“They’ve got life vests and pool noodles,” Faith said. “They’ll take care of you.”
She probably didn’t have the money for it, but Ed did. “They go snorkelling on the reef as well,” he said. “It’ll be fun.”
She flushed. “I don’t have bathers.”
“I’ve got plenty of pairs,” Georgie said. “You can borrow some, or head into town with Ed and buy some.”
“It’s an experience not to be missed,” Ed added. If she was Tan’s victim, he wanted her to have some fun while she was here, and if she was working for him, the less time spent at the Ridge the better.
“All right. If they have room.”
Faith called her father and not long after had arranged for them all to join the tour the next day.
Dot stood. “I have to get back to town and chase up a few things.”
Ed nodded. “I need to exchange the hire van.” Normally he didn’t bother with a hire car when he was in town, because he could borrow one at the Ridge, but he wanted to have something available in case Tess needed it. He’d get an automatic. “We could get you some bathers,” he said to Tess.
“All right.”
The others decided to go swimming, so it wasn’t long before they went their separate ways. Ed and Tess changed into more casual clothing and followed Dot’s blue sedan most of the way to town. Ed stopped at the airport to swap cars, and on their journey into town, Tess asked, “How much is the tour?”
He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay.”
She shook her head. “You’ve already done so much for me, Ed. I want to pay. I have money saved.”
“It’s about two hundred dollars,” he lied, halving the price.
She swallowed. “That’s a lot.”
“Faith’s dad might give everyone a discount. I’ll ask.” And if he wasn’t, maybe he’d tell her he was, and pay most of her fare.
“All right.”
He parked at the small shopping centre in the middle of town and took Tess into the shop which catered to tourists with swimming gear ranging from bathers to surfboards and diving gear. Ed gave her space to browse, not sure if she would appreciate him hanging so close by while she looked. Instead he chatted to the guy behind the counter, someone Georgie had gone to school with.
“Ed?” At some stage Tess had gone into the change room. She now wore a brightly coloured bathing suit, which, while modest, gave him a great view of her trim body.
He moved closer. “The colour looks good on you.” An understatement. She was gorgeous, and her shyness made him want to protect her even more.
“It’s not too bright?”
“It’s perfect,” he said. “Are you comfortable in it?”
She nodded.
“Then go for it.”
A few minutes later, Tess paid cash for the bathers and a towel, and then Ed took her to get a new mobile phone. When they were done, he led her across the mall to the bakery. “You can’t come to Retribution Bay and not try something from here.”
Tess examined the items in the display cabinets and pursed her lips. “There’s a lot of choice.”
“I can recommend the custard tarts.” He ordered a coffee and a tart, and Tess ordered a cream-filled doughnut, and then they sat outside at a table.
A loud bang made Ed jump.
Tess stiffened with a yelp, and scanned the surroundings, her eyes wide and fearful.
Across the way, someone picked up the box they’d dropped.
