Stone then sighed, rubbing at the tension across the back of his neck, as if feeling the pressure these farmers were under, especially in this field.‘Thing is, most operators don’t report their cold stock thefts—for good reason.Crocs on the loose attracts attention, which usually ends up being bad press, which hurts the business, especially with the finicky fashion houses.And when theydoreport it, the insurance guysandall the other regulation compliance officers come sniffing around asking for paperwork no one wants to dig up.So they keep it quiet.Patch the fence, add a new lock, and pretend it never happened.’
‘But this…’ Craig nodded at the freshly found evidence.‘As my wife would say, this was a professional heist.It’s well planned with a uniform, lab coat, maps, and a swipe card.’
‘Yeah, I know… We’d better hurry and follow those tracks while we still have daylight.’Stone bundled up the evidence into one of Amara’s fancy plastic bags.‘But first, I’ll go see Raven and find out what she thinks about moving camp.’
‘Why?When she said it’s free camping.’
‘We both agree those crooks were trying to set-up Raven.They just didn’t count on your tracking skills, or my relationship with Raven.Can you imagine if Finn and the Duchess were to visit this place?Not only would Raven be hostile towards them, with her hate for the police, she would’ve refused to answer their questions.They would’ve classed her as a hostile witness, and we know Finn doesn’t have the patience for that.’
‘Yeah, he’d drag out the cuffs and make her kneel in the dirt while he poked around.It wouldn’t take Finn long to find that van or this clothing in that bag.’
‘And the Duchess being lightning quick on the keyboard, she’d learn all about Raven’s criminal history quick smart.It’d be enough for Raven to earn a trip into town for questioning.’
‘So those thieves knew all about Raven…’
Stone paused to take another look at the scene.‘It’s not safe for Raven to be here.’And that knot in his guts twisted with worry.
Craig tilted his head at Stone.‘What are you going to do with The Vegan?’
‘Got a mate who owns some land, it’ll be safe for her to camp there.’That’s if Raven hadn’t started drinking her mushroom tea already.
‘You could make her your permanent backpacker out at Crocswell Downs.’
‘No thanks.Got one at home now, messing up the place.’And Romy was a gazillion times prettier, and a good two decades younger than Raven.
Stone just didn’t like Raven being hassled like this.Whoever took those crocodiles knew exactly what they were doing, and how to keep the cops off their tail, dimming his hopes of saving those babies in time.
Twelve
Finley’s tiny claws tapped along the floor tiles, with the hidden wheels barely rumbling beneath his bulky shell.Topped off with the fibreglass fin moulded to his back, the turtle was such a unique sight who effortlessly made Romy smile.
‘What is it, Finley?’With her camera gear spread across the dining table, Romy stretched, realising she’d been sitting for hours.She followed the cute turtle—with its little shark fin—as it eagerly rolled outside.
A low hum quickly built into a pulsing roar as the helicopter rushed overhead.Fast enough to make her instinctively duck as she followed Finley to the side gate.The rhythmic chop of the rotors created a stormy wave of sound that rolled across the flood plain until the helicopter descended somewhere beyond her view.
Kicking herself for not having her camera, she rushed to the viewing deck, where the three crocodiles raised their snouts to the sky in recognition of the mechanical bird.
At least she got to see the summery sunset spread across the outback in a breathtaking show, filling the vast horizon with waves of brazen gold and fiery oranges painted like coloured oils splashed across an artist’s canvas, where the shadows lengthened over the sunburnt red earth.Even with the sparse, wiry grasses that stretched over the barren plain that was part of Stone’s backyard—the oasis he’d created around his home was nothing short of spectacular.
The side gate opened, and Stone swaggered through.‘G’day, big fella.You wrestle any mighty crocs today?’He crouched down to pat Finley like a dog.Then he looked up with his striking hazel eyes on her.‘Hey.’
She lost her breath, her heart erratically beating.‘Hey.Hi.’It squeaked out of her, killing any hopes of acting cool.
‘I brought a salad home from the pub.’Stone held up a well-used cooler bag, much smaller than the one he used to collect eggs.‘The local chef knows his stuff.And I’ve got steak, too.Or is this one of your vegetarian days?’The playful grin highlighted his deeply tanned complexion.
Romy had to remind herself that this situation was purely platonic.She was the backpacker house-sitting a turtle, while wanting to pick his brains over his job.
‘The way I feel, I’d eat a horse right now.’She hadn’t eaten since breakfast at the roadhouse in the race to catch Stone’s chopper with Julian, which seemed like a lifetime ago.‘I hope you don’t mind, but I took over the dining table.I could clear it for dinner?’
‘All good, feel free to use it as your desk.’In the large kitchen, Stone grabbed a few plates, opened a stash of plastic tubs of various salads.He pushed them across the bench, gave her a bowl, and then added a fork.‘I’ll put the barbie on.Dig in.Don’t wait for me.’
‘Thank you.’She sat on a kitchen stool, dragging the bowl closer, quickly filling it up, to stab her fork into the mix.The crisp lettuce crunched between bites, the mustard-dressed potato and soft pasta salad melted together, perfectly balanced by the fresh, nutty tabbouleh made with quinoa.The healthy feast was so unexpected from a guy like Stone.But then again, he seemed healthy with his toned, muscular physique.
‘I’ll let the barbie heat up before I cook them steaks.Trust me, it’s the steak for kings out here.’Stone came back to the sink and washed his hands.
‘And why are these steaks so special?’
‘You do realise that this is the heart of cattle country, shortcake?’
