“Are you undercover?” Georgie asked.
“If they find out I shot Clark, then I’m dead. I can’t stop them if I’m dead, and I’m getting closer.”
“You want to stop them?” Matt asked.
“I have to,” Lee answered. He shook Matt loose and continued. “Georgie, you have to say you killed him.”
She gaped at Lee and pinched herself as Matt said, “No way. She’s not going to gaol for this.”
“She won’t have to. I just need a little more time and then I’ll come clean.”
Lee had saved Tess and now Matt. It was a no-brainer. “What do you need me to do?”
“Georgie!” Matt protested.
“He’s our best chance of stopping Stonefish,” she said. “And he saved us.”
Lee nodded. “Here’s what happened. You arrived before we expected you. You gave me the slip and while I was searching for you, you doubled back and tried to rescue Matt. You shot Clark when he was about to shoot you—self-defence. I cut my losses and ran.”
“The police won’t believe it,” Matt said.
“They might,” Georgie said. “Nhiari knew I would save Matt any way I could.”
“Wait. What about Stonefish? If Clark’s the boss’s son, won’t that make Georgie a target for revenge?”
Lee shook his head. “The boss is pragmatic. You make a mistake, you deserve the consequences. He won’t appreciate Clark kidnapping you.”
That was a relief. She glanced at the ranges. “Were you up there when I caught Lance?”
Lee nodded. “How did you know?”
“I saw the sun reflecting off glass.”
“Clark was with me. He wanted to shoot you, but his handgun didn’t have the range. I convinced him he’d get caught if he moved closer.”
She shivered. So Lee had saved her twice. “You should go. Do you want to set up some kind of code in case you need help?”
Lee smiled for the first time. “No. I’ve got this. You just need to stay away from the shipwreck.”
Matt studied him. “We will. You need anything, you let us know.”
The sound of a car came from the distance, somewhere above them. Georgie looked towards the ranges. “That must be the police. You should go—”
Lee was already gone.
***
Matt swore when he noticed Lee had disappeared. “He’s good.” He took the rifle from Georgie and then wrapped his arms around her, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. She was alive. He was alive. They were safe.
He trembled.
“Hey, we’re all right.” Georgie stroked his back.
He could barely believe it. Lee had saved them. He would never doubt the man’s word again. Whatever he was doing, he had Matt’s full support.
He kissed Georgie’s forehead as he got his emotions under control. “Come on, we need to report in and then we need to get our story straight.” Somehow, he’d convince her to let him take the blame for Clark’s death.
He avoided looking at the dead man as she led him to the car and while he placed the rifle on the back seat, she radioed the office.
