Riverboat Point (37 page)

He motored on, following the twists and turns of the river. He passed a couple of other houseboats moving downriver and his favourite fishing spot where he'd taken Savannah. What a difference a few days made. They'd been so happy then.

Finally he saw
Riverboat
up ahead. He tied up to the swim deck and Jasper leapt out ahead of him, nose to the deck. Ethan inspected the damage. Whoever had told Savannah it was a broken steering cable was correct. It looked like a straightforward job. He set to work.

Even though he was focused on the task at hand he couldn't help but think of Savannah, just like he had half the night and all the way to Adelaide and back. He kept seeing the hurt look on her face. When he'd agreed to support Jaxon's holiday plans by helping out his sister if needed, he'd thought there'd be little to it. The last thing he'd expected was to fall in love with her. And once he did he'd never meant to hurt her. If only Jaxon had come back everything would have been okay.

Ethan flexed his fingers. Although Savannah wouldn't have been speaking to him, if she'd been at home he would have asked her to come and help. Jasper was good company but another pair of hands would have made the job quicker. He glanced at his watch. He hoped she'd be back by the time he returned with
Riverboat
. It would take the two of them to have the boat ready to go out at three. Ethan searched the front of Jaxon's place as he manoeuvred the houseboat into its place on the bank. He cut the engine and jumped to land so he could tie up the ropes. Jasper gave an excited bark and followed him. Still Savannah didn't come.

He went back on board, put out the gangplank and picked up a bundle of sheets. At least the last group had stripped the beds and the boat looked like it had been given the once-over. It wouldn't be too hard to clean but they didn't have much time.

As he walked up the path he realised Savannah's car still wasn't under the carport. He dropped the bundle of sheets at the end of the verandah and went to the back door. It was locked. He knocked.

“Savannah?” he called.

Jasper barked.

Ethan bent to pat his head.

“Where is she, mate?”

He went back around the front. The blinds were up but the door was locked. He peered inside. There was a mug on the table and one of her jumpers draped over a chair. He hoped that meant she hadn't left for good.

He set to work getting
Riverboat
ready for the next lot of customers. The shed was open so he could get to the clean linen. There was just enough to kit out the boat. Maybe she'd realised stocks were low and had gone to collect some.

Just after three the first cars began to arrive but there was still no sign of Savannah. A small worm of worry turned inside him.

By the time he'd welcomed everyone, showed them the ropes, taken their money and put each boatload through their paces before waving them off, he was frantic with worry. It wasn't like her. No matter what she thought of him or how angry she was with Jaxon, he just couldn't see her walking out on the customers.

He took his tinnie back to the jetty then went all around Jaxon's place again. Perhaps Savannah's car had broken down somewhere between here and town. He got on his bike and set out to look for her. He slowed at Gnasher's gate then took off again. She wouldn't be in there. Not with her car anyway. He passed the Palmers' gate. If she'd finally had an invitation to Belinda's place she would have come home on time.

He kept going. Each time he rounded a bend he hoped to see her car on the side of the road ahead. When he reached town he pulled over at the first corner. Now what? he wondered.

Ethan perched on a stool at the front bar of the pub cradling a beer. He'd been to Riverboat Point twice today. The first time he'd called in to the garage, the supermarket and the tea room asking after Savannah. No-one had seen her. He'd ridden home again and paced back and forth for an hour before he decided he needed a drink. There was none left in his fridge and Savannah's place was locked up so he'd made the journey back to town.

“Howdy.”

Ethan glanced sideways. An old bloke had come and perched on the stool next to his. Ethan scowled at him then looked back at his beer. He put it to his mouth and emptied the glass.

“My name's Terry. They tell me you're a bit of a mechanic.”

“Do they?”

“Any good with old cars?”

“Maybe.”

“That new bloke at the servo has no idea.”

“Look, mate. I've got a bit on my plate at the moment. Maybe another day, hey?”

“Suit yourself, but I've got a car needs fixing and I'm willing to pay good money to have it done.”

Terry flipped over a coaster and picked up a pen from the bar. He scribbled down a number and slid the coaster towards Ethan.

“That's my number.”

Terry picked up his glass and moved to the other end of the bar.

Sad really, they were the only two in the pub at this hour but Ethan wasn't in the mood to talk. Savannah had disappeared. She obviously didn't want to be found. He'd blown his chance with her.

“Another?”

The barman lifted his empty glass.

“Yes.” Ethan put his money on the counter.

The barman poured him a schooner and placed it in front of him.

“Thanks,” Ethan said and stared at the glass.

More people came in. He heard their voices around him but he ignored them. A child cried. Someone bumped him. Ethan edged away.

“Hello.”

He ignored the female voice beside him.

“You're Savannah's neighbour, aren't you?”

At the mention of Savannah's name Ethan looked at the speaker. She was a good-looking woman, fit with dark curly hair and a bright smile.

“Ethan, is it?” the woman asked. “I'm Mandy Sampson. I was out your way yesterday helping Savannah clean.”

Ethan straightened up. “Have you seen her today?” he asked.

“No.”

“Aren't you one of the fitness group?”

“Yes, but Savannah didn't show today. She said it would depend on what happened with the broken-down houseboat. I assumed she was still having trouble.”

A child came and pushed between Mandy and Ethan.

“Mum,” he whined. “Dad said I can't have a coke.”

“I'll get you a lemon squash in a moment. Go back to Dad.” She looked at Ethan. “I'd better order these drinks,” she said. “Troops are getting restless.”

He watched while the barman served her. He swallowed his pride.

“Savannah's not home. Her car's gone. She didn't give you any clues about anywhere else she might have been planning to go today?”

Mandy frowned. “No. She had two boats to see off this afternoon. Don't you help her with that?”

“Yes.”

Mandy held his gaze. “Wasn't she there?”

“No, but it was probably just a misunderstanding. I'll sort it out when I get back.”

A child yelped behind them.

“I'd better keep moving.” She added some numbers underneath Terry's on the coaster. “Give me a call if you need.” She tucked her wallet under her arm and gathered the four drinks in her hands. “See you later,” she said and returned to her family.

Ethan shoved the coaster in his back pocket. Not quite the same as the phone numbers he'd collected in the old days. Not that he wanted those days back. He wanted Savannah. He tipped down the rest of his drink. It was time to go home. He'd try Gnasher on the way just in case he'd seen her, but it was a slim chance.

Ethan hurried out to his bike and hoped like hell Savannah would be at her place when he got there.

Savannah sat on the edge of the bed looking at the thin waif of a girl lying under the filthy blanket. She was used to the smell now. When she'd first followed Li into the van she'd retched at the rancid smell of vomit and faeces. She'd thought the girl Li leant over was dead but she'd stirred at the sound of Li's voice.

Savannah had helped Li clean her up as best they could. Li called her Hung and Savannah assumed it was her name. Her body was emaciated but even so Savannah could tell she wasn't a child but a young woman. There was cold water and soap but the towels and bedding were filthy. Savannah stripped the bed and they lay Hung on the mattress and covered her with the best of the sheets and blankets.

Now Savannah turned her attention to Li. She wasn't doing much better than the girl in the bed. The wound ran jaggedly around the top of her arm in an arc for several centimetres. It gaped open and the skin around it was crusted with blood and turning purple.

Savannah pulled off her singlet top. It was the cleanest thing she had to put over the wound. She inspected the series of puncture marks in Li's leg. They looked red and inflamed. Savannah frowned.

“Is this a dog bite?”

Li stared at her with dull eyes.

Savannah tapped her fingers and thumb together imitating a bite.

“Did a dog bite you?”

Li's eyes responded. “Yes.” She nodded vigorously. “Dog.”

“Brutus no doubt.” Savannah shuddered at the thought of the great ugly dog sinking its fangs into Li.

None of this made any sense. Savannah tried desperately to think of a reasonable explanation. All she was left with was a headache and a bad feeling. Belinda and Ashton were not the people they'd led her to believe they were. Then another thought struck her.

“How did you get out of here?”

Li looked at her and shook her head.

Savannah made all kinds of gestures with her hands. “Outside.” She pointed through the caravan door. “How did you get outside?”

Li struggled to her feet and hobbled to the caravan door. She pointed across the shed to the outside door.

“Ash,” she said and waved her hand sideways.

Savannah looked from the door to her hand. “Open,” she said. “Ash left the door open?”

Li gave a little nod and Savannah sank back on the bed.

“No doubt he won't do that again.” She slapped her fist into her palm. “Jaxon and his great ideas.”

She thought about the message he'd left about the neighbours and how she'd fretted over which neighbours she had to watch out for. She snorted. Turned out none of them was much chop. She let out a short mirthless laugh.

Li watched her closely from the end of the other bed.

Savannah stood up and went outside. The air was fresher in the shed. She rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms. She got down on her knees on the concrete floor and looked under the van. The toilet and shower pipes went down into the concrete. Back on her feet she walked all around the shed. It was fully lined. She picked up a chair and struck the wall with it. Some kind of plasterboard had been used and it was solid. Not a lot of sound would get out and there wasn't anyone close enough to hear it.

Perhaps Belinda intended to leave them here until they starved to death. Li and her friend weren't too good already. Savannah shuddered at the thought of the three of them dying slowly. She was strong and healthy. She would be the last.

She had no idea of the time but her stomach told her she'd missed lunch. Ethan would be back by now. Perhaps he'd come looking for her. She let out a sigh. Why would he after last night? Still, he might begin to wonder if her car was there but she wasn't. If he went inside he'd see all her things and her phone. She'd left that on the table. Surely he'd expect her to be there to see off the houseboats. She wondered if it was three o'clock yet. Her spirits lifted a moment then dropped again. Even if he did go looking he'd never expect her to be in a soundproof shed somewhere in the middle of the Palmers' property.

Savannah walked the perimeter of the shed again. If she was going to get out and get medical help for the two women, it was all up to her. She stopped in front of the sink. The tap stuck out of the wall above it. The sink and the cupboard below it looked like the old style that had been in Jaxon's kitchen before he did it up.

She stared at it a moment then pulled open the middle door. The pipes had to go somewhere. She was greeted by a musty smell. A few old dishcloths and a bottle of detergent lay on the bottom shelf. The thick L-shaped pipe that led from the sink disappeared through the shed wall just above the base of the cupboard. The pipe wiggled when she shook it. There was a dark stain around the plasterboard and several cuts ranged out from the hole around it.

She didn't know how much time she had before Belinda came back or even if she was coming back at all. Whichever the case, Savannah wasn't going to sit around to wait and see. She grabbed hold of the pipe and shook it vigorously from side to side. Her arms ached with the effort but she kept going and was rewarded when the L section of the pipe broke off. A trickle of putrid brown water slopped onto the base of the cupboard.

She picked up the wooden chair again and smashed it on the ground. Two legs broke off. She was conscious of Li standing in the door of the caravan watching her. Savannah took one of the chair legs and wedged it into the gap around the pipe in the wall. She wrenched it up and down and the plasterboard cracked. She pulled chunks of the rotten board away. Behind it, shafts of daylight streamed through holes in the tin. It didn't take Savannah long to break away enough of the board to make a hole big enough for her to climb through.

“All I need to do is chew my way through the tin and I'll be out.” She laughed. The sound she made was loud in her own ears.

Li bobbed down beside her and peered into the cupboard. She reached in with her good arm and felt around then she said something Savannah didn't understand and pointed.

Savannah got onto her hands and knees and tried to see what Li was pointing at. She stuck her head right in the cupboard. The tin around the pipe hole looked different from the tin above it. It looked like a patch, as if a square had been cut out of the shed and covered over with a separate piece.