She nodded. “Rodney should know what’s happening, and he still says the heist will happen at the boat ramp,” Nhiari said. “His men are in position in Coral Bay.”
“It’s what… ten kilometres between here and the boat ramp?” Sherlock asked.
“Yes.”
“So the truck turns off here with no one the wiser until it doesn’t show at the ramp,” Sherlock surmised.
“Organised Crime will track the truck,” Sam said. “But the plane has time to land, load the treasure and leave before they get here.”
“Smart,” Sherlock said.
“They’re not using my land,” her father said.
It was possible to set up an obstacle on the airstrip to force them to land elsewhere, but then Stonefish would know they were on to them.
“Dad, I need you and Mum to go into town tonight,” Nhiari said.
“They’re not scaring me off my land.”
“No,” she agreed. “But I need you both to be safe. I’m asking you to trust me and let me do my job. You can stay at Georgie’s or go to the Ridge.”
“You want us to go now?” her mother asked.
Nhiari nodded. The sooner the better.
“Now wait a minute—” her father blustered.
“Cecil, don’t you go arguing,” her mother interrupted. “These people are dangerous and we have to trust our daughter knows what she’s doing.”
“She might need my help.”
“We’ve got your daughter’s back, sir,” Sam answered. “We’re armed and trained for this kind of situation. You and your wife would only be a liability.”
He scowled and glanced at Nhiari.
“He’s right, Dad. I appreciate your desire to help, but I need to know you’re somewhere safe.”
“I’ll go pack our things.” Her mother left the room.
“They might not even come here,” Nhiari said, trying to console her father. “The man who came may be trying to spread our resources thinly.” She handed him Georgie’s key.
He grunted. “Fine.”
“Call me when you get there.” She walked her parents to the door and watched them drive away and then turned to Sam. “Park your car in the shed so it’s out of sight. Then we’ll go through our options.”
It was going to be a long night.
Lee sat on the wooden bench in his cell. There wasn’t room to pace in the tiny space and he needed to take stock of the situation. He rubbed his wrists, more out of habit than because he had any pain. He was uncuffed, so that was a win.
Something dug into his thigh and he patted his pocket. His eyebrows rose. His mobile phone. Rodney should have taken it from him.
He checked the corridor. Clear and no sounds coming from either direction. He took out his phone. No messages.
He typed a message to Lucas.
Under arrest. At the police station at RB. What’s the plan?
As he waited for a reply, he tested the door. It clicked open.
