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‘Can you finish up here while I do the paperwork?’ she asked.

‘No problem, babe.’

Ellie strode across the hangar, but paused before she went into the office. ‘Kane? Do me a favour. My name’s Ellie. Nix the “babe”.’

She turned without waiting for his answer but she could feel his gaze on her back as she closed the door.

Chapter 2

Thursday

Panos Sordina’s Office, Darwin

‘We’ve got a problem,’ Panos Sordina said into the phone as he swung his chair around and looked out over Darwin Harbour. It was the beginning of the busy winter season and tourists were milling through the park on the foreshore beneath him. He waited a moment for a response, but none came. ‘Hello? Are you there?’

‘I am.’ The voice was icy.

‘I just had a call from the guys on the ground. One of the yellow Makowa Lodge helicopters was snooping over the property this afternoon.’

‘So? Probably some tourists up for a scenic flight.’ Fairweather’s voice was disinterested, but Panos knew better than to underestimate the man at the other end of the phone.

‘The chopper came down low over the drill site. Twice. You know that Peter Porter’s daughter Ellie is a pilot there? And on top of that, my bloody stepson has turned up unannounced.’

‘Why would he go to the property?’

Panos immediately regretted his slip, and rushed on. ‘Kane was an officer in the fucking Army. He’s not stupid. All he’d need to do is take one look at what’s happening down the back and it could all go to shit.’ Panos wiped his shaking hand down the leg of his trousers. The blasted air-conditioner in the building must be playing up again. It was the middle of bloody winter and he was drenched in sweat. ‘We don’t have a licence to be drilling yet.’

‘You didn’t answer my question. Why would your stepson go there? How does he even know the place exists?’

‘His mother is living there.’

Cold silence.

‘My wife. I . . . I had to –’ Panos’ words ran together as he stumbled on. ‘Money is a bit short again. Some bad bets. I had to sell . . . I sold the house in Darwin and I had to move her somewhere.’

‘I’m not happy, Panos. And you know what that means?’

Panos swallowed. He well knew.

Meeting Russell Fairweather at the Darwin races six years ago had seemed like an amazing opportunity; to get out of the gambling hole he’d found himself in – and maybe even get ahead. At first it had been like a ‘get out of gaol free’ card. His debts had suddenly evaporated, and Fairweather’s money and influence had opened doors for him that he had never dreamed about. But getting involved with him had turned into the biggest mistake of his life. If he had known that accepting a ‘loan’ would have brought him to the hell he lived in today, he would have dealt with the men who had threatened him. He had soon learned that Fairweather considered himself beyond the law, if there was money to be made.

‘So what should I do?’

‘Pull yourself together to start with. The drilling continues. In two weeks the government committees will have voted on the boundary change and the licence, and everything will be legal anyway. And then your farm will include a section of the river and a few hundred more acres. If your stepson becomes a problem in the meantime, I’ll deal with him. The same goes for Ellie Porter.’

Cool as a cucumber, that’s what Fairweather was. But it was all right for him. His name wasn’t on any of the documents. Even though Fairweather was behind the whole deal, there was nothing to indicate that he had any involvement.

‘But I don’t want any more mistakes. Are you listening to me, Panos?’ The voice was ice cold. ‘This project is worth millions, and I won’t have it jeopardised by any more of your fuck-ups. Understood?’

‘Yes, I –’

Fairweather cut him off. ‘Enough. Where are you calling from?’

Goosebumps rose on Panos’ arms. ‘My office phone. Look, I –’

‘When will you ever learn?’

Sweat trickled down his neck onto his collar, and he lifted his hand to undo the top button of his business shirt and loosen his tie.