“Slow down,” Matt called. They were far enough ahead to hide now. He flinched at the third gunshot, but it was further away. It was quickly followed by a fourth.
Georgie gasped for breath next to him. “Which way?”
He nodded in the direction she’d been leading them. Brandon and Darcy would come down the new track.
In the distance was the whine of the boat dinghy. Was the guy with the gun leaving or had someone else stolen the dinghy to get away?
He heard no one behind them, but he kept checking. They reached the track as the sound of an engine grew louder, but the siren was still at a distance.
Please let it be Darcy.
Georgie radioed in. “You’re about to reach us.”
The ute tore around the curve with Darcy behind the wheel. Matt had never been so pleased to see anyone.
Darcy braked and Brandon leapt out of the passenger seat, rifle raised, scanning the bush behind Matt and Georgie.
Georgie threw open the back door and jumped in, Matt right behind her.
“What’s going on?” Darcy demanded as Brandon climbed into the tray of the ute and hit the roof of the cab twice.
As Darcy drove forward, he grabbed the radio. “We’ve got Georgie and Matt.”
“Hang back,” Nhiari replied. “We’ll take care of this.”
Darcy ignored the instruction and kept driving.
“Where are you going?” Georgie demanded. “Turn around.”
Darcy’s expression was grim. “We have to stop them.”
Matt shook his head. “The guy with the gun is dangerous. He moves like he’s had military training.” Brandon would be a clear target on the tray of the ute.
“Someone’s already taken the dinghy to escape,” Georgie added.
The police sirens grew louder, coming from the west.
Brandon tapped the roof. “Faster!”
Darcy did as he was told, bumping over the rough track.
“What was Jerry doing there?” Georgie asked, not as breathless now.
“Delivering the animals he trapped,” Matt told her.
“Ugh, asshole. He’s never taking me home again.”
“He’d better not. I might have to shoot him.” The man who had professed that he would never hurt Matt again had turned on him. Jerry could have pretended he hadn’t seen them. Though Matt had never really liked him, the betrayal still stung. It would be a pleasure to watch Nhiari arrest his ass.
Darcy pulled to a stop as they reached the parked cars. Brandon jumped down. “Stay in the car and stay low.”
“Be careful,” Georgie called.
The police sirens were coming from the direction of the ocean. They must have taken a track from the main road and be driving along the shore to get here so quickly. The sirens cut off and the silence was all encompassing.
Brandon moved around the site, rifle raised, ready to react.
Matt’s heart lodged in his throat as he thought about Nhiari doing something similar on the beach. She’d be the closest to the person escaping. He’d never seen her in action before, never really realised how dangerous her job was.
