He nodded.“Find out where the excursion is.”
Dot called Jenifer back.“Can you tell me where the third graders have gone on excursion today?”
“We have no class excursions,” Jenifer replied.
“No one has gone snorkelling on the reef?”
“No.I review the school schedule every morning, and nothing of note is happening.What’s this all about, Dot?”
“I can’t say,” Dot replied.“Is anyone else allowed to pick up the Hamilton children?”
“I can check their file.Hold on.”Clicking keys in the background and then Jenifer said, “Declan and Dominique Abdoo.”
Declan was in gaol, but Dominique had been cleared of any involvement.“Thanks.”She’d call Dominique if Kristy was arrested.She hung up and turned to Rodney.“There is no excursion.”
“Let’s go.”
Dot wasn’t sure what to make of Rodney’s change of heart, allowing her to go with him.Perhaps he finally trusted her.Or he realised she wouldn’t let Martin go with him.
They drove the short distance to the Hamilton house and the concrete slab where the boat usually sat was empty.“Boat’s gone,” Dot said.
“We’ll check.”
No one answered Rodney’s demanding knock.
Dot opened an app on her phone and checked the marine traffic in the area.Not everyone had a tracker installed on their boat, but it was becoming more common, especially for those who fished kilometres offshore.NoCersei.
They would have to do this the old-fashioned way.“Do you want to start at the marina?It’s the closest boat ramp.”
Rodney nodded.“How many ramps are there?”
“Three on this side of the peninsula and another one on the other side.”It would take them a couple of hours to check unless they sent Martin or Pierre.Or if she called some of her contacts.She dialled a number.“Hey, Penelope.Are you out on the water today?”
“Just heading out now,” her friend answered.
“Did you notice a white Range Rover in the marina car park?”
“No, it’s pretty empty today.”
Dot smiled.“While you’re out and about, if you see a boat calledCersei, can you contact me?”
“Sure.Is everything OK?”Penelope sounded concerned.
“Yeah.Don’t worry about it.”
Rodney waited for her to hang up before he said, “Are you mad?You can’t tell people who we’re after.”
“Penelope won’t tell anyone.She’s the one whose boat was shot up and sank in the middle of a shark feeding frenzy.”She wanted Stonefish caught as much as Dot did.
As they returned to the car, Dot called Sam.
“I was about to call you,” Sam answered.
Not what she wanted to hear.“Me first.I’m looking for a boat calledCersei.Have you seen it down your way?”
Sam swore.“Yeah.That might explain it.”
Unease grew in her stomach.“Explain what?”
