Oliver smirked.Always the power play.He’d never met a man who lacked as much confidence as Rodney.Oliver almost felt sorry for him.
“Oliver doesn’t need to be here,” Sam said.“I found the drugs and can answer all your questions.He joined me on the island after his dive, as it was closer than swimming back to the boat.”
Rodney hesitated and then nodded.“Take him back, Sergeant Campbell.”
Dot stiffened but nodded.
Finally, a chance to speak with her alone.He waited until they were away from the others before he said, “Rodney hasn’t changed, has he?”
She glanced at him.“I’m surprised you remember him.”
Was she kidding?“He made yours and Nhiari’s life a nightmare,” he said.“Of course I remember him.”
She moved across to the anchor and brought it back to the boat.
“I hope he doesn’t give you any trouble.”
Dot shrugged.“I can hold my own now.”
“You could then,” he said.
Her glare was laser hot.“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”he challenged.“Don’t remember the time we were together?You want me to pretend that part of my life never happened?”
“Yeah.You’ve been doing a stellar job of it so far.”She accelerated away from the shore and the engine noise blocked any retort he could make.
He gritted his teeth.She acted as if she was the wounded party here.That wasn’t right.
She’d broken his heart.
He moved closer so he could shout, but she was already slowing, theOceanidright in front of them.Too many ears around for a conversation which should be had in private.
He exhaled, breathing through his frustration.He wasn’t finished with her yet.
Not by a long shot.
Chapter 6
After dealing with Rodney all day, the last thing Dot had the energy for was the hour-long drive out to the Ridge for dinner, but they had information pertinent to the case.Rodney had already dismissed her, so she had nothing else to do which couldn’t wait until tomorrow.Besides, the Stokes family had been fighting Stonefish for longer than she had and had just as much at stake to catch them.She needed their information.With a heavy sigh, her fatigue causing her to drag her feet, she headed out of her office.“Where are we at?”
Colin was the only one who glanced up.“Clean-up is going well.Most residents have power again and the trees have all been cleared from the road.”
Dot nodded, impressed.Colin had really stepped up after the storm, taking on more responsibility and working unaccompanied.“Pierre?”
“A couple of car park bingles this morning, and some arguments at the boat ramp this afternoon.Nothing major.”
Nothing excited Pierre, though he’d been put out that he hadn’t been involved in any of the Stonefish busts.He wasn’t alone in that feeling.She and Nhiari had arrived too late due to the Stokes keeping secrets.Dot braced herself as she turned to the last man.“Martin?”
“Business as usual, boss.”
She stopped herself from cringing at the nickname.It was his way of reminding her she’d got the promotion to sergeant-in-charge over him, although he’d worked in Retribution Bay most of his career.
“Great.I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Sarge, what are we doing about the search for Nhiari?”Colin asked.
Interesting that he should be the only one to ask.She sighed.“I’ll call the State Emergency Service.We’ll need to scale it back tomorrow and get the volunteers working on the next stage of cleanup.”
