‘Where are those eggs and hatchlings now?’Malcolm demanded.He was a big man whose scowl was a permanent fixture.
Stone had never been afraid of Malcolm.‘At Cowboy Craig’s quarantine station.’
‘Did you set up the ponds?’
Stone nodded.‘All temperature controlled.I even flew the babies back myself.’He just didn’t expect the filthy look from Romy, who’d refused to get back into his helicopter.In fact, she refused to talk to Stone at all.So Stone took Craig and the livestock back to the quarantine station, while Romy got a lift back to the station with Amara and Finn, towing Bastion’s van, with Porter’s police van bringing up the rear of their convoy, carting their prisoners.
Sadly, there was nothing they could do for Bastion, his body would probably never be recovered, not with that bask of crocodiles who patrolled that part of the river, doing what nature intended.
‘Stone, let the Rowntree family in.’Finn motioned to him from the hallway.
‘Come on through, guys.’Stone pushed open the security door.
Inside the Stock Squad office, the Rowntree family sat opposite the team around the large round table—usually reserved for their morning meetings.
‘What is happening with our daughter, Lenora?’Malcolm wasn’t happy, but then he always was a cranky prick.
‘I’ve charged Lenora Rowntree with the theft of livestock, in particular charges that relate to a protected species like the saltwater crocodile.’Finn remained calm, with his back to the raging Malcolm Rowntree, as he gathered up his paperwork.
Seated on the other side of his mother, Jed leaned over the table to speak to Malcolm.‘Can’t we drop the charges, Dad?This is Lenora here.She’d never hurt those creatures.’
‘What about Griffin?I’m not letting that mongrel get away with this.’Malcolm gritted his teeth.‘Or you could let Griff out and I’ll take him on a one-way boat ride down the river.’
‘Mal!’Celeste’s voice was shrill, her hand to her throat.‘This does not help Lenora.Drop the charges, Mal.’
‘Like hell I’ll let that girl out.Not when she betrayed me, and you’re all too soft—’
‘Malcolm.’Finn’s low voice cut through the noise.
Yet Malcolm pushed on anyway, louder now, trying to dominate.‘Lenora is not getting away with this.’
Finn didn’t flinch.‘Talk over me again, and you’ll be explaining yourself from a cell.’
The glare was enough for Malcolm’s mouth to snap shut.
Finn dragged out a chair and dropped a thick file onto the table like a gavel, then sat opposite the Rowntree family.Heavy tattoos shifted across his muscular forearms that caught the light that hinted at scars hidden beneath.The muscle, the calm, the coiled restraint…
One look from Finn, and the whole family seemed to shrink.Celeste folded her hands in her lap.Jed looked down at the table.Even Malcolm leaned back, subdued.
‘It won’t matter if you do try to drop the charges.Not now,’ Finn said.‘This case is going to the DPP.It’s not just about stolen stock—which I take seriously, no matter who’s involved.It also concerns potential wildlife trafficking and breaches of environmental law.’
‘They only stole the once from our cold stock,’ Mal muttered.
‘That you know of.’Finn didn’t blink.‘Lenora says Griffin and Bastion have been taking a lot more than any of you may realise.’
Malcolm swallowed hard, shoulders lowering like the air had left him.‘Not true.Griffin wouldn’t do that to me.’
‘Lenora stated that Griffin has been stealing from the pens he’s been hired to look after.And we have him on tape double-crossing Lenora by taking the rest of their stolen stock, leaving Lenora behind.’
‘That can’t be right.’Malcolm shook his head.‘You’re making a mistake.’
‘Lenora has admitted to everything.We haven’t interviewed Griffin, yet, as we’ve been putting the evidence together.’
Stone knew Finn was letting Griffinsweat it out—a classic police interview tactic that was driving him up the wall as he paced his cell.While poor Lenora was huddled in the corner, hugging her knees in between wiping tears as heart-wrenching sobs echoed inside her cell.
‘Why would Lenora do this to us?’Malcolm shook his head, pointing at his chest.‘To me.That silly girl.She’s as silly as her mother…’ He then stabbed his finger on the tabletop as he snarled at his wife, seated beside him.‘This is your fault, woman.I told you she didn’t need to go to university and get her head filled with silly ideas.’
‘You ignorant fool!’Celeste glared at her husband.‘Don’t you get it?This was your doing.’
