‘Yeah, but…’ I stop, let out a breath. ‘I gotta let this go. If I don’t, it’s gonna eat away at me from the inside forever.’
‘Look, sorting out problems is kind of my business.’ Derrin’s really frowning now. ‘Like the way I sorted out a place for Reggie with Moira Geraldi – that’s the stuff that makes this job worth it. As far as finding your family goes, I haven’t exhausted all the options. Your mum’s maiden name was McKinley –’
‘Yeah, but she’s gone to ground. Maybe she changed her name, or maybe she remarried or something, I dunno. I’ve tried to find her, I swear to god, I’ve tried every way I can think of –’
Derrin cocks an eyebrow at me. ‘Harris, you know I’m a copper, right?’
His expression suggests that he’s wondering if I’m really smart enough to be dating his daughter.
But when I look over at Amie, she’s smiling like she just found out the world is made of rainbows.
*
‘Are we close now?’
‘We’re close.’ Amie glances over at me. ‘I was going to get you to cover your eyes, but I don’t think that will work.’
‘You’re right, it won’t work. It would never work.’ I couldn’t keep my eyes shut if I tried. I want to see everything, all at once. My blood is churning in my veins. ‘It’s good you’re driving. I mean, I can’t stand it, but it’s good.’
She snorts. ‘I can handle the Pitbull. But can you handle me driving it?’
‘For special occasions, totally.’ I clench my hands on my knees. They’re trembling too much to deal with steering. One of Amie’s hands slides off the wheel onto my thigh, and I take a breath. ‘Hey, concentrate on the road.’
‘I am!’ Her hand squeezes, and she grins.
‘Amie –’
‘All right, fine.’ Her grin bubbles into a laugh. ‘But if I can’t distract you then you have to talk.’
‘Okay. Okay, all right, I’ll talk.’ I watch the houses thin out, the trees and shrubs changing into different types, more salt-tolerant types. ‘Last contact from Ronnie Murphy, he said they picked up Leon’s trail just north of Sydney. But they’re having some jurisdictional problems with the New South Wales police, so that’s slowing things down.’
‘But they’re definitely getting closer.’
‘Yep. It’s just a matter of time now, Murphy reckons. He also said they busted two lieutenants from Mazerati’s crew, which could be enough to break up the whole show depending on the info they get outta them. That’d mean Little Toni will be the last man standing, providing no outliers pick up the supply chain.’
‘What do you think?’
‘Honestly, I think it’s winning the battle but not the war. Keeping the town clear of ice is a tough prospect. There’s a lot of other factors, not just on the supply side. I guess we’ll see how it goes.’
Amie nods slowly, like she’s philosophical about it. She’s driving about ten kay under the speed limit – way slower than I would be, but I might be feeling it more because every atom in my body wants to move fast. I try to watch the scenery, keep my mind busy.
‘What about the results of your interview?’ I ask. ‘Have they emailed you about it yet?’ I’m pretty sure she’d tell me if they had, but I was a bit preoccupied this morning. She might not have wanted to spoil the mood.
‘Yes,’ she says. She doesn’t say any more, but she doesn’t need to. I can see it in her eyes.
‘They said yes, right?’
She smiles then, can’t seem to help it. ‘Yes, they said yes.’
I turn myself sideways in the passenger seat. ‘Well, hey, that’s awesome! Shit, shouldn’t you be jumping up and down or something?’
‘I can’t do that while I’m driving!’ She laughs, then sobers, and her hand slips onto my leg again, but it’s a different kind of squeeze this time. ‘Well, yeah, I’m happy, but… You know it means we’ll be apart.’
‘For six weeks – yeah, I know that. I knew when you went for the interview, Ames. It doesn’t mean I don’t want you to go.’
She swallows as she watches the road. ‘Nepal is a long way away, that’s all.’
I put my hand over hers, curl our fingers together. ‘I know. But you should still do it, if it’s what you want.Isit what you want?’
