Northern Heat

by Helene Young

  ‘Buggered if I know. Hide up in that new bunker they’ve built underneath the hangar. Do some importing. I keep me nose out. Been around long enough to know you don’t cross hard bastards like them. Too many crocs in the river. Too easy to disappear.’

  ‘I heard that.’

  ‘Got away with murder.’

  Conor was lost for words. Was this a gentler form of a warning? Or just a garrulous stockman passing the time of day?

  ‘Where are you heading?’

  ‘PCYC, but drop me off in town and I’ll walk up.’

  ‘Nah, I’ll drop you up there. I’ve got to pick up the kids. Freya and Jonno had an almighty row this afternoon.’

  ‘Really? I saw Freya a couple of hours ago. She gave me a lift back to town after I’d shifted the Lady Leonie up the river.’

  ‘So I heard.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Someone saw you at the docks. Don’t think it went well for Freya.’

  ‘Shit. She picked me up just like you did. Nothing premeditated or suspicious.’

  ‘Told you Jonno’s paranoid.’

  ‘Fuck.’ Conor twisted in his seat. ‘Did he hurt her?’

  ‘Nah, she can handle herself.’

  ‘Doesn’t make sense. Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘Nah. You try interfering you’ll make it worse. It’ll all blow over. The cyclone will take care of that.’

  ‘What? Being locked up together in an isolated mansion while a cyclone rips the place apart and then cuts you off from the world is a good thing with a bloke prone to beating up his missus?’ Conor’s stomach had knotted at the implied violence of it all.

  ‘Doesn’t sound good when you say it like that,’ the old stockman muttered.

  ‘Mate, I can’t stand violence, let alone when it involves women and children. Where’s Steve heading?’

  ‘Dunno. Surprised he hasn’t pissed off to Cairns. He won’t want to be stuck out here. Too many bad memories. I remember him wetting his pants in the middle of a cyclone when he was a little tacker and Evelyn beat the crap out of him.’

  Conor filed that away but he wasn’t interested in Steve right now. ‘Christ, mate. Freya and Jonno can’t spend a cyclone locked up together along with the kids.’

  ‘What do you reckon I can do?’ The old bushie was getting agitated now and missed the gear change, metal grinding on metal.

  ‘Say they should all be in the cyclone shelter in town, not stuck out the back of beyond.’

  Jeff clucked his tongue. ‘That bloody great palace is built like a brick shit-house.’

  ‘Recipe for a bloody disaster if you ask me.’

  ‘Well, I didn’t bloody ask you.’ He was scowling now. ‘You can walk from here.’

  He swerved onto the grassy verge and jerked on the handbrake.

  Conor looked at him for a long moment. ‘Sometimes it’s better to stand up to bullies than turn a blind eye. Sometimes a woman has no choice, but a man does.’ His jaw clenched. ‘Thanks for the ride.’

  Jeff left him as another cool eddy of air swirled in from the east, heavy with the smell of ozone. Conor looked around. A good hour’s walk ahead of him. And he knew he was in for a soaking sometime soon.

  27

  ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Evelyn yelled, making a grab for Freya’s arm.

  Freya twisted away and darted round the other side of the car, the big bag weighing her down. The wind whipped her ponytail against her cheeks.

  ‘Stay out of it, Evelyn. It’s none of your business.’

  Evelyn snorted. ‘Got another sucker like Danny boy lined up to help you?’

  ‘He did nothing wrong. He was a good man.’

  ‘Bullshit. He wanted to screw you like every other man. That’s why Debbie came to me. Concerned she was losing her man to an ungrateful slut. He had to go.’

  ‘No! It wasn’t like that at all! You didn’t need to kill him.’

  Evelyn shrugged. ‘Steve said it was easy.’ A fresh wave of grief swamped Freya as Evelyn continued. ‘Did you really think you could hand over details of our business? This family’s fed and clothed you and your brats and this is how you repay us?’

  ‘This family has stood by while Jonno beat me up so badly I fucking miscarried! You want him to kill me next time?’ Freya opened the rear door and hefted the bag onto the seat, tears blurring her vision.

  ‘If you’d been a proper wife that wouldn’t have happened.’

  ‘Bullshit. I don’t know what you did to Jonno, but he’s not the man I married.’

  ‘And that’s my fault?’

  ‘Well, I’m not the one who cut off his nuts by making him move back here! Sissy and I had to bear the brunt of that anger. You’re all psychos.’ She opened the driver’s door and shoved the key in the ignition.

  ‘The gates are locked, Freya. You’re not going anywhere. Jeff’s picking up the children.’

  ‘No!’ Freya turned the key and the engine purred. ‘I’m leaving and you can’t stop me.’

  ‘We’ll never let you leave. Take your punishment and get on with it. There are worse places to be.’

  Freya jumped in the front seat, but Evelyn opened the passenger side, reaching across for the park brake. Freya floored the accelerator and swung the wheel viciously. It caught Evelyn off guard and she fell out of the door before she could get a firm handhold.

  Freya looked in the rear-vision mirror as Evelyn staggered to her feet, something metal glinting in her hand. Freya swore as the back window took a direct hit. She jabbed the accelerator, hearing the ping of bullets striking metal.

  She veered off the track, but she must have left the range of the handgun. Another five minutes to reach the gate. Was there enough time to get out before Jonno realised what was happening? She skidded back onto the track. Intermittent showers had turned the graded road into a skating rink. She sideswiped the row of recently planted pines, taking small satisfaction that the avenue would have some gaps.

  There was no sign of the quad bikes or farm ute so for now she was in the clear. She was on the last stretch and she didn’t even bother trying the gate. Time-wasting. She swung left, bumping over the lumpy ground, grateful that the rain hadn’t had a chance to soak into the parched earth. The camera swivelled towards her. She straightened her course for the fence.

  The four-strand barbwire was topped with an electrified line and she had no idea what sort of voltage ran through it. The cattle didn’t graze in this paddock. The speedo showed 85 and she screamed as she hit. The car skidded and she wrestled with the wheel. Something snapped and she surged forward again. Beside the car a broken wire arced in the grass. It wasn’t only the top strand that was electrified.

  She hit the road and turned left, flooring the accelerator again. It would take them precious minutes to get the helicopter out if they wanted to chase her by air, but she doubted the young pilot would be happy to fly in these conditions anyway. The wind pummelled the car and then vanished as quickly as it had risen.

  Freya hit dial.

  ‘Sissy?’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘Don’t go with Jeff.’

  ‘Mum? What are you doing?’

  ‘Just do as I say, Sienna. For once.’

  ‘But there’s a cyclone! Are you crazy! I know what you’re doing.’

  ‘We’ll be safe with Kristy. We’re not going home.’

  ‘But what about Esmeralda?’

  ‘She’ll be fine. We can collect her later.’

  ‘No! He’ll sell her, or worse! You can’t do this to me.’

  Freya felt the tension headache ratchet up another notch. ‘Sienna, this is not negotiable. I’m coming to get you both. Don’t go with Jeff.’

  She hung up before Sissy could argue. The defiance in her daughter’s voice made the hairs on her neck prickle.

  Thirty minutes later she’d reached the outskirts of Cooktown. Rain was pelting down now and the wind slewed the vehicle.

  Her phone rang. Jonno.
She ignored it. Right now he’d know where she was but unless he’d left immediately he couldn’t get to her. She turned up towards the school, grateful that day care was in the same complex.

  I’m here, her text said.

  Well I’m not!!!! was the reply.

  ‘Damn it, Sissy, what have you done?’ she muttered, typing furiously.

  Do not take your phone with you, Sissy. He will find you!

  There was no response, but Freya hoped she’d at least do that.

  She got out of the car and pushed open the door to day care, hoping her smile would hold and that her son would be safe inside. Buddy was in the front row, riveted by the story the teacher was reading. All Freya could do was lean against the doorframe and wait for it to finish.

  ‘And then little bear knew he’d found his family again,’ the teacher said, turning the book so the circle of children could see the happy little characters.

  Buddy looked up and saw his mother. His face split into a grin. His emotions were never far from the surface and it hardened Freya’s resolve that this was the day to leave. He scrambled to his feet and scampered across to her.

  ‘Sorry to interrupt, but I’d like to take Buddy home a little early. Before the roads get any worse.’

  ‘Of course, Freya,’ the teacher said, closing the book and clasping it to her chest. ‘Buddy, get your hat and backpack.’

  Freya waited in the corridor, listening to Buddy calling goodbye to his playmates.

  ‘I’m ready,’ he announced, slipping his warm hand into hers. She knew better than to swing him up to her hip, but she had to work hard to stop herself. Innocent trust glowed in his blue eyes and sunny smile. Too young to realise that life could be impossibly cruel.

  ‘We still need to pick up Sissy and then we’ll head home, hey?’

  ‘Sissy was here. And Abby.’

  ‘When?’

  He shrugged and stuck his bottom lip out. ‘Before the bear story?’

  ‘What did she want?’

  ‘She said to tell you she’s okay.’

  ‘What?’

  He turned his face to his mother, tears sheening his eyes at her tone. Freya crouched in front of him. ‘I’m not angry with you, Buddy, but did she say anything else?’

  He shook his head and tears threatened to spill over the thick dark lashes.

  ‘Damn.’

  ‘Mummy?’

  She pressed her lips to his forehead, the smell of baby shampoo sweet in his hair. ‘It’s okay. Sissy will be fine.’

  He stumbled along beside her while she cursed inwardly. Was her daughter stupid enough to try to rescue her horse? Was Abby likely to give her a hand?

  It didn’t bear thinking about. There was no going back. For any of them.

  She strapped Buddy into his seat. He’d settled somewhere between sleepy and sad. Walking back to her side, she kicked the tyre and glanced at the panel work. There were scratches from the fence and grass caught under the back bumper where she’d bottomed out crossing onto the road. The window had shattered and a neat hole was drilled in the bottom-left side. Thankfully Buddy hadn’t noticed anything.

  She sniffed and looked at the ground. ‘Petrol? Shit!’

  Another bullet had punctured the side and must have hit the petrol tank. She crouched down and felt under the car. Fuel was still running out. She should have noticed the levels dropping.

  She hurried to the driver’s side and slammed the door, fumbling with the key. The engine fired and she drove up the street. ‘Thank you, thank you,’ she breathed. She needed to get the bags from the PCYC and get to Kristy’s before the fuel ran out. The gauge said less than a quarter.

  Buddy was singing again and she turned the air-conditioning up high. Her body was on fire with fear and adrenaline.

  ‘I’ll just be a minute, Bud.’

  ‘Okay,’ he chirped.

  Inside the PCYC she saw Petra in the distance and waved before hurrying to the locker and wresting the bags free. She passed the office and dropped the carry bag with her mobile phone on a desk. Jonno would hopefully think she was still there.

  She nodded at people she knew as she struggled out to the car. The rain was teeming down now. Pulling out gingerly, she expected the car to stall at any minute. The fuel light was flickering intermittently. At the next intersection, she pulled over and took out her new phone. She’d pre-programmed a couple of numbers.

  Kristy’s home phone rang out. She tried the mobile number and it diverted to message bank. She didn’t bother leaving one. She tried Abby’s phone, terrified that if she rang Sissy, Jonno would somehow be able to track her again. It too diverted to message bank.

  A sob bubbled up in her throat and she hiccupped, squeezing her eyes against the flood of tears. She couldn’t cry in front of Buddy. She had to stay strong.

  Back on the road, she drove up to the Parnells’. They’d given her a key months ago. Danny had told her she and the kids were welcome any time they needed safety. Debbie had been by his side, nodding, nothing but support in her eyes. Was Debbie really stupid enough to go to Evelyn? It hadn’t occurred to Freya that Evelyn would order Steve to do the shooting.

  The car stuttered as the incline increased. ‘No!’ She stamped on the accelerator and it surged again before stalling completely. Her options were running out with every minute. She’d planned to leave the car at the PCYC, but she’d never be able to move it now. Maybe she’d have to go back to the hall with everyone else. But first she needed to find Sissy.

  Five minutes later she was inside the Parnells’ house, a sodden Buddy clutching at her legs.

  She picked up the house phone and dialled. Sissy answered at the first ring.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Sissy! Where the hell are you?’

  ‘We had to get Esmeralda. Abby’s with me. We’ll be fine.’

  ‘No! Sissy, we’re supposed to be leaving. Now!’ She couldn’t quite hold onto her sob.

  ‘Mum? Are you all right? Buddy?’

  ‘I’m fine. I have Buddy, but you’ve got to get out of the there, baby. Tell Jeff to drive you back here. You know Evelyn’s got a gun too, not just Jonno.’

  ‘I know, I know. We’re at the stables. Jeff has the horses ready to go. We’ll ride them out.’

  ‘Sissy, no! Leave them there.’

  ‘I can’t, Mum. I can’t. We’ll be okay. Gotta go.’

  The phone went dead and Freya pressed her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh my God, my baby,’ she whispered, sinking to the floor and wrapping her son in her arms.

  Outside, the wind pounded the windows, the glass awash with the rain. The river had disappeared as cloud crept lower. Everything was in ruins and all she could do was weep.

  28

  Conor was grateful he only had a couple of streets still to go to the turning for the PCYC. He could see the next line of rain hurrying towards him. Lightning lit up the dark clouds as the storm built and the temperature dropped. Annabel used to hate getting wet, carrying an umbrella at the hint of forecast showers. It didn’t bother him. He’d played some of his best footy in the rain. A car drew up alongside him and he did a double take. Kristy leant across, pushing the door open.

  ‘Jump in.’

  He didn’t argue, slamming the door as soon as he folded himself into the front seat.

  ‘I’ve always believed that line about those who walk in the rain and those who just get wet. I’d picked you for a walker.’ Her strained smile disarmed him, melting some of the anxiety in his chest.

  ‘Normally I’m a walker, but today I have too much to do. Thanks for stopping.’

  She looked embarrassed. He guessed she was as conflicted as he was but for very different reasons. ‘Where do you want to go?’

  ‘I was heading to the PCYC to see where I could lend a hand.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll drop you there after I pick Abby up from school. Is your boat okay?’

  He could only shrug. ‘I hope so. It’s tucked up a creek not far from the falls. Lady Leonie
’s sitting pretty downstream from me.’

  ‘That’s great. And the news from Brisbane is encouraging. Bill’s out of the coma and making steady progress.’

  ‘All the more reason to make sure Lady Leonie is waiting for him when he comes back. Have you heard from Freya?’

  ‘No.’ Kristy’s head snapped round. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘I’m not sure. Jeff, the old bushie, dropped me off thirty, forty minutes ago. Said he was on his way to collect the kids.’

  He went on to explain, watching Kristy chew her lips as she listened and drove.

  ‘Call me strange, but I don’t like the thought of them all being cut off by floodwaters or cyclone damage.’

  Her face was grim, the blue of her eyes dark. ‘It’s a difficult call.’

  ‘Yeah, I figured that.’

  ‘My father’s coming to take Abby back to the station. He’s more than happy to take the kids with him. I tried to persuade Freya this morning.’

  ‘So can you call her? Give it another shot?’

  She nodded. ‘I’ll call from school.’

  Two minutes later she stopped in front of the sprawling building with the engine still running, windscreen wipers ineffectually trying to sweep the deluge from the window. Conor reached out and fiddled with the demister as she dialled. The car park up the road was filling up as people made the decision to move into the evacuation centre. An older woman hurried past with her waterproof hood up and two little dogs in tow, their fur slick with water.

  Kristy tapped the screen and turned the speaker on. Conor listened to the recorded message. Kristy left her own and hung up. The rain eddied in another vicious swirl of wind. High above, thunder rumbled and cracked.

  ‘This is not the day to be heading out on that dirt road, Kristy. You don’t even own a proper four-wheel drive.’

  ‘I know.’ She wrung her hands together. ‘But I can’t leave her there.’ She wiped a hand down the inside of the window and peered out. ‘Let’s get Abby.’

  There was no sign of Abby in the melee of kids being collected. No sign of Sissy’s distinctive blonde hair either.

  ‘Was she supposed to wait for you?’

  Kristy nodded. ‘Yeah. She walks home if it’s not raining, but on a day like this I said I’d pick her up.’