Black Mountain (9 page)

‘And what about your social life? I'm sure you were never short of boyfriends. Anyone special?' he asked lightly, glancing sideways at her.

Elly hesitated, and he had the feeling it was something she didn't want to talk about. ‘There was someone, a few years back,' she said slowly. ‘But it ended, and that was that.'

‘No-one since?'

‘No-one special. I socialise, and I enjoy myself. But that's all.'

‘And yet you were going for a weekend away with Jackson Lee.' As he probed Mitchell felt a stab of something—certainly not jealousy—no, more like concern for her, that was all.

Elly lifted her chin. ‘It was a weekend with friends. There'd been nothing more than friendship between us up until that time. If that might have changed over the weekend, we'll never know.'

‘I see. Hmm.' He heard the doubt in his own voice and waited for more, but she added nothing as she watched the road ahead.

‘And how about you?' she finally asked. ‘You and Fancy Pants were still an item last time I heard. Are you still together?'

Mitchell clenched the wheel tightly as he remembered the hurt of the last time he'd seen Tracy. He'd expected, or at least hoped for, support and care after he'd been wounded, but all he'd received were platitudes and excuses.

‘Tracy?' He heard the bitterness creep into his voice. ‘No. When I was injured there was a possibility I might be left crippled, and she decided she couldn't cope with that.'

‘But you only have a slight limp now,' Elly exclaimed.

‘Yes, physio and exercise can work wonders. But she didn't hang around long enough to find that out.'

There was silence for a moment while Elly seemed to be digesting this. God, he shouldn't have let her see how he'd felt. He should've played it cool—the last thing he wanted was her pity.

But when she spoke she changed the subject. ‘Did you enjoy being a policeman?'

He relaxed and shot her a quick look. ‘I don't know if enjoy is the right word, but, yes, it was interesting. And I enjoyed the companionship. I had some good mates. Still have most of them, although now while I'm back up here we don't catch up much. But when you go through a lot together you kind of have a bond, and it stays.'

‘Mum told me you were injured in a holdup. That must've been pretty scary.'

‘Not at the time. You don't have time to be scared when you're in the middle of something like that.'
No, maybe not, but it sure left you traumatised afterwards, when you had time to think.

‘I heard you were decorated for bravery,' she continued

He shrugged it off. ‘I was just doing my job. Any of the guys would've done the same.'

‘Won't you find life pretty dull now that you're no longer in the police force?'

‘I would have found it dull if I'd stayed, because I'd have been relegated to a desk job. But I have some plans for when I get the all clear from the medicos.'

‘Oh!' She turned and eyed him with lively attention. ‘Anything you want to talk about?'

He was surprised that he didn't mind telling her. She was easy to talk to, and seemed genuinely interested.

‘Sure. One of my bosses retired recently, and he's setting up an investigation and security firm, and he's asked me to go in with him.'

‘Oh. What exactly does that mean?'

‘Well, there's always a need for someone to do what we've been doing—looking for a missing person, or investigating corporate espionage—that sort of thing. And with so much alarm here in Australia as well as other parts of the world concerning the threat of terrorist activities, well, that's opened up a whole new area.'

‘I see. Well, that certainly sounds as if it won't be dull.'

He shot her a quick smile. ‘I don't think so. I certainly hope not.'

‘You must be finding what you're doing now, helping Mum and me, pretty tame in comparison to all that.'

‘Not at all.' He could have kicked himself as he glanced across at her. There was no way he'd wanted to lessen the importance of their present search. ‘This is exactly the type of work we'll be doing. All investigations include a great deal of just plain, hard slog.'

She nodded her understanding. ‘Like we've been doing?'

‘Exactly.'

‘So where will you be working then?'

‘Harry's operation will be national, so I'll go wherever I'm wanted.'

‘There probably won't be much call for that type of thing in Cairns.'

Was that regret he heard in her voice? He turned his head to find she was looking out the passenger's side window, so there was nothing to help him guess her thoughts.

‘Who can tell?' he said lightly as he turned his attention back to the road.

They had reached Cape Tribulation, which was where the bitumen ran out, and once they were on to the unsealed road that was the Bloomfield Track the going became much rougher, and he was forced to reduce speed and focus on driving carefully.

They crossed several stony creek beds, dry now as there had been no rain for several months, and as they eased down one rough bank and up the other, the Cruiser bucked and jolted.

The engine growled as he changed down gears going up and down the steep inclines. Boulders littered the sides of the road, and the forest pressed in on both sides, with branches often extending across the track and over the creeks. Apart from the ribbon of dirt they followed they were in a dense wilderness.

Chapter 14

Elly was relieved when they reached Wujal Wujal, the small Aboriginal settlement set in a clearing in the forest, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. As they drove slowly along a track between the houses a dog came racing out and barked at them, followed by a small boy who stood with his finger in his mouth, his eyes large and round beneath his mop of curly black hair. Mitchell stopped the car and the boy watched them for a moment before removing his finger from his mouth and venturing slowly towards them. Elly got out of the car and walked over to him.

‘Hello,' she said, smiling down at him. ‘Is your Mummy home?'

The boy nodded solemnly, then turned and ran back to the house, calling to his mother. She came out a moment later, a small dark woman with her hair twisted up into a bun, and Elly went towards her.

‘Hello,' she said. ‘We're looking for Della. I wonder if you can tell me if she lives here.'

The woman frowned as she shook her head. ‘No, but her niece does. Down there—' she pointed along the track, ‘—sixth house down.'

‘Thank you.'

Elly turned and went back to the car as the woman returned to her door, where she stood watching as they drove slowly down the track. At the sixth house Mitchell stopped, and Elly got out and went to the front door and knocked. The door was opened by a middle-aged woman in a flowery dress.

‘Yes, can I help you?' she asked.

‘I hope so. I'm looking for Della, I believe you're her niece. I'm hoping you can tell me where to find her.'

The woman looked at her sombrely and shook her head. ‘You're too late. That old lady's passed on.'

Elly felt the words like a blow to the stomach. She had pinned such high hopes on finding Della.

‘Oh dear. I'm so sorry. When did it happen?'

‘About three months ago. Sorry.'

She stepped back and was about to close the door when Elly put out her hand.

‘Wait. Just a minute, please.' She spoke quickly, urgently. ‘She gave my father some information and I'm wondering if you might be able to help me.'

‘What did she tell him?'

‘He was a chemist, you see, and he was researching plants, and they met up out in the Daintree somewhere. And she told him about a rare plant that had wonderful healing properties. It was used on initiation scars, as well as other things, and it was very special and she showed him where to find it. And he was working with it when … 'Elly pulled up short, remembering the Aboriginal taboo about talking about those who had died.

She gulped and continued. ‘When we lost him, you see. And it was very important work. My mother and I are desperate to find the plant and we don't know where to look. We were hoping … that old lady … would be able to show us. Do you know anything about it? About where it might grow?'

The woman pursed her lips and shook her head. ‘I'm sorry. She was into all those things, but I don't know anything about them. I can't help you.'

Elly's heart dropped. ‘Was there anyone else she might have passed such information on to?'

‘Maybe her daughter. I dunno, but she's interested in all the old stuff. They spent lotsa time together, out in the bush.'

‘Perhaps I can talk to her then. Does she live here too?' Elly asked eagerly.

‘She does, but she's gone away.'

‘Oh. Do you know when she'll be back?'

The woman shook her head. ‘No, I don't. I'm sorry. She'll be back when she's back.'

Elly was desperate. ‘When she comes back, would you ask her to get in touch with me? Please, it's very important.'

She nodded. ‘All right.'

‘Do you have the phone on here?'

Elly received a withering glance. ‘I've got my mobile.'

‘Oh, of course.'

Fumbling in her pocket she drew out one of the cards where she had written her details in case she needed them, and handed it to the woman, who glanced at it before putting it in a pocket.

‘All right. I'll give it to her when she comes back.'

‘Thank you very much. And could I have your number please?'

Elly jotted it down, thanked her again and turned and walked across to rejoin Mitchell as the door closed behind her, her hopes dashed.

They didn't talk much on the way back, each busy with their own thoughts, but when he pulled up outside the farm, Mitchell turned to Elly and placed his hand on her arm.

‘I know how disappointed you are,' he told her in a gentle voice, ‘but try not to be too despondent. When Della's daughter comes back she might know something. If Della was passing on the old ways to her, and she used to go out into the bush with her, it's very possible she'll know about the plant, and where to find it.'

Elly's dejection lifted a little. The same thought had been in her mind as they drove back, but she'd been almost frightened to allow herself to hope. Now Mitchell's words brought back some of her optimism and she drew a deep breath as she turned towards him.

‘Yes, you're right.' Then the black cloud returned. ‘Provided the niece remembers to tell her. And provided she feels it's worthwhile for her to bother contacting me.'

A flicker of a smile lit Mitchell's face. ‘Of course she'll contact you. Why wouldn't she? What's happened to your confidence?'

Elly bit her lip, feeling sure he must think she was ridiculous, but he put his hands on her shoulders, his eyes looking into hers full of compassion.

‘Poor Elly,' he murmured. ‘You take things so much to heart, don't you?'

She swallowed and lifted her head to look into his face. He was probably thinking how infantile she was.

He pushed a strand of hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear, then he leant forward and brushed his lips lightly over her forehead. As he drew back his lips were very close to hers, where they hovered for a second, then slowly he bent his head and pressed his mouth to hers, and he was kissing her, softly, gently.

Startled at first, Elly melted into his arms as she relished the tender kiss. Then her heart fluttered and her mouth moved beneath his. She felt his sharp intake of breath and his kiss deepened.

Her arms went around his neck and her fingers twined themselves in his hair. He pulled her closer, the intensity of his kiss seeming to touch her innermost soul. She felt his heart pounding against hers as he held her against him, and her own heart went into overdrive.

They stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity, until he drew back, breathing heavily, and released his hold on her, slowly, as if reluctant to let her go. Elly dropped her arms and eased back, her pulses still throbbing. His eyes held hers, their intensity making her wonder if he had felt the strong sense of connection, the feeling of this being so right, that she had.

‘Elly, you're very special,' he told her, his voice husky. Then a shadow crossed his face, and a wry smile lifted the corners of his mouth and he glanced over at the house. ‘If your mother saw that she'd be entitled to think I've exceeded my work brief,' he told her. ‘I think we'd better go in, don't you?'

Elly tried to calm the furious beating of her heart as they left the car and he took her arm to guide her into the house.

‘Well, it is bad luck,' Beth consoled Elly when she heard their tale, ‘but it was always only a chance. Perhaps you'll hear from the daughter when she returns.'

Elly grimaced. ‘Perhaps. Anyway, what do you want us to do now?'

‘I want you to keep on with the search,' she told them, ‘but I would like you to be here with me for the next couple of days while the harvest is on, if you don't mind. It's all arranged, but I would like company while the pickers are all here, and they arrive tomorrow.'

‘Yes, of course.'

‘While Mitchell is searching, we can go on with our work in the laboratory. I'm looking forward to having your help,' Beth told her. ‘Let's see if we can take your Dad's formula a step further.'

‘That's all right with me,' Mitchell told Beth, nodding, then he moved to give Beth a swift kiss on the cheek, and looked deep into Elly's eyes before doing the same to her. ‘Ring me if you need me,' he told them, and with that he turned and left.

Elly was sorry she wouldn't see him again tomorrow—she felt as if they had unfinished business. However, they'd be together, just the two of them, when they continued searching. Besides, she and Beth could carry on working, using the notes she'd made and, yes, perhaps they could move forward to that final step.