Damn. “Bring it with you. I’ll check it.”
It wasn’t ideal. If the software was there, it would ping with their location, but better it says Tom Price than Retribution Bay.
The bright lights, smell of coffee, and freshly baked bread reinvigorated Ed as they walked into the bakery. Quite a few people were lined up, wearing high-visibility clothes, waiting for their coffee. On their way to work at the mine. He joined the line and after they ordered, they sat at one of the small tables by the window. Tess passed her laptop to him, and his fingers flew over the keyboard as he searched for the software. After ten minutes, he sat back with a sigh. “I can’t find anything.”
Depending on the guy’s resources, it might be something more sophisticated, but Ed doubted it. He wouldn’t have thought he needed to track Tess down. He sipped his coffee.
“That’s great,” Tess said. She’d been quiet while he worked. “Maybe you should leave me here.”
He glanced at her, surprised. “Why?”
“I don’t want to cause you more trouble,” she said. “This looks like a big enough town. I can figure out what to do from here.”
He hesitated. It wasn’t the right thing to do to desert her, and his mother had always taught him to do the right thing. “No. You’ll be safe in Retribution Bay. My family’s sheep station is in the middle of nowhere. They won’t find you there and Dot will help you.”
“It’s a lot to ask, Ed. You’ve already been threatened.”
The sensible part of him agreed. His family had had more than their share of trouble lately. This would only add to it. But he couldn’t turn his back on Tess either. “So you could say I’m invested now.” The coffee and breakfast pie had energised him. Before they left, he’d call his brothers, and it would give the kangaroos more time to get to their beds.
“This is serious, Ed,” she said.
“I know, which is why I’m not letting you face this on your own.”
Gratitude and surprise filled her expression. He reached over and squeezed her hand. “We help each other out in the country.”
Her eyes glistened. “Thank you.” Her soft voice and heartfelt gratitude twisted around him.
“Any time.” He stood. “Stay here and finish your meal. I need to call home, tell them what time we’ll be arriving.” He exited the bakery into the cool morning air and strolled over the grass, which glistened with dew. His brothers should already be out on the station by now, and Amy wouldn’t give him as much grief about the situation.
Darcy answered.
Damn it. “It’s Ed—”
“Ed, what’s wrong? You’re never up this early.”
He winced, hating the fear in his brother’s voice. “I’m fine, but I’ve got a situation here. I need Dot’s number.”
Darcy swore and a moment later Brandon asked, “What’s going on?” He must be on speaker.
“Long story. Tess, the girl I’m carpooling with, is on the run. She witnessed a murder, and they were tracking her phone. A guy with a gun came after her, but we escaped.”
“Where are you?” Darcy asked.
“Tom Price. We stopped at a rest stop north of Meekatharra to sleep, and that’s where they caught up with us. I’ve been driving all night.”
“I’ll come and get you,” Brandon said.
Surprise filled him. Brandon had never gone out of his way for Ed before. “Don’t be stupid. It’s five hundred kilometres and your wedding is tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll come,” Darcy said.
A warmth filled Ed at his immediate support. “It’s not necessary. Tess is going to drive. She’s from Singapore, and I didn’t want her driving at night with the ’roos.” Tess sat watching him from inside the bakery. “We should be there just after midday.” He sighed. “I called the police when we had reception, but haven’t explained the whole story, and I’d rather tell Dot than a stranger.”
“Yeah, I get that,” Darcy said. “I’ll text you her number.”
“What do you know about Tess?” Brandon asked.
“She’s an international uni student. The guy she’s staying with is a friend of her parents, and he killed a woman in the back of his restaurant. She’d gone back for her phone and witnessed it, and has been on the run ever since.”
