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He pulled her into his chest and kissed her. She tasted sweet, of the coffee she’d just consumed, and other things, like decency and authenticity. Indy was one of the most honest people he knew. He drew a bit of that purity into his soul before letting her go.
“But I am starving, and whatever Bindi is cooking smells delicious.”
“It’s just a barbecue tonight,” Indy explained. “It’s probably the fried onions you can smell.” She took him by the hand, leading him back toward the camp.
“Time to face the music,” he muttered, as they drew close to the circle of light around the mess tent. He went to drop Indy’s hand, but she wouldn’t release him, the look she sent him over her shoulder, saying she wasn’t going to hide it now, and they could think what they liked. The group gathered around the fire was just that little smaller, a gap where Brian and Rosie would normally sit. The sight hit Finn in the solar plexus. They were gone because of him. No. He needed to keep reminding himself they were gone because of their own actions.
Helping himself to a plate full of steak and sausages, he nodded at Steve and Dale standing at the back of the mess tent. Steve had choppered in this morning with Aaron, and both men would be staying to see out the last remaining days of the muster. Steve acknowledged Finn, his gaze thoughtful. Finn tried to ignore the awkwardness in the air. People were still coming to terms with who he was and what he’d done.
“Wow, you sure are a surprise,” Dave said, as Finn took a seat around the campfire.
There had been so many revelations today, Finn wasn’t sure where to start with Dave’s statement.
Everyone knew he was an undercover cop.
Everyone knew he was investigating an international drug ring.
Everyone knew Brian had been involved in Wombat’s death and would go to jail for a very long time.
Everyone knew he and Indy were…an item.
Which surprise was Dave talking about?
“Who would’ve thought we were sharing a tent with a pig—er, cop?” Dave corrected himself at the last second.
Finn grimaced. So that was what was eating him. And Carrot, too, by the way he curled his lip and glared at him from beneath lowered eyebrows. The boys were pissed at him for keeping secrets. And he couldn’t really blame them. He’d conned them into giving him a job under false pretenses, even if he had carried out that job pretty damn well.
“Yep, sorry about that.” He cocked his head to one side. “But I want you to know, while everything else might’ve been a sham, you guys are my friends. And I don’t want that to change.”
“Yeah, but what if we’d been the ones smuggling drugs?” Carrot asked darkly.
The barb struck home. Carrot had him there. Because he knew he would’ve turned them in, just like he had with the Wagners. Maybe Carrot had a point, maybe it was impossible to make friends when you were an undercover cop.
Scanner looked up from his plate, watching the interchange with interest, his two daughters doing the same.
“He was only doing his job,” Indy retorted, taking a seat next to Finn. “Don’t judge him too harshly.”
“Yeah, well, it looks like you haven’t judged him harshly at all,” Carrot sneered.
“Oi. That’s enough of that.” Dale strode into the circle. “This guy just brought down part of a large drug ring. He’s doing his bit to protect our country from people who want to exploit it. And us. You guys lay off.” Dale stared down Dave and Carrot until they lowered their gazes and muttered a sort of apology.
Trust Dale to get it right. He was a great boss. An upstanding man. Finn would be sad to leave his employ. Finn didn’t want to turn around and look, but Steve must still be standing in the tent, perhaps watching the proceedings with a sharp eye. But it was good that he hadn’t interfered, letting Dale manage his crew.
The rest of the Stormcloud crew took their seats around the fire, and everyone tucked into their food. Finn could feel theaura of tension running through the group. Perhaps it was time he addressed their questions while they were are all gathered together.
Washing down his last bite of steak with a much-needed beer, he coughed to get everyone’s attention.
“Let me tell you what I know,” he started without preamble. Mike was probably going to ream his ass for divulging this information, but this crew had a right to know. After everything they’d been through, they deserved answers. Especially Steve and Dale, as this whole thing had played out on their property. Brian and Rosie had told most of this through their hysterical tears as they waited for Nash to arrive. The rest he had gleaned as he listened to Coldwater and Sampson question the couple. Dale and Mack had heard some of it as they helped him guard the couple after they’d called the police.
“But first, can I ask you to keep this all to yourselves, as what I’m about to tell you is classified? It’s part of our ongoing investigation, and if any of this got out, it might compromise everything we’ve worked for.” He waited until everybody had acknowledged him with either a nod or a word of affirmation before he continued. “Brian and Rosie have been selling drugs on the side for the past year and a half, maybe longer.”
Beth Scanlon gave an audible gasp, then she and Maddie exchanged a look. She was the first to figure out that it meant the contracting couple had been dealing out of the stock camp this time last year. Right under their noses. And no one had suspected a thing. It was a sobering thought.
“But I liked Rosie,” Beth stuttered. “She was my friend. How could she do something so…dishonorable? I don’t…”
Maddie reached out and put a hand on Beth’s knee. It was always hard when you found out the people you thought you knew well on the outside were completely different on the inside.
“Yes,” Finn continued. “Much longer than anyone expected. Clearly, they knew no one in this particular stock camp was interested in buying,” Finn hurried to add. “But that wasn’t true for other camps where they worked. They made a lucrative business as mobile drug dealers. Selling to anybody who was in need of a hit. You may think remote, country towns don’t have a drug problem, but they do. Brian would often sell to smaller dealers in each town at exorbitant prices and then they’d be on their way.”
