossed against her chest and she looked away.

‘Go and get me some tracks and I’ll help you build a circle for the train to go around. Okay?’ Ellie smiled down at Andrew.

While Andrew was engrossed in pulling out the blue plastic sections of track from the toy box, Ellie stood up and followed Heather over to the window. ‘What’s wrong? Are you all right? Is your dad still okay?’

Heather nodded but still her eyes wouldn’t meet Ellie’s. ‘Yeah, he’s fine. I’m fine. It’s all good. I’m just waiting for them to . . . to be collected and then I’m going home.’ Her voice was fast and her words ran together. ‘I have to go home.’

‘I came over to see if you want to have dinner with Amanda and me.’

‘No. No, I have to go. Dad’s . . . he’s left his car for me.’ Heather shook her head and her voice was shaky. ‘I’m really tired.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes.’ Heather wouldn’t meet her eyes.

‘I can watch the kids till Gina gets here if you want?’

‘That’d be good.’

‘Where is she?’

‘Don’t know, she didn’t say where she was going.’ Heather’s eyes were darting around and her breath was catching as she spoke. ‘Just dropped the kids off.’

Ellie put a hand on her arm. ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

‘Yes. I told you I’m fine.’ Heather hissed the answer at her and Ellie took a step back with her hands up.

‘All right. All right. No need to get pissy with me again. I thought we’d sorted that.’

‘Sorry, I’m cross because she’s late. It’s been a long day.’ Heather’s lips trembled. ‘You know I’d rather work in the office than in the crèche.’

‘I want Mummy.’ Ellie moved her gaze over to the little girl. Binny had her thumb in her mouth and her little eyes were huge.

‘Yes, sweetheart.’ Ellie crouched down beside her and smoothed her hand over the little girl’s hair, conscious of Heather’s gaze. ‘She shouldn’t be too long now.’

‘I’ll just get my keys.’ Heather hurried to the desk, pulled out her keys and closed the drawer with a snap. Ellie rose and followed her across the room.

‘Do you think she might have gone on the sunset cruise?’ Ellie glanced at the two children. Binny was leaning against her brother and as Ellie watched he put his little arm around her and she snuggled in.

Heather shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

‘The kids look tired. What time did Gina drop them off?’

‘They’ve been here since I opened up.’

Ellie put her hands on her hips.
No way
. ‘All day? Have you tried to call her?’