‘I’ll explain later. I’ll drop in what I have, rustle them up to move on it straight away, and see if we can’t get a DNA profile for this fucker. If he’s the same guy who killed Chloe, this whole thing is going to explode.’
I covered my eyes.
‘I’m supposed to bring Bridie home,’ Russell went on. ‘Georgia just ripped my dick off about her being here in the middle of all this. So, I’ll drop off Bridie, drop off the samples for testing, go back and smooth it over with Georgia while I’m waiting for the results. I’ll hit the lab just before it closes. I’ll tell the techs they’re not going home until I get my results. I’ll lock the doors if I have to.’
A plan was forming. I wrung the steering wheel with one hand, squeezing my phone with the other. ‘Georgia can wait until tomorrow, can’t she? It’s getting late. If you leave Bridie at Redbelly, I could drop her home in the morning.’
‘No. It’s okay. I’ll see if Georgia will go face to face with me,’ Russell said. ‘I’m trying to be … Um. I’m trying to be a bit … different. Trying to make things better for Birds. Life would be a lot easier for that kid if I got on the same playing field as her mother.’
‘Sounds like those therapists have been getting into your head.’
‘They’ll do that.’
‘If it was me, I’d go see Georgia by myself,’ I said. ‘Leave Bridie in Redbelly Crossing. You don’t want to be facing off with Georgia with Bridie standing right there.’
‘Maybe. You might be right.’
‘I think that’s the way to go.’ I eased a long, unsteady breath. ‘You, um. You’re going to take the ’Stang?’
‘What else would I take?’
‘Oh, I just wondered if you’d take someone’s country car,’ I said quickly. ‘Aren’t you worried about the Mustang’s paint job?’
‘I want to go pedal to the metal. I’ll put the paint touch-up on an invoice to the New South Wales Police. Along with the floor I just pulled up and twenty-seven cold beers I intend to have the night we close this.’
My tears were flowing freely now. I looked like shit in the rear-view mirror. ‘You going to leave there soon, then?’
‘Soon as I can. Wait for me at the end of the road. I don’t want to go anywhere near the farm.’
‘Okay. Drive safe, mate. See you soon.’
‘Yeah. See you soon,’ Russell said.
RUSSELL
She was on the top deck, leaning against the railing outside the bridge where I’d held my meeting with Dodge’s crew, her hands clasped and her head turned into the breeze. My daughter watched us approach the property on foot; straightened and gave a little inhibited wave. She reminded me of Georgia in the early days, when she’d still smile at the sight of me. Same smile. Same wave. She was down through the vessel and waiting for us at the door to the kitchenette as Dodge and I arrived at the stern. Dodge paused to take a phone call on the deck, and I went in.
‘We’ve got to go, Birds.’ I couldn’t look at her. Georgia’s anger was still thumping through my body, awakening those old memories. Of that night. Her horror, her humiliation. ‘Your mum wants you back home.’
‘Oh, Jesus.’ Bridie clapped a hand to her brow. ‘She found out.’
‘Yep.’
‘I didn’t tell her, Dad.’
‘I know. She saw it on the news.’ I slipped past her, went down the stairs and into the kitchenette, started collecting up her belongings and placing them on the nook table for her. ‘And you shouldn’t have had to keep that secret. It’s my fault.’
‘Let me talk to her. I’ll tell her I want to stay here.’
‘I wouldn’t, if I were you.’
‘Is she pissed?’
‘Oh yeah.’
‘Forfuck’ssake!’ Bridie flashed teeth, a rare slipping of her youthful gentility. ‘It’s not like I’m running around beside you, chasing suspects and shooting at people. I’ve been here at the boat. I’ve been on rescues. I got into a fixone time, but we handled it.’
‘Georgia’s got good reason to have a zero-tolerance attitude to my lies,’ I said.
