Novels 02 Red Dust (22 page)

The interview room was cold, even though the wintery sun shone. Ned shivered and zipped up his jacket. Craig was setting up the recording equipment and Dave had placed a cup of coffee in front of Ned. Wrapping his hands around it, Ned asked, 'So why do you need to record this again? I don't know anything more than what I've told you. Do I need a lawyer?'

'Why would you need a lawyer, Ned? You haven't done anything wrong – you just said so. Nah, we just want to clarify a few matters that have come to light recently. We like to record interviews so we don't miss anything. Are you ready, Craig?'

'Yep. Let's go.'

'We are interviewing Ned Jones at . . .' Dave went through the spiel of identifying everyone for the tape and then said, 'Ned, can you clarify your relationship with Adam Sinclair?'

'Ah, he was a client of mine for many years, until his death. His father was also a client before him.'

'And what do you do for your clients exactly?'

'I source markets for their stock and sell them for a commission. I can also organise the trucking of the stock. If the client wants to buy stock I usually know of animals that would suit the enterprise and can purchase the stock on the client's behalf.'

'Are you a full partner in this firm?'

'Yes I am. Bert made me a partner fifteen years ago.'

'Pay well?' Dave leaned back, looking interested.

'Yeah, I get three per cent of everything I buy and sell. I've been very lucky.'

'Have you always lived in Pirie?'

Ned suddenly looked uncomfortable. 'Why is that relevant?'

'Just curiosity really. Trying to get a picture of your life.'

Ned relaxed. 'No, Rose and I lived down in the south-east of South Australia for a few years when our kids were little. That's where I trained as a stockie. Naracoorte. We were there for eight years before I got offered this position with Bert, and I'd been here about three years before Bert offered me a partnership.'

'Marriage happy?'

Ned's face broke into a smile. 'Oh yeah. Rose is great. We've had times like everyone I guess – 'specially when the kids were small – but we're very happy together.'

Dave smiled. 'That's great. Nothing better than a good marriage. Gives you so much security, hey? Now listen.' Dave leaned forward with a serious look on his face. 'We really need some help. This is why you're here. We're struggling. Can't find much info but we keep getting snippets and stockies are on the ground all the time. We know that you guys know what's going on around most farms, so we're hoping you can help us.' Dave paused, wondering how to phrase the next part. 'We were out at Billbinya last week and there are some cattle there that aren't Gemma's. Have you sold any to her recently?'

Ned looked quite comfortable with this line of questioning. 'No, I haven't.'

'Do you think she'd have used another stock agent?'

'No, she's always used me . . . Well, Ben now, since he's taken on her account. But not another firm.'

'Okay. On Friday night, while we were out on the property, she was attacked by Jack Marshall. Do you know him?'

Ned started at this piece of information. 'Attacked? What do you mean attacked?'

'She was bashed around a bit. She's okay, but hurt badly enough to require medical attention.'

'Shit. Oh, bloody hell.' Ned's face had started to grow red and his hands had begun to shake.

Dave looked at him and said, 'Hey, take it easy, buddy. She's okay. No harm done. Do
you
need a doctor?'

Ned shook his head and took a deep breath.

Dave watched him carefully. 'You like Gemma then?'

'She's like a daughter to me. I've been watchin' out for her ever since she was a little kid. Her parents deal with me too, you see. I've watched her grow up to become this amazing woman who is managing beautifully when no one thought she could. She's been through so much with Adam dying and now this stockstealing business. Her dad – you know about her dad having a heart attack, don't you?'

'So who do you think could be trying to hurt her with this stock-stealing stuff then? Do you know Jack Marshall?'

'I only know Jack from Billbinya. I don't know who is trying to hurt her, but I wish I did.' Beads of perspiration had broken out on Ned's forehead and he mopped at them with a handkerchief.

'Ned, I'd like to get you a doctor. How about we do that?'

'Nah, I'm fine. Let's get this over with.'

'Okay, do you know any of these people?' Dave placed three photographs that Craig had downloaded off the web earlier in the day in front of him.

Ned glanced down. 'Well, obviously I know Jack. He worked at Billbinya. As for the other two – I have seen this fella around town. He's an agro, I think – Brad Manstead – but I don't know him personally. Haven't ever seen this one before.' Ned pushed the third photo to the side.

'Well, you see, Ned, that's where we now have a problem.' Dave leaned back again. 'We have a letter from Adam. It has only come into our possession today but it names names. Tells the whole story. And guess what, mate? You're in there. Want to tell us about it?'

Ned's face grew redder and his sweating became more profuse. He toyed with his empty coffee cup and then got up from his chair. He paced the room for a time, while Craig and Dave sat in silence. This was a man wrestling with his conscience.

Finally Ned sat back down and started to talk quietly.

'It started about a year ago. Bit more maybe. I was approa ched by this young man.' Ned tapped the picture of Brad. 'He started to blackmail me. Said if I didn't supply information on stock that were killable in the district he'd reveal my secret. I tried to talk him around. I've always been a fairly honest guy. I like fun, but not stuff like this. He didn't tell me why he wanted the stock but I did some research and found out that he owned an abattoir. I guess they were killing the stock there and making money that way. I was to supply Adam with the information by text message. He'd then case the farm, try and get the owners off the place and the trucks would move in. Jack did most of the stealing and would travel with the truck to the holding paddock. That was Billbinya. They wanted to paddock the stock for a few weeks until the heat died down, you know? Then they'd shift the stock to the abs.' Ned reached for his coffee cup but found it empty. 'That's it. There you go. I passed on the info to Adam and Brad. But I was being blackmailed. I couldn't risk Rose finding out my secret. I love her too much to hurt her and I'm so ashamed of past events.'

Dave said gently to the ill-looking man: 'Doctor yet?'

Ned shook his head again.

'Can you tell me what the blackmail was about? I can't help you unless you do.'

Ned stared at the scratched wooden table in front of him and murmured softly, 'He said he'd tell Rose about the daughter I had with another woman.'

Silence hung in the air. Craig shifted slightly, trying to get Dave's attention. He made a hand sign like a phone. Dave looked curiously at Craig and then realisation spread across his face.

'Ned, did you make the anonymous phone call to the station after the wethers were found?'

Ned nodded. He could barely control his hands now and he had a heavy feeling in his chest.

'Who is your daughter?' Dave pushed gently. To Craig he said, 'Get a doctor anyway.'

Craig slipped out of the room.

'I feel sick.' Ned suddenly stood up and turned around, clutching at his chest. Dave shot out of his seat, yelling to Craig to get an ambulance. Ned hit the floor before Dave could reach him, his sightless eyes staring at the legs of the wooden table.

Chapter 29

'Hello?' Gemma answered the phone.

'Hi, Gem, how goes it?' asked Pat with an unusual strain in his voice.

'What's wrong, Pat?' asked Gemma, picking up on his tone straightaway.

'It's Kate. I have to go back to Queensland as soon as I can. She had a fall from a horse – broke her leg and busted a couple of ribs.'

'Oh no! Go, go as soon as you can. Do you want me to book a flight for you?'

'I'm just about to do that. Will you be all right to manage the workload on Hayelle?'

'We'll be right. Leave the list of things that Dad wanted done on the kitchen table and we'll try to get to it,' Gemma paused. 'Pat, thanks. Thanks for everything. I don't think I would have got through this without you.'

''Course ya would've. I'm gonna go and see the olds tonight and tell them what's happened with Kate. Better tell 'em we're gonna get married, eh?'

Gemma smiled into the phone. 'Not a bad idea. Don't want the old man falling off the perch before you've told him that. Be careful you don't shock him too much though.'

'Hopefully it'll shock 'im into getting off his arse and back to the farm!'

As Gemma hung up Bulla appeared at the door, Ben close behind him. They both had grim looks on their faces and Gemma realised they had bad news for her – but she couldn't think what on earth it could be now.

Long after Bulla had left and the shock about Ned had begun to sink in, Ben was still at Gemma's side. Jess was helping Bulla in the yards, although Gemma knew she wouldn't be of great assistance.

'Why would he do that?' Gemma asked, not for the first time.

'I don't know, Gem.' Ben took her hand.

'Poor Rose. Her husband in a coma, only hanging on with the help of a machine, just days before her dream holiday,' Gemma said sadly.

Gemma jumped up from the couch. 'C'mon, I want to show you something.' She stalked out the door and jumped in the ute, Ben following.

'I'm so bloody angry,' said Gemma as she revved the engine and headed out towards her favourite spot on the farm. 'I can't believe this is happening. Do you think Dave and Craig will get into trouble since Ned collapsed while they were question ing him?'

Ben shook his head. 'My guess is there will be an internal investigation, making sure all the proper procedures were followed, but Rose told them he'd been diagnosed with a heart problem about three months ago. That's when they decided to take this holiday and put me on the road. He was a ticking time bomb apparently. I don't think you can blame Dave and Craig. The questioning and circumstance, possibly, but Ned was the one who put himself in the situation. I guess he never thought about the outcome. Anyway, I still reckon he's gonna be fine. Ned's a tough old bloke.'

'Would you want to live if you knew what trouble you were coming back to?' Gemma asked and then answered her own question by shaking her head. She turned the music up loud and let the cool breeze of the late afternoon caress her face. It was going to be a beautiful sunset and, if she tried hard enough, she might just be able to forget the events of the day for a couple of minutes.

Pulling up beside the creek where she and Jess had camped not so long ago, Gemma threw open the door and got out.

'This is my favourite place on the whole property,' she said, throwing open her arms. 'Adam and I used to camp here.' Gemma walked over to an outcrop of rock that was as high as her waist. 'This is the little table we used to use to put nibblies on and over here . . .' She indicated a flat spot next to the bank of the creek. 'This is where we'd roll out our swags. Look at the stars, talk, make love.' Gemma's voice was soft, remembering, but when she swung around to face Ben her expression was hard. 'It was all a lie. My marriage was a lie. My whole life as I knew it was a fabrication.'

Gemma leaned against an outcrop of rock and Ben moved towards her. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. 'Yes, it might have been a lie, but it doesn't have to stay that way. Once all this is sorted, you can start again. Learn to trust and learn to love again. Gemma, you are too strong to be eaten up with anger and bitterness. You have so many people who love you. Jess, Pat, me.' Ben stared at the beautiful face that looked back at him in wonder.

'Did you say love?' Gemma asked quietly, searching his face.

Ben looked slightly uncomfortable. 'Well, love might be a bit strong at this time, but I definitely want to spend a lot more time with you.'

Gemma put her arms around Ben and leaned into his chest. He tipped up her head and kissed her. Gently at first, but more passionately as the kiss continued. Around them, magpies warbled their evening song and galahs screeched noisily. Then they sat in silence and watched the sun set over the purple hills.

* * *

Jess was waiting in the kitchen for them when they got back, the excitement plain on her face. Waving her mobile phone, she yelled, 'The bastard has slipped up! He's sent a text message to me that must have been meant for Jack. We've got the mongrel!'

Gemma laughed. 'What are you talking about, you crazy woman?'

Jess held up her mobile again. 'Brad has stuffed up. He's losing the plot. He's sent me a text message saying he wants to start shifting the next lot of stock on Friday at 11 pm. Let me read it to you. Come on! Get inside! Hurry! Ben, make yourself useful, there's a love, and get us all some drinks.' Jess was too busy organising to see the look of amusement pass between Gemma and Ben. 'Here we are, okay you ready?
J stock
shift 11pm Fri. Roch Rd. 40 cows + calves. Hold padd
bjn.'
Jess looked up excitedly. 'What do you think?'

'Okay, he wants to get forty cows and calves on a truck from Roch Road at 11 pm on Friday. Hold padd would be holding paddock and bjn . . . I don't know what that means,' Ben said.

'Hang on,' Gemma said slowly. 'BJN, wasn't that the abattoir mentioned in the newspaper article? Isn't that the abattoir that Brad has a half share in? I bet the B stands for Brad, the J for Jack. I wonder what the N stands for?' A look of horror crossed her face and she said quietly: 'You don't think it could be Ned, do you?'

There was a brief silence while the friends took it all in.

Jess said after some thought, 'But where's Roch Road? It wouldn't stand for Rochden Road, would it? That's the road that Hayelle's on!'

But Gemma had already gone into the office to ring Dave.

Craig headed to Adelaide on Wednesday morning. He had a street directory with him to help him around the unfamiliar streets, but the local officers had told him he wouldn't have any problems. Wide road, easy parking and well-signposted streets would make it easy to get around. Craig decided they were wrong. He'd made a wrong turn and ended up on some side streets that he couldn't find in the street directory. After driving around the same block twice, he pulled into the car park of a small motel – the side streets certainly weren't wide enough to park in – so he could study the street directory more closely.

When he'd memorised the easiest route into the centre of the city, he put his car into gear and turned around in the small car park. Two brindle dogs tied to a ute caught his attention. Stopping again, he grabbed at the street directory to make it look like he was lost, while his eyes scanned the car park. White ute, two dogs, Victorian number plates, naked woman sticker, out-of-the-way motel. Jack Marshall was here somewhere.

Easing out his mobile phone, Craig lined up the ute and took a few photos. He was trying to zoom in on the dogs when he saw Jack emerge from his room. Craig swung the phone around, took two photos of Jack, put the car into gear and left. What a piece of luck!

A few blocks down the street he pulled over and rang Dave, leaving a message on his voicemail when he didn't answer. Then he resumed his course to Dr Tom Dyason's psychiatric practice.

A mousy-looking secretary showed Craig into the office of Dr Dyason and told him to have a seat. The doctor would be with him shortly.

Sure enough, Dr Dyason bustled into the room within minutes. 'Good morning, good morning,' Dr Dyason said, walking quickly towards Craig. He held out his hand and Craig went to shake it. 'No, no, warrant please.' Craig obediently handed over the warrant.

'Very good. Now, how can I help?'

Craig opened his briefcase and took out a photo of Brad Manstead. 'We are interested in this man. Can you tell me anything about him?'

'Yes I can. Bradley Charles Manstead. Had a difficult childhood and quite a pronounced problem with alcohol. Father deserted at a crucial time in Bradley's development and took up with another family, leading to feelings of abandonment. His mother was poor and his father didn't help out in any way financially. Consequently, his hunger for money is quite unhealthy. Quite willing to take risks to achieve what he wants. Anything else?'

Craig pulled out a photo of the second POI. 'Do you know this person? We are trying to work out how Brad and this individ ual met.'

Dr Dyason took the photo and stared at it for a long time. 'This person is very disturbed. She was my employee for about four months while I was helping Bradley. They began a relationship. They were both banished from my practice of course. Completely unacceptable behaviour. I'd been having some problems with her already. A compulsive liar, manipulative and has trouble distinguishing fact from fiction. Should have been my patient, not my employee. This individual' – Dr Dyason tapped the photo – 'is dangerous.'