Turtle Reef

by Jennifer Scoullar

  It was Quinn’s voice on the phone. ‘Good morning, gorgeous.’ She smiled and checked the time. Six o’clock on a Sunday morning. He was keen. ‘Is Josh there?’

  ‘Josh?’ It wasn’t what she’d expected him to say. ‘I don’t think so. Let me check.’ She got out of bed and did a quick sweep of the shack. ‘No. He’s not home then?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Has he gone riding?’

  ‘Horses are all in their paddocks.’ There was an edge of real concern in Quinn’s voice. ‘My jeep’s missing.’

  A knock came at the door. ‘Wait,’ she said. ‘That could be him now.’

  Not Josh, but Leo on the doorstep, almost blown away by the wind. ‘I don’t suppose Bridget’s here?’

  She shook her head. ‘It’s not him,’ she told Quinn. ‘It’s Leo. Should I come over?’

  ‘No, I’ll come there. Josh is probably somewhere at the centre. See you in a few minutes.’

  Zoe put down the phone. Leo had let himself in and was sitting at the kitchen table, his shoulders folded. He didn’t look like he was going anywhere. ‘Why don’t you put on the kettle,’ she said. ‘I’ll have a shower and we can talk.’

  Zoe poured the coffees and sat down at the end of the table. She’d expected Quinn to ask for tea instead, but for once he didn’t seem to care. He and Leo sat opposite each other, faces rigid with worry. ‘Have you heard from Bridget?’ Leo asked him. ‘She won’t answer her phone.’

  ‘It’s not Bridget I’m concerned about.’ Quinn couldn’t disguise the anger in his voice. ‘Now the shit’s hit the fan, she’ll be lying low somewhere. Josh, on the other hand . . .’

  ‘We’ll search the centre again,’ said Zoe. ‘Maybe he’s hiding somewhere?’

  ‘I shouldn’t have gone out last night.’ Quinn swigged the hot brew and grimaced. ‘I shouldn’t have gone out.’ His phone rang. Zoe tried to read his face as he listened to the caller, but it betrayed no emotion. ‘I’ll be right there.’ Quinn skulled his coffee and stood up. ‘That was Karen. She found my jeep parked around the back of the centre, and Mirrhi’s gone missing.’

  A squally gust of wind drove the rain into the pool at an angle. Echo patrolled the boundaries, occasionally slapping the water with his tail and biting the bars of his gate. It broke Zoe’s heart to see it.

  ‘I think he’s cracked a tooth,’ said Karen. ‘But he won’t let me near him to find out.’ Karen pulled the hood of her raincoat over her head. ‘Mirrhi was having an ultrasound first thing, so I put her in the veterinary compound overnight. When I got here this morning, the gates to the bay were wide open and she was gone.’

  It wasn’t hard to put two and two together. Josh had released Mirrhi, unaware he was putting her in danger. Unlike the much older and tougher Kane, Mirrhi was at great risk from the disease ravaging the bay. Young animals were particularly susceptible to morbillivirus. On top of that, she’d been in captivity for years and would have no immunity to other new pathogens. Exposure to wild dolphins could mean a death sentence. Zoe tried to stay positive. ‘If Mirrhi hangs round the fringe of the Reef Centre she’ll be all right,’ she said. ‘When we find Josh, we’ll have a good chance of getting her back.’

  An agitated Quinn arrived with Leo close behind him. ‘We’ve searched the centre,’ he said. ‘No sign of him.’

  Karen’s mobile rang. ‘Yes, what’s that? I can hardly hear you.’ The blood drained from her face. ‘Hello? Hello . . . ? Damn, he’s dropped out.’ She turned to the others, pulling her coat tight around her. ‘Archie saw Seafarer in the bay while he was heading home to dodge the storm.’ Karen swallowed hard. ‘A dolphin was following the boat out to sea.’

  CHAPTER 32

  Driving rain and a thick blanket of cloud obscured the sun. Quinn shuddered as the wind jostled the big cabin cruiser against her mooring. The gusts grew stronger, with lulls in between, as if some monstrous living thing was giving birth to the storm. What a coward he was. His little brother, all alone. Lost and in trouble . . . or worse. And yet the idea of heading out on this search filled him with dread. Quinn pulled himself together as best he could and stowed away the last of their gear in Flipper’s hull. ‘That’s it.’

  Zoe ran down from the house. ‘I’ve rung the lot – police, search and rescue, coastguard . . . They’re sending out boats, but helicopters can’t get up in this weather.’ Quinn glanced across and found her watching him, compassion in her eyes and something more. Understanding. He looked away. He didn’t deserve understanding, especially not from someone like Zoe. Someone who confronted vertigo on that very first day and climbed the lookout tower anyway. Who overcame her fear of riding. Who challenged herself daily by living in a house perched high on a cliff. Someone who nearly lost her own life just two days before, and yet was prepared to brave the ocean again for Josh.

  ‘Will you be all right?’ she asked.

  ‘I’ll have to be.’

  Zoe slipped a couple of tablets into his hand. ‘For seasickness,’ she whispered. ‘They might help.’ Quinn wasn’t too proud to pop them in his mouth. He could use all the help he could get.

  Leo got off the radio. ‘Archie’s joined the search. It would help if we bloody well knew where Josh was going. What on earth was he thinking, heading out in a storm like this?’

  ‘I know where he’ll be.’ The three of them turned round. Bridget was standing there, dressed in wet-weather gear. Leo marched forwards and hugged her, didn’t let her go.

  A burning anger flared in Quinn’s chest. ‘You’re not welcome, Bridget.’ He positioned himself between her and Zoe.

  Bridget broke away from her father’s embrace. ‘Please, Quinn. I’m sorry, for everything.’ Her voice rose higher. ‘Please let me come. I can help.’

  ‘Help? This is all your fault in the first place. You’re lucky you’re not in jail.’

  ‘Now hold on —’ said Leo.

  ‘Hear her out,’ said Zoe. ‘What if she does know where he is?’

  ‘I do,’ said Bridget. ‘Josh is heading for Bora Reef, I’m sure of it.’

  ‘Why there?’ Quinn said.

  ‘Mirrhi’s missing too, right?’ He nodded. ‘She’s originally from the Bora Reef pod. Josh knows that. He used to talk about taking her back to her mother. When he overheard that Mirrhi was going to Oceanworld, well . . .’

  ‘Josh thought it was his last chance to reunite Mirrhi with her family.’ Zoe turned to Quinn and grabbed his arm. ‘It makes sense.’

  Knowing Josh and his thinking, there was a certain logic to the theory. ‘But would Mirrhi follow Josh’s boat?’

  ‘Trust me —’ said Bridget.

  ‘Bad choice of words.’

  She ignored Quinn’s interruption. ‘Mirrhi would follow that boy anywhere.’

  Zoe nodded agreement. ‘I think she’s right, and there is a pod out at Bora. Kane joined them. I saw it for myself.’ She took Quinn’s arm, ignoring the burning in Bridget’s eyes when she saw Zoe touch him. ‘Give her a chance,’ said Zoe. ‘To put things right.’

  Quinn opened his mouth, then closed it again. How could he allow it? It would be like forgiving her: for his brother, for Zoe, for making a lie of his life. But then how could he deny her if there was a chance she could lead them to Josh?

  ‘Well?’ asked Leo. ‘Is she coming or not? I’d just as soon my daughter stayed put in this weather, but since she wants to help . . . I reckon it’s up to you, Quinn.’

  They all stared at him expectantly. ‘Get on board then, the lot of you,’ said Quinn. ‘We should be able to catch Josh up in this old tub.’

  Quinn sat with Zoe on the rear bench seat, scanning the dark ocean with binoculars, grateful the cabin cruiser rode so high in the water. That small degree of separation was a comfort. Bridget sat up the front, talking on the radio. Occasionally Quinn glanced at Leo, reassured by his calm competence at the helm, determined not to let his rising panic show. High above them, sea swallows recklessly rode the wild winds.

  ‘Ba
rometer’s dropping,’ called Leo. ‘Weather’s closing right in.’ Great. Leo sounded almost cheerful, like he was enjoying the battle with the sea. ‘Let’s hope we spot Josh before he reaches the Pass. Visibility’s shocking and getting worse.’ Quinn didn’t need Leo to tell him that. He could barely make out the shore, or even the lighthouse on the cape.

  Zoe put a hand on his knee. ‘Are you okay?’

  He managed a smile. ‘I’m sweating like a pig, sick in the guts and scared stiff of drowning. But mainly I’m terrified we won’t find him.’ Quinn clasped her briefly to him. ‘How could I live with that?’

  ‘We’ll find him.’ She squeezed his leg. ‘I’m sure of it.’

  The sky grew blacker and the sea grew rougher. Flipper lurched between waves, crashing down in between them with belly-churning, bone-jarring impact. Quinn imagined the damage those waves would be doing to the little Seafarer: at the very least flooding her deck; at the worst, flipping her right over. But then Josh was a capable, level-headed young skipper, who understood the ocean and her moods – loved them even. He had a fair chance.

  ‘There!’ yelled Bridget. ‘Up ahead, near the neck of the channel.’

  Quinn ran to the bow of the boat, his fears forgotten, replaced by a wild, hopeful joy. ‘Well, if the little bugger isn’t still powering out to sea.’

  Leo grinned and gave him the thumbs up. ‘He’s a cocky one, your lad. If he’d made it to open ocean though, he would have had his hands full.’ For a moment they watched the runabout framed by the grey sea, grey sky. Bridget’s eyes brimmed with tears and Leo patted her arm. ‘All right, let’s head him off at the Pass,’ he yelled, and then, more quietly: ‘I’ve always wanted to say that.’

  Ten minutes later, and they’d caught him. Josh made a valiant attempt to escape up the channel, but his little runabout was no match for the twin-engine, fifteen-metre cabin cruiser. Leo blocked him at every turn. What Flipper lacked in manoeuvrability she made up for in sheer horsepower and stability. Quinn couldn’t breathe. If Josh strayed too far onto the shallow inshore reef, the razor-sharp coral could puncture Seafarer’s thin hull. ‘Watch it,’ said Quinn, as Leo brought the bow dangerously close to Josh’s boat, and a wave broke over his hull. ‘You’ll capsize him. He already looks like a drowned rat.’

  One more drenching and Josh gave up the game. Leo executed a final, skilful movement with a hard starboard rudder. Now Seafarer lay on the lee side of Flipper’s hull, sheltered from the worst of the weather, almost within reach of the mid-ship boarding ladder.

  ‘Tie her on,’ screamed Quinn, but the wind whipped his words away. ‘Where’s the loudhailer?’ Zoe ran to Leo and returned with a handset. Quinn turned it on. ‘Josh,’ he said again. His words boomed loud and clear across the dark choppy waters. ‘Tie on your boat.’ But although Josh was tantalisingly close, he made no effort to secure the offered line or grab hold of the dangling lifebuoy.

  ‘Look,’ yelled Zoe. ‘There’s Mirrhi.’ The dolphin emerged briefly from behind Seafarer, spy-hopped and then ducked round the other side.

  ‘Let me try,’ said Zoe. ‘Josh, listen, you have to bring Mirrhi home. She’ll get sick out here . . . she could die.’

  Josh turned a defiant face towards her.

  ‘It’s no use,’ said Quinn. ‘I know that look. I’ll have to go after him.’

  ‘There are no safety harnesses on board,’ she said. ‘I’ve already asked.’

  ‘Have you now?’ he said. ‘Planning to do me out of my hero status, were you?’

  She favoured him with a faint smile. ‘But you’re —’

  ‘Off-the-scale shit-scared to be even standing here on this deck? That’s right.’ He tested a lifebuoy rope. ‘So things can’t get much worse, can they?’ He pulled her in for a kiss. ‘Give Leo the heads-up. Tell him, steady as she goes.’

  Zoe ran to the cockpit to deliver the message as Quinn donned a life-jacket and tied a rope around his waist.

  ‘Be careful,’ said Bridget.

  He ignored her. Taking a bottomless breath he tried to calm himself, calm the racing nerves, and the hammer of his heart against his ribs. Then he climbed over the side, holding fast to the ladder as Flipper pitched and rolled.

  Quinn looked up. Much safer that way. Bridget was leaning over the rail, holding the loudhailer. Rain streamed down her face. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. He hadn’t seen her like this since they were children, stripped of composure, raw emotions on show for all to see.

  ‘Josh,’ called Bridget. ‘Mirrhi isn’t going anywhere. I went to see the people at Oceanworld yesterday. The deal’s off.’

  Quinn dared to turn and face the water. Josh stared back at him, almost on a level now, but still out of reach. ‘She’s lying,’ said Josh.

  ‘No, she’s not, mate,’ said Quinn. ‘I promise.’ His voice sounded echoey and far away, like it belonged to somebody else. ‘We have to get that dolphin back home quick smart. There’s a disease out here.’ The knot in his gut tightened. ‘Farm chemicals have been running out to sea, making the animals sick.’ A look of horror spread across his brother’s face. ‘Mirrhi’s not safe out here, Josh. Will you help us get her home?’

  ‘And Bridget won’t sell her?’

  ‘No, mate.’ Mirrhi surfaced and uttered a loud series of clicks and whistles. ‘See? She says she’s homesick.’

  A smile sneaked out around Josh’s eyes. ‘You don’t speak dolphin.’

  Quinn pointed to his watch. ‘My secret dolphin translation device.’ A big wave broadsided him; he gasped for breath and closed his eyes. But surprise, not terror, was his overwhelming emotion. He’d been so intent on coaxing Josh off the boat that he’d put his fears aside, without even realising it. When he brushed the water from his eyes, Josh was securing the line to Seafarer’s bow. Faint cheering floated down from Flipper’s deck.

  Quinn grabbed the lifebuoy. ‘Ready?’ Josh nodded and Quinn flung it across. ‘Quickly, before your stern swings wide.’ Josh wriggled into it, tested it once with his weight, then swung like a monkey across to the ladder. ‘Come on,’ said Quinn. ‘Let’s go home.’

  CHAPTER 33

  She gazed at Quinn in dreamy admiration. He even made eating a chocolate biscuit look sexy. Zoe had never been more impressed with anybody in her life. She sat beside him at the round teak table in the comfort of Leo’s living room, before pots of steaming coffee, and plates of Tim Tams. Through wide bay windows, the calm, turquoise waters of Turtle Reef stretched out to the horizon. Hard to believe that last week such a violent storm had ripped at the coast.

  Sirens and explosions sounded from the lounge room. ‘Turn that racket down, Josh. We’re trying to talk out here.’ Quinn turned to Leo. ‘How’s Bridget?’

  ‘I’ve got her into the Brisbane Clinic, a top private psychiatric hospital,’ said Leo. ‘Like a five-star hotel with room-service shrinks. If they can’t help her for what they’re charging, nobody can.’

  Quinn groaned. ‘You can’t fix every problem by throwing money at it.’

  ‘That’s how it usually works,’ said Leo. ‘But seriously, I’ll do anything to help my daughter – even go to family counselling, which is what the quacks seem to want.’ He grimaced. ‘Can’t believe I just said that. Anyway, Bridget’s doing okay. Apparently she studied as a chef, not a scientist while she was away. Worked in some high-end overseas restaurants.’

  ‘That was her dream as a kid,’ said Quinn softly. ‘But you put the kibosh on it.’

  ‘We all make mistakes,’ said Leo, in a surprising display of humility. ‘I’m very grateful to you and Zoe for your discretion in this matter, for allowing me to help Bridget privately. Now, maybe I can return the favour. You say you have a proposition for me? Something about the future of our little town?’

  Zoe listened quietly as Quinn put forward the proposal they’d come up with together. ‘So that’s it,’ said Quinn at last. ‘What do you reckon?’

  ‘A partnership between Kiawa Business Council, the
new eco-resort, and your Canegrowers’ Association?’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Quinn. ‘Promoting best-practice on farms, improving water quality and showcasing Turtle Reef National Park at the same time.’

  ‘Does this mean no more filthy fires?’ asked Leo.

  Quinn made an open-handed gesture of resignation. ‘Seasons are changing, getting wetter and warmer. Three shockers in a row and the long-range forecast is for another one next year. We’ll have to move to green trash-blanketing round here anyway.’

  Leo slapped him on the back. ‘I love it. The press will love it. The Bennetts will love it. Why don’t you get in on the action yourself, Quinn? Open up Swallowdale for cane farm tours, horse rides to the Hump, rainforest picnics . . . ’

  ‘Wouldn’t want to muscle in on your tourist dollar, Leo,’ laughed Quinn. He squeezed Zoe’s hand. ‘And I’ve got more important things planned for my time.’

  CHAPTER 34

  Josh hummed happily as the vet gave Aisha the all-clear. He led the mare back to the float, through the warm dappled light of the midsummer morning. ‘Now, remember what I told you?’ said Quinn. ‘Start out slowly. Let the hyped-up horses get out of your way. Don’t worry when people pass you. Your goal is to finish, that’s all.’ Aisha stood like a statue while Josh mounted. ‘And yield the trail to overtaking riders. Don’t try to be first.’

  ‘I won’t.’ Josh trotted a circle around Quinn on a loose rein, warming up his mount.

  ‘And don’t ride too close to other horses. I don’t want Aisha kicked.’

  Josh rolled his eyes. ‘I have done this before.’

  ‘He has,’ agreed Zoe. ‘He’ll be fine.’

  Quinn slapped Aisha affectionately on the rump. ‘Off you go then.’ It was a heart-warming scene. Josh, his brother, and the summer-sleek, shining black mare, working as a team. What a difference these last five months had made to all their lives.