Amy switched on the kettle and turned on the stove to heat a soup pot.“There’s still a lot of fencing to check, and we’re waiting for supplies to fix the roof on the shed and replace a couple of panels on the house.”
“Any news on the treasure?”Faith asked.
“Not yet.”It had only been a couple of days since they had uncovered a chest full of treasure from the Dutch East Indies company.Dot had asked her colleagues in the south to make discreet enquiries about the ownership of such a find.She hadn’t wanted word to leak it had been found, but Jordan had opened that bag of worms for her.She’d make some calls tomorrow.Right now, the treasure was still hidden in the cellar of this house, but it wasn’t secure.The moment Stonefish saw an opportunity, they’d be back for it.Dot had considered moving it to a bank in town, but Stonefish had people everywhere.Chances were high they would steal it if she put it there.
There had to be somewhere secure it could go.
Darcy and Matt walked in, hanging their Akubra hats on the hooks by the door.Faith kissed Darcy and Lara waved.“Hi, Dad.”
Darcy smiled.“Hi, pumpkin.How was your day?”
“Great.Faith and I went riding.”
Georgie clattered up the steps from outside.“Guess what?”She flung open the door.Matt swept her into his arms before she could speak and kissed her.When they were done, Georgie fanned herself.“I’ve forgotten what I was going to say.”
Dot chuckled.Definitely a rare occurrence for Georgie.She was glad all of her friends were happy, particularly after losing their parents at the beginning of the year, but she was conscious of being the only single person here.
Another car pulled up, and Sam, Penelope, Gretchen, Sherlock, and Jordan entered the now crowded kitchen.Jordan ran over to join Lara at the table.
“Take a seat,” Amy called.“Dinner won’t be long.”
Brandon helped Amy with the food, placing bread and butter on the table, while Ed and Tess set the table and Faith passed out the drinks.
Dot felt a tinge of envy at the easiness of it all.This was a family.Sam and Sherlock had been Brandon’s teammates in the army, and were as close as brothers, and the Stokes’ partners were already part of the family.
Matt walked over.“Any news on Nhiari?”
In all that had happened, she’d forgotten to call Matt about his sister.“She contacted me.”
“Quiet, everyone,” Georgie called.“Dot has news on Nhiari.”
Silence fell and Dot found herself the centre of attention.She cleared her throat.“Nhiari contacted me yesterday via the police radio.We used a code we made up at the academy.She’s safe, and she doesn’t want us to search for her.”
“Why not?”Matt demanded.
Dot shrugged.“I don’t know, but I trust her judgement.”
“Could she have been forced to use the code?”Brandon asked.
“No.We’ve told no one about it.”She stiffened.Except someone else had been there when they’d brainstormed ideas.
“Who did you tell?”Sam asked.
Dot exhaled.“Oliver knew about it.”She’d shared all her secrets with him once.
Brandon and Sam exchanged a glance.
“I’ll call the museum and the university tomorrow,” Dot said.“Make sure he’s here on merit.”She took a sip of water, hoping it would settle the unease in her stomach.Maybe Sam was right about Stonefish having a hand in Oliver being here.
“We can feed him false information,” Sherlock said.“Things that won’t mess with his expedition, but that Stonefish might want to know.If they follow the trail, we know they’ve got to him.”
It was as good a plan as any.The only people she trusted with information about Stonefish were Nhiari and the people in this room.“Tell me what you come up with.”
“Where does that leave Nhiari?”Matt asked.
“Alive,” Dot answered.“She’ll check in when she can.She might have left me a message, but I haven’t checked.”
“Why not?”Matt demanded.
