Page 76 of Whispers of Sweetwater

Gavin leant back, elbows resting on the floorboards. ‘You know,’ he said, eyes on the paddocks beyond, ‘part of me keeps hoping this’ll all just blow over. That Jack got caught up in something stupid but small. But it doesn’t feel like that anymore, especially now we’ve found that toolbox full of god only knows what from where.’

Heaving a weighty sigh, Hayden shook his head slowly. ‘It feels like he was circling something way too big to handle alone. And now we’re all caught in the aftershocks of it.’

Gavin let out a breath. ‘If that’s true, then we’ve only seen the edge of it. Jack wasn’t stupid, so if he kept it quiet, it was for a reason. Makes you wonder who else knew. Or who didn’t want it known.’

Hayden’s jaw tensed. ‘We’ll find out. Hopefully before someone else gets hurt.’

They sat in silence for a while, their thoughts roiling, while letting the morning unfold a little. A few minutes later, the sound of tyres crunching on gravel caught their attention. Hayden stood slowly as Logan’s Prado rolled up the drive, dust trailing faintly behind it. Then Logan climbed out, a nod replacing a greeting. He looked like he’d only slept about three hours, but his eyes were sharp.

‘Morning,’ Hayden said.

‘Morning.’ Logan strode towards them then stopped at the foot of the steps, gaze flicking between the two men. ‘You must be Gavin,’ he said, climbing the steps then offering a hand. ‘Logan Steele, Brianna’s dad.’

Gavin stood to shake his hand, giving a small nod. ‘Yeah, that’s me. Good to finally meet you.’

Logan gave a firm shake, his expression thoughtful. ‘Same. Hayden speaks highly of you. Sounds like you’ve been keeping a steady hand here while things get messy everywhere else. That matters.’

Gavin gave a modest shrug. ‘Just trying to do right by the people who matter. And keep things ticking over while the rest unravels.’

‘Great to hear.’ Logan turned to Hayden. ‘You ready to head out?’

Hayden nodded. ‘What’s the plan?’

‘I reckon, seeing it’s a Saturday, let’s start by heading over to the TAB.’

Hayden liked where this was going. ‘Take your car, hey? Everyone in town knows mine.’

‘Great minds,’ Logan said, turning on his heel.

The TAB was dim and smoky despite the early hour, ceiling fans pushing around the scent of old beer and sweat. A handful of locals clustered around screens and betting slips, some already halfway through their first schooner. Logan stepped in first, Hayden at his shoulder, both of them scanning the room with a practised ease. Logan kept his posture casual; as he’d told Hayden, no one there knew he was a cop – not yet. Trev and Joe were exactly where Hayden had hoped they’d be, slouched in cracked vinyl chairs by the far wall, eyes on the horses but their mouths still. Len, however, wasn’t anywhere in sight.

Logan leant towards Hayden. ‘You take the bar, see if anyone’s seen Len.’

Hayden gave a nod and peeled off. Logan didn’t approach anyone directly. Instead, he angled himself nearby, pretending to scan the racing odds on the wall while keeping an ear tuned to the low, tense conversation between Trev and Joe. About a minute later, Joe spotted him lingering, brow furrowing, but said nothing. Trev gave Logan a longer look, clearly clocking the unfamiliar face.

Hayden stepped in quickly, a relaxed smile on his face and two drinks in hand. ‘Oh, hey, you two, this here is Mark. Old mate from Rockhampton. Big on racing. Thought I’d show him the local scene while he’s up.’

Trev grunted. ‘Don’t see many new faces in here.’

‘Don’t worry,’ Logan said with a disarming nod. ‘I’m just here for the horses.’

Trev and Joe seemed to accept it, though their eyes lingered a moment longer. Logan and Hayden grabbed seats nearby, feigning interest in the horses onscreen. Logan sipped from a glass of soda water, eyes occasionally drifting to Trev and Joe. Hayden took tentative sips of a Coke. Ten minutes passed. Then Trev’s phone buzzed on the table. He picked it up, glanced at the screen, and his face went still. The blood drained from his cheeks.

‘What is it?’ Joe asked.

Trev leant in, whispered something low and clipped, then shot to his feet. Whatever it was, it had Joe scrambling up after him, abandoning their half-filled slips on the table.

Logan leant towards Hayden and murmured, ‘Middle of the night, I went back out there. Made the soil above the toolbox look a little disturbed, but just enough to make someone nervous if they checked. Looks like it worked.’

Hayden gave a low whistle. ‘Clever. Mess with their heads before we even show up. I like it.’

Logan gave a faint smile. ‘Criminals can always be manipulated, one way or another. You just have to think like a copper when it counts.’

Hayden leant over and murmured, ‘I reckon this is us catching them in the act.’

‘We shall see,’ Logan replied as he stood. ‘Come on, let’s go check out what they’re up to.’

They slipped out after them, keeping their distance as Trev and Joe rushed to Trev’s ute, engine firing and tyres spinning as they took off. Logan and Hayden climbed back into the Prado and fell in behind. Breaking off at a junction that led down to the old cattle yards, they parked a few paddocks back, behind a line of ironbark trees, where the vehicle couldn’t be seen. From there they continued on foot, traversing a scrubby fence line, pushing through tangled undergrowth, past lowing cattle and the dry rustle of cane. The heat pressed down on Hayden’s back, cicadas screaming above them, sweat beading under his collar. Every few steps they paused, listening.