Georgie smacked Brandon. “Hey, maybe I protected him.”
Matt smiled and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “We kept each other safe.”
“The man in the dinghy must have been monitoring the radio,” Dot said.
Nhiari nodded. “It’s the only way he could know Matt and Georgie were here. Georgie mentioned Matt was taking photos.”
“That’s why he shot them all,” Dot said.
Matt flinched. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. Show me the photos.” She was all business, but her tone was dull.
Matt handed over the phone.
Dot and Nhiari studied the photos. “Animal smuggling,” Dot murmured. “Why?”
Nhiari squeezed her arm before handing Georgie’s phone back. “We need those photos sent to the stationimmediately.”
“Are we in danger?” Georgie asked.
“The guy is likely long gone, but the sooner we can get his photo circulating, the safer you’ll be.”
Georgie nodded. “What about the animals?”
Nhiari sighed. “Take a look. Tell me what needs to be done.”
Georgie crossed to the back of the Dodge RAM with Brandon.
“I’ll document it,” Dot said.
“I’ll get the gear,” Nhiari said, her shoulders slumped.
Georgie would be safe with Brandon. Matt followed his sister across to where the police car was parked on the shore. “You all right?”
She sighed. “I will be.”
“That was Dot’s brother, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“How’s she holding up?”
“She’ll get through it.” Nhiari handed him a bag of equipment and took one for herself and they returned to the other vehicles.
“All these animals are from around here,” Georgie said. “We can probably release them now if we can get the tape off.”
“We need to document the scene,” Dot said. “Darcy, take Georgie’s phone and go find some reception. Send the pictures to the station.”
Darcy nodded. “What about the others?”
“They can stay to help with the animals. When you’re done, come back to pick them up.”
Darcy handed out bottles of water from the esky in the ute and then drove off. Matt pulled Georgie into the shade and they sat while Dot and Nhiari worked the scene.
“I don’t know how they can do it,” Georgie said. “It’s horrific enough without knowing those who were killed.”
“Nhiari’s always been strong,” Matt said. She’d had to be.
