The man raised his eyebrows and gestured to the bush on the other side of the road.“That way.”
“Gather your friends and see if you can find it, but don’t approach it if you do.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s probably injured.Kangaroos can bound away from an accident, only to collapse later.And if the kangaroo is female and carrying a joey, then the joey will die as well.”
“Oh.”
She walked over to the police car and took out a road lantern, placing it on the bonnet of the van.“Use your phone torches and don’t lose sight of the lantern.I don’t want to have to send a search party for you.Stay in teams of two.I’ll go pick up your lecturer.”
Two other men and a woman joined Tom on the road.“Isn’t it dangerous out there?”asked the man who had a moustache like from a bad seventies porno film.
“Stamping your feet will scare away any snakes but watch where you tread.If the kangaroo is hurt, it won’t have made it more than a hundred metres.If you find it, don’t approach it.I’ll deal with it when I return.”
She hoped if they found it, it was already dead.She didn’t want to put a bullet in it.
With reluctant agreement, the students spread out.
As Dot got back into her car, her radio squawked.“Tow truck and Sam are on their way.”
“Copy.”She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.Another two hours and she should be able to crawl into bed, as long as nothing else went wrong.She accelerated away, keeping her speed low as she scanned the road for the lecturer.In an hour, he couldn’t have gone more than about five kilometres, unless he ran marathons in his spare time.All of Oliver’s university lecturers had been old and mentally sharp, but rather flabby in places.
She sighed.The discovery of the new shipwreck had uncovered a million memories she’d done her best to bury forever.
Ahead, a figure appeared in her light beams.Not old, grey and chubby.No, the man who turned as she slowed had strawberry blond hair, a fit swimmer’s build, and a smile that had once made her feel as if she was the most important person in the world.
The Fates were really messing with her today.
Of all the thousands of empty hectares of land in the country, he had to walk into hers.
Oliver Anderson.
Chapter 2
Oliver checked the battery on his phone.The torch app used more than he’d like and only a sliver of moon lit the sky.Could he risk turning it off?He shivered, wishing he’d grabbed his jacket out of the van before he’d left, but the adrenalin from the crash had warmed him.He’d forgotten how cold it could get at night.
And he’d been desperate to get help.The kangaroo had appeared out of nowhere, two bounds and it was right in front of the car and, though Oliver had jammed on the brakes, it was no use.His windscreen was a spiderweb of cracks and the bonnet was destroyed.
He was relieved the glass had held and the ’roo hadn’t entered the car.
Then he might not be walking here.
He exhaled.At least his students were fine, and the equipment was undamaged.It would be just his luck if the first expedition he was in charge of was a failure because of a kangaroo.
Maybe he should have refused to come, but the lure of the ocean and running into Dot Campbell again was too much to resist.He’d never quite been able to forget her despite his efforts.
He rubbed his arms, trying to warm them.It was darker, colder and a longer walk into town than he’d anticipated.Surely it couldn’t be far before the mobile signal kicked in.Then he’d call for help and return to his students.
The grumble of a car engine behind Oliver lifted his spirits, and he glanced behind at the headlights heading his way.Finally.
A couple of dingoes howled, and his gaze moved to the dark bush.He hadn’t heard of dingoes attacking people on the side of the road, but he was an easy target.
The headlights lit the road ahead, and he waited for the car to stop before he turned, shielding his eyes against the glare of the light.His heart stuttered.A police car.
What were the chances it was her?
The passenger side window lowered and he stepped over.“Thank you so much, Office…” Oliver’s eyes widened and his breath left him.Itwasher.“Dot.”Her dark hair was short now, and it was messy, as if she’d been tugging on it the way she did when she was stressed over something.Her petite frame seemed small in the large car, but she sat straight as she stared at him.
