Chapter 23

Mitchell’s Creek, Sunny Corner, New South Wales, Australia:23

“Stop looking at me like that,” Myndee said.

“Like what?” Jim asked.

“Like I’m nuts.”

“So ... you’re going to tell the girl why we’re going to Sydney?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Jim said, “You say, ‘We’re going to see the Grandfather so I can sell my gold and avoid taxes.’ really?”

“Ooo,” she waffled, “I didn’t think about that.” She started gnawing on a fingernail, confusion writ large all over her face. “Bloody hell.”

“Bloody oath,” said Jim.

“Well, that’s come a gutser,” Myndee said. She had slipped into the vernacular, “She’s me cobber, she needs me.”

“Was she one of those who watched while you were raped?”

“No! Not her.” Myndee said, “Left.”

I turned left.

We drove aways, discussing.

“Right.” “Left in the alley.” “Stop.” “There she is.”

Indeed she was ... huge backpack and a case. She stopped behind the topper and waited.

“Nothing for it,” I said. I tossed Jim the keys, he stepped out and around back. I heard the thud of pack and bag. She climbed in the back with Abby and Myndee. Jim closed the door, tossed me the keys and...