He wanted to get a photo of whoever was on that boat too.
A hand clamped onto his arm and he flinched, spinning to find Georgie right next to him looking pissed. “I thought you’d been caught,” she murmured into his ear.
“Sorry,” he whispered and then motioned for them to move further away.
Georgie followed and when they were far enough, she said, “What’s going on?”
“Transfer of animals. Someone is coming from the ocean to get them.”
“Did you get photos?”
He nodded. “Did you get through to Darcy?”
“Yeah. He and Brandon are talking to Dot and Nhiari. They’ll go down one track and the police the other. That way the smugglers can’t escape.”
The boat engine died and Matt gestured for Georgie to follow him. They crept back to the beach where a large silver dinghy was pulled up against the sand. Matt crouched behind a clump of mangroves and snapped a photo. The tall man who got out pulled his hat low over his face and moved fast with a lethal grace, scanning his surroundings, his hand resting on his hip.
No, on his gun holster.
Matt’s blood ran cold. “We need to get out of here.”
“This way.” Georgie moved away, darting from shrub to shrub, and Matt followed keeping an eye behind them. Not much cover, but the dark shirt she now wore made her more difficult to see. He heard voices but couldn’t make out the words until an unfamiliar voice shouted, “Go!”
Matt expected to hear the cars’ engines but instead he heard the crash of people moving through the bush. Shit.
Georgie dragged him into one of the inlets and they moved along the muddy bottom, leaving a clear trail. As he was about to point it out, Georgie crossed to the other side and climbed out moving through a gap in the mangroves. “Can you see where they are?”
Matt ducked, dragging Georgie with him as he spotted Jerry bumbling his way towards them.
“I found a T-shirt,” Tory called.
Jerry reached the inlet and looked down, spotting their footprints. He scanned the far side of the bank and Matt ducked his head.
“This way,” Jerry called.
“What the fuck is Jerry doing here?” Georgie hissed.
“Later,” Matt said. “Somehow they know we’re here. Come on.”
Georgie moved with him as they sneaked further away from the inlet. He glanced over his shoulder and spotted Jerry as he pushed his way through mangroves and stood on their side. Jerry’s mouth dropped open. He glanced back and then forward again his indecision clear. Matt shook his head and placed a finger to his lips.
Jerry screwed up his face and in that moment Matt knew Jerry was going to rat them out. “Run!”
Jerry yelled, “They’re here.”
“Georgie, go!” Speed was more important than stealth. He followed Georgie, keeping behind her to make sure no one could get a clear shot at her. Georgie grabbed the radio from her belt. “We need a little help here.”
A gunshot cracked over their heads and dust kicked up in front of them.
Fuck. Fear lent him speed as he pounded along the dirt behind Georgie.
“They’re shooting at us,” Georgie called into the radio as she darted in the opposite direction, putting a couple more shrubs between them.
Almost immediately a police siren echoed through the air. It was still some way off, but hopefully it would be enough to have the animal smugglers scurrying back to their cars and making a run for it.
Another shot rang out, followed by a grunt, and Matt checked behind him. No one was there.
Georgie circled around, heading towards the track.
