Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(6)

Day 1: Thursday Afternoon


The windscreen was lightly spotting with rain as the minivan drew to a halt. The driver killed the engine and swivelled around in his seat.

‘This is it, guys.’

Nine heads turned to the windows.

‘I’m only getting out if we go left, not right,’ a male voice called from the back seat, and the others laughed.

To the left, a guest lodge sat snug and warm, its wooden walls standing strong against the chill. Light spilled out of the windows and beyond, a neat row of accommodation cabins beckoned.

To the right lay a muddy track, marked with a weather-beaten sign. Gum trees knitted overhead to form a rough archway and the path meandered drunkenly before careering sharply into the bushland and disappearing.

‘Sorry, mate, it’s a right turn for everyone today.’ The driver swung open the minivan door, sending in an icy blast. One by one, the passengers began to move.

Bree McKenzie undid her seatbelt and climbed out, dodging a large puddle at the last second. She turned with a warning, but Alice was already stepping down. The woman’s blonde hair blew across her face, blinding her as one expensive boot plunged into the water.

‘Shit.’ Alice swept her hair behind her ears and looked down. ‘Good start.’

‘Sorry,’ Bree said automatically. ‘Has it soaked through?’

Alice examined her boot. ‘No. I think I got away with it.’ A beat, then she smiled and moved on. Bree gave a silent sigh of relief.

She shivered, zipping her jacket right up to her neck. The air was crisp with the scent of damp eucalyptus, and as she looked around she could see the gravel carpark was mostly empty. Off season, she guessed. She walked to the back of the van where the backpacks were being unloaded. They looked heavier than she remembered.

Lauren Shaw was already there, her tall thin frame hunched over, easing her bag out from the bottom of the pile.

‘Do you need a hand?’ Bree didn’t know Lauren as well as she knew some of the other senior staff, but she knew how to make herself useful.

‘No, it’s fine –’

‘I don’t mind –’ Bree reached for the bag as Lauren dragged it free. There was an awkward tussle as they both pulled in a different direction.

‘I think I’ve got it. Thank you.’ Lauren’s eyes were the same cool grey as the sky, but she gave Bree a small smile. ‘Do you need help –?’

‘God, no.’ Bree waved a hand. ‘I’m good. Thanks.’ She glanced up. The clouds seemed to be growing heavier. ‘Hopefully the weather holds out for us.’

‘The forecast says it won’t.’

‘Oh. Well, still. I suppose you never know.’

‘No.’ Lauren seemed almost amused by Bree’s optimism. ‘No. I suppose you never do.’ She seemed about to say something more when Alice called her name. Lauren looked over and hoisted her pack onto her shoulders. ‘Excuse me.’

She crunched away over the gravel towards Alice, leaving Bree alone with the bags. Bree dragged her backpack free and tried to lift it, staggering a little under the unfamiliar weight.

‘You’ll get used to it.’

Bree looked up to find the driver grinning at her. He’d introduced himself when they’d climbed into the van in Melbourne, but she hadn’t bothered remembering his name. Now she looked properly, he was younger than she’d first thought, probably around her age or a few years older. No more than thirty, anyway, with the knotted hands and knuckles of a climber. He was thin but looked strong with it. His red fleece had Executive Adventures embroidered on the breast, but no name tag. She couldn’t decide if he was attractive or not.

‘Make sure it’s fitted properly.’ The man took the pack from her and helped her lace her arms through the straps. ‘That’ll help a lot.’

His long fingers adjusted the clips and buckles until suddenly the pack felt not light exactly, but lighter. Bree opened her mouth to thank him when the tang of cigarette smoke cut through the damp air. They both turned towards it. Bree already knew what she would see.

Bethany McKenzie stood some way from the group, her shoulders hunched. One hand shielded a cigarette from the wind, the other was shoved in the pocket of her coat. She had dozed in the van on the drive up, head lolling against the window, and had woken looking embarrassed.

The driver cleared his throat. ‘There’s no smoking here.’

Beth paused mid-drag. ‘We’re outside.’

‘We’re within the lodge grounds. It’s a smoke-free zone all around here.’

Beth looked mutinous for a minute, then, seeing all eyes turned her way, shrugged and stubbed the cigarette out with her boot. She wrapped her coat around herself. It was an old one, Bree knew, and it didn’t quite fit anymore.

The driver turned his attention back to Bree with a conspiratorial smile. ‘You worked with her long?’

‘Six months,’ Bree said. ‘But I’ve known her forever. She’s my sister.’

The man looked from Bree to Beth and back again in surprise, as she’d known he would. ‘You two?’

Bree tilted her head a little and ran a hand along her dark ponytail. ‘Twins actually. Identical,’ she added, because she thought she’d enjoy the look on his face. He didn’t disappoint. He opened his mouth when there was a distant crack of thunder. Everyone looked up.