Untitled (16 page)

"How long have we known each other, Rob?" His Scott's accent was harsh and thick.

       "Since we were children, Father," he replied.

       "Then I think we can dispense with the titles of superiority. Call me by my name. I need to hear someone talk to me as an equal. Call me Jacob."

       "I meant no offence, Jacob" said Rob, his eyes remaining focused on the ground ahead.

       "And none was taken." Jacob smiled sadly.

       "It's a force of habit. I can't remember the last time I addressed you by name." Rob risked a glance to his left.

       "I know what you mean, my friend." Jacob nodded. "Sometimes I think I may forget it myself."

       "Our names are unimportant. Its what we do that makes us who we are," stated Rob. "Isn't that the first thing we were taught?"

       "Indeed it was," replied Jacob. "But I fear for the worst."

       "You should never have trusted Chappell to do the work for us," Rob spat the name 'Chappell' with disgust. "He isn't one of us. He's an outsider."

       "I take full responsibility for my choices, Rob." Jacob clasped his hands together. "But time was running short and we needed to find the prison of our enemy."

       "We would have done so on our own."

       "But we would have been too late," sighed Jacob.

"Our situation is just as dire now," Rob snapped. "They are loose and Chappell is to blame."

       "Time is still on our side," Jacob explained. "We have everything in place to shut the doorway and lock it again for another Millennium."

       "I do not mean to question you, Jacob." Rob's struggled with wheel. "Its just that I am scared."

       "It is a sensible thing to be scared. We are all scared, but we must hold onto our faith and the knowledge that what we do is for the best." Jacob lowered his head, his chin resting against his chest.

       "I fear that faith may not be enough to see us through this dark time."

       Jacob did not reply and they drove on in silence.

       They'd found the Park Ranger sitting in her four by four, the vehicle taking up the entire width of an old dirt track. She'd made no attempt to come out and greet them as they climbed down from the helicopter, preferring to wait for them to come to her. Harrison noted before they even spoke that she wasn't pleased at playing babysitter to a group of city dwellers. It was evident from the scowl on her face that she felt she'd drawn the short straw in the Park Ranger sweep stakes.

       "So, you want to go out and see where the family died?" She didn't bother with introductions.

       "And you would be?" Harrison glared at her.

       "Ranger Smith?" Peter interrupted, doing nothing to ingratiate the group upon the Ranger.

       "Like I never heard that one before," she sneered and quickly turned back to Harrison. "Ranger Hewitt." She finally held out a hand in welcome.

       "Detective Harrison." He kept the terms as formal as she had.

       The others quickly introduced themselves, Megan waiting until last.

       "Megan Grant," she said, shaking the Ranger's hand.

"The Megan Grant?" Hewitt's face suddenly became animated. "You wrote a paper on your experiences in Africa." As she spoke she pumped Megan's hand.

       "Yeah, I wrote an article on it," Megan replied. "I never realised that anybody actually read it.

       "Read it?" Hewitt slowed the shaking, but didn't release Megan's hand. "I devoured it. I've been applying for work over there ever since."

       Harrison moved around the Ranger's vehicle and pulled a packet of cigarettes out of his jacket.

       "I thought you'd quit." Green followed him.

       "Well, my dad told me to never to be a quitter." Harrison lit the end and inhaled deeply. "I'd hate to see him turn in his grave." He blew the smoke out of his nose.

       "Mind if I take one?" Green asked.

       "It's your lungs." Harrison tossed the packet across and the young forensic officer caught it.

       "Don't start," Green said. "It's bad enough getting stick from Flannigan." He took a cigarette and passed the rest back to Harrison.

       "That old fart thinks he's everyone's dad." Harrison savoured the taste of smoke.

       "Hey, you don't have to work with him," Green complained. "He's on my back twenty four seven."

"Is this the naughty boy corner?" Kaci came around the far side of the four by four and leaned against the rear bumper.

       From her jacket she took a small silver flask and unscrewed the lid. She lifted it to her lips and paused, looking at Harrison and Green looking at her.

       "What?" she asked. "Can't a girl drink?"

       "But you're the pilot," Green pointed out.

       "Well, blame him." Kaci nodded towards Harrison. "Never touched the stuff until he came along."

       Green turned to Harrison and raised his eyebrows. Harrison said nothing. He was on talking terms with Kaci and he wanted to keep it that way. He shrugged at Green as if to say '
leave it' a
nd then returned to his cigarette.

       "They seem to be getting on well," Green stated.

       "It appears that young Megan has a fan in the friendly Ranger," Harrison said, making no attempt to hide his dislike towards Hewitt.

       As if sensing she was being talked about the Ranger finished her conversation with Megan and headed towards them. She stopped between Harrison and Green, placing her hands on her hips and giving them her best stern face.

       "Don't even think of flicking those into the bushes," she barked, all friendliness gone.

Harrison took a final drag and pinched the end of the cigarette between his finger and thumb, placing the used end in his jacket pocket. Green followed suit, flinching as he nipped the end and dropping the entire cigarette.

       "You better be picking that up," Hewitt sounded like a drill instructor and Green couldn't hide his smile as he bent down to retrieve the offending article.

       "OK, if everyone's ready, follow me." Hewitt ordered.

* * *

       The sky had began to cloud over quickly after leaving the clearing and Harrison was sure he'd felt the odd spot of rain falling down from the thick head of treetops that towered above them. Not that he was complaining, he didn't care if it pissed down so long as he had both feet on solid ground. Hell, as far as he was concerned it could start snowing and he'd still be happy.

       That good feeling soon dissipated as they neared the site where his family had spent their last hours. The entire area had been fenced off and was a hive of activity. Harrison knew how the police worked, but he was surprised to be looking at the situation from a different perspective. He'd been at many crime scenes and had always managed to keep himself detached from the victims. But this was different, for the first time the victims couldn't be looked at as just evidence.

       Harrison took the lead and approached the uniformed officer standing at an opening in the fence. He appeared bored at the job allocation, standing lazily against a tree, probably thinking about anything apart from the job at hand. He didn't even notice the group until Harrison spoke to him.

"I believe you're expecting us."