“We’ll take the main road in case they get around you,” Dot said.
Nhiari hung up. “Let’s go.” Sam and Sherlock followed her outside and across to the four-wheel drive.
“I’ll drive,” Sam said, getting into the driver’s side.
Nhiari jumped in the passenger seat, with Sherlock behind her. “Turn off the lights.”
Sam immediately did as she asked.
“That way.”
Sam took off, heading down the track she pointed to. It was only a few nights until the full moon and there was plenty of light to see the track. It also meant Lucas wouldn’t see them coming. Light travelled a great distance out here and if they kept the headlights on, Lucas would know they were out here.
And hopefully they’d see Lucas before they were anywhere near him.
“You haven’t heard from Lee?” Sam asked.
“No.” The fact she hadn’t was telling. He could have messaged her before leaving the police station to update her.
She refused to think about it. Right now she had to concentrate on stopping Lucas and retrieving the treasure.
Nhiari directed Sam over the sandy tracks towards the neighbouring station. Their airstrip was north of the house, so the occupants shouldn’t be disturbed. She held onto the handle above the door as they bounced over the ground, Sam pushing the vehicle to its limits.
She checked her phone. Lucas was making good time on the dirt track, though there was potential they would slow down and even get bogged when it turned sandier. She doubted they’d let air out of the tyres.
Bringing up a satellite map on her phone, she zoomed into the airstrip area. The main track had a road leading off to the north of the airstrip and one to the south. She didn’t know from which end the plane would land, but it would have to turn around and take off again. Depending on the strength of the wind, they might have to taxi back to the other end before taking off.
Perhaps she should drop one guy halfway along, though she wasn’t sure what effect a few bullets in a plane’s tyre would have. Their current advantage was in numbers. Lucas and Lee against the three of them. Though the pilot might also be armed and willing to fight.
“There!” Sherlock pointed to a blink of light on the horizon.
Nhiari kept her gaze on the location, and a moment later, the flash of light came again. Definitely headlights bouncing over the dips and mounds of the track. She checked the tracker again. Not far to the airstrip for either of them.
“Any eyes on the plane?” She peered out of her window and twisted to look behind but couldn’t see any lights in the sky.
“Could it already be there?” Sam asked.
“We would have seen it fly overhead,” Nhiari said. “It won’t be flying dark.”
“Five o’clock,” Sherlock said. “Still about ten clicks away.”
It was going to be tight.
Nhiari switched on her radio and contacted Dot. “We’ve got eyes on the plane.” She gave the coordinates.
“On our way,” Dot answered.
The car jolted over a nasty bump and Nhiari’s head almost hit the roof.
“Sorry.” Sam’s voice was curt and his grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“What’s the plan?” Sherlock said.
“You two go for Lucas and Lee,” Sam said. “I’ll block the plane.”
Good idea. If Sam parked in front of the plane, it couldn’t take off.
They were still a couple of kilometres away from the airstrip when the plane flew low overhead, coming in to land from the south. It would stop at the other end, closer to Lucas and Lee.
