Matt was Nhiari’s younger brother. “Tell Georgie and Matt I want to speak with them again,” Nhiari said. “As soon as they’re back in town.”
“Why?” Brandon asked.
Nhiari pressed her lips together. “Need to check some information.”
Brandon frowned.
It was more than that. Had to be something to do with Matt’s kidnapping.
Dot eventually returned. “They’re catching the midday flight,” she said. “Colin will bring them out. We’ll stay here to guard.”
“Want us to keep you company?” Brandon asked.
“No,” Dot responded.
Sam smiled and radioed Amy. “We’re ready to be picked up.”
“We’ll be there soon. I’ll bring refreshments.”
The food they’d dumped in the tray of the ute would still be good. He offered the officers a couple of pieces of cake and some fruit.
“Is this Amy’s cake?” Dot asked.
“Yep,” Brandon answered. “She’ll bring more when she comes.”
Sam didn’t like the idea of leaving the women here alone, though he knew they were both extremely competent. It was a good six hours or more before backup would arrive from Perth, and if Stonefish had access to this kind of weaponry, they could be in real danger.
He scanned the bush looking for a glint or a colour which shouldn’t be there, then he checked the island and the mangroves. Nothing.
Would Stonefish have responded by now if they were going to respond? Or perhaps they had hoped the booby-trap would have done the work for them.
If Lara had found it on her own…
He shuddered. “What can we do to protect the others?”
Dot sighed. “We don’t know who else is involved, where they are, or what other activities they’re involved in.”
Stonefish were back to being a faceless entity.
“There’s Lee,” Nhiari pointed out.
The last Sam had heard, Lee had been seen camping in the ranges. He could be anywhere by now, and finding him in the warren of caves under the ranges would be impossible.
Brandon made a noise in his throat.
“Do you know where Lee is?” Dot asked.
Brandon shook his head.
“Would you like to share your thoughts?” Nhiari said.
“Are you going to share with us?”
Dot gave him a withering stare. Sam appreciated how the look gave her authority and shouted cut the crap, especially since she was almost a head shorter than both of them.
“You want to talk to Georgie and Matt again,” Brandon said. “Nhiari mentions Lee. You must suspect Georgie didn’t really kill the guy who kidnapped Matt.”
“What makes you suggest that?” Dot asked.
