Wild Dogs, page 20
To his left Courtney stood stock still, stunned. ‘He’s just left us?’
‘Looks that way,’ Darren said, trying to decide if he was relieved they weren’t going to be heading out to Brigadier, or concerned they were now stuck at the Junction with no money.
Amin’s face was a mixture of sympathy and despair. ‘That is a tortured man,’ he said. ‘But it changes nothing. I must get to that station.’
‘How exactly?’ Courtney asked, looking around the seemingly deserted town. ‘He took the phone, the guns, everything. What are we supposed to do?’
‘No, not everything.’ Amin reached behind his back, withdrawing Chase’s pistol, and from his front pocket pulled out the mobile phone. He waved it at Darren. ‘Perhaps your friends can help?’
Darren wasn’t so sure. ‘I can try, but I don’t know how we’ll go. What do we want to do?’
‘The plan remains,’ Amin said firmly. ‘We arrive, look around, and if the opportunity arises, we grab my family and go.’
‘And if it doesn’t?’
‘Then I think Courtney’s idea about the media is the best. Or maybe we have no choice but to go to the police in Carnarvon. But we have to try to get my family first.’ Amin’s eyes pleaded with them. ‘I won’t be happy until I hold them both.’
He started to sob, the events of the past two days finally catching up with him. Darren exchanged glances with Courtney as she put her arm around Amin. ‘We need to help him,’ she said quietly. ‘If it looks too risky, we go with plan B, or C.’
‘What if Gabe comes back?’
‘Then he’ll have a fair idea of where we’ve gone, won’t he?’
Darren sighed and stuck out his hand. ‘Alright, give the phone here then.’
He dialled, hoping he wasn’t going to regret this later.
Gabe hit the brakes, bringing the ute to a sliding stop. He breathed hard, trying to clear his head, trying to push the memory of that night back down. It was so clear, still as fresh as the day it happened, and deep down he knew it always would be, no matter how many beers or bottles of whisky he drank. His hands resting on the steering wheel trembled, and he raised them to his eyes, studying the calloused surface of his palms, the tobacco-stained fingertips. He could still see Valerie’s blood on them, still feel it, as though it had seeped into his very flesh, never to be washed away.
He fumbled out his tobacco pouch, rolled a smoke and lit it. This familiar action, performed without thinking, gave his hands something to focus on, and the trembling began to subside. Gabe lowered the window and watched the smoke dissipate into the searing heat. He began to breathe slower, calmed down a little and assessed the situation. Now what?
He had made the right call, even if it was for the wrong reasons. The whole plan had been fanciful from the get-go. Jesus Christ, mount a fucking rescue? Who did they think they were, the A-Team? A for amateur, more like. What a bloody joke. It was time to handball the whole thing, and Gabe knew to who. Parker. Despite the senior officer’s offsider being corrupt, Gabe had dealt with the old sarge enough in the past to be sure he could be trusted, and he would know how best to handle the situation. After all, that was the original plan, wasn’t it? And up until Darren had inadvertently told the wrong cop the story, it had been a good one. He supposed he could just turn around and head to Carnarvon, but someone there had to be tipping Jefferson off. Maybe they were in with him, maybe they didn’t realise, but either way Gabe didn’t want to risk it.
But how to do so? He could ring Parker on the sat-phone, but what if Jefferson answered? The officer already knew his number and would know it was him calling. No, it would be best if Gabe went there in person. Would Parker believe him though? It’d be his word against Jefferson’s, at least until he got Darren and the others to back him up.
The thought of the other three brought a pang of guilt, but he brushed it aside. Darren knew the Junction, and he could take them to wait inside the roadhouse. Old Graham might get a bit dark on them for not buying anything, but stingy travellers were nothing new. They would be fine – just had to sit tight until he got back.
He flicked the finished cigarette butt out the window and pulled back onto the road. The best way to convince Parker would be to bring him some proof, and Gabe knew just where to find that. Chase. He would return to the site where it had all started, pick up the injured man and escort him straight to Parker’s little police station, even if he had to hogtie the bastard to the roof rack. Maybe Jefferson would be there, maybe he wouldn’t, but he didn’t think the kid would do anything stupid in front of Parker. Probably try to talk his way out of it. Jefferson had to have some sort of plan to explain Courtney’s disappearance, and maybe he was just sitting there waiting for Chase to return with good news. Gabe didn’t think Chase’s mates would have found him yet. It had only been a couple of hours since they left, and Gabe was sure he could reach him before anyone came looking. But he drove hard just in case, thankful for the well-kept Shire road he was travelling back down.
Although he had to slow once he turned off the main road, it was just after four by the time the granite outcrop came into view. Back here already, he thought. After this I never want to see the bloody place again.
Gabe guided his ute around the base, his senses on high alert. Chase would’ve heard him coming and he hoped the man assumed it was his friends. Although they had checked Chase’s vehicle before leaving him, Gabe knew better than anyone that a weapon could be hidden easily enough. He rounded the corner and was momentarily stunned by what he saw, or rather by what he didn’t see.
Chase, along with his vehicle, was gone.
THIRTY-SIX
Chase Fowler seethed, barely feeling his fractured wrist as he struggled with the wheel spanner. Changing tyres was never the easiest job, but doing it mostly one-handed could get fucked. Lucky it was his left arm out of action. He’d managed to set the jack and loosen the wheel nuts, but the hardest part had been winding over the poxy winch that held his spare under the tray. Chase rarely bothered with it, instead opting to use the second tyre mounted on his shooter’s frame since it was easier to get to, as he’d done that morning. As a result, the seldom used winch chain was seized with dust and dirt. A mild annoyance at most times, but it was infuriating when trying to operate it with a busted wrist. The splint that nurse had put on kept jarring against things, sending bolts of pain through his arm, but he persevered and finally succeeded in lowering the spare tyre through sheer bloody-mindedness.
In truth, it wasn’t really the tyre he was angry at. He was angry at himself. That old bastard had outsmarted him again. He’d read the sign, laid the trap and caught him by the balls as though he were just another stray dog to be put down. That did not sit well with Chase, and he planned to do something about it. He knew where they were headed, and what they were planning. He had no doubt that if they did manage to get hold of Amin’s family, they would make for Carnarvon. They had to; where else could they go? The sheer isolation of the place was why the operation had been set up there. You could run away, but to where? Not that many did. They must’ve come from some real shit spots in the world to prefer Brigadier. And the occasional troublemakers were dealt with. No one seemed to miss them. Chase guessed everyone just assumed they’d been moved on. All in all, it had been going pretty smoothly, right up until yesterday.
But he would fix that. The plan remained the same. Get rid of the four of them. This time he would not wait, there would be no warning. Just as Gabe had trapped him like a dog, he would return the favour, but in his line of work there was no need for traps. Just a second or two to get the shot in the scope. And he would do so, broken wrist or not. They hadn’t found his other rifle locked away in the toolbox bolted to the tray. He would have to check it over first, make sure the sights were still okay after the ute tipped. As for the ute itself, it was horribly bent and the driver’s door took some effort to open, but it would do. If not, he could circle back to the tip at Jakob’s River and take the Dual Cab Gabe had left there. By now Jefferson should be well on his way to Carnarvon to meet their informant in the morning, and if his plans for the old sarge had worked, the man wouldn’t bother him either.
He would stick to the station tracks and avoid the main road. He knew where to go. To one of the many flat-top hills scattered through the Gascoyne rangelands. There were three that overlooked Brigadier, and from that vantage point he could wait and observe. If they tried to grab the family and were caught, so be it; he would arrive and mop up. But if they succeeded, if they began to make their way back to town, he would be waiting for them.
Gabe parked in front of the small transportable building that served as the community’s police station. Upon discovering Chase missing, he’d debated what was best to do, but decided to continue with his plan. The sooner Parker took over the better, figuring Chase was on his way to Brigadier, though he must’ve taken the back roads as Gabe had not passed any vehicles since leaving the Junction. There were a million tracks crisscrossing the pastoral country, some better than others, and somebody like Chase would know them all, just as Gabe did.
He took a deep breath and made his way towards the front door, only to find it was locked, with a notice in the window. CLOSED. For Emergencies Call 000. Gabe gave a wry laugh. What bloody good would that do out here? He looked around the back. The police troopy was gone. Shit, now what?
Maybe Melissa knew where they were. She seemed to know every other bloody thing that was going on in this town. Maybe she’d know when they’d be back. He didn’t hold much hope, but there wasn’t much else he could do.
He drove down the street towards the shop. School was out and uniformed kids wandered about. Some of the older ones waved, recognising him. He gave them a curt nod, but focused on his destination. There seemed to be quite a few people milling around, not unusual for this time of day he supposed, but when he entered the store, Gabe was shocked to see the place was a mess. Upturned display shelves were scattered across the floor, and it looked as though someone had hurled the last pack of overripe tomatoes against the far wall. By the counter he saw the diminutive frame of Elsie with Melissa, who had her back to him, and beside them stood two men Gabe did not know. They all appeared to be standing over someone lying on the floor.
‘What the hell happened?’ he asked. Elsie looked up in surprise, saw who it was and gave a little scowl.
‘Your bloody friend, that’s what’s happened.’
‘What?’
Elsie jerked her head towards the two men, who stood with worried expressions on their faces. ‘Bobby. Gone off the rails. Came in drunk, looking for more beer. Melissa here tried to get him to go home, and he started smashing the place up.’
‘Christ.’ This was the last thing Gabe needed right now. He was about to ask Melissa if she was okay when she turned and he saw the towel she held to her forehead. ‘Shit, did he hurt you?’
‘I’m okay, shelf caught me as it went over.’
Elsie banged her hand on the counter. ‘This is exactly why we’ve got to keep the grog out. Good people do dumb things.’ She took Melissa by the elbow. ‘We need to get you over the road, get the nurse to have a look at you. And where’s Darren? Someone tell him to come get his uncle.’
Gabe swallowed, hard. There was no way to explain everything to them all – not here, not now. He needed to find Parker.
‘Gabe?’ A weary voice came from the opposite side of the checkout counter. ‘That you? Hey, I need a drink. You got any more?’
Gabe strode around to where the two men were standing over Bobby, ignoring the accusing look from Elsie. Bobby was slouched down on the floor with legs outstretched and his back against the wall. His head lolled, and upon seeing Gabe a grin erupted across his face.
‘Hey, brother.’
‘You dumb shit, what do you think you’re doing?’
Bobby shrugged. ‘Ran dry already. Forgot they don’t sell it here no more.’
‘Jesus, Bobby, you wrecked the joint.’ Gabe stared down at his friend. This was all his doing.
‘I saw her again,’ Bobby mumbled.
‘What?’
‘Valerie. Saw her in my sleep. Always see her in my sleep, lying there, all broken like that horse of hers.’
Gabe’s anger dissolved in an instant, and he knelt down beside him. ‘Yeah, me too, mate. All the time.’
‘I didn’t want to see her no more.’
‘Me either, not like that.’
‘I keep thinking, you know? Maybe if I got there sooner—’ Bobby started, but Gabe cut him off.
‘Wouldn’t have made any difference, Bobby, I keep telling you. You gotta stop thinking like that. She was too far gone, mate. Nothing anyone could do. And if you didn’t come by when you did, maybe I’d be dead as well.’
Bobby didn’t reply, placing his head in his hands. Gabe squeezed his shoulder and rose, addressing the two men. ‘You know where he lives?’ They nodded. ‘Good. Take him back home and get him cleaned up. Darren isn’t around, but he’ll be back soon.’ If things go according to plan, he thought. Then he noticed Elsie. She’d come around the counter and had been listening in.
‘It’s been you.’ It was not a question. He said nothing, keeping his eyes lowered. ‘Gabe.’
Something in the old lady’s voice made him raise his eyes. She did not look angry. She looked disappointed, and somehow that was worse. ‘What would Valerie say?’
‘Valerie’s not here,’ he retorted. ‘Just her memory, and it’s not a bloody good one. You never saw her, Elsie. He did. I did. I still see her every time I close my eyes, and I reckon he does too, so I don’t blame him for needing a drink. Christ knows I do.’
Now it was Elsie’s turn not to reply. Gabe wanted to be angry, to blame Bobby, blame Elsie and her stupid bloody dry community, deflect the blame from himself, but looking around at the smashed shop and the shaken Melissa, he could not. Instead he focused on what had brought him to the store in the first place. ‘Where’s the cops?’
To his surprise, Elsie shook her head gently. ‘No coppers, Gabe. We’ll handle this ourselves. I thought it was a stranger bringing the grog in. I’m still not happy about it, and you and I, we got some talking to do, but we don’t need the coppers.’
‘I appreciate that, Elsie, but I need to speak with Parker anyway. Station’s closed, though.’
Melissa spoke up from the other side of the counter. ‘Parker’s crook,’ she said. ‘Came in couple hours back looking for something for an upset stomach. Told him to see the nurse, but he said she wasn’t there.’ She gave Gabe a quizzical look. ‘Weren’t you in there this morning with that tourist fellow?’
He ignored the question. Maybe one day he’d explain, but right now he needed Parker. He’d never thought to check the living quarters that backed on to the station. ‘So he’s home then?’
‘Far as I know,’ Melissa said. ‘The constable left not that long ago, in one hell of a hurry. Think he was heading to Carnarvon.’
Gabe’s heart skipped a beat as he realised he must’ve only just missed meeting Jefferson on the road when he turned off to find Chase. That might have been interesting, to say the least.
‘Right, look, I got to go,’ he said. ‘Sorry about the mess.’ Gabe paused, watching Bobby being led outside and leaning heavily on the two men. ‘I didn’t realise he was this bad.’
‘He needs help,’ Elsie said. ‘But that’s not easy to find out here.’ Without her realising it, Elsie had repeated Darren’s earlier sentiments, and Gabe felt his guts twist.
He left the two women, returned to his ute and sat for a moment as his mind went over what he’d just seen. What would Valerie say? Oh, she’d give him an earful, that was for sure. But Valerie wasn’t around anymore, it was just him. He banged a hand against the steering wheel, swearing to himself, then reached over and retrieved the roll of banknotes from the glove box.
‘Fuck’s sake,’ he said again, storming back into the shop. He tossed the roll to the surprised Melissa and Elsie. ‘Here. For . . . damages.’ He turned and left before either of them could say anything.
Gabe knocked on the door to the old police quarters. The station was never permanently manned, only running part-time on certain days, which always struck Gabe as strange, like somehow the bad guys only operated on a set schedule. He could hear movement from inside, and the door opened to reveal a very pale Sergeant Parker.
‘Gabe? What are you doing here?’ the sarge said.
‘Need your help.’ Gabe was suddenly feeling very nervous. ‘In a bit of trouble.’
Parker’s face immediately grew concerned. ‘What’s up? Though I don’t know if I’ll be much help. Must have had some bad food; it’s going right through me. Reckon I could shit through the eye of a needle.’ He moved aside and waved Gabe in. The apartment was tidy enough, but it was obvious two men lived here.
‘Where’s your apprentice?’ Gabe asked, looking around.
‘He’s had to shoot up to Carnarvon, something about an appointment he had booked for tomorrow. Doctor, I think. We were pretty much done here anyway, and I would’ve gone with him, but, well, let’s just say I’m not moving far from the loo right now.’
This was almost too convenient to be coincidence. ‘I need you to come with me,’ Gabe said. ‘There’s been some serious stuff go down in the last couple of days, and I’m done trying to sort it out on my own.’
This got Parker’s attention. ‘What sort of stuff, Gabe? What have you got yourself into? Is it the grog?’
Gabe gave a dry laugh. ‘If only that’s all it was. But we need to move. Your boy isn’t who he says he is, and I think he’s heading off to do something that’s going to get a lot of people hurt.’
‘Wait, you mean young Matty? What the hell are you talking about?’
He could see Parker wasn’t going to go anywhere without some sort of explanation. ‘Alright, here’s the quick version. There’s people smugglers operating off the coast up here. Yesterday I came across two about to shoot an Ara—’ he caught himself. ‘An Afghan called Amin. We got away and went to find his family, but this nutter roo-shooter came after us, nearly shot us both in the medical centre over there and we bolted, with young Darren and the nurse Courtney as well.’ He paused, seeing the look of incredulity grow on Parker’s face.
