She really didn’t know and now she never would.
She squeezed her eyes closed and allowed the grief to fill her.When she’d moved to Perth, she’d been the one always calling Mark to stay in touch, and after Oliver had left she’d stopped doing even that, deciding if he really cared, he would call her.
He never had.
It had cemented her understanding that no one really wanted her, that she wasn’t worth being around.
Exhaling, she pushed away the pain and then opened her eyes.As she took in the view, she spotted a familiar boat motoring along the coast.She shook her head, not surprised her parents were already out fishing, getting a couple of hours in before they had to go to work.They’d had to spend the weekend cleaning up from the storm, so they’d missed their fishing days.
Dot tried not to let it bother her, but the small pang of rejection was always there.
The reminder of rejection led her thoughts to Oliver.The one time she’d brought him to Retribution Bay, she’d brought him here, and told him what the place meant to her.He hadn’t understood her need to get away, because his family had been supportive, such wonderful caring people who had embraced Dot as part of their family almost immediately.She’d loved them, loved their weekly dinners, and embraced his parents and sister as if they were her own.Maybe that’s why he’d left her.Maybe he’d felt too much pressure from her.All she’d wanted was someone to love her and she’d been pathetically eager to please.Though fitting in with his family had been easy.
Dot sighed and shook away the thought.It didn’t matter now.She’d come up here to clear her head and review the information she’d put together last night.There had to be a clue, some kind of pattern.
Month by month they’d uncovered more heads of Stonefish, but like a Hydra, they kept growing back.Nhiari had said they were close to putting an end to this.Dot prayed the information she’d collated would help.The results for the fingerprints they’d found on the drug barrel hadn’t come through yet, so she’d have to call this morning and follow it up.It was times like this she missed being in the city with access to so many more facilities.
A light travelled along the road down below, coming from town.Someone was up early.Possibly an angler heading to the boat ramp on the western side of the peninsula.The light wound around the coast and then slowed as it reached the lighthouse road where it turned.
Damn it.She didn’t want company.
The sun was already above the horizon, so whoever it was had missed the show.
Should she go back to her car, or wait?They might drive up, realise they were too late, and leave again.
Her muscles tensed as she read the words on the side of the bus.It was Sam’s, the one he’d loaned to Oliver.Really not what she needed this morning.She hopped off the box and strode over to her car as the bus pulled up.
Suzyn, Rajesh and Tom jumped out, their voices loud in the morning.
“I told you we’d miss it if you didn’t hurry,” Suzyn complained.
“It’s not fully up,” Tom replied.
“Hi, Sergeant Campbell,” Rajesh said.
She nodded, wishing they hadn’t acknowledged her.“Morning.”
A car door slammed, and she braced herself as Oliver walked around the other side of the bus.His hair was tousled as if he’d just run his hands and a little bit of water through it to tame the bed hair.He’d thrown on a dark singlet and board shorts and looked much more like a sexy surfer than a lecturer.Damn him.Her heart fluttered traitorously.
“Morning.Sorry for disturbing you.”His smile was a little uncertain, as if he wasn’t sure of her reception.“Pipe down.You’re ruining the moment.”
His students fell silent.It was impressive they paid him so much attention.
Dot shifted closer to her car, ignoring her rapid heartbeat.“I was just leaving.”
“Please stay.I know how much you enjoy the sunrise.”
He remembered.Her surprise only served to spread the flutter of her heart down to her stomach.The sensible part of her shouted danger, but it was whisked away as the memory of their holiday to Retribution Bay swept in.They’d sat in the dark, on the same box where she’d just sat, his arm around her as she’d told him about all the time she’d spent here.The sun had gradually brought light to the world and Oliver had asked her to move in with him.She’d never had a more perfect moment.
Tom coughed, and Dot blinked.They were waiting for her answer.She nodded.“All right.Enjoy.”She walked back to the box and Oliver herded his group further away from her, but their low voices carried.
Now wasn’t the time to be caught up in the past.Who had suggested they come out this morning?It seemed an odd thing for the research team to do when they had limited hours to work on the wreck.Was someone working for Stonefish and had seen her leave?
She rubbed her face.The paranoia wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but she’d seen how Stonefish used people.Oliver arriving now was far too convenient.Which reminded her she still needed to call the museum and find out who was paying for the expedition.When she’d called them to tell them Georgie had found the shipwreck, they had thought it would take a year to get someone out to look at it.
The speed at which they were here spoke of Stonefish manipulation.
Dot checked the time.She should get back.Rodney would be there early, and she wanted to avoid his snide remarks as much as possible.
