When the ute pulled up, she got in and her bag was on the floor. She’d forgotten all about it. Quickly she opened it and checked her camera. It looked fine. “How did your car get to the hospital?”
“Nicholas dropped it off for me.”
More examples of what a nice town Blackbridge was. She stretched her legs out, feeling the pull of her muscles.
“Are you all right?” He turned right into town, rather than left towards his house.
“Just stretching,” she said. “Where are we going?”
“The police station. I promised Lincoln I’d bring you by so he can get your statement.” Jeremy glanced at her. “You should tell him why you’re here.”
He was right. This was more than she could handle on her own, but the information Vince had told her was highly confidential.
She got out of the car and walked up the steps to the police station. Jeremy opened the door for her and she stepped into a little reception area.
“Hey, Adam,” Jeremy greeted the policeman who came to the desk. He had been at the football yesterday. “Lincoln wanted to see us. Zamira was rescued from the crash this morning.”
“Come through. He’s been waiting for you.”
Zamira’s stomach clenched as Adam opened a side door and gestured them through. The back of the station contained three desks and an office. The sergeant stood in the office doorway. “I’m glad you’re all right, Ms Musa.”
“Thank you. Call me Zamira.” She shook his hand and followed him into the bland, grey office. He closed the door behind them.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
She took a breath to calm her rapidly beating heart. “I took a wrong turn in town and ended up on the road along the beach. There was a dark four-wheel drive close behind me, so I continued until I got to the lookout where I was going to turn around. When I got to the top of the hill before the carpark, the four-wheel-drive hit me and pushed me towards the edge. I steered into the bush to stop going off into the ocean.”
“Why would someone want to push you over a cliff?” His stare was piercing.
She hesitated. Another six hours before the deadline she had given Border Force. She couldn’t tell him before then.
Jeremy squeezed her hand. “You can trust him, Zamira.”
She sucked in a breath. Damn him.
Lincoln continued to watch her, his expression unchanging.
She had to say something. “It’s need to know.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Who do you work for?”
Inwardly she winced. He could easily find out if he made some phone calls. That would get her in real trouble. “Border Force.”
“Customs or immigration?”
“Immigration.” No need for him to know she worked for the support side rather than operations.
Lincoln tapped his fingers on his desk. “Got anything to do with the Task Force?”
She hesitated. “I can’t say.”
“Could the incident today have to do with this work?”
“Potentially.” She had to give him something to stop him snooping further. “I’m not at liberty to discuss details currently, but I hope to be able to by tomorrow.”
Lincoln sighed. “All right. Where are you staying?”
“My place,” Jeremy said.
Her skin flushed. “For tonight.”
“How did you two meet?”
“I got lost,” Zamira said. “Ended up at his place.”
Lincoln nodded as if satisfied and made some notes. “I’ve got everything I need. I’ll print you a copy of the incident report for the hire company. The car is being towed to the local mechanic’s place. Jeremy can give you directions.”
“Thank you.” She let out a sigh of relief. He was dropping the matter. She opened the office door and Lincoln called, “Adam, can you get Ms Musa the incident report please?”
Zamira followed the constable across to the other side of the room to the printer. He handed her the document and studied her, his expression suspicious. “Here you go.”
She forced a smile. “Thanks.” She turned to find Jeremy still speaking with Lincoln. “Jeremy?” she called.
“Coming.”
She waited until they left the station before she asked, “What did you say to the sergeant?”
“I told him not to worry and that I’d keep an eye on you.”
Maybe staying at Jeremy’s wasn’t the smartest idea, considering she’d be right next door to Henk. She glanced at him and he smiled. Her chest swelled. She’d feel safer with him than she would alone.
She settled into the passenger seat and closed her eyes.
“Do you want to pick up some clothes before we go to my place?” Jeremy asked.
She hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Yes, please.”
Jeremy drove them to the bed and breakfast and greeted the owner with a grin. “How are you, Enid?”
The older woman smiled. “Jeremy, your ears must be burning. I was just saying I needed you to quote on building a pergola out the back.”
He glanced at Zamira.
“Why don’t you go with her while I get my things?” she said. He didn’t need to see her underwear.
“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt,” Enid said.
“You’re not.” Jeremy gestured to the back door. “This way?”
Zamira waited until they’d gone outside before climbing the stairs to her room. Her muscles pulled but it wasn’t too uncomfortable.
She packed her things, checking she had everything from the little en suite.
It felt weird to pack a full suitcase for a single night, but she didn’t have a smaller bag. She glanced out the window, down into the lovely garden where Jeremy and the owner were talking. He’d found a tape measure and notebook and was taking measurements.
From their movements she could guess the conversation. Jeremy was asking what the woman wanted and she was gesturing, showing him, smiling so brightly it was a wonder she didn’t burn him. Zamira smiled. Jeremy definitely had a way with women, even those old enough to be his grandmother.
As they returned inside, Zamira wheeled her suitcase to the door. It wasn’t too heavy but it had been awkward carrying it up even before she’d been injured. She stood at the top of the stairs as Jeremy entered the foyer.
He glanced up. “Let me help.” He climbed the steps two at a time and lifted her suitcase as if it weighed nothing.
“Are you checking out?” Enid asked.
Jeremy placed a hand on Zamira’s arm before she could respond and lowered his voice. “Why don’t you stay at my house while you’re here? You’ll be there when Annisa arrives and it might be safer for you.”
How incredibly generous. Although she’d already been a real hassle, she wanted to say yes. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” He smiled. “I haven’t had company in a while.”
Though she liked the idea of spending more time with him, she didn’t want him to have certain expectations. “Have you got a spare bed?”
He hesitated. “I’ve got a camp bed I can use and you can have my bed.”
She shook her head. “I’m not kicking you out of your bedroom.”
“But you will stay?”
The idea had merit. She didn’t want to be alone, and while she’d be closer to Henk’s property, Jeremy and Fetch would be there. “Yes, all right. Thank you.” She moved down the stairs and then clarified, “On the camp bed.”
He nodded.
She walked down to the owner and handed her the key. “I will check out.”
“Let me get you a refund then.”
“Oh no, don’t worry about it.” She didn’t want the woman out of pocket because she’d changed her mind. “Put it towards your pergola.”
Enid smiled. “Thank you, that’s very kind.”
“I’ll have the quote to you by tomorrow,” Jeremy told her.
They walked out and he put her suitcase in the back of the ute. It was a squeeze with all his equipment.
> Zamira settled into the passenger seat, wincing at her aches. “Thank you, Jeremy.”
“Don’t sweat it.”
She closed her eyes and smiled.
***
Zamira’s phone rang not long after they arrived back at Jeremy’s house. She lay on the couch, while Jeremy made them a late lunch. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had taken care of her, and she’d never had a man cook for her. She could get used to it. Especially when Jeremy whistled such a happy tune as he worked.
She sat up as Jeremy called, “Don’t get up.” He handed her the phone and she winced. Vince. Only one reason why he’d be calling her. “Hello?”
“Do you want to explain why I’ve just been talking to a police sergeant in Blackbridge, Western Australia?”
She cringed. Damn Lincoln.
“Or why the hell you’re even in Blackbridge?”
She stood up and walked away from Jeremy, heading outside. “I’m on holidays.”
“You were going to Cairns,” he growled. “Tell me this isn’t anything to do with your cousin.”
She was silent. It was none of his business.
“I told you to leave it alone. The Task Force has it under control.”
She wrapped one arm around herself and moved around the verandah out of the cold wind. Through the window Jeremy smiled at her at it gave her strength. Enough of keeping her head down. “No, they don’t,” she snapped. “Annisa is scared and trapped there. She was supposed to come to me last night and she didn’t.”
“That proves nothing. There are rules for what we do. We can’t arrest anyone without evidence.”
Zamira scowled. As if she didn’t know that.
“Now I have to call the Task Force and explain what’s going on.”
“Maybe you’ll have better luck with them than I did.” The words shot out and she pressed her lips together, her heart thumping.
“You called them?”
“I reported what Annisa told me.”
“Wait. When did you speak to her?”
Zamira swallowed hard. “I saw her last night.”
He sighed. “I told you to stay away. If you’ve ruined the investigation…”
“Women have been disappearing from there, Vince. You know what that means.”
He swore, then sighed. “This sergeant mentioned you were in an accident.”
The less Vince knew the better. He’d be furious if he thought Henk was suspicious. Guilt hit her. She could have ruined the investigation. “I’m fine.”
“I’ll call my contact on the Task Force. She isn’t going to be happy.”
Zamira flinched. “If the Task Force needs my help, I’ll be here until Sunday.” Maybe she could make it up to them somehow.
Vince grunted. “I doubt it.” He hung up.
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Work wasn’t going to be fun when she went back next week. Perhaps it was time she looked for a new job. She wasn’t advancing anyway. Maybe she could transfer to a different office.
“I thought you were on the Task Force.” Jeremy’s voice made her jump. He held two steaming mugs of tea and had a deep frown on his face.
Guilt squeezed her chest. He’d been so helpful and she’d fudged the truth… OK, she’d lied. Time to come clean and hope he understood. She tucked her phone into her pocket and took the mug of tea from him. “Not exactly.”
“Then what?” The steel in his voice made her wince.
“Can we go inside?”
He nodded and followed her into the living area. “Who do you work for, Zamira?” he asked as he sat.
She clutched her pendant. “I work for Border Force in Melbourne. I’m a policy officer.”
He scowled. “What do you do?”
“I deal with legislation, international policy matters and other things.”
“So not bastard neighbours who exploit vulnerable migrants?”
She couldn’t read his expression. She sighed. “No. I reported Annisa’s status to my boss, who told the Task Force and they told me I couldn’t do anything because it might blow their whole operation.” His expression grew darker. She had to make him understand. “I couldn’t leave her here alone and I was going on leave anyway.”
He leaned back into the couch, crossed his arms. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
“Because I didn’t know you and it sounds crazy. I figured if it appeared like I had a whole team behind me, I’d be safer.”
His scowl lessened.
She wanted him to understand, to forgive her. “No one knew I was here.”
He shook his head. “That takes guts and some stupidity. You could have got into real trouble if Henk had caught you.”
“Yeah.” She gave him a half smile. “I’m sorry for not telling you the whole truth.”
He sipped his tea and then chuckled. “I wondered why a kangaroo freaked out a hardened Task Force officer.”
Her muscles relaxed. “Yeah, going to Henk’s property in the middle of the night was the scariest thing I’ve ever done.”
He smiled. “So what happens now? Are you in trouble?”
“Yes.” She wasn’t looking forward to Monday.
“Your boss will come around.”
Jeremy didn’t know Vince. But she’d worry about it when she got back to Melbourne. She could breathe a little easier now Jeremy wasn’t mad at her.
She stood up. “Shall we have lunch?”
***
Jeremy watched Zamira as they ate. How much did he know about her really? She’d flicked personalities in an instant when Henk had come to their table at the pub. He only had her word she worked for Border Force and it had been her boss on the phone.
Though Annisa had recognised her, hadn’t been scared of her so that had to count for something.
His phone ringing broke through his thoughts. “Mendelson Construction, Jeremy speaking.”
“It’s Lincoln. Is Zamira with you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Can you put me on speaker?”
“Just a second.” He covered the microphone and said to Zamira, “Lincoln wants to talk to us both.” He hit the speaker button. “Go for it.”
“Kay Patton brought her father, Richard by the station this afternoon to hand in his driver’s licence. Turns out he brought their black four-wheel drive back with a couple of scratches, but he can’t remember how they got there.”
Jeremy raised his eyebrows. “You think he hit Zamira?”
“Kay said aside from his memory lapses, he occasionally checks out altogether, like he’s not there, so it’s possible that’s what happened.”
“Why wouldn’t he stop after the crash?” Zamira asked.
“He doesn’t remember a thing,” Lincoln said. “Apparently the lookout has been a favourite of his for decades and he often goes there. I’ve asked Kay to bring the car in so we can examine it.”
Jeremy let out a breath. So it really had been an accident. “What will happen to him?”
“We can charge him for failing to report an accident and leaving the scene, but it’s difficult because he doesn’t remember anything. Kay’s offered to pay any damages the insurance doesn’t cover.”
He glanced at Zamira.
“Don’t charge him with anything on my account,” she said. “Can I get Kay’s number in case there’s an issue with the hire company?”
Lincoln rattled it off.
“Thanks.”
Lincoln cleared his throat. “I’ve spoken with Border Force.”
“I know,” Zamira said.
“And?” Jeremy’s muscles tensed. Lincoln would mention if Zamira had lied.
“I asked them to contact you today. It’s clear you’re worried about your cousin, but neither of you is qualified for this kind of thing. You’re a policy officer, Ms Musa.”
Relief filled him. She’d told the truth.
“Sergeant, Annisa’s in trouble,” she said.
“I can’t say any more t
han I have.” Lincoln sighed. “Please don’t do anything until you hear from them.”
“All right. Thanks, mate.” Jeremy hung up.
Zamira frowned at him. “I can’t promise that.”
“That’s why I hung up. Hopefully Border Force will call soon.” He gathered their lunch dishes and put them in the dishwasher.
She stretched, wincing a little.
“Why don’t you take a nap? You can use my bedroom and I’ll set up the camp bed in the spare room in the meantime.”
“The couch is fine.” She hesitated. “Since the crash was an accident, you should go back to work. I’ll be fine after a rest and then I can go into town and buy something for dinner like I promised.”
“We can get take-away.”
“I’d like to cook for you.” Her smile brushed his heart.
“The doctor didn’t want you alone.” And he didn’t want to leave. He’d promised to take care of her and she could get worse. What if she died because he wasn’t there?
She played with her pendant. “How about I call you in an hour when I wake up?”
With his history, she was probably safer if he wasn’t around. He hesitated. Staying and watching her sleep was creepy. He could be back at the house in ten minutes if she didn’t call him. “All right, but call me every hour until I get home,” he said. “I’ll get you some blankets.” He couldn’t shake the urge to take care of her. He dragged the rug off his bed and grabbed a spare pillow. He lay them on the couch. “Are you sure you’ll be OK?”
She ran a hand through her hair. “Yes. I feel so much better knowing Henk isn’t trying to kill me.”
So did he.
They stood only a metre apart and he wanted to hug her. But it might freak her out. Instead he stepped away, picked his keys off the table. “I’ll take the truck and leave the ute here for you.” He took the key off his keyring. “If you go out, leave the house unlocked, and put Fetch outside.”
She followed him. “I will.”
Too close.
He brushed her fringe off her face, unable to resist her soft skin. Her eyes widened.
He shifted closer, his hand still cupping her cheek. “I’m really glad you’re OK.”
She didn’t blink. “Me too.”
All he needed to do was bend down and kiss her.
His brain kicked in and he stepped back letting out a breath. Back off, buddy. She’s vulnerable, injured and relying on you to give her somewhere safe to stay. Now is not the time to get fresh.
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