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‘There was a report in the Darwin Sun. I read it online. It said that Sordina had met with your council. It was about coal seam gas exploration.’

‘Just stay away from it, Ellie.’

‘What are you saying?’ Ellie glanced across at Heather as she waited for Bill to answer but she was staring at her father, her brow creased in a frown.

‘I ain’t saying nothing.’ Bill lowered his voice. ‘Just forget about it and stay away from the place. Okay?’

‘But Bill, you always taught us –’

‘Fuckin’ drop it, Ellie. All right?’ He stood and his chair fell to the floor with a crash. He picked it up and shoved it under the table.

‘I have to go out,’ he muttered. ‘Nice to see you.’

Ellie and Heather stared at each other as he strode through the door without a backward glance. Soon they heard the rattling of the diesel motor in his old Land Cruiser, and he drove away.

*

Kane hadn’t intended going to the bar that night, but the sound of the music drifting through the lodge eventually enticed him from his room. A couple of drinks and some good music would do him good, break the melancholy mood he’d been in since visiting his mother. He also hoped that Ellie might be there; he wanted to let her know how much he’d enjoyed their trip down to the waterfall.

He stepped into the shower and rubbed his aching neck; the muscles were tight beneath his fingers. He’d spent all day thinking about how to get his mother back to Darwin. He’d tried to call Panos a couple of times but his stepfather hadn’t answered and Kane wasn’t going to leave a message. Probably still at the bloody horse races. He couldn’t understand how his mother had ever fallen for the guy.

Whatever Panos was doing, Kane was determined to get her back to Darwin where she was close to doctors and facilities. He was secure financially – the active service bonuses had let him build up a healthy investment portfolio – and it wouldn’t hurt to buy an apartment and set up Mum in the city.

He pulled on a fresh pair of denims and a button-up black cotton shirt and headed for the bar. The grounds were well-lit and he was surprised by the number of people making their way to the entertainment area. Family groups dotted the lawn on picnic rugs and the tables inside were almost full.

‘Kane!’

He turned as he heard his name called. Heather was waving from a table at the back of the room, well away from the low stage where the band had just finished a set. Steve, the barman, was sitting opposite her and the rest of the table was empty.

‘Hey, we thought you weren’t coming.’ Heather leaned forward and Kane got a flash of dark skin and generous breasts pushing out from a very low-cut shirt.

He looked at Steve. ‘Night off?’

‘Yeah, I was lucky. Usually have to work the nights the bands are on, but the roster was done and I was due for a Sunday off.’ Steve’s eyes were fixed on Heather’s cleavage and Kane stifled a smirk.

Be less obvious and you might get lucky, man.

He slid along the wooden bench beside Heather.

‘How was your trip down to Jim Jim the other day?’ Her arm pressed against his shoulder as she leaned into him.

‘Amazing place. I would have liked to swim but Ellie warned me about the crocs there.’

Heather waved a dismissive hand and this time her leg brushed against his. ‘Ellie worries too much. I’ll take you down there on your next day off and we can swim. It’s safe.’

‘Why’s Ellie so scared of them? Did she have a scare?’

‘Yeah, when she was a kid. It freaked her out for ages.’ Heather ran the tip of her tongue along her lips as she stared at him.

‘She said she grew up on a mango farm on the way to Darwin.’

‘Yeah.’ Heather didn’t elaborate and Kane turned to Steve. ‘Can I get you another beer, mate?’

‘I’m right, thanks. The barman will keep an eye on us.’ Steve kept his eyes on Heather as he answered.

‘Hey, there’s Ellie, too.’ Heather waved towards the wide archway beside the bar. ‘Els, over here.’

Ellie stood in the doorway, her gaze scanning the crowd. The light behind her made her light-coloured dress a little transparent, and she tugged nervously at the hem. She was nowhere near as confident as she would have people believe. She spotted them and made her way across the packed room. Kane couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her hair was loose and curled over her shoulders, and her lips were shiny with a soft pink lip gloss. She’d done something with eye shadow, and her blue eyes looked huge.