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“You don’t know that. We’ve already discussed this. The killer could be one of your muster team, hiding in plain sight,” Mike retorted.
Which was true, and something Finn had turned over and over in his head. But on the flip side of that coin, if it turned out there was a bad influence in the camp, Finn needed to stay right where he was to make sure Indy was protected. Now that she knew his true identity, she might be at risk. If anyone from the drug ring found out she could dish the dirt on him, they might decide she was an interesting target. She was fast becoming his Achilles heel. If they found out how much he was coming to care about Indy, they could use that against him.
“I need to stay, Mike.” He wasn’t going to plead, and he didn’t tell his boss that if he ordered him to leave, he might well disobey that order. “We’ve got two more trucks arriving early tomorrow morning to take out another load of cattle. Now that we know what to look for, if they’re transporting the ice, I’ll find it. I’ll phone it in, and you can nab the drivers on their way up to Townsville.” He was dangling a carrot, and he hoped his boss would bite.
After many moments of silence, Mike finally let out a heavy sigh. “Right. I don’t like this, but let’s play it day by day from nowon. See what you can uncover tomorrow morning, and we’ll take it from there.”
“Thanks, Sarge.” Finn released a breath. He’d been given a reprieve. Now all he had to do was find a way to get underneath those trucks tomorrow morning without being spotted.
He stifled a yawn. Jesus, it was late. As it was, he’d only get a couple of hours’ sleep before it was time to get up and load the cattle.
Heading back to the camp, Finn silently crossed his fingers that Garrett wasn’t one of the drivers of the trucks arriving tomorrow. That could put him in all manner of awkward situations.
At least Joe spotting Garrett in Townsville yesterday meant that his brother wasn’t hiding in the outback somewhere, perhaps sneaking around in this very stock camp. If his brother had been involved in the murder of that man in the other camp—and Finn was appalled at the mere idea, but experience told him that nothing could be discounted in this dark underworld his brother lived in—then he’d left soon afterwards. Which took a weight off Finn’s mind. Because even when he’d been assuring Indy that they were safe riding back to the camp in the dark, a small part of him had been unsure.
The most interesting question, however, was, did his brother know that Finn was out here? Working undercover?
CHAPTER TEN
INDY STIFLED A yawn. It was only nine in the morning, and it was already hot, dry, and dusty. And she was coasting along on only a few hours’ sleep. Which wasn’t good. You needed to have your wits about you when you were dealing with feisty bush cattle.
At least Dale had called off the muster today, in light of last night’s events. But just like the last time muster had been delayed, that didn’t mean there wasn’t still a lot to be done. Steve and Daniella had arrived with Aaron in the red helicopter again this morning. It was becoming a familiar routine for the poor owners, and Indy felt for them. Not one dead body, but now two had interrupted this muster. Steve had talked to all the crew and staff individually over the morning, making his rounds as everyone went about their business. Unobtrusive, but also making sure everyone was all right, and that they knew he cared and was on their side.
Indy shook herself and focussed on the cattle milling in the loading yard below. She stood on the middle metal railing of the fence, waving a long stick, ready to prod any reluctant weaner who balked at the loading ramp in front. Mack stood on the other side of the ramp, encouraging the cattle from his side. Shouts and loud mooing filled the air. Dale liked to keep the cattle as calm as possible, but loading was always going to be a stressful experience, no matter how hard they tried.
The first truck, hauling its double trailers, was already loaded and wheezing its dusty way up the road, cattle packed in likesardines. There’d been a hitch with that one, when the truckie suddenly discovered one of his tires was flat just as he was maneuvering it into place, and they’d had to wait while he fixed it.
They were loading the first trailer on this truck, which was nearly finished, then they could move onto the final one. All Indy could think about was the hot cuppa and fresh scones Bindi would have ready for morning smoko once they finished here. Her appetite seemed to have deserted her at breakfast, when everyone crowded around, wanting to know what the hell had happened in the night. She let Finn and Mack tell most of the story, standing in the background, flapping her hat against her thigh and trying not to grimace as they recounted the state of the body when they’d found it. Really, her only role in the whole thing had been the eyeball that’d conveniently dropped at her feet. Vaguely, she wondered if they would’ve ever found that dead man without the crows. Dale warned them that the cops would most likely be back today with more questions, but the rest of the crew would have nothing to offer, as they’d all stayed behind. Indy suddenly wished she hadn’t demanded to go with Finn and Mack. If she’d just stayed at camp like everyone else, her stomach wouldn’t be roiling with abhorrence as the images from yesterday evening kept replaying in her mind.
Indy waved her arms and shouted at a young bull, who was showing the whites of his eyes, refusing to go up the ramp. “Digger, in,” she commanded, and her brave little dog slipped through the metal bars and barked at the cow’s heels, sending the animal up the ramp with a bellow of frustration. “Digger, out,” she said, and the kelpie was back at her feet in a flash, tongue lolling in a happy smile. He loved to work cattle, more so than Barbie. He had a fearlessness—or perhaps it was more of a reckless streak—where Barbie was a little more circumspect. Both different personalities, but both good at their jobs.
A flash of blue caught Indy’s eye. She turned just in time to see Finn wriggle beneath the truck’s chassis.
What the hell…?
Indy realized with shock that he was probably looking for evidence of the drugs he kept talking about. He’d told her they suspected some truckies were being paid to haul them across Queensland. God, she hoped no one spotted him. He was taking a risk. This trailer was nearly full. What if he was still under there when the driver moved the second trailer into position? He’d be crushed. At least she seemed to be the only one who’d seen him go under. Perhaps he’d chosen his timing and this spot for that exact reason. Because he knew she’d keep his secret.
“Hey, Indy.” Mack’s shout brought her attention back to the cattle, which had bunched up at the neck of the ramp, one refusing to climb in. Shit. She slapped the recalcitrant weaner on the rump a few times, shouting, “Ha! Ha!”
But her gaze kept darting back to the spot where Finn had disappeared beneath the truck, willing him to come out.
Suddenly, the driver appeared next to Mack. “How’s it going?” he drawled. Some drivers were hands-on when it came to loading cattle onto their trucks. They were often very specific as to how the animals were spaced, checking on their welfare, that kind of thing. Not this guy. He’d wandered off to the mess tent to snaffle one of Bindi’s hot scones, leaving the hard work to Dale and his team. Judging by the man’s bulging belly, he liked to snaffle more than one scone whenever he could.
“Nearly there,” Mack replied.
To Indy’s horror, when she looked back at the few remaining cattle, she could see he was right. Only a minute or so and they’d be finished. She shot another glance down the side of the truck.Come on, Finn. Where are you?But he still hadn’t emerged. She’d been keeping one eye out the whole time.
“I’ll go start the truck, then. Yell out when you’re ready for the next trailer.”
Oh, shit.The man began to amble toward the front of his truck. The driver would either see Finn as he scrambled out from underneath, or Finn would be crushed when the driver moved the vehicle.
“Oh, ah, excuse me, sir,” she yelled as loudly as she could.
The truck driver stopped and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, luv. What you want?”
Hell, what did she want? She needed to warn Finn, but how?
“You… Ah, you can’t move the truck yet. We’re not finished loading.”
