‘I can do that on the radio.We’ve got two ACPO crews coming in from the outer communities.You can have them run the boundary.’
‘Good.’She then pointed to the side window that faced the fire station.‘Can we use the firies for roadblocks?And do you know a local pilot?’That same window view also gave a glimpse of the small-town airport that sat behind this police station.
‘Yes, to all that.’Tanisha waved her long neon fingernail like a glow stick in a nightclub—bright, bold, and impossible to ignore.‘I’ll call the fire chief.He’ll set up his crew to work on roadblocks.They’ve done it before.’
‘But firies don’t normally get involved with police business.’
‘Sweetie, out here, we’re a community, and we all work together.I’ll call the fire chief first.You tell me where you want ‘em.Then I’ll call Monet.’
‘Who?’
‘TheWicked Witch of the Westerly Winds.’Tanisha’s grin was pure power, with her white teeth flashing against her dark skin.‘Monet runs the outback mail plane for this region.She’s worked with Marcus plenty of times and will be in the air in no time.Leave it to me, sweetie…’ While Tanisha went back to the front desk to man the radio, Amara moved through the rest like a woman possessed.
She needed to get back on the job—to save her job—and more importantly, to help the team do theirs, in the first coordinated manhunt between the Federal Stock Squad and Elsie Creek Police.The lines were well and truly blurred now.
Amara raised assorted seizure orders for the banteng, horses, and cattle found at Dixby Downs.Logged the required statements, filed the paperwork and started the warrants for attempted murder, with her statement ready for Finn’s inspection.
Then she dug into SW Rural Contracting, cross-referencing shell companies and transport contracts, but it only led to a post office box in Western Australia.
The red Ram Sawyer drove was registered to SW Rural Contracting.The same initials used on the stock sheets for her stolen horse presented to the livestock auction.
Even if she was building the case, answering the questions Finn would ask, she still ached to be out there.But her ankle throbbed with every movement.
But it wasn’t the injury that made her feel as if she’d been benched from the game.It was the space where Porter should’ve been.
She missed him.
And she couldn’t help but feel like she’d wasted her chance when they were alone in the outback to tell him how much he meant to her.
She’d been a fool to not say anything sooner.Like when he’d called her beautiful at the waterhole.She should have kissed him then.Or flung her arms around his neck to say goodbye before they were separated, even while he was facing off the two bosses as he covered for her.
She should have done more.
Turning her focus back to her job, she dialled a number.
‘Elsie Creek Livestock Office.’The middle-aged woman sounded hoarse, but alert.
‘Lydia, it’s Amara—’ Surprisingly, she didn’t say Constable Montrose, like normal.
‘Are you okay, luv?’I heard you and Porter were in trouble out at Dixby Downs.’
That secret didn’t last long.
‘We found the horse, Lot 728, and I’d like your help in working out the logistics of getting him back to his owners.’
‘Maybe they’ll let you—’
‘Lot 728 is worth a lot of money.I don’t think his owner will sell him to me for what I paid at the auction.’As much as she wanted to, she knew she couldn’t keep the horse.
‘I’m sorry, luv, I truly am.I saw how happy you were when you bought him.’Lydia sighed, paper rustling in the background.‘Just so you know, Red is already sorting out a refund—reckons it’s only fair, considering.But don’t you worry none, luv.I’ll be digging through his paperwork myself.Something about this one’s not sitting right with me.’
Amara stared at the image of the horse on her report.‘If you do find anything, talk to Finn.Or he’ll find you.’Afterall, she wasn’t sure she’d still be on the team—not after this.
And the thought of facing Finn again?
God help her.
‘But I’ll keep an eye out if anything nice comes through the yard, huh?’
