Riverboat Point (38 page)

Savannah dragged the mat over to the edge of the cupboard. She lay on her back and put her feet in the cupboard, testing the patched area. Then she brought her right leg up to her chest and kicked out with all the force she could muster. The tin popped out like a cap off a bottle. Savannah got back on her hands and knees. She'd made a hole big enough for her to squeeze through.

Li squatted beside her and looked fearfully into Savannah's eyes.

“Dog,” she said.

Savannah peered out through the gap. The light was gloomy. Perhaps it was late afternoon. She must have made a racket knocking that tin off but Brutus didn't appear. She hoped he was sleeping or tied up or even inside the house. Anywhere but near her.

Li got up and went back to the caravan.

“Dog,” she said again.

Savannah was glad she wanted to stay. Their only hope was for Savannah to get away and get help. Li was in no shape to run and climb fences.

She gestured to Li. “I'll get help,” she said.

Then, before her courage left her, she stuck her head through the gap.

The sharp metal edge of the tin dug into Savannah's arms and shins as she pulled herself through the hole. She clenched her teeth against the pain and struggled to her feet. The cool air raised goosebumps on her skin. A sports bra and running pants were not enough covering in the late afternoon. She felt a tickle on her leg and looked down to see blood running down to her socks from the grazes on her legs. Behind her she heard the cupboard shut.

“Good thinking, Li,” she murmured. If anyone came to check it might take them a bit more time to realise she was missing.

Savannah took in her surroundings. She was standing in thick bush. There was no sign of Brutus. If Ash or Belinda were keeping an eye on the shed door they wouldn't see her. Savannah had no idea of her bearings. And she didn't know how much time she had. She couldn't stay still.

The track would lead her back to the gate but she would be exposed in the open. Shivers ran down her arms. She hugged herself. The scrapes on her arms stung under her fingers. It was time to get moving. She took a deep breath and edged along the shed wall to the side away from the door.

She peered around the corner. There was a general smattering of bush and trees between her and what she imagined would be the Palmers' other side fence. If she could get off their property and put a fence between her and Brutus she might be able to follow the fence line to the road.

She set off, moving from tree to tree, bush to bush in a stop-start fashion. Each time she reached a spot where she felt she had enough cover she paused and listened. At one point she heard a vehicle behind her. It sounded close enough to be on the property.

When it stopped she moved. Thicker bush blocked her way but she pushed through it. Branches scratched the bare skin of her arms and her midriff. Finally she burst into a clearing. Her hand flew to her mouth to smother her scream. On the ground, stretched out in front of her, lay the dead horse. It was a bag of bones and in spite of the cool air, flies buzzed all around it. Beyond the horse was a huge hole.

Savannah kept her hand over her mouth. She staggered around the hole, passed the mound of dirt that had come out of it and dropped into the safety of the trees on the other side. She squatted, bracing her back against a trunk and retched. There was nothing in her stomach to come up but a bit of spit. She licked her lips. She was so thirsty.

She couldn't get the picture of the horse out of her head. Then she remembered Ethan's practical message. Everything has to die eventually. She pushed herself up with the support of the tree. With what she knew about Ash and Belinda, the words no longer reassured her. She got the feeling with them death would be sooner rather than later.

Savannah took two deep breaths and started off again. Her shins were burning from the cuts of the tin and her left leg was beginning to jag with spears of pain. She stumbled. To her left she caught glimpses of the river. She paused to get her bearings. There was no sign of any boundary fence. A terrible thought registered. What if the Palmers' property went on and on? Perhaps it had been a mistake to head in the opposite direction to her car and her phone.

Behind her came the sound she'd hoped not to hear – a deep bark from Brutus. It was impossible to tell where or how far away he was but Savannah knew he would find her quickly if he was looking for her. Just as he had led Ash and Belinda to Li this morning.

The bark came again, closer this time. Savannah made a split-second decision. She turned towards the river and hoped like hell Brutus wouldn't follow her into the water.

Her steps were stilted now. Brutus barked again, closer. She forced herself to move faster. Sticks and thick grass hindered her. A branch whipped her face, another scraped across her stomach. She staggered past the last of the thinning trees to the muddy bank.

Savannah baulked at the huge expanse of water in front of her. She glanced at the trees behind. There was no going back. She took two steps forward, stopped and then fled into the river at another bark from Brutus. Much closer now. The water was freezing. The gasp caught in her throat. Under her runners the bottom felt soft. She waded out and tried to swim but the current took her. She was cold and her feet felt like lead inside her shoes.

A loud bark and a splash sounded behind her. She looked over her shoulder. Brutus propped on the edge of the river. He barked furiously.

Savannah ducked her head under the water. She held her breath for as long as she could then came up gasping for air. Her heart pounded in her chest. When she looked back Brutus was much further away. She let herself relax and go with the flow of the river. From her position on her back she saw Ash burst from the trees. She took a breath, twisted and ducked under the water again.

When she came up the next time, the jetty where his boats were tied up was between Ash and her. She trusted that meant he couldn't see her. She rolled onto her back again and let herself be carried along by the water. All the while she watched the bank expecting to see Belinda or Ash looking for her. She hoped Li and her friend were all right. If Savannah could just make it back to her place she could phone for help. Maybe Ethan would be there. How pleased would she be to see him right now?

Her face sank below the water and she came up spluttering. She reached down and worked at her shoes to get them off her feet. After several dips under water they came free. She gave a momentary thought to their cost then banished it. What did it matter? It was more than likely she'd disappear under the water with them, never to be found again. She could hardly feel her arms and legs and her body felt so heavy. Savannah closed her eyes. She was tired and very, very cold.

Savannah crawled out of the water and lay sprawled on the sandy bank at the bottom of the path to Jaxon's shack. She dug her fingers in the sand, grateful to be there. She rolled onto her back and closed her eyes until shivers racked her body with such force they frightened her into action. She needed to warm up. She tried to stand but her legs wouldn't support her properly. She half crawled, half hobbled up the path.

At the end of the drive she tried to stand again. Her stomach convulsed and she retched. All she could taste was river water. She dragged herself across the lawn to the glass doors. They were locked.

She muttered a string of language through teeth clenched so hard together her jaw ached. She made her way around the house pausing a minute to stare blankly at the space under the carport where her car should have been. The shudders coursed through her body with such force they hurt. She struggled along the back verandah. The back door was locked as well. She huddled against it. She was sure she hadn't locked it when she'd gone out for her run this morning but that seemed so long ago. Maybe she had. Defeat threatened to engulf her. Then she pushed away from the door.

There was a spare key in the shed. Mustering her strength, she crossed the back lawn. She tripped and stumbled over the hose in the fading light. Jasper barked and she jumped in fright. She looked hopefully in the direction of Ethan's place but there was no bike and no lights. No help would arrive unless she called for it. She forced herself to keep moving.

She was so relieved when the shed door swung open. She dug her fingers into the hidey-hole. The key fell from her numb fingers. She picked it up and made her way back to the shack.

It took her several attempts to get the key in the lock but finally she was inside. She tugged the key out and latched the door behind her. She grabbed a towel to wrap around herself as she passed the bathroom on her way to get her phone. The dining table was empty except for a mug and Jaxon's stupid motorbike statue.

She tried to focus as she rubbed the towel vigorously all over her body. Where was her phone? She unlocked the sliding door and checked the outside table. No phone. Then she remembered Jaxon's landline. She didn't need a mobile to call for help. She stumbled back inside towards the office.

“I thought you'd end up back here if you didn't drown.”

Savannah stopped. She thought her ears were playing tricks on her. She turned slowly. The towel slid to the floor and her heart skipped a beat. Belinda was standing just inside the door with something in her hand.

“Is that a …?”

“Gun.” Belinda waved the weapon in Savannah's direction. “Yes, it is.”

It looked like a kid's plastic toy.

“I'm sorry it's come to this, Savvie, but you've caused me some grief today.” Belinda's lips turned up in the tight smile that Savannah now knew was false.

“I can't let you spoil everything,” she said. “That silly little bitch Li nearly did.”

Savannah gripped the table for support. “You haven't … you haven't …” She stared at the gun.

“Killed her? No.” Belinda gave a horrible cackle. “She and her friend are already not long for this world. I won't have to waste a bullet on them.”

Savannah's brain went to fudge. She'd promised Li she'd help her and now she'd end up being no help at all.

“Whereas you, my dear friend, are way too fit.” Belinda waved the gun slowly up and down. “You might need some help to disappear.”

“We're friends, aren't we?” Savannah still couldn't believe this other side to Belinda was real.

Belinda gave a snort. “I had to get close to you. You were easier to take in than that brother of yours.”

“Jaxon?” Savannah's heart leapt. Had Belinda killed him?

“If he'd just stuck to his electrical business – houseboats bring too many people. Our quiet patch of the river was getting far too busy. Ash started tinkering with the boats. We thought it might put Jaxon and his customers off but he got suspicious. Then gullible little you came along.”

Her words stabbed at Savannah. She'd been taken in by Belinda. It was just like the pretty girls back at school who thought it would be fun to have a fat friend. She had thought they were her friends just like she'd believed Belinda to be, but they were cruel. Sucked in again, Savannah.

“There's a good view of your place from the top deck of those houseboats,” Belinda went on. “I kept watch while Ash did whatever he could to sabotage the boats.”

“You sat in the chair?”

“Did I leave one out? That was careless.”

“The signs, and …”

“The toilet paper.” Belinda cackled. “I thought that one up. The steering cable was Ash. He's into the mechanics of boats. The gunshot wasn't one of his better ones. He thought people would blame Gnasher and get a bit hysterical.”

Savannah gave a brief thought to her suspicions. It all fell into place now.

“Unfortunately Ethan came to your rescue,” Belinda said, “but I was working on that.”

Savannah gasped.

“What? You didn't think he fancied you, did you? You've got a nice set of boobs, Savvie, but you're no match for me. Ash was supposed to suck you in but he's never one to be charming. You've mucked it all up with your attempt at rescuing Li.”

Savannah's head was spinning. Not only had Ethan used her but he'd been helping Belinda. She sagged against the table. They'd joked together about Belinda and Ash but the joke was on her. And he'd said he'd spoken to Jaxon but maybe it was an elaborate hoax. Her holiday at the river had turned into a bad fairytale. Everything she'd thought was real was fake. Jaxon's warning about the neighbours really did include them all.

“Gnasher and Li?” she asked.

“I wouldn't waste one of my girls on that stupid old man. Hopefully he was drunk enough he won't even remember he saw her. The girls are my imports. Brought into the country to please my clients.” Belinda's eyes narrowed. “Trouble is those two bitches were too smart for their own good. Wouldn't do as they were told. Had to get rid of them.” She waved the gun. “And now you. Lucky I got Ashton to dig such a big hole.”

Savannah gaped at her.

“No-one's going to think to look for two illegal immigrants under a dead horse.” Belinda's red lips curved up into a ghoulish smile. “Or for a nosy neighbour who leaves a note saying life's not worth living.”

Although she was already chilled to the bone, a deeper shiver shuddered through Savannah. She flinched as Belinda made a sudden move to the right.

“Put this on.” Belinda tossed her jumper at her.

It slipped through Savannah's fingers to the table. The fabric had felt warm against her skin. She couldn't resist picking it up and pulling it on. With the warmth she felt something turn inside her. Savannah had already come across more than her share of two-faced people. She'd been through too much in her life to lose it to this cow. She wasn't going to be the victim again.

Belinda took her phone from her jacket pocket.

In the gloom beyond the door, Savannah glimpsed a movement. She was surprised to see Jasper watching intently, his ears pricked. An idea began to form in her muddled brain.