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‘My dad spent a lot of time with him before he died. It was a strange relationship. Dad had never been one for the pub and I guess when his friendship with Panos took him away from us, I resented it. Maybe I’m being too hard on him now.’

‘I doubt it. He’s a shallow man and I’m amazed that he got elected.’

Ellie let out a little sigh. ‘We’re on the same wavelength. There’s something else too.’

Kane touched her hand again. ‘What’s wrong?’

Ellie looked away. ‘I’m scared. I know something illegal is happening at the back of the old farm. I saw it with my own eyes, and then I was chased off the place by a thug after I visited your mother.’ Ellie closed her eyes and let the words pour out, the words she’d held to herself for so long. ‘My father died five years ago. The coroner ruled his death was suicide but my mother never accepted it. And lately, I’m beginning to wonder if she’s right.’ Her voice hitched on a sob that she swallowed back.

Kane’s hand gripped her shoulder and she turned slowly into the warm comfort. Her eyes were now awash with tears and Ellie lifted her hand and brushed them away with an angry swipe.

‘I knew Sordina was a weak man the first day I met him.’ Kane’s voice was hard. ‘The way he’s treated my mother is disgraceful. Dumping her out in that farmhouse is –’

‘Unforgiveable. And more than that, there’s something odd going on down the back and I know Panos is lying about it. It all ties in with some stuff that my mum’s been worried about.’

‘If there’s anything I can do to help, just ask, okay?’

The sweet smile that crossed her face hit him in the gut.

‘It’s good to talk to you. Really talk. I came here on the understanding that I was an engineer and I’m sorry that this misunderstanding has made it so hard for you this week.’

‘Do you ever fly?’ Her eyes were clear and steady as she held his. Kane was tempted to look away but that would have been the cowardly thing to do. She deserved as much honesty as he could give her.

‘No. Not anymore. But that’s a whole different story. Maybe for another pizza day.’

And maybe not.

Ellie frowned as she looked over his shoulder. ‘The next tourist has just come through the gate.’

Kane was relieved. A new level of friendship had been established and she’d opened up to him.

‘I’ll go and check the chopper for you.’ He stood and picked up the empty pizza box.

He knew Ellie was watching him as he walked out and dropped the box into the rubbish bin. He’d already checked the bird when she’d come down from the last flight and refuelled it, but hell, that was his way.

Chapter 15

Tuesday afternoon

Panos Sordina’s Office, Darwin

Everything had been going fine until Ellie Porter started sticking her nose in. The drill site was away from most of the regular scenic tour flight paths, and no one would ever have cause to go down the back; it was almost two kilometres from the highway gate to the eastern boundary. None of the tourist boats travelled that far down the river. The place was miles from anywhere. It should have been perfect. But she had to start snooping. And when Fairweather heard that she had been out there – and there was no doubt he would – there would be consequences. It was a complication he didn’t need. He didn’t know what he would say to her on Saturday, but that could wait. In the meantime, there was another problem to deal with.

‘What box, Susan?’ As Panos pressed the phone to his ear, he could feel the blood thumping through his veins.

‘Oh, just a small box I found in the shed.’

‘What was in it?’ His words were like bullets.

‘I have no idea. It wasn’t mine to look at. It had her father’s name on the top.’ Susan’s voice trembled. ‘She was really happy to take it.’

‘I bet she fucking was.’ He’d seen no box in the shed. It would have been burned if he had. No matter how hard he tried not to think about it, Panos knew he was responsible for Peter Porter’s suicide. He might as well have put the noose around his neck himself.

‘Panos? Have I done something wrong? I didn’t mean to upset you.’ Susan’s voice was teary, and a bolt of regret jarred through him. He rubbed his forehead with his fist and his anger eased a little.

Susan was his wife and he’d loved her when they’d got married, but he’d loved the money she’d inherited from her first husband just a little more. She put others first, and her martyrdom always irritated him. And now despite her illness and the loss of their beautiful home in Darwin because of his gambling, here she was, feeling sorry for Ellie Porter because her father was dead.

Peter Porter’s death haunted him. He had been found hanging from a beam, a tumbled pile of mango crates beneath his dangling legs. Eyes bulging, red spots on his cheeks. In the recurring dream, Peter called Panos to help him, his hands reaching out. A dream that made him jump to Fairweather’s bidding every day since. He had hoped he’d get away from him when he’d married Susan’s money, but a visit from Mick, Fairweather’s frightening offsider, had put the fear of God into him. It had been a clear warning: do as he was told or he would end up dead too.