Read Online Killer Ute by Rosanne Hawke - Free Book Online

‘There are lots of bikers in town at the moment. At night he won’t notice us. But you and Max can’t be seen with us.’
    Felicity goes quiet. Yes! Dev’s done it, whatever it is. ‘Be careful,’ is all Felicity says.
    Mei and I walk into the lounge room; I can’t wait to see what this is about. Max is frowning. ‘You guys aren’t the easiest guests we’ve had staying here.’ Is that an insult? I check out Dev’s face. For some reason it makes him grin and Max goes over and slaps him on the back.
    Dev sees me. ‘Come on, mate, get your jacket.’ Then he says to Mei, ‘I just have to take him out for a bit. We won’t be long.’
    Mei is a great mate. I bet she’d like to come too but she can see this is Dev-time for me. She knows how much I need it.
    On the way out to the bike, Dev says to me, ‘I have to see this ute – see what we’re dealing with.’
    â€˜Sure thing.’ This is getting more interesting by the minute.
    We put on our helmets but Dev doesn’t start up the bike. We wheel it out onto the gravel road and keep pushing almost to the highway. ‘This is a precaution,’ he says. ‘If that guy has caught on about Max and Felicity and is hanging around the area, at least we won’t lead him to the farm.’
    That makes me glance around. It’s after ten, dark now, but out here I can see the tea-trees lining the road, black against the navy sky, the stars coming out. In one way it’s hard to imagine we have to be careful, until I hear a rustle in the grass and I jump. Dev chuckles. ‘Probably just a fox, mate.’
    Before we reach the highway, we check left and right but can’t see anything out of the ordinary. We swing onto the bike and Dev brings it to life with a roar. I savour the shaking that goes from my legs to my head and then we’re off.
    First thing we do when we reach town is head for the camping ground near the beach. There are motorbikes lined up beside a group of tents. I bet Felicity didn’t know Dev had this in mind. I hang back a second. How well does Dev know these bikers?
    â€˜What if?’ Did I say that aloud?
    Dev turns around. ‘Mick’s an old mate of mine.’
    The bikers are watching cricket on a tiny TV. They offer Dev a beer and me a Coke. I know I can’t drink it – the caffeine does weird things to me – but I sense I can’t refuse either. I sip it and keep a close eye on those blokes. All sorts of thoughts scramble into my head. What if Scott knows them too? A lot of bikers get bad press and some know criminals even. Then I try to think of Dev. He’s a good bloke; surely he wouldn’t do anything stupid. But what if Dev doesn’t know what these guys are up to?
    â€˜Joel, Mick here wants to meet you.’ Mick is one of the guys who spoke to Dev near the jetty. His long hair is in a plait tonight, and he has a pointy grey beard. He’s not as tall as Dev, but his grip on my hand is like steel. He doesn’t smile either. ‘Heard about you, mate.’
    I panic. Where from?
    â€˜Dev’s told me why you’re here.’ I relax and my head starts to clear.
    Mick’s eyes do a lot of his talking for him; they’re a piercing blue. ‘We’ll keep an eye out for you.’
    â€˜Thanks,’ I say. I wonder if I should say something else, but Mick has finally ripped that searching gaze away. When he takes a swig of his beer, I see a cross tattooed on his forearm.
    â€˜Come and join us,’ he says, and I feel like I’ve passed a test, been asked to join a tribal ritual. I sit on the floor and watch cricket with them. A few of the blokes who haven’t seen us before check us out and I try not to let their frowns bother me, but they can see Mick and Dev are pals from way back and soon everyone relaxes.
    After Dev’s finished his beer, I hide my Coke on the ground behind a