‘Poor bastard doesn’t stand a chance,’ Dave thought as he looked at the skinny teenager. He wouldn’t weigh sixty kilos wringing wet and he didn’t look like he’d seen the inside of a gym in his life.
He put his hands out and the boxers touched gloves. Fred blew the whistle and his boxer laid out Jimmy in one right hook to the chin.
‘And there we have it, ladies and gents. Jimmy’s first crack at the big time. Not to worry, young lad, you come back again and have another go next time we’re here.’
One of Fred’s men helped the young lad up and sprayed some water in his face and got him out of the ring.
The same thing happened to the next two challengers, then a man dressed in boots, jeans and a cut-off shirt had a turn.
‘Gents and ladies, I give you … Thunder and Dingo!’
Fred explained the rules; they touched gloves and eyed each other off. They sparred, dancing around each other. Dingo had couple of tries at Thunder’s face, but Thunder ducked every time. Dingo forced his body against Thunder’s and tried to get a couple of quick jabs into his stomach. Thunder wasn’t having any of that, managing to connect a glove to the right shoulder of his opponent.
‘Hands up, hands up,’ someone yelled from the crowd.
Dave looked to see if it was Chris; it sounded like his voice. His friends weren’t paying any attention to the fight. They had their heads together and were talking intently. They all had grave expressions.
George looked up and across to the other side of the tent and Dave followed his gaze. He couldn’t see anything that George might be concerned about. He frowned and scanned the crowd. There was nothing that worried him except for the looks on the faces of Larry, Chris and George. And Bulldust still wasn’t there.
Dave’s attention was brought back to the ring by a loud cheer and he looked up to see Dingo on the ground and Thunder standing above him.
Fred’s girls paraded across the ring, holding up a number one sign near Thunder and a number two for Fred’s boy.
‘And you see right there, people, it can be done, my fighters can be beaten. Thunder, you’ve just won yourself a grand. Do you want a job?’ Fred laughed through the microphone and clapped the winner on the shoulder. ‘Over here, my friend, these people will look after you.
‘Right, I think we’ll give Dingo a rest and bring on Chucky. Now Chucky’s been with me since he was eighteen; he’s twenty-eight now. He’s a pretty seasoned fighter and he’ll need to be when he takes on Dave from Nundrew. Get on up here, Dave!’
Dave felt the adrenalin kick in and he jumped over the rope and onto the floor and bounced around on his toes.
Once again, Fred explained the rules, they touched gloves and went to opposite sides of the ring. Sizing up Chucky, Dave saw he was about the same height but had muscles in places he didn’t know muscles existed. Chucky watched him as they continued to bounce around in circles, eyeing each other. Dave didn’t want to be the one who threw the first punch; he wanted to go in when Chucky was off balance after trying to hit him.
The hit was a left hook from Chucky and Dave bounced away. He took two quick steps and butted up against Chucky’s body, putting two jabs into his stomach and bringing his fist up to connect under the jaw. Chucky staggered but quickly regained his feet, coming at Dave with another left hook and an uppercut.
The heat from their bodies mixed with their sweat and Dave saw the anger in Chucky’s eyes as he tried to lay a couple into Dave, who dodged and continued to duck and weave and the hooks kept coming. Left. Right. Left. Right.
‘Gloves up!’ someone yelled again.
Was coaching from the sideline allowed? Stupid question. There were few rules in this type of contest.
Dave lost concentration for one second and Chucky took advantage. A left hook connected and Dave staggered backwards. Chucky advanced and handed out another punch that only connected with Dave’s shoulder but it was enough to make him hit the deck.
Over and out.
‘Ah, well done there, matey.’ Fred was over in a flash and lifted his man’s arm to victory. ‘You put up a great fight. Not good enough on the day. Thanks for having a go and entertaining the people.’
Walking out of the ring, Dave looked for the team again, but they weren’t in their seats. He let someone undo his boxing gloves and take them off before scanning the crowd for them. His cheek was beginning to sting from where Chucky had connected a couple of times. There was going to be another shiner for sure.
Outside, the sun made him squint as he went in search of the boys. They must be at the beer tent. The fairground music was loud and he stopped for a minute, watching the rides. Large mechanical swings flying out in the air, kids screaming and their hair streaming out behind them. Over at the oval, he was surprised to see dressage, assuming that camp drafting and barrel racing would’ve been the choice of equine activities. The horses were washed and groomed, their shiny coats glistening in the sun and their riders dressed in jodhpurs and blazers. Bulldust had mentioned there was a cattle competition and a lot of the studs brought their bulls from all around the state to take part. He’d like to go and have a look at them.
‘Good job,’ someone called out to him.
He put his hand up in acknowledgement.
‘I’ll buy you a beer,’ someone else said.
‘Another time.’
Pushing through the crowd of people at the bar, he couldn’t find his mates and he was sure there was something going on. But what?
Deciding to stay where there were people, he ordered a beer, took up a spot by the wall and scanned the crowd.
He knew plenty of faces by sight now, but not many names. There were also plenty of strangers, people who’d come in from the stations to check out the boxing tent and catch up with folk they hadn’t seen in ages.
A group of girls came through the tent opening, dressed in jeans and wide-buckle belts. He looked to see if Shane was with them. She wasn’t.
Where the fuck were the fellas? A trickle of fear ran through him. Had his cover been blown? Nah, Justin would have been waiting for him if it had been. It had to be something else.
After another beer, it was clear that his mates had shot through, so he laid his glass on the bar and left.
Chapter 36
It was dark by the time Dave had walked back to the depot. He was hoping tomorrow his bike would be ready and he’d be right to go. He hadn’t managed to find much more information—Bulldust had disappeared out bush for a couple of days. The boys had said that wasn’t unusual. Sometimes he just needed space. He’d turned back up again yesterday, in time for the fight. Tonight, though, Dave wanted to have one last round with Bulldust. Get him pissed and see if he could get him to talk. Under his arm he had a bottle of whiskey—Bulldust’s favourite brand.
The place was in darkness when Dave walked up the drive. He looked around for Bulldust’s ute. It wasn’t in the shed.
Maybe he had just missed everyone at the show? The fear seeped through him again. He kept telling himself that if his cover had been compromised Justin would be there. He’d know; somehow, he’d know.
He flicked on the light and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the brightness and he put the bottle of whiskey on the kitchen table.
Alongside a pair of already linked together cable ties.
‘Fuck,’ he muttered. Suddenly it all made sense. The boys’ faces in the boxing tent, their disappearance and the fact that George was looking at something in the tent.
‘Sorry about this, Dave.’ Bulldust’s voice came from the darkness but as he talked he stepped into the light.
‘Sorry about what?’ Dave asked, trying to control the terror squeezing his chest. Hold it together, he told himself. Deadpan face, deadpan stare. No emotion. Don’t let anything get to you. Don’t show fear.
‘I can’t have loose ends.’
‘What are you talking about? I said I was coming back.’
‘But you’re going, and you’ve only done one muste
r. It rings alarm bells with me.’ Bulldust shook his head.
Scotty stepped out from behind Bulldust and right then Dave knew he was in big trouble. ‘I like loose ends even less. I know your face from somewhere and I don’t like that,’ Scotty said.
‘I’ve got a fairly common face,’ Dave said. Even as he said it, he breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t connected him to the Barrabine police.
Bulldust shook his head. ‘Ever the smart-arse.’
‘You’re making a name with the coppers. Keep getting into fights and attracting attention. I don’t like attention.’
‘Their attention is on me, not you. Why should that bother you?’
‘Because you work for me,’ Scotty said.
‘I work for Bulldust,’ Dave said, wishing like hell he had an escape route. But with the two huge men standing in the doorway, he was well and truly trapped.
‘We work together, so you work for me too.’
Bulldust stepped inside the kitchen and sighed. ‘Dave, I’ve had to do this to people I don’t like. But I like you and I wish I didn’t have to.’
‘Then don’t. I’ve been loyal to you. I haven’t done anything that should make you want to do this. I’ve even saved some of your blokes!’ He was sure if he could keep Bulldust talking he’d have more of a chance of breaking through to him. Scotty he wasn’t so sure about. Maybe he should appeal to Bulldust’s love of Shane. After all, he was about to be a dad again.
‘I know.’ Bulldust ran his hand over his freshly shaved head. ‘You and me, we’re similar.’
‘Shut the fuck up, Bulldust. Get on with it,’ Scotty said.
‘No, you shut up.’ Bulldust turned on him. ‘I’m only doing this because of you.’ He turned back to Dave. ‘We’re similar. Our dads were both deadshits; we dragged ourselves up and made good. Hard workers. That’s what I saw in you when I first met you.’
‘And we love our kids.’
Bulldust’s head snapped up. ‘Kids?’
Dave nodded. ‘That’s why I have to go. I got a chick up the duff. Only just found out. Gotta do the right thing. It’s my kid. I see how much you love Shane. Maybe I want a piece of that, to feel like that too.’
Bulldust didn’t say anything.
‘Let me keep helping you. You own me anyway.’
‘No can do.’ Bulldust’s tone was final. He picked up the cable ties and walked one side of the table, while Scotty walked around the other.
‘Dad?’
Shane, ashen-faced, stared in through the doorway. ‘Uncle Scott? What are you doing?’
Uncle? Dave thought.
‘What are you doing here?’ Bulldust snapped. ‘Get the fuck out of here. You’re supposed to be away.’
‘Did you mean what I think you did? What have you done to people you don’t like?’ Shane took a step into the room.
‘Shane, get out of here,’ Bulldust barked. ‘It’s got nothing to do with you.’
‘I think it has. You said you’ve done this before. Done what? Hurt people? Why do you want to hurt Dave?’
Bulldust lowered his voice. ‘This doesn’t concern you. I want you to turn around and go back to your house. Forget you’ve been here tonight. Go now.’
‘What did you do to Bill?’
Dave was watching all three carefully. Scotty was the one he was going to have trouble with: he wasn’t being affected by Shane’s terrified questions.
Bulldust was.
Maybe there was a way out. He glanced around the room, looking for a weapon. Scotty had a pistol on his hip and there was a rifle propped up against the doorframe.
‘Fuck, Bulldust, how many other people know what we’ve done?’ Scotty exploded. ‘I don’t like this.’ He took a step towards Dave but Bulldust raised his hand and stopped him.
Dave let out a quiet breath, his heart still hammering against his chest. If he could just get out the door … But too many people were in front of it.
‘I loved Bill.’ Shane’s voice broke. ‘He was like a grandfather to me. And you killed him? Why, Dad? Tell me!’
‘Nothing you need to know about.’ Bulldust’s voice was flat now.
‘Shane, get the fuck out of here,’ Scotty said. He took a step towards her and Bulldust leapt at him.
‘Don’t you fucking touch her,’ Bulldust snarled. He turned on Shane. ‘Get—’
‘Have you done it to others?’ Shane raised her voice and spoke over the top of him. ‘What about old Hec? He used to read me stories when I was little, after Mum left. He just disappeared like Bill. Did you do something to him too?’
Shane took another step inside the kitchen and towards her father. Dave saw his opening. He dove over the table, hit the ground and rolled, then ran out into the night.
‘Fuck, get after him!’ Bulldust yelled.
‘I’ll deal with you later,’ Dave heard Scotty say to Shane.
Dave ran as fast as he could towards the river.
A spotlight lit up the night and Dave heard a shot from behind him. Bulldust would be operating the light and trying to find where he was so Scotty could get a clear shot at him. He needed the cover of the trees.
Running harder, he threw himself into a bush and took two deep breaths before commando crawling towards the tree line. He had to keep himself covered.
An image of Bec and a pregnant Mel came into his mind. He blinked hard to get rid of it. He couldn’t afford to think about them now, he had to save himself so he could see them again. He found a tree trunk and leaned against. Slowly he peered out from behind. He saw Scotty was reversing a bull buggy out of the shed.
That’s how Bill was killed, Dave thought. They hit him with the bull buggy. They’d need to impound it and get forensics to go over it. He bet they’d find traces of hair and blood on it and they could match the tread to the marks on Bill’s body. It was all so clear to Dave now.
‘See him?’ yelled Bulldust. The lights continued to flash through the trees.
Dave withdrew his head and tried to make his body blend in with the tree trunk.
‘You can’t stay here.’ Spencer’s voice was so loud and clear it almost made Dave jump. It was in his head, but he could’ve sworn his friend was standing next to him.
He dropped to the ground and crawled towards the river on his stomach. The river was his only hope.
The spotlight landed on his back.
‘There! There!’
Another shot and instantly Dave felt a raging heat through his arm.
‘Fuck,’ he whispered, feeling blood start to run down his arm. He grabbed at the wound and clamped his hand down tight. He couldn’t feel anything except the warm, trickling liquid. Adrenalin had taken the pain away.
There was no choice now.
Dave got to his feet and sprinted, not looking behind him, only focusing on getting to the river. He’d be safe there.
The noise of the bull buggy was getting closer, weaving through the trees. Then he heard the barking of the dogs.
Bulldust must’ve let the dogs off their chains. The river was the only choice now. They wouldn’t be able to smell him in the water.
Dave started weaving from side to side, darting in and out of trees so Scotty couldn’t get a clear shot and the dogs would take longer to latch onto his scent.
Against his will, images of Bec and Melinda ran through his mind. He would not get caught, he would be safe, because Spencer has asked him to be and because Melinda was pregnant again. He hit the river and dove under the water. He held his breath for as long as he could and stayed beneath the surface.
Scotty wasn’t far behind him. Shots were fired into the water. Dave could hear the ping from under the water, but he kept swimming. When he finally came to the surface, gasping for breath, he let himself float for a little while, looking at the stars. The night was quiet now. Perhaps they’d given up looking for him.
That almost made him laugh. Not likely.
He could feel his arm becoming heavy and knew he needed to get to a hos
pital. He turned on his back, thankful the water was cold. It would help slow the bleeding and keep his mind focused.
Looking around he picked up the glow of the lights of Nundrew to the left. He wasn’t that far from where he went into the water. Considering his options, he decided to go back to the bank closest to the depot. They wouldn’t expect him to do that. He guessed they would be up near the bridge waiting for him.
Trying not to make any noise, he kicked off towards the bank. As he got closer, he heard voices.
‘I told you I didn’t like the smell of him.’ Scotty.
‘He’s clean. Joe did all the background checks on him. There’s nothing out of place.’ Bulldust.
Dave put his feet down on the bottom of the river and stood there, listening. Playing doggo.
His arm was beginning to ache now, but the blood flow had slowed. His hand clamped firmly on the wound.
Blinking a couple of times to clear his vision, he followed the sound of the voices to work out where the two men were.
‘He’s not fucking clean. He can’t be. I recognise his face from somewhere. I never forget a face.’
‘Maybe from a pub. You spend enough time in them.’
There was a commotion; the sound of running feet, the men turning with a gasp, skin on skin.
‘How dare you!’ The sound of another slap.
Shane. She must have got out of the house somehow.
‘If you love me, you’ll tell me exactly what’s going on, Dad. I’ve got a bad feeling and I need you to tell me what I’m thinking isn’t true.’
‘For fuck’s sake, do we have to do this now? We need to find him,’ Scotty said.
But Bulldust rounded on Shane. ‘They were going to bring us unstuck. Shooting their mouths off. I would’ve gone to prison!’
‘What were you doing wrong?’
‘How the hell do you think I sent you to all those fancy schools? Huh? How do you think I paid for all of that? Not on a mustering wage, let me tell you.’
‘Stop this. Now.’ Scotty.
‘You’re a crook?’
‘Don’t you go accusing me. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you. Now fuck off, Shane. Go home or to Brisbane or somewhere, just get the fuck out of here. It’s not safe to stay.’
Without a Doubt Page 23
