‘What is it?’ Heath shouted.
Trent turned to a microphone before Kemp could object. ‘At about 10.30 on Monday the bank – my bank – took possession of the nugget. All good. Safe as houses. But yesterday I had a visit around lunchtime from Lachlan Wright. He was wanting a form to give him access to it.’
‘What? Why didn’t you say something earlier?’ Heath snapped.
Trent held up his stumpy, Trump-like hands. ‘Whoa, keep your shirt on, mate. I went through the proper processes,’ he said. ‘Wright was Nina Larkin’s business manager. And the form needed to be signed by her before it’d be legit, so of course I gave it to him. Why wouldn’t I? He did her banking and he asked for a form. No biggie.’
Lachlan would have made short work of this joker, thought Heath.
‘How did he seem?’ asked Kemp. ‘Was he worried? Nervous? Upset?’
‘Uumm, let me see,’ said Trent screwing up his eyes and pausing dramatically. ‘No, he was pretty chilled. Relaxed, I’d say.’
‘Mr Campbell, would you mind speaking a bit closer to the microphone,’ another reporter called to him.
‘Sure, love, too easy.’ He smoothed his thinning hair under his sunglasses and straightened his tie.
‘I think you’d better come inside and make a statement,’ said Kemp gruffly.
‘No wuzzas,’ he replied. ‘And, mate,’ he said, turning to Heath and grabbing his hand to shake, ‘you have all my good wishes for your missus – and as far as the gold goes, it’s still as safe as.’ He clapped Heath on the back.
‘Right! Stand back, please,’ said the sergeant, exasperated. Kemp ushered Trent towards the house.
Heath felt Ned McNally grasp his right arm while Hamish took his left. ‘Please give the man some privacy,’ Ned told the crowd, sternly.
‘Heath! Heath, look over here!’ The voices were all around him, jostling and shouting.
‘Shut up, the lot of youse!’ Moira’s voice boomed from the verandah. A hush fell on the gathering. ‘Now, just settle and we’ll bring you out some cold drinks and when we have any news we’ll give you that too,’ she scolded.
‘Thanks, Moira.’ Heath was bustled through the front door. ‘Thanks, Ned, Hamish. Appreciate that,’ he said awkwardly, willing his voice not to break. These people may have disagreed with him on a lot of things, but they would always have his back. He spotted Lobby in a group gathered in the sitting room and went to him.
‘Can’t get me head around it, mate,’ he told Heath. ‘Hilary’s … she’s just always sorta been there, you know. Kind of indestructible.’
Heath nodded and laid a hand on his shoulder. It was easy to forget that Lobby was Hilary’s brother. He noticed the lines etched on his face. This was taking its toll on everyone.
‘Just heard about Lachlan’s visit to the bank.’ It was Ben, edging towards Heath through the sea of legs. ‘Seems like he couldn’t have seen the two blokes who were after him at that stage.’
‘Which means he was after the gold before he even knew they were in town,’ Heath replied.
‘That fucking snake,’ spat Ben.
‘I should have been thinking a whole lot more before I let someone like him into our lives,’ cried Nina. ‘I invited him into my house! I can’t believe he did this to us.’
‘Alright, everyone, attention please,’ called Barry Kemp, holding up his hands. ‘This is Detective Inspector Brogan from Area Command. He has a few updates, so I’m going to ask the visitors to move into the kitchen while we talk to …’
‘It’s okay, Barry,’ said Heath. ‘Let them stay. We’re all family here.’
‘Fair enough.’
Heath felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. It was Deborah. They’d hardly seen each other since she had married Matty and moved to Tamworth, but seeing her here, the reliable, unflappable woman he’d admired and cared about for so long, almost brought him to tears.
‘Deb.’ He held out his arms and she moved into them.
‘We’ll find them, Heath,’ she murmured, stepping back at last. ‘You know my mother. No-one is going to get the better of her for long.’
Despite himself, Heath smiled. It was true. Hilary never went quietly and if she and Nina were still together, Nina couldn’t wish for a more fierce protector.
‘Where’s Matty and the girls?’ asked Heath.
‘Over at Paramour, didn’t want to upset them. They keep asking where their granny is. Matty told them she went shopping at Dubbo and got lost in the shoe department of Richardsons.’ She tried to laugh but choked up instead.
‘Mac and Kathryn are trying to get a charter flight from Melbourne, so not sure when they’ll get in,’ offered Heath.
Barry Kemp cleared his throat and clapped his hands. The hubbub in the room died down.
‘Everyone, listen up. I’ll hand you over to Inspector Brogan.’
The Inspector was lean and tanned, with steel-grey hair in a military cut. He tucked his police cap under his arm.
‘We’ve put out a call for volunteers to start a grid search between here and Kurrabar homestead,’ he began. ‘As SES captain, Hamish Campbell will lead that search, so please put your names down with him after the briefing if you can take part. Any tiny piece of evidence could be vital.
‘The information the other Mr Campbell just provided has changed the picture somewhat. But here’s what we know. The two men were arrested at Nyngan with the paintings. They’ve been interrogated and charged with theft. A search of the car has shown no physical evidence of any of the three missing persons. The rifle taken from The Springs was not found with them –’
‘Whoa!’ Heath’s gut gripped him. ‘So Lachlan has to have taken it?’
Deb squeezed his shoulder as the voices around him seemed to undulate.
‘Settle down, Heath. Nothing’s known for sure.’ It was Kemp. ‘Nina could have moved it herself.’
The Inspector continued though Heath struggled to concentrate. ‘The two men claim Mr Wright owed them a substantial amount of money. They say there was nobody at The Springs when they arrived and that they took the paintings in part-payment of the debt. They deny ever having met Ms Larkin or Mrs Flint.
‘We have several theories we’re working on, but the main point is that the search has now shifted back to a 200-kilometre radius around Wandalla.’
‘Has Lachlan taken them?’ It was Izzy.
‘That is one of our lines of enquiry, yes,’ said Inspector Brogan. ‘But, as there’s been no attempt to withdraw the gold and no demand for a ransom, that remains a theory.
‘However, if Wright was on the road with the women, we would’ve spotted them by now. We also think that if he was the driver, they would likely have been able to overpower him. I believe both of them could have put up a fight.’
The crowd buzzed its assent.
‘Another thing that makes us believe they may be holed up in the district is Lachlan Wright’s make of car. It’s an old-model Ford Fairmont sedan,’ said Brogan. ‘This is not a viable vehicle for travelling the back roads or for taking across country. Someone must have seen them. Heath, I’d like you to make a media appeal for information. Do you think you’re up to it?’
Heath nodded.
‘Alright, I suggest you gather your thoughts while I give the media an update.’ He strode from the room and moments later the sound of shouted questions erupted outside.
‘Come on.’ Moira took him by the hand and led him into the office. ‘You sit here a sec and be quiet.’ But as she went to leave, she turned back from the door. ‘About Lachlan. I had blinkers on, I reckon … I trusted him.’ Her voice quivered. ‘I really did. When he helped with the pageant for the ball, he seemed to really care – about everyone.’ She shook her head in disgust. ‘Hoodwinked at my age! This’s knocked me for six.’
Heath looked at this kind face now haunted by something she couldn’t have foreseen. ‘I know, Auntie Moira.’ He hugged her briefly and she closed the door.
The bat
tery of microphones aimed at him seemed like guns in a firing squad. Woolly boom mikes, shining metal ones, a kaleidoscope of logos. Beside him, the solid presence of Inspector Brogan was an anchor. Heath held up a photo of Nina and Hilary taken at Christmas dinner and tried to stop his hands from shaking.
‘If anyone has seen Nina or Hilary or Lachlan Wright or knows anything about where they might be, then call Crime Stoppers or triple-0 as soon as possible,’ he said.
‘If someone out there is holding them, please, please stop and consider what you’re doing. These are two women who have never harmed anyone, who are loved by everyone in this community. They don’t deserve this. Please, let them go now while you have the chance.
‘Finally, Nina, if you can see or hear this, please know that I will find you. I won’t fail you. That’s a promise.’
As the questions began again, he shouldered his way past the media to the sanctuary of his car. He was going to take the plane up and scour every inch of that 200-kilometre radius himself. He was going to find her.
CHAPTER 28
The Previous Day
From the moment Lachlan set eyes on Trent Campbell, he knew this would work. This bank manager, unlike others in his past, was not going to cause him any trouble.
‘Maaate, great to touch base,’ Trent was saying, as he shook Lachlan’s hand vigorously.
‘Glad you had the time to meet me,’ said Lachlan. ‘I know you’re a busy man.’
‘You’re not wrong, not wrong, but, hey, it’s not every day a gold nugget’s unearthed under everyone’s noses, is it?’ laughed Trent.
‘You’re right there.’
‘Pull up a pew,’ said Trent briskly, as he perched on his mahogany desk. ‘I gather from what you said on the phone the lucky lady sent you.’
Lachlan smiled as he took in Trent’s puppy-dog face, the reflector sunglasses perched on his prematurely thinning hair, the smart suit and shiny shoes. This was going to be a doddle.
‘As her business manager, these are just the sort of tasks she’s asked me to handle – the usual – paperwork, financials,’ said Lachlan. ‘And who can blame her? She’s got bigger fish to fry – particularly now. We all have. I guess you’ve heard my mother and I are part-owners of the nugget.’
‘Absolutely. Coffee?’
‘No thanks,’ said Lachlan. ‘Great operation you’ve got here. I’ve done my fair share of property deals and I’ve got to give it to you Campbells – you know your businesses.’ He handed Trent his card.
‘Hmm,’ the bank manager said, surveying it. ‘Property investor? Sydney real estate?’ His eyes lit up.
‘I was for a while,’ he replied. ‘Needed a bit of time out of the rat-race. You get the story.’
‘Totally. Absolutely. We all need time to chillax. So, how can I help going forward?’
‘I know we really should’ve sorted this yesterday when Nina delivered the nugget, but she wants me to be a signatory on the safe deposit,’ Lachlan said. ‘I was a bit stunned at first, thinking she’d prefer Heath.’
Trent nodded.
‘But she said she’d rather choose someone who was across the business. We’ve become a close team since I arrived – family ties, of course.’
‘I see. Wise move if you ask me,’ said Trent. ‘For an artist type, she’s got her head screwed on right. And Heath Blackett? Who knows what sort of far-fetched scheme he’d end up funding with all that loot.’
‘Seems like we’re on the same page,’ said Lachlan.
‘Same song sheet,’ Trent smiled, face flushed.
‘So … are we able to get that sorted?’
‘Now? Too easy,’ replied Trent. ‘I’ll print you one.’ He turned to his computer.
‘Great,’ said Lachlan.
‘So, moving forward, do any of you have plans for the money?’ asked Trent, as he grabbed the form from the printer tray. His tone was casual but Lachlan could always spot a man hunting for a deal.
‘Well, we’ll be looking at all the options,’ said Lachlan. ‘That is, I’ll be advising her when things settle down. It’s been a pretty incredible couple of days.’ Lachlan tried to keep his voice steady. ‘Thing is, I’ve been wanting her to keep some of Jim’s unframed paintings in a safe place too. There are a few other valuables that should be stored here. You never know what types you get coming out in these artsy groups,’ said Lachlan. ‘I’ll rest easier when everything’s secure.’
‘Totally. So, here’s the form. Get Nina to sign with a witness.’ Trent handed Lachlan an envelope.
‘Won’t take any more of your time,’ said Lachlan. ‘Thanks for your help.’
The men stood and shook hands.
‘I’ll see you out.’
Lachlan nodded to the bank manager and turned on his heel. He shouldn’t be forced to deal with this pissant. It’s her fault – Nina. The nerve of her, trying to fob him off with some pittance for his mother, when the whole lot should have been hers – his.
He wiped his damp hands on his jeans and headed out through the bank, willing himself to relax and walk at a more Wandalla pace.
Outside, he squinted in the piercing sun before finding his sunglasses. The main street was almost empty – Tuesday lunchtime. Vapour waves danced above the baking bitumen adding a dream-like wash.
The muffled roar of the schoolyard at lunchtime rumbled in the distance. Three girls in hitched-up tunics paused near him, only long enough to turn on their phones and light cigarettes. In a beat, they were off, hooting down the street.
In the car park, he barely noticed the silver four-wheel drive until the occupants, one heavy-set man in sunglasses and a thin, younger man, stepped out. Lachlan lowered his head and walked slowly until he reached his car. His heart was thumping. He sprang into the driver’s seat and closed the door. There was no mistaking the bulk of Richie.
In the rear-vision mirror he could see the men talking. They began walking towards the Commercial Hotel just as the school-girls ran past them, all bare skin and squeals. The pair watched until the girls were out of sight. They hadn’t seen him. Lachlan breathed a sigh of relief and waited till they disappeared through the doors. He put the car into reverse, pulled out and headed for North Road.
It wouldn’t have come to this if these women hadn’t been such bitches. He’d put so much effort into making each of them feel special and for what?
That old bag Maggie. He remembered her prune face lighting up with excitement when they’d crossed paths in front of Nina’s painting in the Flynn exhibition.
‘You look a lot like Larkin,’ she’d said. A way in. And just as well. Turned out she was loaded. They’d met for six or seven tedious coffees and portrait sittings and he’d almost convinced her to invest with him. But she was all over the place. She’d get to the bank and then forget what she was doing there. Then things in Sydney got too hot – Richie was not a patient man. So when Izzy turned up at the café falling all over herself about that stupid portrait, he couldn’t believe his luck. It became clear – Nina was his way out of town, out of debt, out of trouble.
He floored the accelerator. Then there was Hilary. She was smart, too smart. She’d played him like a cat with a mouse. And Nina? Like mother, like daughter. He’d done everything for them, and in return? Dropped. Humiliated. Well, he hadn’t come this far for nothing.
It wouldn’t take Richie long to find out where he was staying. He had maybe an hour at most to cover his tracks. He crossed the bridge to the highway and sped to The Springs.
Thugs with a pistol in Wandalla? Nina stood with her hand still on the phone trying to process what Hilary had just told her. She almost felt like laughing, it seemed so unlikely – a scene from a cop show. But Hilary, normally so unflappable, had sounded on the edge of hysteria, insisting Nina go with her to Paramour as soon as she got there. But she had so much to do here at The Springs. Izzy was bringing a new tour group out this afternoon.
And there was also …
A car approached. Nina hurr
ied up the hall and peeked from behind the sitting-room curtains, just to be on the safe side. Syd scrambled towards the door, but Nina grabbed him by the collar. The car pulled up in a cloud of dust at the front gate.
It was only Lachlan. She immediately felt stupid relief, but then she saw he was running to the door.
‘Nina, get in the car – mine. I’ll be there in a sec. Gotta grab some stuff.’ Lachlan’s face was tense, his voice harsh. He pushed past her and raced towards the office.
‘What do you mean? Where are we going?’ said Nina, shuffling her feet into thongs at the door. She headed down the hall to grab her bag. But he cut her off as he emerged from his room, throwing a duffle bag over his shoulder.
She protested. ‘I have to call Heath. I need my phone. And Izzy’ll be here soon. Hilary just rang. Is this what she was talking about?’
Lachlan grabbed her arms hard and looked into her face. ‘You’re in danger. We need to get out, now. You can call them from my phone.’ He turned her around. ‘Just get to the car. You’ve got to trust me. I’m right behind you.’
‘Alright, alright. I’m going.’
The moment she opened the passenger door of Lachlan’s old sedan, Syd flew in. Nina tried to shoo him out but he scampered into the back seat and refused to budge. Her head swam – where were they going? She was only dressed in shorts, a singlet and a headscarf. And her bag, her phone …
She began to climb out again when Lachlan launched himself off the verandah, slammed her door shut and leapt into the car.
‘Hang on. What’s going on? Tell me.’
As they sped off, swerving on the dirt drive, Lachlan swore but kept up the pace.
‘What did Hilary say?’ he asked, sharply.
‘That she saw some guys at the Commercial, something about the nugget story in the paper and that she saw one of them had a gun under his jacket.’
The Shifting Light Page 29
