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‘Then again . . .’

Kane was starting to regret getting into the conversation. He was keen to get back to Connor and hear the latest developments from Greg. ‘Yes?’ he asked with a quick look at his watch.

‘Nice resort for lunch up at the top of the west if you go that way.’

‘Isn’t there a track there that people walk on to the west?’

‘Yeah, the Larapinta Trail. We get lots of people come through the airport from all over the world. Can’t understand it, myself. Why would I want to go walking in the scrub when I can drive out? Can’t understand some people.’

Kane chuckled. ‘Or fly. Thanks for your time, mate. We’ll be back bright and early, and I’ll pass on what you said to my mates. Nothing like local knowledge.’

‘That resort I was talking about is called Glen Helen. It’s not a bad place. I’ve taken the missus up there for Sunday lunch.’

‘Thanks.’ Kane made his escape and hurried across to the terminal.

Chapter 25

The gorge

Graysen held Sandra tightly as the footsteps came closer. The voices had stopped. As Sandra clung to him, she could feel the tension radiating out through his limbs, and his breathing was heavy, but almost silent.

‘I heard something from over here, I swear it, love. It wasn’t an animal.’

Graysen’s relieved exhalation lifted the hair from Sandra’s face. He let go of her and took a step to the left. She moved straight after him. Her heart was thudding, but sweet relief flooded through her.

‘Clive? Jenny? Is that you?’ Graysen’s voice was still low.

The torch flicked up and shone on Graysen’s face and then Sandra’s.

‘My God, Graysen! Sandra! Are you both okay?’ Clive’s voice was loud, and Graysen hushed him.

‘We’re fine.’

‘We thought we heard moaning and we didn’t know who it was.’

‘Be careful where you walk,’ Graysen said. ‘Andrew’s on the ground just in front of you.’

The torchlight dropped to the ground and Jenny’s gasp filled the air.

‘Oh my God.’

Clive let out a swear word as the light played on Andrew’s battered and bruised face. Jenny grabbed for her husband and Sandra could see her shaking.

‘Thank God, he’s alive,’ Clive said as he comforted Jenny. ‘We heard Zed tell Miska he’d killed Andrew.’

‘We don’t know what happened because Andrew’s mouth is badly injured, but we had pretty much figured it out. We think Zed pushed him over the cliff when he said he was going to stow the pack safely.’

Jenny left Clive and came over to them. Jenny put her arms around Sandra and her breath shuddered. ‘That’s three of you that are alive, thank God. We didn’t know what had happened to the rest of you, but we were hoping for a good outcome.’

Clive moved closer and put his hand out, and shook Graysen’s hand. ‘It’s good to see you fit and well, man.’

‘And both of you as well.’

‘Only thanks to my Jenny’s instincts.’

Andrew moaned and Sandra let go of Jenny. ‘It’s time to give Andrew more Panadol.’

She crouched beside him and felt his forehead. ‘He’s a bit warm, but he’s shivering and a bit delirious I think.’