“Not yet. He didn’t return to his house last night and wasn’t at the restaurant.”
Ed swore.
“What’s happened?”
He gestured for Tess to speak.
“I called my parents. Mum said Stonefish are holding Dad. They’ll kill him if I don’t return to Tan.”
“Where are your parents?”
“In Singapore.”
Dot cursed. “I’ll need to make some calls. Stay there, and I’ll contact you as soon as I know more.”
Tess glanced over at the door. Was here safe anymore? Tan was out there somewhere, as was Lee. Was her brother-in-law involved as well? How far did Stonefish’s influence spread?
Ed touched her arm, and she flinched.
“They’ll do what they can.”
Trite words. How much could the Australian police do from here? Her father was somewhere in Singapore. She could imagine him tied to a chair like that woman had been. Someone pointing a gun at his head.
She could end this. If she called Tan, she could arrange for her father to be freed.
“Tess, you can’t do anything, but wait.” Ed pulled her into his arms.
She closed her eyes, hugging him back. She could do something, if she was brave enough. But would it make a difference? Would she be risking everything she’d gained—Ed, these wonderful friends, her newfound confidence—by trying to negotiate?
Georgie spoke. “Ed’s right, Tess. The police will sort it out. They’re probably tracking Tan now. Give them a couple of hours.”
Her father didn’t have that much time. “They were monitoring Mum’s calls. I’ve got six hours to turn myself in.”
“You can’t get to Perth that quickly.”
“Yes, I can.” There might be room on the army guys’ flight home. She ran to her room and shoved her things in her backpack.
“What are you doing?” Ed stood at the doorway.
“I need to get on Heath’s flight.”
“No, Tess. It’s too dangerous.”
“I have to.”
Her phone beeped with a message. Call me.
She froze. Only Ed and her mother had her number, but this wasn’t a phone number she recognised. She glanced at Ed.
“Who’s it from?”
“I don’t know.” But it had to be related to her father.
He strode over. “Show me.” He frowned as he read the message. “Dot might be able to trace it.”
She nodded to him, and he rang Dot back. Quickly, he explained the situation, and then put Dot on speaker. “She wants you to call the number so she can listen in.”
“You’d better tell Amy and Georgie what we’re doing.” The last thing they needed was for one of them to make too much noise and give away where Tess was.
