Novels 02 Red Dust (11 page)

They were all quiet for a while, processing what had been said.

'Anyway,' said Gemma, starting to move, 'I'm taking the weekend off. Jess and I are heading into town for a girls' weekend and we're off out to dinner tomorrow night with some friends.' Gemma looked at Ben as she said this and he couldn't help but smile at her.

'I just really wanted you all to hear it from the horse's mouth. You're all my friends as well as the people I work with. I don't want any of this to rub off on you lot, so you need to know what's happening.'

'Well, shit, Gemma,' said Ned emotionally. 'How can we help?'

'I don't think you can at the moment. It's just a waiting game. Let's hope that there isn't any more stock on Billbinya that isn't ours.'

'And that no more arrives without you knowing,' added Jess as an afterthought.

As Ned and Ben headed towards the car, Gemma said to Bulla and Garry, 'I haven't had a chance to get out to the steers today. Can you get out there sometime over the weekend and have a look at how much feed is in that paddock?'

'Yep, no worries,' said Bulla. 'We'll probably head into Dawns Rest over the weekend and get a few supplies and have a feed at the pub, but we'll be here. I'll put these sheep in the holding paddock so they're quick and easy to get in on Monday for shearing Tuesday.'

'Thanks, guys. Well, I'll see you Monday then.'

Chapter 16

Crouched under the window in the shearing shed, Jack waited anxiously for the group to disperse. He needed to ring the boss urgently. At last everyone went their separate ways. Racing down the steps of the shed, he ran to his room and dialled the number.

'It's me,' he said, lighting a cigarette.

'What's up?'

'The widow knows for sure that Sinny was involved. I heard 'er tellin' all the other blokes she found 'is mobile phone. I'm reckoning there must've still been messages on it.'

'Shit. No, hang on, that won't matter. Those phones were pre-paid. Untraceable. When's she leaving for town?'

'Tonight, I think.'

'Okay, get into the house tonight as soon as she's gone and see if you can find that phone. Get rid of it if you can. The truck-load of steers will take place tomorrow night as planned. This will really set her up. Gonna put them in the same paddock as the rest of their steers?'

'Yeah, but there's a chance they'll get found pretty quick 'cos Gemma is worried about the feed out in that paddock and Bulla's gonna check on it sometime this weekend. It might be all right, though. I reckon Bulla will go out tomorrow and check those steers and then they'll head to Dawns Rest to the pub. So maybe they won't be found for a while.'

'Okay, we'll just have to risk it. I'll come out with the truck tomorrow night. See what you can find in the house tonight, and we can have another go together tomorrow.'

'Aren't ya busy tomorrow night?'

'Not anymore. I'm searching a house with you. Seeya tomorrow.'

When Jack had signed off, his boss hung up his phone and dialled the same number as he had earlier in the day.

'You shouldn't be ringing,' came down the phone in lieu of hello.

'She knows he was involved. We think they found his mobile with the messages on it.'

'What sort of a useless bastard is that half-brother of yours? He's supposed to be finding any evidence left behind.'

'I don't think he's had much of a chance. She's around all the time.'

'Fix it.' The phone went dead.

'C'mon,' yelled Jess excitedly. 'Hurry up. You haven't even packed your bag yet. Let's hit town!'

Gemma threw some clothes in a bag and pulled the door to the Billbinya homestead shut.

'Hey, I've just remembered. I had a phone call from Paige Nicholls a couple of days ago. Do you want to try and catch up with her over the weekend?'

Jess stopped and gave Gemma a careful look. 'I'm not sure. Do you?'

'I think we should make an effort. It's been a long time since the accident.'

'Let's think about it a bit more first. Hey, grab those files with the accounts in them. I might get time to have a look at them. What about we take a vehicle each,' Jess said. 'If you're right to come home by yourself I might stay in town on Monday and check in at work then come out Monday night or Tuesday morning.'

'You just want an extra night in town to be with lover boy!' Gemma teased. Her mood had improved since she'd told everyone what she'd found out. She could feel their support, and the weight was beginning to lift from her shoulders.

* * *

Jack watched the two vehicles crunch down the driveway then ambled over towards the homestead. The dogs gave a warning growl but, knowing that Gemma was safely out of the way and there was a good chance that Bulla and Garry were already on their way to the pub, he didn't stop. He pulled open the screen door and pushed hard on the heavy wooden door that, like all good farm doors, was unlocked. Turning lights on as he went, he systematically walked from room to room, looking for potential hiding places. He searched the wood box next to the fire, the TV cabinet where all the videos and DVDs were kept. He ran his fingers along the top ledge of the shelves in the walk-in robes in the spare rooms and felt under the mattresses. Nothing. He couldn't find anything to indicate an attic and no stairs to point to a cellar, which was slightly unusual in a house this old. He looked for signs that the carpet had been lifted and that a trapdoor might be hidden beneath it, but he couldn't see any indication of one.

Jack really doubted that Adam would have been stupid enough to bring any information into the house. Admittedly, there was the phone that had been found, but he couldn't see any information on payments being anywhere near here. He hadn't found the phone itself yet, but he wasn't too worried. There was always tomorrow night.

As he walked, a thought struck him. What had happened to the plane since the accident? He wondered if Adam would have kept any papers in there since he'd have been the only one flying it. Then he discarded the idea. The plane would have been gone over with a fine-tooth comb, since the investigators would have been looking for a reason for the crash. But still, it may be worth mentioning to his brother.

Jack came to the office and had a quick riffle through the filing cabinets and cupboards but nothing jumped out at him. He found where the bank statements were kept and had a cursory glance over the last year. There wasn't anything there he could see that could cause any problems.

He wandered towards Gemma's bedroom. Hovering at the door he looked in. Jack was beginning to lust after Gemma. He knew the feeling that sometimes got him into trouble was resurfacing and he was doing his best to control it. That was why he had been spending time with the jillaroo. The bed was made, but there were signs she'd left in a hurry – clothes on the bed, cupboard door left open. He entered and breathed in the smell that lingered; the soap she used, the makeup she'd put on, they were all part of her aroma and Jack liked it.

He lay on the bed and rubbed his face into the pillow.

You're a sick wanker,
he thought as he felt himself become aroused. But he couldn't deny that Gemma was pretty easy on the eye and he really would like to show her a good time. He reckoned she would go off in the sack. Simmering with desire and anger, Jack knew she'd never look at someone like him and it pissed him off. He got off the bed and looked through her drawers. Finding her underwear drawer he buried his face in her lingerie and groaned. He shook himself and decided it was time to go and see his piece of fluff down the road. Turning off all the lights, and carefully shutting the door behind him, Jack went straight to his ute and took off. Didn't matter he hadn't looked everywhere; he was pretty sure that there was nothing to find anyway. Besides, he had a need that required attending to.

After a bite to eat at Jess's house, Jess decided they should go to the Jewel for a drink.

'Jess, I really don't feel like it,' protested Gemma. She wanted to curl up and go to sleep, forget everything she'd learned in the last few days. The long drive into town by herself had dampened her mood.

There were so many questions without answers. Adam's involvement in the stock stealing still didn't sit right with her. He was basically a respectable, honest guy. Yeah, he liked to have fun, have a few bets, drink a bit, but Gemma had never known him to take part in anything remotely illegal. In her mind, either he was innocent, or somehow he had got roped in and couldn't get out. But that didn't explain the mobile phone and the rumours that Jess had told her about. And thinking about it, Bulla and Garry didn't seem that surprised when she told them of the discovery. Had they heard something and not told her? There was so much she didn't understand . . .

'Gem, you'll be fine when we get there,' Jess argued. 'You need to have some fun.'

So, reluctantly, Gemma got into the taxi with Jess and they headed out to the Jewel Bar.

Craig had eaten before he'd got to the Jewel and now sat facing the door, chatting to the barmaid. He was nursing a Coke in a spirits glass, so no one would know he wasn't drinking alcohol. He'd gone over the top last night and knew he couldn't do that again. The bar was filling slowly and his new friend had told him that the busiest time was after 9 pm. They had a rush straight after work, as all the banks, accounting firms and businesses shut for the weekend, and then it thinned out when people went home to change and get ready for a night out. Most of the after-work crowd were back by nine, or maybe a bit later.

Watching for familiar faces, faces he had seen in the files, Craig just about choked on his drink when he saw Gemma walk in accompanied by a stunning red-haired woman.

Craig had only seen photos of Gemma, but the minute she entered the room he knew it was her. He wasn't sure who the red-haired chick was, but he thought it might be worth finding out – especially given the way she looked.

'Hey,' he said to the barmaid. He nodded towards Gemma and Jess. 'Who's that?'

The barmaid grinned as she caught sight of Jess. 'That's Jess Rawlings, the biggest party animal in Pirie. She's here most nights with a fella – Brad, I think his name is. Really nice girl but not too many people can keep up with her when she gets the urge to have a good time. She works in a bank and if that's not a contradiction in terms I don't know what is. Not sure who the other girl is . . .' She looked for a bit longer. 'Hey, I reckon that's Gemma Sinclair. Her hubby was killed in a plane crash a while ago. Hey Kath, is that Gemma Sinclair?' she asked her workmate, who rushed past with another order of drinks. Without waiting for an answer, she continued, 'She never comes to town. Heard she's turned into a bit of a hermit since her bloke died.' The barmaid leaned into Craig and whispered conspiratorially, 'The grapevine says he was involved in stock stealing. Seems to be a bit of it happening around here at the moment and apparently he was the guy behind it.'

'Really?' Craig feigned astonishment. 'But how could it be going on still if he's carked it?'

The barmaid shrugged her shoulders and raced off again as another customer snapped his fingers at her.

Jess shouldered her way up to the bar and stood next to Craig. She bestowed a brilliant smile on him as she ordered two glasses of champagne and Craig smiled back, lost in her green eyes.

Jess made her way back to the table where Gemma was waiting and handed the drink to her friend. Craig watched as Gemma crinkled her nose in distaste and tried to lip-read what she said to Jess. He thought it was 'I don't like champagne'. He observed Jess grin and say something back – 'drink up', maybe.

Craig thought that Jess was one of the prettiest girls he'd seen in a long time. Not conventionally pretty, but her green eyes sparkled with fun and her red hair set her freckles off against her pale skin. She looked like 'the girl next door' who turned into a swan after you left town. Given Craig knew how to party too, having Jess in the equation might be interesting.

After a while, and a couple more drinks, he saw Jess look at her watch in irritation and get out her mobile phone. The buzz of the bar had grown a lot louder as more people arrived and Gemma was looking increasingly strained. Craig made his way over to where the girls were and found an empty table.

'. . . ring and see where he is,' he overheard Jess say to Gemma.

'Jess, I'm really ready to head home,' Gemma replied.

'But we said we would meet Brad here.'

'No,
you
said you'd meet Brad here; I don't think he'd have been expecting me. Can I have your keys and I'll go home? You stay, it doesn't bother me.'

'Nah, you're right,' Jess conceded. 'Let's head. Stuff 'im.'

Craig whipped his chair around to face Jess and Gemma's table. 'Hello, ladies,' he said with a grin. 'How's your night?'

'We're just leaving,' Gemma replied, standing up.

Jess looked at Craig's handsome face, and forgot she was annoyed with Brad. 'Hello yourself,' she said with a large smile.

Gemma rolled her eyes. 'C'mon, Jess, let's go.'

Craig stuck out his hand and said, 'The name's Craig, what's yours?'

'Jess,' she replied, shaking his hand. Her pale hand was lost in his large brown one. 'This is my partypooper friend, Gemma.'

Craig raised his hand in acknowledgement. 'Why don't you hang around? I'll buy you a drink.'

Jess looked at Gemma, who had suddenly found the floor very interesting.

'Can we take a raincheck, Craig? I'd love to, but maybe not tonight.'

'No worries, I'll see you sometime.'

The girls left and Craig waited a few minutes then followed them out the door. It would be worth knowing where they were spending the night.

On the way home Gemma said, 'You can still pull blokes in without even trying, can't you? You're amazing. I've never once been able to do that.'

'Yeah,' said Jess without arrogance. It was the way it had always been, but Jess really didn't think she was pretty. 'I don't know why. Often I don't mean to.'

Gemma looked at her friend and smiled fondly. 'Oh, I know why,' she said. It was Jess's personality. The happiness and friend liness that oozed from her. The way she included everyone, her love of life, and her eyes. 'It's because you're you.'

Jess looked at her strangely. 'You okay?'

'Tired, but fine.'

Back at Jess's house, the girls went straight to bed, but it took Gemma a long time to fall asleep – and when she did, her dreams were frightening.