AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
DAISY PLACED HER duffel bag on the end of the bed with a sigh. She reached up and massaged her neck, tipping her head from side to side to ease the stiff muscles, glad the long drive was over. It was hot in here, of course. But Daisy had a way to remedy that. She walked over and pushed the button to turn on the air conditioning. Standing in the cool breeze, she flapped her arms, luxuriating in the modern appliance. As she cooled down, she surveyed the bedroom. It looked nothing like the tiny little room she’d slept in six months ago.
Daisy was back at the run-down outstation she and River had shared, but the place had had a major facelift since then. They’d added two more sea containers to the main structure, one at each end. This bedroom was a whole new addition, and there was a modern bathroom attached at the other side of the building. The bedroom now contained a brand-new, queen-size bed—no more sagging mattress—a closet large enough to hang all her clothes, a bedside table, and even the luxury of a bedside lamp to read by at night.
She strolled out to take a better look at the main living area again. It was no longer dominated by scuffed and damaged Lino flooring. That’d been replaced with fresh floorboards, and although the kitchenette was still small, it now sported a brand-new gas stove top, a microwave, and a gleaming, stainless steel sink.
The best part about the whole renovation was the large block of storage batteries housed in a small shed out the side, and the brand-new solar panels on the roof. All generating enough electricity to run the air conditioning, refrigerators, and the lights. Even the backup generator had been replaced with a newer model. A large, covered patio had been erected out the front, a place to sit out of the fierce sun and enjoy a beer or eat a leisurely dinner. All the mod cons a girl could wish for.
It was all part of the contract she’d signed with Angel Gold Corp, a Queensland-based gold mining company, who were now paying her wage. They would provide her with adequate living facilities for the next three years of her project.
She was desperate for a cup of tea. And something to eat would be nice, as well. All the food supplies were still in the car, but she almost didn’t have the energy to collect them. It was late afternoon; she needed to get something going for dinner soon. Daisy filled the kettle with water and switched it on, then leaned against the countertop while she waited for it to boil. The small round table with the mismatched chairs in the corner had been replaced by a large, rectangular, industrial-looking one, and four matching metal chairs.
Daisy was speared by a sudden pain in her chest. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine it clear as day, River sitting at that table, grinning at her.
She missed her brother.
The conversation she’d had with River two days after they’d captured Sally and Johnny replayed in her head.
River lay in his hospital bed, looking smaller somehow against the large expanse of white sheets. River had had surgery the day before and had pulled through better than expected. He was sitting up in bed, talking and beginning to eat, almost as if nothing had happened. Their parents had gone to have a meeting with River’s doctor, to find out the exact extent of his injuries, but Daisy had stayed behind, hoping to have a private chat with her brother. She stood next to his bed and glanced toward the door, where a cop was standing right outside.
“What’s going to happen to me now?” he’d asked in a low voice.
“I’m sorry, little bro, but it looks like the police are going to extradite you to Perth as soon as you’re able to travel,” she said, laying a comforting hand on his arm.
“I don’t want to go to jail,” he said in a whimper.
“I know.” She rubbed his arm in a soothing motion. “Mum and dad will do everything in their power to make sure you don’t. But the truth will come out eventually, and then you’ll be a free man.”
Then they’d have to overcome the problem of Ralphie and his gang. But perhaps their thirst for revenge would’ve died down by then. She had no idea how long a gang might hold a grudge for, but they’d have to deal with all that when they got home.
River stared out the window at the bright Cairns sunshine. His mouth twitched a little in a grimace.
Daisy continued, “Who knows, the cops might even throw your case out before it goes to trial, because you helped to capture a killer. Whatever happens, it shouldn’t take too long to sort this all out, especially seeing as how you’re innocent.”
River made a noise that was something between a grunt and a moan, and he closed his eyes.
“River, what’s wrong,” she asked, leaning in to stare into his face. Did she need to call a doctor? Was he having a relapse?
When he finally opened his eyes, they were filled with tears. “I’m not innocent,” he said.
“What? What are you talking about?” The world seemed to go terribly still around her.
River hesitated, twisting the bedclothes into a ball between his fingers, until at last he spoke. “I was there at the beating. I didn’t run away, like I told you. And I didn’t try to stop them. I filmed it all. Ralphie told me what was coming, and he asked me to film it for him. I stood there and watched them beat a man to death and I didn’t stop them.” River sobbed loudly, and swiped a hand beneath his nose. “And I got it all on camera. Then I helped them rob Daniel of his drug money, and I took the cash Ralphie offered me. I’m such a dick. Can you ever forgive me?” He looked at her imploringly, tears streaking his face. She stared back into his familiar eyes as her chest constricted painfully.
He’d lied to her.
He hadn’t been innocent after all.
She withdrew her hand from his arm.
She had a sudden, awful premonition. “What about The Black Kings? Are they still after you, too?”
He winced at her icy tone. “I made all that up.” His voice was so quiet Daisy almost missed what he’d said.
“What?” she asked.
“Ralphie wasn’t really coming after me. He was the one who encouraged me to post the video online in the first place. He wanted the world to know that no one should fuck with The Black Kings.”
