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His fingers pressed hard and Ellie tried to pull her hand away, but he had a firm hold.

She lifted her boot and stood on Henry’s foot at the same time as she pulled her arm away. ‘Let go of me!’

‘You’re going to pay for that.’ His voice was low but it was the cold smile and the expressionless eyes that raised the hair on her neck.

As Ellie ran away from him, across the tarmac and through the gate, the sound of a mower came from around the nearest building. Relief surged through her as Terry waved. She crossed the lawn towards the ride-on mower.

‘What’s up?’ Terry yelled above the noise of the engine. He reached down and turned it off. Ellie turned and pointed to the guy who was walking quickly in the other direction. ‘It’s okay. Just a creep being difficult when his flight was canned.’

‘Want me to deal with him?’

Ellie smiled and shook her head. ‘He’s gone now.’

Terry climbed off the mower and stood beside Ellie as they watched Henry cross to the car park.

‘Might be a creep, but he drives a Mercedes.’ Terry let out a low whistle of appreciation as the vehicle roared down the road and turned onto the highway with a squeal of tyres. ‘More money than brains, that’s for sure.’

‘A black Mercedes.’ Ellie muttered beneath her breath, as she remembered where she’d seen it before. Heather had seen a Mercedes the night that Bill had been hurt. That was the night before she’d gone up with Henry the first time.

Was it the same car?

‘You sure you’re okay? You’re a bit pale.’

Ellie forced a smile onto her face. ‘I’m fine, thanks, Terry. It’s just been a big couple of days.’

Ellie spent the afternoon in the office over in the main administration building, catching up on paperwork and surrounded by others. She could have done it in the office in the hangar, but the encounter with that guy had unsettled her. Maybe her imagination was running wild because of Sordina’s murder, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. When Kane was back – there was no sign of him yet – she’d go back over there to work in the office in the hangar.

The main office was busy with tourists coming and going, and she helped out when the queue was long, taking several bookings for ground tours and sunset cruises.

Amanda, the afternoon receptionist, thanked her as the last tourist headed off towards the wharf. The two-hour sunset cruise was about to board and the rush for bookings had finished. ‘It’s been so busy today. I appreciated your help.’

‘I thought Heather was supposed to be in the office with you today?’

‘No, she and Jenny have shared duties in the crèche and day spa.’ Amanda looked up at the clock. ‘Although she’s probably finished by now. We closed the day spa early because we were short-staffed. How about an early snack at the bar? I think we’ve earned a break after this busy afternoon. And I hate going home to that small unit in Jabiru.’

‘Sounds like a plan. I’ll go over and see if she’s finished up.’ Amanda had only started at the lodge a few weeks before Ellie went across to Queensland. By the sound of things, she was still finding her way in the loneliness of the Territory. ‘You should move into one of the staff apartments here. A bit more company for you onsite.’

Ellie opened the door and looked around. Most of the clouds had cleared and the sky was shot with the lingering remnants of smoke from the burn-off. Molten gold edged the pink clouds and rays of soft light filtered down towards the horizon on the other side of the river. She paused and took a deep breath, letting the natural beauty seep into her. Guests were milling around the lawn between the two buildings, cameras at the ready to snap the sunset. With the smoke hanging in the sky tonight, it would be a photographer’s dream. She looked up as she crossed the manicured lawn. The crocodile-shaped building usually made her smile, but this afternoon, the eyes that were set in the peak of the roof glinted ominously as the rays of the setting sun flashed off the high glass windows. She glanced over her shoulder as footsteps crunched on the gravel behind her but there was no one there. Just her edginess keeping her company.

Ellie almost ran down the path between the overhanging bougainvilleas and pushed open the door of the crèche. Heather was sitting at the desk with her hands over her face.

‘Hey. You okay?’ Ellie crossed the room and Heather looked up.

‘Hi. Yeah, just a bit tired. It’s been a long day.’

‘Tell me about it. You and me both.’ Ellie dropped onto the sofa beneath the window and looked up in surprise as a little voice called out to her.

‘Ellie!’ Andrew ran across holding a plastic, wind-up train. ‘Watch this.’

‘You know these kids?’ A strange expression crossed Heather’s face.

‘Yeah, I’m an old friend of their dad. I went to school with his –’ Ellie stopped as Heather pushed her chair back suddenly and it tipped over with a crash.

‘So you know their mother too?’ Her voice was strained.

‘I’ve only got to know Gina while they’ve been staying here. She’s lovely.’ Ellie frowned; she’d never seen Heather so tense.

Heather’s hands were crossed against her chest and she looked away.