Georgie screwed up her nose and stuck her tongue out. Matt relaxed. This was the Georgie he knew.
“You need more rest than I do being so old and slow,” she retaliated and continued down the slope.
He chuckled. Yes, he was definitely more comfortable with the snarky Georgie.
Chapter 5
Around ten o’clock Matt met Constable Colin Lipscombe at one of the rest stops on the main road. Colin drove the four-wheel drive police van and Matt got out to shake his hand. “Thanks for coming.”
Colin grimaced. “Do you realise how mad your sister is? I’m gonna be in the shit for days.”
Matt shrugged and chuckled. “She should know better. Follow me.”
Matt drove to where he’d found the traps. His skin tight, he waited until Colin stood next to him and then spoke aloud to his ancestors, introducing Colin and explaining why he was here. He felt like a fool doing so, but if he insisted Nhiari didn’t come because she was female, he had to follow through with the proper introductions so as not to offend his ancestors or the spirits who dwelled here. Next to him Colin was silent and respectful. Matt appreciated that. Many people were dismissive of his culture.
When he was finished, he took Colin over to the traps. This time a mulga was trying to get out, but the sides were too smooth for it to get purchase. Colin kept a wary distance as he took a couple of photos. “Let me get my things,” he said. “These footsteps yours?”
Matt examined them. “Yeah, probably. That’s where I stood yesterday.”
Matt stood back while Colin documented the scene. The other traps had a couple of little lizards in them, so after Colin gave him permission, he set them free. The venomous snake was another matter. “You got snake catching gear in your van?” Matt asked.
Colin nodded. “But I’m not great with it.”
“I’ll do it.” Nhiari had insisted he learn so he didn’t get bitten on the odd occasion he came across a venomous snake on the Ridge which needed relocating.
Carefully he used the long metal pole to lift the aggravated mulga out of the hole and then placed it in the bush away from them. Thankfully it saw its freedom and slithered off in the opposite direction without trying to attack its saviour.
“What happens next?” Matt asked.
“We stay alert and pick up the usual suspects if they come to town.”
“Are you going to remove the traps?”
“Yeah, I’ll talk to Parks and Wildlife about it. They should be on the lookout as well.”
It was all so anti-climatic. He’d been hoping they’d set up some kind of sting operation, but now he thought about it, it could be days or weeks until the smugglers came back and the Retribution Bay police didn’t have those kinds of resources.
“Thanks, Colin.”
It was almost midday when Matt waved goodbye to Colin. His stomach rumbled and he stopped in the rest bay for a couple of minutes to eat the sandwich he’d brought with him. Since he was halfway to town, he should call Amy to see if they needed anything before starting back towards the Ridge. And he’d been planning to get Georgie something from the evening markets to cheer her up.
He’d left everyone at the homestead going through the journals again, trying to find more clues as to the location of the treasure. Georgie hadn’t been as excited as he’d expected her to be. In fact, she’d been a little down all day.
What had brought her to the Ridge in the first place? It was probably Ed. Whenever he visited, she spent as much time as possible there so they could catch up. He lived in Perth over a thousand kilometres away.
But she also came to the Ridge whenever she needed comfort, or if something was bothering her. Georgie said her mother’s hugs could instantly make her feel better.
He closed his eyes. She was right. Beth had had a way of including everyone and making him believe everything would be all right. She’d been a second mother to him and he missed her and Bill like crazy.
Perhaps Georgie was worried about the job interview. He’d have to ask her about it when he got back to the Ridge.
He switched on the engine and waited until it coughed to life. As he did so, a small blue car drove past. He frowned at the glimpse of blue hair he spotted through the window. Georgie. Damn. He’d expected her to spend the rest of the day with her family. Maybe he could stop by her unit and find out what was wrong.
Matt stopped at the bitumen and watched as Georgie slowed and then turned right down a road which led to a boat ramp.
Georgie didn’t have a boat. What was she up to?
It was bound to be something foolish.
