“Yeah.” He showed her the photo.
“That’s him. Did he escape?”
“No, Brandon and Sam tied him up. Amy’s called the police.” He took the broom from her hand and pulled her into his arms. “You’re safe.”
But it begged the question, what was Salvatore doing here? Ed shifted back and bumped into the bench, knocking the laundry basket and the journal on to the ground. They landed with a hollow thud on the linoleum floor, and Tess jumped.
“It’s all right. Just the basket.” He picked it up and put it back on the bench, and handed her the journal she’d been reading. “Do you want to go out there and face Salvatore?”
“Does he know I’m here?”
“Not for certain. I don’t think he got a good look at you.”
“Then I’ll stay here until the police come.”
Yeah, probably best that Salvatore didn’t know for sure.
The door opened and Darcy poked his head inside. “We’ve moved Salvatore into the lounge room. You can come out.”
“Who’s with him?” Ed asked as he took Tess’s hand.
“All the army guys.” Darcy grinned. “They’re a scary bunch when they have their game faces on.”
“Did they check him for a weapon?” Tess asked.
“Yeah,” Ed answered. “They patted him down.” Amy, Faith, Lara and Matt sat at the kitchen table. Faith had her arm around Lara, and Matt looked grim. Amy kept glancing towards the corridor where her husband was.
“Anyone want dinner?” Ed asked, moving to turn off the stove.
“I couldn’t possibly eat,” Lara declared.
“You should, pumpkin,” Darcy said. “We all should while we wait for Nhiari to get here.”
Ed dished up the curry he’d made, while Faith poured them all drinks. “Did anyone see what Salvatore was driving?”
“A four-wheel drive hire car,” Darcy answered. He glanced at Lara. “I saw him arrive and directed him to the house, but before he went inside, he spotted Lee by the campfire and spoke to him.”
Tess jolted. “Why?”
Darcy shrugged. “Maybe he was being friendly with another camper.”
“But you don’t think so,” Ed said.
“Lee’s reaction had Brandon’s buddies paying attention,” Darcy said.
Matt added, “Dobby said Lee stiffened harder than a sailor with land leave. Really odd, since Lee’s usually so jovial.”
“Surely Salvatore’s not that stupid,” Amy said. “If Lee is working for Stonefish, why would Salvatore blow his cover?”
“Might not have realised we knew about him,” Matt said. “They don’t know Tess is here, and they don’t know Ed was with her. Maybe he thought we were so isolated, we wouldn’t have seen the bulletin about him.”
Tess spoke. “He used to do things that irritated Tan. Things he hadn’t considered properly, so maybe he is that stupid.”
“We’ll have to be careful around Lee,” Darcy said. “That means no going off with him, pumpkin.”
Lara nodded. “OK.”
Ed spotted the journal Tess had been carrying when she’d come to see him. “What did you want to tell me about?”
