Right As Rain (36 page)

“Bumped into some pipe,” she said.

“You're gonna have a shiner.” He grinned. “You're one tough cookie, boss, I'll give you that. We should have hooked up a long time ago.”

“What are you talking about?” Her mind was racing, playing for time. She could just walk out. Or could she?

“You're always coming on to me,” he said.

Did he truly think that? Her father had made some comment about Cam making goggle eyes at her, but she had dismissed it.

“I thought for a while you were going to hook up with Hugh,” he said, “but I get it now. You're just old mates. Then that Adam guy showed up.”

Mackenna glared at Cam. Did he know Adam was back?

“Sharing a room with him was the pits,” Cam said. “Bloody Kiwi thought he was something else. Anyway he's gone now, so it's just you and me.”

“Gone?” The word came out as a wail.

“Went back to his travels your mum said . . .” Cam's eyes darkened and his mouth fell open. “He came back, didn't he?”

Mackenna pressed against the fridge. Cam hadn't known Adam was back. She hoped that meant Adam would turn up soon.

Cam took a small step closer. “It was him on the bike at the Bennetts' place.”

A chill went through Mackenna.

“You bitch,” Cam yelled.

She flinched as spittle sprayed from his mouth.

“You were stringing me along and all the while you had Adam on the side. You pretended he left but you've been shacked up with him in that stupid cottage of yours, haven't you?”

Her mouth was dry. “Where is he?” she croaked.

His eyes widened. “That dumb Kiwi was following us, wasn't he?”

“What have you done to him?”

“I haven't done anything,” Cam sneered. “But he's useless to you now.”

He pressed his hands to the fridge either side of her head. Magnets and postcards showered to the floor. Mackenna's mind raced from Adam and what could have happened to him to Cam standing centimetres away.

“Might as well make the most of it,” Cam said.

He leant forward and she could smell the beer on his breath mingled with something bad.

Her nose wrinkled as his lips reached hers. She used the fridge to brace herself and pushed her knee up with as much force as she could muster, straight into his crotch.

Cam expelled a gasp of rotten breath, doubled over and staggered backwards into the table. Their open bottles wobbled and fell, spilling beer as they went. One rolled off the edge and smashed on the floor. Cam sank to his knees, his face pale and his eyes fluttering.

Mackenna gripped one of the kitchen chairs, picked it up and swung the legs wildly in his direction.

“You're fired,” she hissed.

He opened his mouth but no words came out.

“You leave here tonight,” she said.

Cam stayed where he was gasping in short breaths. “I'll tell people you attacked me,” he puffed.

“In self-defence,” she said. “Your word against mine and I've got the bruise.”

His eyes widened. “You scheming – ”

“Get out,” she screamed, jabbing the chair legs at him.

“You're mad, you bitch.” Finally Cam was getting some air. He gripped the table and pulled himself to his feet but remained hunched over.

Mackenna glared at him. “And I want my truck back here by eight o'clock tomorrow morning.” The strength had returned to her voice. “Or I'll report it stolen.”

He backed out of the kitchen. She followed him with the chair and watched him fumble with the back door and struggle to pull on his boots. He staggered to his ute. She stood at the door and watched until its lights had disappeared and the sound of the engine had faded.

The cold night air flooded around her and she began to shake. She flicked the nib on the lock, shut the door and pressed her back against it. Great shuddering sobs racked her body as she slid to the floor.

Hugh squinted as a set of headlights on high beam hit him in the eye. He pulled to one side to let a vehicle out of Mackenna's driveway.

There were no lights on at the Gatehouse. He peered ahead and could make out a glow from the direction on the Birches' farmhouse. Maybe Mackenna and Adam were there. She'd only left half a message but she'd sounded worried. When he'd tried to call back she'd rejected his call.

He pulled up at the Birches' back gate. There were several lights on in the house. He hurried to the door and knocked.

“Mackenna,” he called. “Adam?”

There was no answer. He tried the door but it was locked.

“Mackenna?”

He heard a noise then the door opened and Mackenna peered around it. Her eyes were red and a large bruise covered one cheek.

“What's happened?” he asked as she opened the door wider and walked away.

“I've sent Cam packing,” she mumbled over her shoulder.

He stepped around a chair leaning against the passage wall and followed her into the kitchen. “Are you alright?”

He stopped in the doorway, surveying the mess. It looked as though there'd been a struggle.

“I'm okay,” Mackenna said in a soft voice.

“Did Cam do this?” He put a gentle hand to her cheek.

She winced and shook her head.

“Where's Adam?”

Mackenna's lip wobbled. He opened his arms and she stepped into them. She was shaking. He'd never seen her like this. Why had she been on her own with Cam? Adam should never have left her.

Hugh held her tight until he felt her relax. She eased away from him.

“Sorry,” she said. “I'm okay. I've sent Cam packing but I don't know where Adam is.” She turned big worried eyes to him. “I think they may have killed him.”

Hugh sat her down and took the chair next to her, making sure his feet were clear of the puddle of beer on the floor. “Why would you think that? Where is he?”

“He followed Cam. He's been gone for hours. Then Cam came back. He didn't seem to know Adam was staying here again. Then he said Adam was dead.”

Hugh leaned forward and took her cold hands in his. “Why would he say Adam was dead?”

She shook her head. “He didn't exactly say the word dead but he implied it. He said Adam was useless to me.”

“Where did Adam go?”

“I don't know.” Mackenna sniffed and picked up a mobile phone from the table. “He left his phone behind.”

“I tried to ring you.”

“Cam switched both phones off.” She fiddled with them. “Adam's mum must have tried to ring. What will I tell her if she rings again?”

Both phones jingled to life. Mackenna peered at one then the other.

“Missed call from you.” She waggled her phone at him. “Message on Adam's.” She held up the other one. “Bet it's from his mum.”

“So you have no idea where Adam may have followed Cam?”

Mackenna shook her head. “Cam took my sheep to the abattoir. Because he had the truck we thought he might have been planning another job of his own afterwards. I gave Adam directions to the abattoir. I haven't heard from him since he left here mid-afternoon.”

Hugh was worried too. “So we don't even know if he made it to the abattoir or if he did and followed Cam from there.” Adam would have contacted Mackenna if he was simply lost, but he didn't want to say that out loud.

“Wait a minute.” Mackenna jumped up. “He must have followed Cam. Damn! What was it he said?”

She tapped her finger on her teeth. Hugh watched the frown lift from her face. “Adam must have followed Cam and Cam didn't know who it was. He said something about someone on a bike at the Bennetts' place.” She sunk down on her chair again. “I don't know any Bennetts.”

“I do,” Hugh said. He took his phone from his pocket. “Adrian and Anne. I was there just last week. They were planning to sell some sheep. They live over Millicent way.”

“But that's so far away. There could be other Bennetts.”

“No harm in trying them.” Hugh scrolled through his contact list and selected the number.

Adrian answered straight away and Hugh explained why he was ringing. Adrian sounded upset – there had been an accident. Hugh was at first relieved that the description Adrian gave fitted Adam then worried to hear he was in a bad way. The whole time they were talking Mackenna paced the room around him. He told Adrian he'd call him back later.

“Was Adam there?” she said as soon as he took the phone from his ear.

“Yes, but – ”

“We've got to get there.” Mackenna snatched up the phones and her car keys. “If Cam has harmed one hair on his head, I'm going to have him for assault.”

“Mack.” Hugh put a restraining hand on her arm. He saw the fear in her eyes as she returned his gaze.

“Adam's been taken to hospital. The ambulance has only just left the Bennetts'.”

“What happened?” Mackenna's lip began to quiver.

“Adrian was pretty upset. Evidently his lad was driving the ute and Adam shot out of their driveway across the road in front of him.”

“Why would Adam do that?”

“I don't know, but Adrian said Cam had the sheep loaded in the truck and Trevor was in the ute with his lad . . .”

“I don't understand.”

“Adrian said Adam had been behaving strangely. He told Trevor he was a friend of the Bennetts. He didn't have any identification on him. Adrian called the ambulance and the police.”

Mackenna opened her mouth but no words came out. She continued to stare at Hugh as if he had all the answers.

“Cam and Dingo left with the sheep before the police and ambulance arrived,” he said. “Technically neither of them were involved.”

“I should never have thought up this stupid scheme.” Big tears began to roll down her cheeks. “What if Adam's . . . what if he's . . .”

Hugh gripped her arms. “Adam was unconscious. They called an ambulance and it took them a while to stabilise him, but he's alive.”

Hugh felt Mackenna's arms go rigid. She lifted her hands to his elbows and squeezed. They stood for a moment like a pair of wrestlers locked together.

“I've got to get to him,” Mackenna said. She stared straight at Hugh. Her tears had dried. “Will you come?”

“Of course,” he said. “I'll drive.”

They were level with the Gatehouse when Mackenna shot forward in her seat and let fly with a string of such bad language Hugh thought she'd cracked under the pressure.

He braked to a stop. “What's the matter?”

“I've left the lamb shanks in the oven.”

She jumped out of the car and ran inside. In seconds she was back beside him. She leant over and kissed him on the cheek. “I don't know what I would have done without your help tonight.”

He smiled. “We're mates. That's what mates do,” he said.

Mackenna thought they'd never reach the hospital. A part of her wished she'd driven instead of Hugh. Driving would have given her something to focus on instead of all the scenarios of an injured Adam that played in her head.

It was a relief to finally pull into the car park. She was out of the vehicle before Hugh could turn off the engine but he was by her side again when she reached the emergency waiting room. Mackenna peered around calling Adam's name. Several people stared back at her from their seats. A large sign declared police would be called if visitors became aggressive.

A nurse appeared behind the security glass. “What can we do for you?”

“I'm looking for Adam.” Mackenna spoke loudly through the gaps in the glass. “Is he here?”

The nurse raised her eyebrows.

Hugh stepped up beside Mackenna. “Our friend has just been brought here in an ambulance.” His tone was soothing. “He's been in a motorbike accident.”

Mackenna gripped his hand, thankful once again for his steady presence.

“Our no name patient.” The nurse shuffled through some clipboards. “You can fill out his information for us.”

“How is he?” Hugh asked.

“I can't tell you anything yet.” She scowled from one to the other.

Mackenna wanted to slap the woman for her lack of empathy. No wonder there was a glass barrier. Instead, she tightened her grip on Hugh's arm.

He leaned closer to the glass and spoke in a low voice. “His name is Adam Walker. Mackenna is his partner. She wasn't there when he had the accident, so you can understand her distress.”

Once again the nurse flicked her stern gaze from Hugh to Mackenna, then her face softened. “He's having tests,” she said. “Come through.”

She moved out of sight and suddenly a door in the partition wall slid open. She beckoned them through. The badge on her uniform flipped around revealing her name, Coral. “This way,” she said.

Mackenna followed her into a large brightly lit room, loosely partitioned by curtains. People sat or lay on beds with a nurse or a visitor beside them. She glanced at each face expectantly and averted her eyes when it wasn't Adam.

“Here we are.” Coral indicated an empty bed and straightened the tangled sheet.

Mackenna's heart skipped a beat. Adam's clothes were piled in the corner with his helmet on top. A blood-soaked bandage and assorted medical equipment littered the cupboard beside the bed and an empty wrapper and a disposable glove lay at her feet.

“We're busy tonight,” Coral said. “I'll see if I can find you a chair.”

Mackenna looked from the debris to Hugh standing at the end of the bed.

“Let's not jump to conclusions,” he said. “He's having tests. He'll be back here grinning at you in no time.”

“Here you are.” Coral carried a plastic chair. “You look like you've been through the wars yourself.”

Mackenna frowned at her. A buzzer went and Coral hurried away.

“That bruise on your cheek is a real shiner.” Hugh nodded at her.