Then he retrieved a hose and went around the back of the hut where there was a rainwater tank. He attached the connection and filled the water tank he had installed in the four-wheel drive.
Nhiari got out. “So that’s how you do it.”
He smiled. “The tank was getting empty, but the recent storm topped it up. It’s been a good source of fresh water as long as I use purification tablets.”
“Few people would use it.”
He shook his head. “Only the rangers, and most of the time, they carry enough with them.”
He packed up and drove towards the lighthouse. There was another path he could take to the other side of the ranges, which would get them to the lighthouse without many people seeing them.
When he turned west again, Nhiari said, “You really know these ranges.”
He glanced at her. “Declan shared maps with me, which showed all the ranger trails. It was a real help in finding routes and knowing the areas to avoid, so I wasn’t seen.”
“I’ll add it to his list of crimes.”
The slight wryness in her voice made him smile. His knowledge of the ranges was a distinct advantage to them at the moment.
“Who left the bags?” she asked.
“Steven. He picked them up from Lindsay’s supermarket yesterday and brought them out this morning.”
“Did you send him a list?”
“No. He thinks I told Lindsay I was a friend of his and camping in the area.” Steven didn’t question it. He wasn’t the smartest man, but he knew how to keep his mouth shut.
“I also heard from Andrew yesterday,” Lee continued.
“How?”
“He has my number. He left a message, and I called him back after you spoke with Dot.”
“What did he say?”
“The police found one of the drug barrels. He also said Dot and another woman dropped two journals off at the maritime archaeologist’s house last night. It identified the ship they were researching and spoke about the treasure.” Which confirmed the Stokes had found the treasure Lucas wanted.
“Andrew told his father. I’m expecting a phone call today.” He was a little concerned Lucas hadn’t called him last night. “I also got a call from one of Clark’s men. He’s in town and wanted to know if there was any work.”
“What did you tell him?
“That I’d be in touch in a couple of days. He might prove useful in some way.”
He parked in the small hollow a couple of hundred metres behind the lighthouse. A tour bus was heading down the slope away from the car park and no other cars or people were in the area. Lee followed Nhiari up to the lighthouse where she went straight to a metal box and crouched down, feeling inside. “Gotcha!” She grinned as she pulled a thick, yellow, A4 envelope out of the box. Opening it, she flicked through a few of the documents. “It’s all here.”
Her smile washed over him and hope filled him for the first time in a long time. His heart skipped a beat. Was it possible for him to stop Stonefish, and have Nhiari as well?
Nhiari scanned a document and her expression darkened. “You have got to be kidding me!” She read some more and then swore, pacing away from him and then back, her eyes flashing with anger.
“What’s wrong?”
“They sent Rodney fucking Taylor to head the drug investigation up here.”
He waited for her to explain who Rodney was to her.
She stalked to the car. “Let’s go. The sooner we can put this together and show Rodney as a complete imbecile, the better.”
Lee pressed his lips together. He’d never heard such contempt from Nhiari. Who was this man?
