The Opal Desert (41 page)

Anna strained to listen, aware of every sound – the faint sticky rustle of wet leaves from a small wattle, the distant croak of a frog. What if he was dead? If he'd hidden Shirley's opals they'd never be found. She turned back to the car. And then she heard it. It was small, but too regular to be an incidental noise. She hurried towards it.

The sound came from a shaft where a sheet of iron looked to have been recently disturbed. She looked down into the darkness but couldn't see much.

‘Is that you?' asked a faint voice from the bottom of the shaft.

‘Yes,' called Anna.

‘I've broken me leg.'

‘I can't get you up, but Davo, I'd like to help you. First you have to tell me where Shirley's opals are.'

There was no answer for a moment, then, ‘Don't know what you're talking about. Just go and get help.'

‘Sorry, Davo. Don't think I can do that if you won't tell me where the opals are. You'll be right down there. At least for a day or so. Someone might come by and find you.'

‘You wouldn't leave me here? I'm in a bad way.'

Anna didn't answer.

‘Okay! They're at the camp. In the water tank. Now will you get me some help?'

‘Yeah, Davo. I'll get back with someone as soon as I can.' She dusted the dirt from her clothes and jogged back to the Land Rover.

Mick hung up the phone. He was worried by Anna's disappearance. The police sergeant at White Cliffs had reassured him that young people did take off occasionally, so they'd wait twenty-four hours before sending out search parties. Mick was not happy with this response. Anna had been missing since dawn. What if something serious had happened? He went into the cubicle that served as his office to ring the police again when he heard someone come into the bar.

He called out, ‘Be right with you,' and hurried back into the bar. ‘What can I . . . Holy cow! Shit, Anna!'

Anna was clutching a glass of water and leaning her head on the bar. She suddenly slid onto the floor and started shaking.

‘Jesus, Anna, where've you been and what happened to your face?' He rushed over to her.

‘Now that I'm here, everything's all right.' She tried to smile. ‘I just have to have some water.'

He waited while she gulped the glass of water, then he helped her to her feet.

‘What happened?'

‘I caught Davo taking Shirley's opals and so he took me too.'

‘He abducted you? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?' Mick asked. ‘How did you get away?'

‘I'm all right now, Mick. He took me out to his camp, but I got away. I've been running for hours. I came across the lake.'

‘Geez. That's miles. Did you come through that storm out there?'

Anna nodded.

Mick stared at her. ‘You sure you're okay? Do you want something stronger than water? Do you want to tell me what happened?'

‘I'll be fine. I was pretty scared, but he didn't rape me or anything. I feel safe, now I'm back in town.' She paused and then told Mick what had happened. ‘I went into Shirley's dugout and there he was. Taking Shirley's opals. When I surprised him, he tied me up, gagged me and put me in the back of his Land Rover.'

‘Geez. Davo did that? We'd better call the cops.'

‘He's not far away. I ran across the lake and he drove around it to wait for me on the road into town. He fell down one of the shafts at the old mine site there and I think he's broken his leg. I made him tell me where he'd hidden the opals. They're in the water tank back in his camp. Then I took his car and drove back here.'

Mick looked grim. ‘I'll call Broken Hill now.'

‘Will I have to take the police out to find him?'

‘Shouldn't think so. You're clear about where he went down the mine shaft, so they'll find him. I expect they'll drive out to his camp and get Shirley's opals, too. Don't you worry about Davo. Go and have a lie down and leave everything to me.'

Mick dialled the number. ‘Why would he steal from Shirley? She gave him money . . .' he muttered to himself.

‘Hello, Broken Hill cop shop? I'm reporting a crime.'

As Mick talked to the police, Anna went slowly to her room. She could barely put one foot in the front of the other and she fell onto her bed. When she woke up, it was dark and she was ravenous. She had a quick shower and was about to return to the bar when there was a tap on her door. She opened it, and when she saw Mick she asked, ‘What's happening?'

‘The police've got him. Found the opals, too. Someone'll come out tomorrow and get a statement from you. I said you should have a rest and I told them I'd keep an eye on you.'

‘Thanks, Mick. You've been so kind.'

Anna turned and went outside and sat on her little patio in the crisp night air. The sky was clear and the evening stars glimmered in the deep lilac sky. She started to shake again and tears ran down her face.

Mick joined her. ‘Anna, love, what can we do?' He sounded concerned. ‘Have you spoken to your family?'

‘Not yet,' said Anna. ‘I don't want to worry them. I'm fine. No, I'm not. I'm tired, I'm hungry. I'm upset.'

‘You should talk to your mum and dad.' He patted her hand. ‘Never thought Davo'd do the dirty on Shirley, after all she did for him.' He shook his head.

‘Is Shirley all right?' asked Anna. It felt like she'd been away for weeks.

‘Yeah. Kerrie is with her. You should speak to Kerrie. Perhaps it might be better if she tells Shirley what's happened.'

Anna shrugged. ‘Maybe it was all a spur of the moment thing with Davo. He went into Shirley's and she wasn't around. He knew where she kept her opals so he took them.'

‘You're being too kind, Anna. He didn't have to take you, too. Why don't you go into the kitchen and get Thelma to give you a big feed? Then when you're ready, call your parents and Kerrie, too, if you want to.'

‘Kerrie, it's me, Anna. How's Shirley?'

‘Shirley is doing just fine. Doesn't want to be here, of course. Thinks she can have an operation and go straight back to her dugout. I can't believe she was a nurse. What've you been up to? Mick said you'd gone walkabout.'

‘Yeah, you could say that,' said Anna drily. ‘There's been a problem at Shirley's dugout but it's sorted. She doesn't have to worry.'

‘What's up? What happened?'

‘I found Davo inside her place stealing her opals.'

‘What? You're kidding!'

‘He'd been there watering the plants, I think. I went into the dugout to see who was there.'

‘The dugout was locked. Mick had the key! I s'pose Davo could have taken it from the pub. He was in and out of Shirley's place all the time.'

‘When he saw me and I accused him of taking Shirley's opals, I think he panicked. He went nuts, grabbed me, tied me up and threw me in the back of his old Land Rover.'

There was a momentary silence at the end of the phone. ‘Are you okay?' asked Kerrie. ‘Can you talk about it?'

Briefly Anna told Kerrie the details.

‘Anna, you have been so brave. Poor Shirley . . . Was it just the opals he took?' asked Kerrie.

‘I think so . . . and a sort of package as well,' said Anna. ‘I made Davo tell me where he'd hidden them, and the police have been to his camp and got them back.'

‘Of course, of course. I'm so glad you're all right, Anna, and the police have retrieved the opals but I need you to go and look for something important in Shirley's dugout.'

Anna listened as Kerrie explained.

‘I want to make sure that Davo has told the police about all of the opals he took and not just some of them. Call me back as soon as you can.'

Kerrie paced around the hospital wondering how she'd tell Shirley the news. Maybe she could wait until she'd heard what the police had recovered. What a terrible thing Davo had done to Anna. Kerrie had found him an unpleasant, arrogant man. He probably was not that bright and she'd been told he had a quick temper, but she would never have guessed that he would do something as frightening as this. And what a thing to do to Shirley, especially after she had helped him by putting money into his tour business. What a way to repay her kindness! How stupid.

Her mobile rang. It was Anna.

‘It's not there. I found the hole behind the light but it's empty.'

‘Oh no.'

‘What was it?' asked Anna.

‘Opalised fossil. Very valuable. But more importantly it had an incredibly high sentimental value to Shirley. We have to make sure that the police get it back to her.'

Kerrie sat down by Shirley's bed. ‘There's been a bit of drama over at your place, but things seem to be under control. Anna is the heroine of the day.'

Shirley didn't like the anxious tone of Kerrie's voice. ‘What do you mean, at my place?'

‘It's Davo. Anna caught him red-handed going through things in your office and he took your opals.'

‘What? How dare he? What did he say to Anna when she caught him?'

‘Actually Shirley, he panicked and grabbed her as well as your opals and took off.'

‘The opals?'

‘And Anna.'

Shirley gasped and laid her head on the pillow. ‘Is she all right?'

‘Yes. But he got a bit nasty. It must have been terrifying. Luckily she got away.'

‘Are you sure she's not hurt? Did they find the opals? Oh, Kerrie, what about Tajna? He knew where I kept it.' She threw a stricken look at Kerrie. ‘Poor Anna. Where is she now?'

‘Back at the pub. Davo took her out to his camp, but she escaped. He chased her in his Land Rover, but she ran right across the lake. He caught up with her on the road into town. Evidently he got out of his car and went after her but fell down one of the shafts at an old mining site and broke his leg. The police found him and they went to his camp to retrieve your things.'

Shirley had paled. She shook her head. ‘I can't believe Davo did that. After all I've done for him. He's nothing but a low-life ratter. Davo, a ratter. Of course, I should believe it. There are always ratters on the opal fields and they often think that violence is okay. I just can't believe that Davo would be one.'

Shirley straightened up in her bed. ‘What about Tajna?' You know how much it means to me . . .'

‘Shirley, calm down. I've checked on Tajna. Davo had taken it, but I rang the police and they assured me that it was safe with the rest of your opals. It's fine and you'll get it back, but perhaps this has been a good warning. Maybe it's time you put it somewhere more secure than your dugout or gave it to a museum. Why don't you talk to Gustav and Helen about it?'

Shirley shook her head. ‘I can't. It's my only link with Stefan.'

Kerrie's heart lurched. Suddenly Shirley looked older than her years. ‘I understand, Shirley, I really do.'

‘What will happen to Davo now?' asked Shirley. ‘No one will want to have anything to do with him. Don't know how his business will survive.'

‘More than that, Shirley. He'll be charged with theft, kidnapping and assault!' exclaimed Kerrie.

‘I suppose he will. Hard to believe that he could have done this. Is Anna very upset?'

‘I've been talking to both Anna and Mick and I don't think you have to worry about her. She seems pretty resilient.'

‘I'll be so pleased to see her. I can thank her for looking after my opals. She's been amazing,' said Shirley.

‘I just want my life back the way it was. Knowing I have my opals to cash in if I need to and knowing that Stefan's fossil is close by. Dear Kerrie, let me rest a little. Hearing all this has worn me out.'

‘Of course, Shirley. But I'll be back later. I want you to meet someone.'

‘I'm not up to visitors,' Shirley said weakly, but then curiosity seemed to get the better of her. ‘Is this person a friend of yours?'

‘I asked him to come and see you, yes.'

Shirley closed her eyes and sighed. ‘I trust you, Kerrie. Whatever.'

‘I'll see you later,' said Kerrie gently, and left the room. She grabbed a takeaway coffee from the little coffee shop in the hospital grounds.

‘No muffin today? How's your friend?' asked the girl behind the counter.

‘Doing fine. No time for a muffin. I'm on my way to the airport to collect someone.'

Shirley was dozing when Kerrie re-entered the room. But she opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Kerrie. Then she looked at the man beside her. He looked to be in his fifties, good looking and definitely Slavic. He was smiling hesitantly at her.

‘Who is this? Where's your Tim?' asked Shirley bluntly.

‘Tim is coming up soon. He's going to take you dancing,' joked Kerrie. ‘This is Goran Zilich. He's visiting Australia from Croatia.'

‘Oh.' Shirley looked momentarily blank, then gathered herself, sat upright, adjusted the folded sheet and studied the visitor. ‘You have family here?'

‘Not in Broken Hill. My relations are in Sydney. We haven't seen each other for a very long time, except for a cousin who came to Dubrovnik for a holiday. Tourism is very big there now. When you're recovered you should visit Dubrovnik. It is a beautiful place.'

Shirley shook her head. ‘Too late, although I did once dream of going there. What are you doing here? How do you know Kerrie?'

‘I had some people do some investigating for me, or rather for you, Shirley, and that's how I met Goran,' explained Kerrie.

‘What do you mean, Kerrie?'

Goran leant towards Shirley. ‘May I call you Shirley? I feel I know you. I also knew Stefan.'

Shirley caught her breath and grasped his hand. ‘How do you know him? Where is he?'

Goran swiftly took her hand in his, shaking his head. ‘I didn't mean to raise your hopes. Sadly, sadly, he is no longer alive.'