“He’s in the area, too. He might meet you himself. Have you got the map yet?”
Tess’s knees went weak and she glanced towards the door half expecting Tan to walk in, gun in hand. “No.” She stared at the phone, willing the map to arrive quickly, yet not wanting it to come. She should leave now, before the others knew. That way, none of them would be in any danger. Her phone beeped and her hand shook as she clicked on the image. She frowned, enlarging it, trying to figure it out.
“Where is it?” Dot asked.
Tess handed her phone to Ed. “I don’t know.”
Ed swore. “The gulf. The bastard wants to meet on our land, near Retribution Island.”
Another text came with instructions to steal a four-wheel drive to get there.
Dot swore. “If he’s already in the area, he’ll see us coming.” She ordered some of her people to suit up.
“We’ve got motorbikes,” Amy said. “If you dress like Darcy and Bran, you could get close enough, and pretend you’re checking troughs or something.”
Georgie shook her head. “There aren’t any sheep in the area. But a group of horse riders might not cause much notice.” She swore. “There’s not enough time to get there though.”
It was kind of them to be brainstorming options, but there was one solution. “I’ll go on my own,” Tess said. “If you give me a radio, I’ll tell you where he came from.”
“No,” Ed said. “I won’t let you go alone.”
“We don’t have a lot of choice, Ed. The police can’t get there in time. Not without Tan seeing them.”
“I’ll go with you. I’ll take the rifle.”
No! She wouldn’t risk him.
“Ed, don’t be stupid,” Dot said.
He walked out of the room, Georgie following close behind, her voice raised in protest.
“Ed,” Dot repeated.
“He’s gone,” Tess said. She eyed her backpack on the bed and spotted the hire car keys on the bedside table. Wherever the rifle was, she might get to the four-wheel drive before Ed could stop her. She knew how to get to the beach, and there were no other four-wheel drives here. He couldn’t follow her. She could keep him safe.
Dot swore. “Give me ten minutes to come up with a plan. I’ll call you back.”
Amy turned to Tess. “We’ll work this out. I’ll call Brandon.” She left the room, and Tess snatched the keys from the bedside table and slung her bag over her shoulder. She had little time. Her heart thumping, she went through to the kitchen where Amy was on the phone.
“I’m going to find Ed,” Tess said and headed out the door. Her fingers fumbled as she pressed the button to unlock the hire car and threw her bag on the front seat. She started the car, shifted the gear lever into drive, and accelerated away from the house, her pulse pounding in her ears. A glance in the rear-view mirror showed no one was coming after her.
Good. It might be a while before they noticed she was gone.
Chapter 21
“Ed, you’re not going.” Georgie shoved her way in front of the gun safe, blocking Ed’s access.
He clenched his hands to stop himself from thrusting her aside. “I’m not letting Tess go on her own. Tan will kill her.”
“It’s not your problem. The police will sort out something.”
His mouth dropped open, and he stared at his sister. How could she say that? “I love her.” The statement resonated through him with truth. He couldn’t let Tess face this alone.
Georgie’s face crumpled. “And I love you. Please, Ed. Don’t go. I can’t lose anyone else.”
Her fear tore at his heart. Every now and then Georgie would revert to the scared little girl he remembered after Charlie had died. He hugged her. “I’ll be careful, Mermaid. I promise.”
She clung to him.
