Trace Elements

Trace Elements

Few establishments in Swordfish Bay owned powerful craft such as this. He could make out the silhouette of two men: one driving, the other standing. He recognised neither. Flames erupted from an object one seemed to be holding. The sound of continuous gunfire filled the air. Shit. He dived to the floor of the boat. Glass shattered and the hull splintered. A shower of timber fragments erupted inside the cabin, stinging his exposed skin. Holes appeared in the cabin walls, and the thump of bullets striking forced his head lower. He heard the boat speed past. When he glanced up, he could see the boat turn to make another run. Again, gunfire whizzed around him, causing more damage. Bastards! What’s their problem? He braced himself for another onslaught. How the hell would he get out of this? He needed an escape before the boat came again. He had no time to don his wetsuit, but he could slip on his diving gear. He still had enough air to stay under for at least five more minutes. He grabbed his tank, put his arms through the straps, and perched on the rail, ready to jump, when he looked down into the water. The large dorsal fin circled the craft. His four-metre nightmare was back.

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Bruce Cooke Trace Elements © 2008 by Bruce Cooke

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

An Eternal Press Production Eternal Press 206 - 6059 Pandora St. Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5B 1M4

To order additional copies of this book, contact: www. eternalpress.ca

Cover Art © 2008 by Shirley Burnette Edited by Lauren Gilbert Copyedited by Erin Cramer Layout and Book Production by Ally Robertson eBook ISBN: 978-1-897559-36-9

First Edition * November 2008

Production by Eternal Press Printed in Canada and The United States of America.

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Trace Elements

Bruce Cooke

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Bruce Cooke

Also by Bruce Cooke

Journey to Tobruk Meeting at Princes Bridge Jungle Heat Vietnam Holiday Friendly Enemies Top Secret 4

Trace Elements

Dedication: To the memory of my beautiful wife Nancy who succumbed to a terrible illness but whose spirit will always be with me.

Acknowledgements To my editor Lauren Gilbert who advised and helped to get this book to a new standard. Much appreciated.

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Bruce Cooke

Chapter One The four-metre tiger shark glided past with swift movement. Twenty-eight-year-old marine biologist Trace Patterson felt as though someone had a stranglehold on his stomach and was squeezing it to an unbearable agony. His throat tightened and his knuckles gripped the underwater camera. No bubbles rose from his scuba gear: he had stopped breathing. Poised vertically in the clear water of the coral reef, he dared not move. Logic told him the shark was not in an attacking mode. God knows he had seen hundreds during his adventures in the waters off the Queensland coast to know the difference. Still, the sight of the monsters also brought back memories best forgotten. With nowhere to hide, no place to go, and only five minutes of air left in his tank, he began searching for a cave to hide in. He could see none. So the options were to drown or be torn to shreds by the shark? The knife in his utility belt gave little comfort as protection against a shark this size. The chain-mail diving suit wasn’t going to help him either. While the suit gave him protection from the reef sharks and others of smaller variety, he certainly didn’t want this monster to test it. Terror came flooding into him as a powerful flashback blazed into his mind: two teenagers swimming on the reef, enjoying themselves. He and Greg Sutcliffe, mates forever, enjoying a typical day out on the reef: diving together, frolicking with the many coloured fish of the reef, playing with a large turtle. They reach the surface laughing and joking. But the pleasant atmosphere is broken by Greg’s piercing scream. A huge shark silently grabs him around his torso, pulling him under. Trace turns toward the blood staining the crystal clear water, trying to reach his friend. He looks on in horror as Greg is literally bitten in half, his flesh in the jaws of the monster. Trace feels a ripping of flesh on his calf as he tries desperately to reach their boat. The shark is looking for two meals that day. He kicks furiously and the shark turns its attention back to Greg, shaking his dismembered body from side to side and tearing off large chunks of flesh. From the safety of the boat, he watches the blood slowly disappear as the ocean returns to its natural colour. Silence follows. Surf patrol finds his boat. He is rocking back and

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Trace Elements forth, his knees pulled to his body, shaking with fear and sobbing at the loss of his friend. That was twelve years ago. He thought he would never get in the water again, but his dreams of becoming a marine biologist prevailed. The memory of those powerful jaws and eight hundred pounds of brute power certainly exposed his terror and reinforced his father’s suggestion for further protection against a future attack. His father’s words came flooding back to him now. “Listen, son, get off your arse and get over it. Face your problem. If it worries you, then get yourself a chain-mail suit. At least that’s some protection. Getting attacked by a shark is a one-in-a-million chance.” When he had finally been released from hospital, his father, Norman, noted his reluctance to go out on the water. Knowing Trace’s ambition of becoming a marine biologist, Norman took it upon himself to snap Trace out of his fear of ever diving again. He let it slide for a month, but then took Trace out to the reef and forced him to don his scuba gear and dive. Trace had sat on the edge of the boat, dressed in his scuba gear, his flippers, weighted belt, and mask already on. But he couldn’t jump. He only stared at the water. Norman had waited for him to slide into the ocean and frowned. Instead of nagging him into jumping, he put his hand on the middle of Trace’s back and gave him a shove. That did it. Then he was back in the world he loved, and cautiously he and Norman glided around the living coral, inspecting the creatures close-up. When a reef shark swam by, Trace froze, but Norman grabbed his arm to console him. It was only four feet long and completely ignored Norman and Trace. Gradually his confidence returned, enabling him to overcome the trauma—at least with the small variety of sharks—allowing him to complete his degree in marine biology. Today, on one of his hundreds of dives since that terrible accident, he had been admiring the rich colours of the fish and their movements. Then, in an instant, they had all disappeared. There one second, gone the next. He wished now that he had followed the golden rule of scuba diving: never dive alone. His only option was to stay perfectly still, not dare to convey panic, because the shark would sense it and that would be the end. The contraction in his throat eased as he willed himself to breathe. As a marine biologist, logic told him sharks don’t normally like human flesh. Most attacks occur when a shark mistakes a human for a seal. He tried to make himself believe this, keeping his gaze trained on the predator’s cruel eyes as it glided by. He thought about the flesh ripped from his leg and the long period of rehabilitation that had followed. No way did he ever want to go through that again. The shark moved slowly, investigating a cluster of coral. In spite of the terror he felt, the sleek and efficient killer held him fascinated. Just a flick of the tail gave it the power to propel itself forward. When they wanted to, sharks moved as a blur, hitting their prey with unparalleled and savage fury. The shark turned, and so did Trace. He kept it in the scope of his vision at all times. Then, in a blur, it dived to grab a sea turtle in its jaws. This offered Trace a chance for escape. Dropping his weighted belt, he shot towards the surface. His legs kicked as fast as he could move them. With a quick glance behind, he saw the shark leave its prey and hurtle towards him. He had a start and he hoped that would be enough to get him to safety. Reaching the ladder of the boat, he

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Bruce Cooke tried to pull himself out of danger before it was too late. With his fingers wrapped around the rungs, he lifted himself clear as the shark reached the surface. He heard the clunk of its teeth on the steel ladder as it missed his foot by mere centimetres. He watched the shark turn and swim around the boat, still looking for its victim. Jesus. He lay on the deck breathing deeply, allowing his nerves to settle. Opening a cupboard, he reached for a .22 automatic rifle kept for safety reasons, reasons such as this. He fired a shot and felt sure he made a hit. The shark disappeared into the depths. With no sign of it now, he replaced the rifle. Not once during his work had he felt such fury. Jesus, away for five months in Queensland and I come back to this! He sometimes wondered if working for the government trying to save the Barrier Reef was worth it. When rested, he stripped off his diving gear and stood naked as he rubbed himself vigorously with a towel to help remove the tension. His hands still shook as he donned his T-shirt and shorts. Trace looked at the sky, then his watch. Time to get back. Night fell quickly in Queensland. Already the sky had begun changing colour to orange, then pink. He figured only an hour of daylight remained. He had his report to complete and photos to develop. Trace’s mission was to inspect the reef for damage from the crown-of-thorns starfish, which was systematically destroying the reef. His employer, the Queensland government in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, wanted results now. He hoped he would not find dead white coral where the starfish had been and potentially killed it. Evidence had shown that the coral reef farther to the north looked to be in great danger. The pest appeared to be in plague proportions where it settled on the beautiful coral and sucked it dry, leaving only a white dead shell behind. He wanted to see if the danger had spread this far south, and he had dived with his camera looking for evidence. It appeared this reef had not been affected. The sound of an approaching powerboat caught his attention. Fishermen out for the day were usually home by now, and tourists never came out this late in the afternoon. It had to be a local. He adjusted his sunglasses and pulled his baseball cap low, but the angle of the sun still blinded him. The boat came from the west, the shoreline visible behind it. The setting sun blinded him from a clear view. The boat appeared to be at top speed. Trace knew it was trouble. His instincts told him to be wary. No one with friendly intentions would drive at this dangerous speed. They only had to hit one of the rocks hidden below the water at high tide, and it would be curtains for them. Few establishments in Swordfish Bay owned powerful craft such as this. He could make out the silhouette of two men: one driving, the other standing. He recognised neither. Flames erupted from an object one seemed to be holding. The sound of continuous gunfire filled the air. Shit. He dived to the floor of the boat. Glass shattered and the hull splintered. A shower of timber fragments erupted inside the cabin, stinging his exposed skin.

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Trace Elements Holes appeared in the cabin walls, and the thump of bullets striking forced his head lower. He heard the boat speed past. When he glanced up, he could see the boat turn to make another run. Again, gunfire whizzed around him, causing more damage. Bastards! What’s their problem? He braced himself for another onslaught. How the hell would he get out of this? He needed an escape before the boat came again. He had no time to don his wetsuit, but he could slip on his diving gear. He still had enough air to stay under for at least five more minutes. He grabbed his tank, put his arms through the straps, and perched on the rail, ready to jump, when he looked down into the water. The large dorsal fin circled the craft. His four-metre nightmare was back.

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Bruce Cooke

Chapter Two Trace fell back onto the floor of the boat. He sucked in air and felt despair. Sweat began to appear on his brow, and it wasn’t the humidity causing it. He had to do something, or else it was all over. He opened the cupboard again. In fact, he almost tore it open and slipped his hand on the butt of the rifle. Now that the boat was on the eastern side, he could see the shooter struggling with his weapon, trying to change its magazine. The shooter has probably used up his clip, more like two or three, considering the number of bullets smashing into my boat. With the position reversed, Trace stood up for a second, holding his rifle, and fired off two shots. The glass on the windshield of the powerboat shattered. The driver immediately gunned the motor and drove off at high speed. Not much chance of hitting them, but Trace fired two more shots. He then grabbed his camera and slammed his telescopic lens to full strength. He began taking photos of the retreating powerboat until it was out of range. Then he grinned. The boat was heading straight toward Sawtooth Reef—a set of jagged rocks just below the waterline. He waited for the boat to hit the rocks and tear its bottom of out, but as it neared the rocks the boat turned at right angles and skirted around the reef. He frowned. Only a local would know about that. The sun was back in his eyes again, so he wasn’t sure of the quality of the photos. He pushed his dark glasses back on his head, frowned deeply, and tightened his lips. He had no idea who they were. However, he was going to make it his business to find out why someone wanted him dead. Trace tried to start the engine, but found no response. He slammed his hand against the control board in frustration. With a curse, he opened the engine canopy and looked for damage. The reason for engine failure became obvious. Bullets had smashed the housing, cracking the head. Savagely, he slammed the lid closed and tried his radio. He emitted a sigh of relief when the lights came on. Time to contact his business manager, Cliff Seabrook, and demand that he get him out of this. “Cliff, are you there? Come in, please.” No response. He tried it again. Moments later the sound of Cliff’s voice rang in his ears.

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Trace Elements “Yeah, mate. Cliff here. What’s the problem?” “I need you to come and get me. I’m at Sawtooth Reef.” “Christ, has the boat broken down? I just had it maintained a week ago.” He could hear the anger in Cliff’s voice. Cliff liked things to be done properly while he was in charge, and any slacking off was dealt with. “It’s something I can’t tell you over the radio. I’ll need a tow. How long before you get here?” “For you, boss, twenty minutes. Do you need a mechanic?” Better keep this in-house for the moment. Who knows how many people are involved in this attempt on my life, or why? He thought he might have been looked at as some kind of hero for someone who had the chance to save the reef, but apparently not. Trace sighed. “Just you, Cliff. No one else—and keep this quiet.” He switched off and waited. Trace looked in the fridge—at least it still worked—and pulled out a cold stubby, popped the top, and put his feet up to drink, giving the recent events deep thought as he nestled the small, cold bottle in his hand. As far as he knew, he had no enemies, although that theory had just been smashed. He figured at least the conservationists would be pleased by his results. Maybe it was another matter, but for the life of him, he didn’t know what. Sometime later, the sound of a boat caught his attention. When Cliff’s boat approached, Trace took the last sip of the beer. The timing was perfect. The boat pulled up alongside Trace’s, and Cliff threw him a rope. Cliff always wore a cap on his head pushed back in larrikin style, as if he were the captain of the Titanic. “Bloody hell,” he said, scratching his head. “What the hell happened?” Trace stood up and grabbed his hand as Cliff climbed aboard. He related his meeting with the shark and the attack from the powerboat. “They made a mess. Have you been playing around with someone’s wife?” Trace grinned. “Hell no. I’ve been abstaining for months. Too busy to worry about that. Let’s get the boat tied to yours before it gets too dark.” “Who the hell would be out in a powerboat at this time of the evening, so far away from shore? Did you recognise them?” Cliff inspected the damage as he spoke. “Nope. I haven’t a clue. Not a one, but I did get a few snaps off with my camera when they took off. I’ll develop the photos when I get back and see what I’ve got.” “There are only two businesses who carry that sort of boat. Cameron’s or Sutcliffe’s. Can’t see either of them doing this.” “Neither can I. I reckon someone hired the boat. Thanks for picking me up.” **** Trace seemed agitated as the boat came into sight of Swordfish Bay. “Can’t you get any more out of this tub? I need to get home.”

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Bruce Cooke “I’m going as fast as I can. We’re towing your boat, remember.” Cliff threw him a concerned glance. It was not like Trace to snap at him. “Sorry,” said Trace, “I’m still shaking.” “I can understand that. Sit down and relax.” “Now, about this mess—I don’t want anyone knowing about the shooting just yet. Can you hide the boat and have it repaired without questions being asked?” Cliff gave him a cheeky grin. “Sure. Harry Mottram owes me a few favours. He’ll keep his mouth shut while he fixes it. Once it’s in his boat shed, no one will see it.” That satisfied Trace. Harry was the best boat builder in the Bay. “Good. Let’s get home before it really gets dark.” He eyed the cigar between Cliff’s teeth. “I thought you’d given them up?” “I’m not lighting it. I’m only chewing it. My wife won’t let me smoke them anymore. Gives me some comfort, though. As for picking you up—you saved my sanity and my family, so I owe you big time.” Trace again gave him a grin. “I only gave you a job.” “Yeah, after I broke my leg, no one would hire me. I had a huge mortgage and three kids going to secondary school. Making me manager of the fishing fleet is a debt I can never repay.” “You did me a favour. Once Dad was admitted to the nursing home, I couldn’t do my research and handle the fishing fleet at the same time. It’s worked out well for both of us.” “Well, Cliff Seabrook and family are forever in your debt. My wife has a smile on her face bigger than the cool store. My kids don’t have to feel embarrassed when school excursions are on. And I’ve never been happier than with the responsibility you’ve given me.” “I have to admit, you do a better job than I ever could. You know the business backwards, you don’t take shit from anyone, you handle the contracts, and you make us lots of moolah. The money is really good. It certainly makes my life easier.” “By the way, how is your old man? I haven’t been to see Norm for a couple of weeks. Been too busy.” Trace stared at nothing, his eyes dulling. “I don’t think he’ll ever recover. He doesn’t even recognise me when I go to see him. That was the worst part of being away for five or six months.” Cliff nodded. “Yeah, bloody Alzheimer’s is a real bastard. It’s a shame for a bloke like him to go this way.” “I’ll go and see him tomorrow, but it will be the same. The fact that he made a success of the business after Mum died hurt him badly. He wanted to give her more than she had.” “Must have been tough on you too. No thirteen-year-old kid should ever lose his mother at that age.”

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Trace Elements “That’s the way life works, unfortunately. Nothing is fair. He had a huge mortgage like you, but then the Asian markets took off. Look at him now. He’s a bloody millionaire and can’t enjoy it.” “Give him my regards when you see him.” “I will, but if he doesn’t recognise me, then you have no hope.” **** Cliff gave Harry Mottram a ring on his mobile, and he met them at the wharf. Darkness had now settled, and no one seemed to be around. Harry took the boat to his shed and closed the doors. “It will take a while to fix this, Trace,” he said, inspecting the boat, pushing his cap back and scratching his head. Trace nodded. “Do what you can, mate. Let me know when it’s fixed—and keep mum about it. I want to find out for myself who did this.” Trace left them inspecting the damage and headed home to his two-bedroom house. At the back was a laboratory where he worked on his formula that just might save the Great Barrier Reef from the curse of the crown-of-thorns starfish. In the dark, he slipped his key into the lock and opened the door. Lying on his desk and looking very guilty was Max, his Alsatian dog. Max jumped down and greeted his master with a wag of his tail. Then he leapt up and licked Trace’s face. “Max, this is no way to greet me. Get down and I’ll get you some dinner.” He lifted his face up, but couldn’t prevent another wet lick. The dog wagged its tail in an excited movement. Trace ruffled his fur and gave him a hug as his tail continued to wag. He opened a tin of dog food and filled Max’s plate. When Trace went for his morning runs along the shoreline, Max always went with him. Trace enjoyed the camaraderie, particularly with the sea breeze in their faces. The dog was great company, and Trace missed him when he had to travel north. Trace sat down to his own dinner: a defrosted TV dinner. Afterwards, Max settled down and Trace cleared the table, then took his camera into the darkroom and began to develop the photos taken that day. He ignored the images of fish and anxiously perused the shots of the powerboat. Some were blurred and hard to read because of the sun. He didn’t recognise the occupants, but one man appeared to have a very bald head that glistened in the afternoon sun. The other seemed to be much smaller. His head held a bright red baseball cap, pulled well down over his face, paired with dark sunglasses. With a magnifying glass, he studied the boat and gave a smile when he found what he was looking for painted on the side of the craft: Sutcliffe Marine Supplies. First thing in the morning, he would go to the shop and make some inquiries. Maybe then he would have the information he wanted. He had just tidied up the flat and gotten ready for bed when Max suddenly stood up. His alertness puzzled Trace. It was now almost eleven p.m. The doorbell rang. Max gave a bark and headed for the door with Trace on his heels. He cautiously opened it, but felt relieved when he saw who it was.

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Bruce Cooke “Kate? What brings you here at this time of night?” **** Kate Gardner stood looking sheepish for a few seconds. She was twenty-four, with a slim build, dark hair and a face not considered beautiful, but rather in the pretty category. Two qualities she possessed were efficiency and determination, qualities she used to help Trace, and often so that she could be close to him. She had a hidden agenda in her feelings for Trace. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to return her feelings, but she didn’t intend to give up on him either. Often, she felt tempted to tell him how she felt, but her lack of courage got in the way. After all, girls are not supposed to tell men these things unless they are committed to a romantic relationship. She couldn’t see Trace committing to her for a while, if ever. He was always so involved in his work. Then there was the problem of Sarah Sutcliffe, Trace’s lover from back when they were all teenagers. Kate figured he still held strong feelings for Sarah. At least she was out of the way. She hadn’t been seen in Swordfish Bay for a long time. Kate gave him her best smile and felt relieved that he showed no anger in the late visit. “Well, you won’t come and see me, so I thought I had better come and see you. I have the edit on your report on the northern reefs.” Trace glanced down at his watch. “But at this time of night?” Kate gave Max a pat and ruffled his fur. “You never seem to be around during the day. I couldn’t sleep and drove down to the beach. I saw your light on as I drove past. Are you going to keep me standing outside all night?” **** Trace threw the door open wider and ushered her in. “Of course not. Come in.” He had to admit, he was always glad to see Kate. She was one of his best friends and a great help to his research. He stood back and allowed her to enter. She sat down and placed the documents on his kitchen table. Trace smirked to himself. Kate never carried documents with her when she went for a drive. He knew her visit was planned, but he didn’t mind in the least. “Well, do you make the coffee, or do I have to do it?” She looked toward the kitchen area. “White with one sugar, isn’t it?” He filled the kettle and plugged it in. “You’re learning. It’s only taken twelve months.” He laughed. “I’m a slow learner.” After he handed her the mug, Kate sipped her coffee and stared at him. “When are you off to the north again?” He gave her a grin. “Not for a while. A few problems have developed that have to be fixed.”

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Trace Elements “You really should employ me full-time to do all your paperwork. I could quit my job as secretary in the fishing co-op.” He laughed. “Couldn’t do that. I can’t afford your fees.” She gave him a smile. “Pity. We work well together.” She raised one eyebrow. “You know I’m away for several months of the year. Let me see your alterations so I can understand how incompetent I am.” Kate handed him the folder, which he opened. He read the report and nodded. “Can you enter on it that the reefs around Swordfish Bay are starfish-free at the moment?” “Sure, but it will cost you.” She grinned at him before continuing to sip her coffee. “What’s your exorbitant fee this time? More free prawns from Cliff?” “Same as tonight. A nice hot cup of coffee and anything else that might crop up. Are you going to tell me what your latest problem is?” “No.” From her expression, his blunt reply startled her. “So you don’t trust me,” she said, frowning and looking disappointed. “Yes, I do, but I don’t want to see you embroiled in this. I don’t understand it myself.” She looked up, puzzled but determined. “I’m a big girl and I’m not leaving until you tell.” “Hell, you sound like a wife.” She squeezed his hand in a patronising fashion. “Worse could happen. I promise it won’t go further than me.” He gave a sigh. Perhaps it might help if he talked it over with someone he trusted, and Kate was certainly that. Another head might give some answers. “Okay. It’s been a tough day.” Trace told her about the shark, then the attack on his boat, how he took photos of the departing craft and saw Sutcliffe Marine Supplies painted on the side. “Sutcliffe? That’s Sarah’s shop. She wouldn’t have anything to do with this. She hasn’t been around here for years.” He nodded vigorously. “I know that. I think it’s a coincidence that someone hired the boat to get at me. There’s only Sutcliffe’s and Cameron’s Marine Supplies who have these boats.” “Can I help?” Kate offered. “Can you handle a submachine gun?” She smiled at his comment. “Funny. I could learn. If people are firing guns at you, then you had better tell Leigh Spencer about it. He needs something of interest to keep him awake.” Trace gave a laugh. “I admit, as the only policeman in the town, unless it’s the tourist season, he doesn’t have much to do.” “Then you’re going to see him first thing tomorrow. No arguments, Trace Patterson.”

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Bruce Cooke “You’re getting bossy again. Okay, he will want to know what’s going on, but I have to find out who the shooters are first. I’ll go to Sutcliffe Marine Supplies early tomorrow and see who hired the boat.” “Okay, but keep me posted. I don’t want to see your name in the obituary column. I’d be out of part-time work…Do you still carry a torch for Sarah?” She blurted the last sentence out. He didn’t speak for a second. “We parted years ago. I haven’t seen her since she left the Bay.” He could see by Kate’s expression that he hadn’t given the right answer. A “Sarah who?” would have been more satisfactory. She finished her coffee and gathered up the report. “I’ll add the rest about the reef and get it back to you.” She kissed him lightly on the mouth. “You owe me a few phone calls, mister. See you later.” Trace closed the door behind her. He often thought about Kate as more than a friend, but he thought she usually acted more like a sister to him. She was certainly attractive, and he wondered why she didn’t have a boyfriend. He didn’t want to spoil things for her by trying to take their relationship further sexually. It was a nice thought, but he wasn’t ready for a commitment. Kate and Cliff were the only two close friends he had left in the Bay. **** Barry Foster had been in Swordfish Bay since the Romans invaded Britain—or at least it seemed that way. He always seemed to greet people in a friendly tone, and maybe this was the reason he was appointed to run the store during the owner’s absence. Always with a five o’clock shadow, Trace wondered if he even owned a razor. It was neither a full beard, nor a clean face. Still, he was one of the friendliest men Trace had ever met. Ever since Sarah Sutcliffe had left the Bay, Barry had run the store. Barry’s and Sarah’s fathers had been the best of friends before her father died, and when Sarah wanted to leave Swordfish Bay, Barry seemed the logical choice to run the show. He knew all about boats, fishing and equipment and could always advise tourists of the best fishing spots. After a friendly greeting by Barry, Trace sat at Barry’s table, holding an offered cup of coffee. “You’ve been away for months working on the Reef, haven’t you?” asked Barry as he sipped his coffee. Trace leaned back and took a sip. “Yeah, trying to save it from the crown-of-thorns starfish. I have a question for you.” “Sure, go ahead,” said Barry. He liked to chat and Trace figured he was a lonely man, what with no partner or wife.

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Trace Elements “Have you rented out one of your speedboats lately? The six-metre one with the twin engines?” Barry pushed back his cap. “Funny you should say that. It came back with its windscreen broken. The bloke paid for it, so there was no problem.” Trace put down his mug, wiped his mouth and sat alert. “Did he give a name?” Trace moved a little closer in anticipation. Barry reached for some paperwork in a drawer. “Just a second.” He perused the papers and pointed to a name. “Yeah, his name is Charles Edgely. Sir Charles, if you don’t mind. Has heaps of money. Him and another bloke took it out yesterday afternoon. I told them it was getting late, but they said they didn’t mind. It was back around six with the broken windscreen. The other bloke gave me another hundred to get it fixed while he went to his car. Why? Did he give you some trouble?” “Only by driving too fast. He nearly ran me down. No harm done. I was just curious to see who he was. I didn’t think he’d be a local.” Barry placed his mug down and offered Trace a biscuit. “The tourist season hasn’t started yet. Once it does there’ll be more idiots around.” Trace considered his words. He didn’t want to look too anxious. “Do you have an address? I thought I might have a word with him. If he keeps driving like that, he’ll kill someone.” Barry checked his records again. “Let’s see now. At the moment he’s staying at the Sea View Hotel. He reckons he’s here for a quick holiday.” Trace had what he wanted. “Thanks for the information, Barry, and the coffee.” “No sweat, Trace.” Now that he had the information he needed, Trace was satisfied. Sutcliffe Marine Supplies brought back fond memories. Especially Sarah Sutcliffe. “Ever see Sarah much, Barry?” he asked casually as he was standing up to leave. Barry raised his eyebrows. “Once in a while she drops in. Haven’t seen her in eight months or more. She’s happy I look after the shop. It lets her do her thing, whatever that is. This keeps me busy. How about you?” “Always busy.” Barry leaned forward in his chair. “No, do you ever see her? You two used to be sweethearts, weren’t you?” Trace nodded and grinned. “When we were teenagers, Barry. A long time ago. We lost track of each other when we both went to Uni.” “Yeah, I remember. She went to Sydney, and you went to Brisbane.” “I guess we both had ambitions. I wanted to be a marine biologist, and she wanted something better than being a shopkeeper in Swordfish Bay.” Trace thought there was another reason too, her brother being killed. “And then there was the incident about her brother, Greg.” Barry paused, looking at him as if not sure if he should mention the word shark. “Yeah, that didn’t help much. It was a tragedy. We both have different lives now.”

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Bruce Cooke Barry rubbed his stubble and looked at Trace. “She’s almost a complete stranger— dressed in her expensive-looking clothes, business suit and all. She drives a sporty red Laser. If I didn’t know her better, I’d say she loved herself.” Trace looked up. It was not like Barry to criticise anyone, let alone Sarah. “Why do you say that?” Barry’s face reddened a little. “She used to be a hometown girl. You know, long legs, a beautiful face, cheeky smile, everyone loved her. Now she acts like she’s got a broomstick up her arse, like a posh English duchess. It seems her job takes her to foreign ports all over the world. She seems to think she’s too good for us Swordfish Bay residents.” Trace gave a laugh. “That seems hard to believe. Sarah will never change.” “You haven’t seen her for a while, have you?” “I guess not. When she comes home, I’m usually away.” Trace stared into space, remembering the bubbly young teenager from years back. They had grown up together; in fact, Trace, Sarah, and her brother, Greg, were called The Three Musketeers. There had definitely been an attraction between Trace and Sarah back then. Memories came flooding back: her cheeky smile, her tomboy antics, her quick wit. She certainly wasn’t a tomboy. She just acted that way sometimes. She was one of the most feminine women he had ever seen. Many a time they would walk along the sometimes-deserted beach, hand in hand. Sarah would scoop up a handful of water and rub it in his hair, then run away, daring him to catch her. Often they would roll around in the white sand, giggling like two school kids, just enjoying each other’s company. One memory brought a grin to his face. It was a hot, balmy evening on the deserted beach. The sun looked like a poached egg sinking over the land, sending its light stretching out on the ocean and transforming the clouds to beautiful colours. “How about we skinny dip?” she teased, ruffling his hair. “You mean get naked?” Trace’s eyes had ogled at the suggestion—until he saw the gleam in hers. “Why not? There’s no one around, it’s a hot evening, and the water looks terrific.” “But we can’t.” He looked up and down the beach, seeing no one. “Scaredy-cat,” she taunted and removed her top. “I’m not,” he said cautiously. Hell, he was only sixteen, she fifteen, and he had never been naked in front of a girl before. “You are a scaredy-cat. Trace is a scaredy-cat!” she said loudly, removing her shorts and standing naked before him. Trace gulped when he saw her nipples and the smooth hair between her thighs. Her tanned skin glistened in the fading light, and he felt a familiar stirring. She laughed at his embarrassment, turned, and ran into the water, diving under. Before he could do anything, she surfaced and began to make chicken noises, waving her arms up and down. He grinned and removed his clothes, running into the water as fast as he could. They wrestled and laughed in each other’s arms, dunking and diving under the water. When he came up, he held her in his arms. She reached up and kissed

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Trace Elements him full on the lips. He felt himself stiffen against her leg. Still holding her, he looked into her eyes. “Perhaps you’re a princess, I’m a knight, and I’ve come to rescue you.” “No, you can’t be a knight,” she teased. “Why not?” He grinned back at her. “Because knights have big swords. I think I’ll call you Lancelot. He had a little one before Excalibur.” She splashed water into his face and ran to the shore. From then on, whenever she wanted to be playful, she referred to him as Lancelot. Both would burst out into laughter while others watched, probably thinking them crazy. Those were days he would never forget, the dawn of youth, now behind them. Both of them were now mature people in important jobs. Trace returned his mug to the sink, gave it a rinse, and left, calling Max, who sat waiting patiently outside for Trace to return. Now Trace had the information he wanted. It was time to have a little chat with Sir Charles Edgely. But not before he visited his father and Leigh Spencer. Perhaps he could ask Kate if she wanted to visit with him. Sometimes she went by herself when he was away. **** Leigh Spencer was sitting at his desk reading a newspaper. He looked up to see Trace enter the police station. “Looks like crime is rife at the moment,” said Trace as Leigh came to his feet. “Yeah, it looks as though I’ll have to call in the federal police to help me get through. I see you’re back from up north.” Leigh was a good-natured copper who had been in Swordfish Bay for over twenty years. Everyone knew him by his first name, and the only crime he seemed to encounter were drunks and the odd traffic violation. He had been friends with Trace’s father and often went fishing with him. Trace smirked at him as he stood up. “Are you pregnant or is that a pillow?” “Cheeky bastard. I put a lot of work in to get this muscle. It cost me a fortune.” He patted his stomach and grinned back. “Are you turning yourself in for some murder you have committed?” “No, but I was almost murdered yesterday.” “Yeah, sure,” said Leigh, grinning harder. “I’m serious. My boat was almost shot to pieces while I was out at Sawtooth Reef.” Leigh’s mouth dropped open. “You’re shitting me. When did this happen?” “Yesterday, around five. I had an encounter with a shark, and when I reached my boat, this speeding craft came at me, firing an automatic weapon. I fought him off, but I found out who he is.” Leigh grabbed his notebook, his humour suddenly disappearing. “Who is the bastard?” “I didn’t actually see their faces, but the boat was hired out by Sir Charles Edgely.”

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Bruce Cooke “The millionaire?” said Leigh in disbelief. “Yeah. Don’t ask me why he wants to kill me, but it happened.” “Shit, does anyone else know about this?” “Only Cliff, Kate, and Harry Mottram.” “Jesus. If this gets out that a maniac is shooting up boats and it’s just before the tourist season, they’ll stay away in droves. Hell, that would kill the economy of the town.” “I thought about that too,” said Trace. “But this bloke tried to kill me.” “Are you sure it was him? Why would a multi-millionaire, well known across the country and the world, for that matter, hire a boat and go out and shoot at you? It doesn’t make sense. It had to be someone using his name.” “Like I said, I didn’t actually see him, only two figures in the boat. Barry said he hired the boat early in the afternoon and returned around six with a broken windscreen I fired off a shot as they left and think I hit it.” Trace paused for a second. “Barry also said he stayed in his car while the other man paid for the damage.” “He has to be staying at the Sea View Hotel. I’ll go down and have a word to see where he was at—what time did you say?” “Around five. Okay, thanks, Leigh. As you said, we had better keep this quiet for the sake of the town.” **** Kate picked up the phone the second it rang. “Kate, it’s me. Are you doing anything at the moment?” “Nothing important. I’m just typing up some report for a deadbeat who wants me to work like a slave for him. Why do you ask?” “Well I’m going to see this Edgely bloke, but before I do I thought I would go and visit Dad. Feel like coming?” “Good, the deadbeat can wait. Will you pick me up?” She smiled to herself. Any excuse would be grabbed if it meant spending time with Trace. Kate had always felt jealous of the three musketeers—Trace, Sarah, and Greg—as they were known. She had wanted to be part of the clan, but usually felt isolated and not welcome. Once Sarah left, she had made it her goal to get closer to Trace. Her job at the co-op made it easier, and they had developed a close friendship. However, it never went further than that. Something Kate regretted. Something Kate resolved to alter. She could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “Be there in five.” She was outside her house, waiting, as he pulled up.

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Trace Elements

Chapter Three Leigh entered the hotel and went straight to the reception desk. He took in the surroundings and shook his head. How he would love to be able to afford accommodation such as this. The only time he’d stayed here was on his honeymoon, and that was years ago. Alice, the girl at the desk, smiled at him as he stood in front of her. “Leigh? Good morning. The bar isn’t opened yet.” He grinned at her cheek. “How would you like me to arrest you? Don’t you know I’m a teetotaler?” “Of course you are. What can I do for you?” He put on his official mode. “Do you have a man registered here by the name of Sir Charles Edgely?” “I see. You want to invest money?” “Answer the question before I do arrest you.” She gave a chuckle and looked at the register. “He’s in room 109. Do you want me to ring him?” “Yeah, tell him I’m on my way up.” He turned and took the stairs, rubbing his hand along the highly polished brass rail and feeling his feet almost disappear into the deep carpet. He knocked on the door and waited. It was answered by a bald-headed man who scowled at him. “I wish to speak with Sir Charles Edgely,” he said, returning the scowl. “Come in, Constable,” he heard a voice say, and the bald man stepped aside as Leigh entered. Edgely was sitting at a table, drinking coffee and reading a newspaper. “I’m Charles Edgely. Can I get you a coffee?” “No thanks, Sir Charles. I want to clear up a matter that has come up and wondered if you could help me out.” “Of course, of course. I’m always ready to help out the law. They protect my interests all over the world.”

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Bruce Cooke Leigh took out his notebook. “I understand you hired a boat yesterday, a powerful speedboat from Sutcliffe Marine Supplies. Is that right?” “Yes, that’s right. We went fishing but didn’t have much luck. Did someone steal the boat?” “No, but there was an incident with one of our locals, a Trace Patterson. Do you know anything about that?” Edgely put his finger to his chin. “Trace Patterson. Who is he?” “He’s a marine biologist who was out at Sawtooth Reef yesterday when a highpowered speedboat came at him firing an automatic weapon.” Leigh waited for an answer. “Good heavens. Was he hurt?” Edgely looked shocked and concerned and put down his paper and cup. “No, but his boat was shot up badly. I have to ask this. Where were you around five yesterday?” “Why, I was with the mayor and two counselors. I’m thinking of building a pharmaceutical laboratory and wanted to know what was available. It could mean a lot of money to the town if I go ahead with it.” “I see. Then you couldn’t possibly have been out at Sawtooth Reef at this time?” “I’m afraid not, but you can check with the mayor. I’m sure he will back up my story.” “What time did you return to Swordfish Bay?” Leigh again waited for his answer. Something didn’t add up. “I’m not sure. What time was it, Sean?” he said, turning to his companion. “Around four. You had the appointment at four thirty and had to change.” Edgely gave Leigh a broad smile. “There you are then, Constable. Is there anything else I can help you with?” “The manager of the marine supplies says you came in around six.” “I’m afraid he’s mistaken. I’m sure you will check with the mayor. Does the manager drink? I’m sure I could smell alcohol on his breath.” Leigh put his notebook away. “He has been known to indulge once or twice. Thank you for your help, Sir Charles. I’ll be on my way.” “Any time I can help, just ask, Constable. Sean, show the gentleman to the door.” **** As soon as Leigh left, Edgely frowned. “The stupid bastard went to the police. We might have to change tactics. Perhaps an accident.” “Just as well you set up the meeting,” said Sean. “That should satisfy him.” **** With a heavy heart Trace walked up the drive to the Swordfish Bay nursing home. He had parked his car in the car park some fifty metres away. The home was built on a

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Trace Elements hill overlooking the ocean five kilometres from Swordfish Bay. Kate walked alongside him, giving her sympathy. She slipped her hand into his, and he gave it a squeeze.“He probably won’t know you, Trace. He certainly doesn’t know me whenever I come, and that’s once a week. It’s very frustrating.” “I know. Nothing I can do about that. I was going to come earlier, but I had to give this crook some thought and see Leigh. When I come early, we just sit and stare at each other. He doesn’t know who I am, and we have little to talk about.” The grounds had manicured lawns and beautiful flowers exploding in a sea of colour. Shady trees sheltered garden seats where patients could sit and while away their time in the surroundings. Trace wondered if any of them were aware of where they were or what they were doing in such circumstances. The pleasant white cement rendered building with a flat roof and a glorious view of the ocean from each unit window had a serene effect on the patients. The east side of the building seemed to be a sea of glass that welcomed the morning sun. The waves, gently rolling in from the Pacific Ocean and settling on the white sand of the bay, gave a relaxed appearance. Several cars parked in the nursing home car park made Trace suspect they belonged mainly to the staff, who showed a caring attitude to all of the patients. So they should, he mused. At the prices they charged, the Queen could easily be accommodated, but money proved no object where Norman Patterson was concerned. He could easily afford it, as his business had flourished greatly in the last ten years. Trace again thought of the irony of the fortune accumulated after Trace’s mother died some fifteen years ago. The small weatherboard house they called home was nothing to gain envy. He knew Norman had had one prawning boat that held a big mortgage. Distraught with grief when she died, Norman at first began to drink. It was pointed out that he had a young son to look after, and what would his wife think if she could see him drinking in this manner? That was all it took. He had a determination to give his boy the best he could offer and threw himself into his work until he hit the jackpot. The Asian markets took off, and before long, Norman had bought another boat, then another, until he had ten boats that covered both prawning and fishing in the fertile waters off the Queensland coast. Becoming a millionaire with a thriving business, it was pointlessly cruel that Alzheimer’s had to happen. What had it been? Eight months, maybe nine, since Norman had been admitted? It saddened Trace to see his father go downhill so quickly. This man had raised him with all the love a father could give. A man who had taught him about the ocean, who had paid for his university education, he had never questioned Trace’s decision to become a biologist. Now he was only a shell of a man, with little memory of his surroundings. The signs had been there for quite some time. Little things at first, like when Norman couldn’t remember where he put his glasses, even though they were often parked on his forehead. It brought a laugh early on. Then things got a little more complex when he forgot important dates and meetings for his multi-million-dollar fishing fleet, with exporters wanting more prawns for their Asian markets.

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Bruce Cooke No fool, Norman could see the problem approaching. If he didn’t do something soon, he would lose his business to neglect, and the Patterson fishing fleet would quickly be in the red. Norman decided to give Trace his power of attorney. Trace had become an absent landlord, but kept a good staff and an eye on the progress of the business— hence his decision for hiring Cliff to watch both his and Norm’s business. **** Trace and Kate approached the desk and received a welcoming smile from Wendy, the nurse on duty. He had known her from his school days, but she had been at least two years behind him. Once she had been a gawky schoolgirl, but now she was a neat, efficient-looking woman. She was one of the few of his schoolmates who had still stayed in the Bay instead of looking for greener pastures as they reached adulthood. “Good evening, Trace, Kate.” “Good evening, Wendy,” Trace replied. “How’s my father today?” “Just the same. He’s out in the garden, enjoying the evening breeze.” “Thanks.” Trace nodded and turned toward the door leading to the garden area. He looked around, seeking Norman amongst the other patients, then spotted him sitting alone on a seat away from the others, under a tree, staring into space. Trace and Kate strode confidently to him with broad smiles on their faces. “Hi, Dad, how are you feeling today?” Norman wore a blank look on his face as he stared at Trace, giving no indication of recognition. “Do I know you?” he asked as Trace sat alongside him. Trace looked at Kate. “It’s Trace, your son, Dad.” “My son? You’re not my son. Trace is a little boy. I used to take him fishing. Is this your wife?” Norman not being able to recognise him hurt, but he understood. “This is Kate Gardner. She’s an old school friend. I remember, Dad. We used to go out in your launch and catch snapper on the reef.” “Did you come too?” Norman still had a glazed look in his eyes as he stared at this apparent stranger. “Sure I did. You used to take me out for a whole day’s fishing. Remember? Our favourite reef was Sawtooth Reef. That’s where you showed me how to scuba dive. It was shallow, only five fathoms, and teeming with fish.” “Sawtooth Reef?” The words seemed to bring back some sort of memory, and Trace noticed a flicker in his eyes as he spoke the words. “That’s it. Only twenty kilometres out. Over the trough and past the other smaller reefs. It was really great.” The mention of the reef brought pleasant memories to Trace. Two kilometres long and only half a kilometre wide, a wonderland of the beautiful creatures of the sea. He had spent many a long hour exploring its beauty, hidden caves, prolific growth of coral,

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Trace Elements huge variety of fish, and crystal clear water. He, Sarah and Greg had gone out there when they were teenagers and spent the entire day exploring. They had laughed when the fish showed no fear, and they had actually hand-fed some of them. Gropers, moray eels, even the small harmless reef sharks offered no danger, and they felt as comfortable in the underwater paradise as they were on land. Of course, that was before the tragedy. “Yes, I used to take my boy out there. We really liked Sawtooth Reef. Is it suppertime yet?” “You had supper an hour ago, Dad.” Trace bit his lip. Norman still had no idea of his identity, but he soldiered on, trying to keep up a bright conversation. “I brought you a present.” He handed Norman a gift-wrapped box of chocolates. Norman tore the wrapping away in a desperation that appalled Trace. He dropped it on the ground, opened the box and took out one of the sweets, then stared at Trace and Kate. “Do you want one?” “Just one.” Trace took a soft chocolate. Norman offered one to Kate, who shook her head. As soon as Trace took one, Norman quickly replaced the lid and put the box on the other side and away from Trace, looking at him as though daring him to try to take another. “What did you say your name was?” he said slowly. “Trace. Trace Patterson,” he answered. “That’s funny, my son is named Trace. He’s only ten years old.” Trace sat with him for a while until the conversation ran out. “It’s getting dark now, Dad. Almost time to go inside.” “Are you sure I’ve had my supper?” “Yes Dad, an hour ago. I have to leave now. Bye.” He kissed his father on the cheek and left, thinking about the injustices of the world that such a strong, energetic, worldly man could be reduced to this. Kate never spoke as they walked away. Like Trace, she was probably reflecting on the sadness of the situation. When they returned to the desk, he asked for Doctor Ernie Walters, Norman’s physician. When he appeared Trace shook his hand warmly. “Trace? It’s nice to see you back. How have you been?” Ernie Walters had been Norman’s physician for fifteen years, ever since Trace’s mother died. They spent a lot of their time together in the small community whenever business allowed. It was not unusual to see them both carrying an esky filled with beer onto Norman’s cabin cruiser and taking off for a day of pleasure on the water. Now Ernie had the task of looking after Norman as he deteriorated into oblivion. “I’m fine, Doc. How is he?” he asked anxiously. “Not bad—sort of. His general health is okay, but his mind is fading fast. He has no idea who he is, where he is, or even what day it is. The Namenda is holding his condition for a while, but it can’t last forever.” “Is that all you can do?”

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Bruce Cooke “Yes. I’m mixing his medication with donepezil, and it has slowed the progressive damage of his Alzheimer’s, but for how long I don’t know.” “Okay. Thanks for your effort. If there’s anything you need, or should I say, he needs, don’t hesitate to call me. You know my number.” Trace shook his hand, and he and Kate left for her home. He had kept her out longer than he planned. They walked across the yard to his car, Trace still thinking about Norman, when the screech of tyres caught his attention. Only ten metres away, a car came straight at him doing at least eighty kilometres. In the car park, for God’s sake. The driver showed no intention of stopping. Trace pushed Kate out of the way and dived headlong to the ground, the car missing him by centimetres. He regained his feet to see the car speeding away towards the town. Gotcha, he screamed to himself. “Stay here, Kate. I’ll come back for you.” Racing to his car, Trace started the engine and took off in hot pursuit, leaving Kate white-faced. This time there would be no escape for the would-be assassins. The car had a sixty-metre start on him as he left the nursing home, the trip mainly downhill towards the town. Grimly, Trace clung to the steering wheel, taking corners like a Super Six rally driver. He began to make progress as the gap narrowed. The car came to the highway from the road leading to the nursing home, slowing momentarily as it swung towards the town—only four kilometres away. Trace had to brake heavily to avoid a truck heading north when he reached the highway. Once on the open road, he gave the accelerator everything it had and smiled sadistically as he made up ground. Now only five car lengths behind, he inched closer and closer. When the lead car reached another side road, the driver swung the wheel left, forcing Trace to go straight ahead. He pulled his car to a halt and reversed to turn onto the side road. By this time the car was almost a hundred metres in front. Trace knew the road they were on took them around the town and came out near the wharf. He had them, he thought, but just as he was close, a bald-headed man put his head out the window. Trace held his breath as he saw the revolver in the man’s hand. It was an evil-looking black object. The man’s intention was certainly not friendly. These people were becoming pests, he thought, just as the man fired. Trace swerved directly behind the other car, giving the man a small target to hit. He saw the flash, then another, as a bullet hit his front tyre, causing the car to veer erratically across the road. He tried desperately to control the car, his hands gripping the steering wheel as if welded to it. Trying to keep it steady, he felt the car hit a ditch that ran alongside the road. For a moment he thought the car would roll as it became airborne and Trace braced himself, but fortunately the car landed on its wheels, and he struggled to steer it straight ahead. The car came to rest in the ditch at a forty-five-degree angle. He thumped his steering wheel in anger as he watched the other car disappear into the distance. It took him half an hour to extract the car from the ditch and change the ruined tyre. Having a flat tyre was like driving in a bog, and fortunately the ditch levelled out to a flat surface again. At last he was on level ground. Fury built as he lifted the car on the

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Trace Elements jack and took off the flat. Once the tyre change was completed and the car back in a driving mode, he returned to the nursing home to get Kate as darkness fell. “Did you get them?” she asked, fear still apparent on her face. “No. Are you okay?” She nodded. “Yes. Thanks to you. Are you going to call the police?” “Not yet. I know who they were. I’ll have a little talk to them first.” “Please be careful, Trace. Those men seem dangerous. I’m scared for you.” She rested her hand on his arm like a mother protecting her son. “I know. Let’s get you home.” The drive back was in silence. Trace couldn’t stop thinking about the assassins. Kate’s home seemed to come up quickly. When Trace opened her door, he noted how her hands still shook. “Are you okay?” he asked, frowning. “Yes, it’s just the shock of what happened.” She took a step forward, but staggered. Trace quickly caught her and carried her into the house. He placed her on her sofa and sat beside her, staring down at her, noting her beautiful eyes. Without warning she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. He returned her embrace, actually enjoying it. When they parted, he looked into her eyes. “I think you need a hot drink to steady your nerves.” She nodded and watched as he rose and plugged in her electric kettle. Soon she sat sipping tea as Trace watched her. “Feel better now?” She nodded. “Sorry for that. It’s not every day someone tries to run you down.” A concerned frown appeared on his face. “Maybe you’d better keep well away from me for a while.” She shook her head. “I admit I was shaken, but no one is going to drive me away. I’ll expect it next time. You be very careful, Trace Patterson. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” “I don’t want anything to happen to you either. You’re my best friend, Kate. Just be careful when you’re around me.” He drove home and planned his next move. He had to meet up with this person and sort this out. Aggression might not be the way to go, but anger would be hard to contain.

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Bruce Cooke

Chapter Four Trace had some serious thinking to do. These people seemed unable to give up, so the sensible thing to do was face them. He presumed Leigh had spoken with him, but he had to know why they were desperate to see him dead. He had the name of the hotel they were staying at, so the next morning he would hurry down to see this Sir Charles Edgely. Apart from the danger, he was curious to learn as much as he could about this man. With breakfast over quickly, Trace looked at the clock and cleaned up. He took Max with him on his morning run and passed the events over in his mind as he pounded the track around the bay. The man gave his name to old Barry. He obviously thought he would accomplish his mission, or he wasn’t afraid for people to know his identity. That expressed a confidence Trace found startling. Actions so calculated and plotted meant power, and that, in itself, was disturbing. Covered in sweat, Trace arrived back home and showered. Now fresh, he walked the two kilometres to the hotel, the most expensive accommodation in Swordfish Bay. Only the rich booked there for the season. He walked to the reception desk to enquire the room number of Edgely. The foyer had several people sitting down on plush furniture, reading the morning paper or talking. The large lobby gave a bright appearance as the morning sun streamed through the glass doors of the hotel. Although not overly large, Trace thought it matched some of the top luxury hotels in Singapore. He remembered two previous trips to the country and how the affluence of the hotels had amazed him. The places he’d seen had boasted four floors of five-star accommodation with a penthouse suite at the top. When he reached the desk the clerk, Alice, smiled at him. “Morning, Trace. What brings you here?” “Hi, Alice. Can you give me the room number of Sir Charles Edgely?” Alice looked surprised. “Do you know him? I’m not really supposed to give out room numbers…” “Yes,” Trace lied, “I met him yesterday. It seems he’s taken a particular interest in me and my work. He told me he was staying here and to drop in when I was free to discuss business.”

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Trace Elements “Really? Well, OK Trace, but I hope you aren’t mixed up in anything. You know the police were here earlier looking for this guy too?” “You don’t say?” Trace feigned surprise. “Well, all the more reason I should probably talk to him and let him know that I couldn’t possibly be interested in whatever scheme he’s cooking up.” “Well, OK Trace. For you, I’ll make an exception. And I guess I’m not really breaking the rules, because as it turns out, I just saw him go out into the back garden for breakfast with his companion. So if you want to talk to him, you’ll find him out there” “He’s with a woman?” asked Trace, frowning. “No, it’s a man. He has a different room in case you’re asking. I think he’s the man’s secretary.” “Thanks Alice. You’re the best.” He winked and turned swiftly towards the back garden dining area. The Orchard Restaurant was an outdoor eating area where guests had breakfast on nice days. The paved area had tables dotted around and gardens giving the tables shade. Trace stepped through the door to see the place filled with guests, most dressed in summer wear of shorts and floral shirts. Some of the women wore bikinis, but had a light cover over their suits. Waiters hurried about carrying trays and drinks. There must have been over thirty tables, and nearly all were taken. A waiter hurried by and Trace caught his arm. “Do you know where Sir Charles Edgely is seated?” The waiter paused momentarily. “He’s over there at the table with the yellow umbrella.” He then hurried about his business. Trace looked at the table, expecting to see a middle-aged man with perhaps a pot belly, grey hair, and glasses. It was an impression—a stereotype—he thought up about a successful millionaire. Instead he saw a man around thirty-five, rather handsome, fairish hair, and fit-looking, wearing light clothes and sunglasses. Another man sat with him. This had to be the secretary, but he didn’t seem to fit the bill. Buddha came to mind when Trace spotted his bald, shaved head. The man had big shoulders and looked powerful, even though he appeared to be rather short. The only familiar thing was the bald head glistening in the sunlight. Trace clenched his fists and walked confidently towards the table. Edgely was eating toast and drinking coffee. Instead of seeing fear in his eyes, Trace saw a smile break out on his face. “Ah, Trace Patterson. Sit down and have a cup of coffee. Perhaps a slice of toast?” Trace’s eyes blazed and a frown broke out on his face. This was not what he expected. “Coffee, toast? You’re the bastard who tried to kill me and you offer me coffee. What the hell is going on?” “Oh dear, Sean, I think he’s going to be unpleasant.” Sean Barlow jumped to his feet, his face scowling and his fists clenched. Trace knew he was at least ten centimetres taller than Sean. “Sit down, little man, unless you want to get hurt.”

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Bruce Cooke Edgely still smiled and indicated for Sean to sit down again. “This is Sean Barlow, my man Friday. He takes care of irritating events that crop up now and again. I presume you want an explanation?” His tone was pleasant. “Are you being funny? You make two attempts on my life and you think I might want an explanation.” “Seems reasonable,” said Edgely. “I’ve been doing some research on you. You are a very clever marine biologist. It seems you have almost discovered a way to save the Great Barrier Reef. Is that correct?” “What has this got to do with you trying to kill me?” “Please indulge me. Perhaps you can explain how your experiment works, and then I’ll tell you why.” Now Trace was really puzzled. “If you’ve been doing research, then you already know.” Edgely tapped his fingers together as he sat back in his chair. “This is what I already know. The crown-of-thorns starfish is in plague proportions in far north Queensland. I’m not sure why, but they are destroying the coral at an alarming rate.” Trace wondered where this was going. He offered some information. “The cane farmers spray their crops with fertilizer. This and other nutrients are washed into the sea through creeks and rivers. The starfish have very few predators, and those they do have are being harvested by fishermen. They are thriving. They settle on the coral, sucking the life out of it. All they leave is a dead white shell.” “And you have come up with a formula to stop this?” Edgely asked, sitting quietly, waiting for a response. “I’ve done a few experiments. The formula acts like a contraceptive on the starfish larvae. It renders them incapable of fertilising when the eggs are dispersed into the ocean. As you know, millions of eggs are released, but if none are fertile, there won’t be any more starfish.” “And what is this additive you have?” Sir Charles asked pleasantly. Trace gave a forced laugh. “Nice try. It’s added straight into the ocean without mixing it with the fertilisers the cane farmers are using.” “You think it will work?” Sir Charles sounded like a schoolteacher seeking answers from a pupil. “Absolutely. I’m sure the reef can be completely free of the crown-of-thorns starfish within five years.” “I suppose this formula is kept in a safe place. It wouldn’t do to have it stolen.” “It’s safe enough where only I can find it. Most of it is in my head. I understand the importance of it.” “Surely your employer has a copy?” “Not yet. Of course they know what I’m doing and get updated reports. They’re expecting me to pass on the formula when it’s finally completed.” “Which, unfortunately, is not going to happen.” Sir Charles smiled, then continued. “At the moment, Grogan Pharmaceuticals is working on an exciting new product that could bring relief to thousands of people, and their families, for that matter. If it works

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Trace Elements out, Grogan will make billions of dollars worldwide. Our name will be held in awe by all the agencies attached to world health. I may even be mentioned as a Nobel Prize recipient once this is proved.” Trace could see the pride in his body language. He’d heard of Grogan, and its reputation for excellence was well known. Obviously, Edgely held a high position in the hierarchy chain that dominated world health, particularly in Australia. What the reef had to do with him, he didn’t know. “Can we get down to the reason why you want me dead?” Edgely smiled confidently. “Of course. We have developed a compound called Plancilene.” Trace was deeply interest in the name. “Plancilene? The only planci that I know is Ancanthaster planci, which, of course, you know is the crown-of-thorns starfish.” Sir Charles gave a wry smile. It seemed he was getting to the point of his discussion at last. “Yes, that isn’t a coincidence. This compound has the ability to cure Alzheimer’s disease, an ugly disease that affects thousands of people all over the world. Of course, it is very expensive to make, and the raw material is not great at the moment. Naturally, because the supplies are limited, the dose will cost in the vicinity of thirty thousand dollars per patient.” Trace’s eyes opened wide when he took in this information. “Thirty thousand dollars? Who could afford that?” “You’d be surprised. In America there are patients who have unlimited supplies of money. Europe, too, has millionaires who won’t think twice about a cure for the debilitating curse. We think once it’s on the market, it will bring in at least a billion dollars a year.” “That’s monopoly money. Do you own Park Lane?” Trace took in his words. “What about people who don’t have that sort of money?” Sir Charles grimaced before continuing. “It’s sad, but that’s not our problem. Governments will have to consider their health programs. Of course, this is still in development, but the signs are promising. We have conducted experiments on patients who have responded remarkably.” “And there have been no side effects?” Trace had heard of amazing cures before, but it took years to consider things safe before they could be presented to the public. Sir Charles glanced at Sean. “There have been one or two, but we’re confident they can be removed in the near future.” “I still don’t know why you want to kill me.” “You haven’t asked where I get the raw material.” Trace looked at the man, knowing he wanted to get to the point. “I figured you’d tell me if you wanted to.” “Agreed. The starfish are sucking the life out of the reef, leaving great areas of dead white reminders of their destruction. You already told us why.”

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Bruce Cooke Trace nodded his head. “Natural predators have almost been eliminated in some areas. Most have been fished out.” Trace let him know his opinion of other elements destroying the reef. Edgely smiled, nodding his head in agreement. “Those beautiful tritons have been collected for their shells and ignored for the fact that they were natural predators. I have several at home in my collection.” “There’s a beautiful little shrimp that eats the larvae of the starfish that’s almost gone. The reef has to be protected.” “All admirable,” said Edgely. “But your research could cost me billions.” “What do you mean?” Trace couldn’t see what he was getting at. Edgely shifted in his seat before resuming. “As you probably know, my firm deals in all sorts of cures. Over the past ten years, we have been working on the serum. I believe we have already spent ten million dollars.” “Well that’s good. My father suffers from the complaint, but how does that affect me?” “Sadly, we make the serum from the dead coral the starfish leave behind. The starfish leave a secretion on the coral. It’s very costly to remove it and turn it into Plancilene. If you can eliminate starfish from the reef, there won’t be dead coral. No dead coral, no serum and no billions. I can’t have years of research going down the drain because of you.” Trace shook his head. “You want me to give up my life’s work so you can make billions?” “When I heard your father suffers from it, I thought you might be convinced. But then I heard how stubborn you were. It’s a complex issue, isn’t it? Save the reef and don’t save your father. Save your father and see the reef destroyed.” Trace thought quickly. He had to learn more. Maybe a little bullshit might help. “You’re right. I have to give up this quest so my father can be saved.” Edgely gave out a loud chuckle. “You think I’m a fool? Really, Trace, I thought you were smarter than that.” “You didn’t really think I was going to give up years of work?” “No, I didn’t think you would. That’s why we tried to kill you.” “Then you will have to try harder. Perhaps you can get a man who can shoot straight.” Sean Barlow began to rise again, but Edgely stopped him. “Maybe I’ve been going about this the wrong way. I had a visit from your local policeman and provided an unbreakable alibi.” “How did you do that?” This was news to Trace. “Easily. I had a conference with your mayor and some of his councilors. I told them I was interested in building a pharmaceutical company here in Swordfish Bay. It was when you were attacked.” “But I saw you and dome head here in the boat.” Trace couldn’t understand how this could happen.

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Trace Elements “You didn’t see me. I was at the meeting. The policeman seemed satisfied.” Edgely was certainly a cool customer. “Then who was driving the boat?” “Someone who was paid well and knew the area. I have paid him off and won’t be seeing him again.” Trace rubbed his chin. It made sense. Whoever drove the boat certainly knew about the reef. But what local would do this? “I’ll make you a proposal, Patterson. Give up the formula and I’ll deposit one million dollars in your bank account. No need to explain, just tell your employer that the formula won’t work.” “One million.” Trace rubbed his chin. “You must be desperate.” Edgely leaned back in his chair and took a sip from his glass. “With the money we’ve spent, I certainly don’t intend for it to be a lost cause. What do you think?” “If you’ve done your homework, you’d know that my father’s fishing fleet is worth over fifteen million dollars. What makes you think a million will make me give up my work?” “The fishing industry is pretty shaky. Who knows what would happen if one or two of your boats caught fire or ended up sinking. The million would be handy if it’s stashed away.” “Sounds like blackmail. And if I don’t accept your offer?” “Then I’m afraid hostilities will resume, as much as I regret it. At the moment it’s your word against mine. I can have ten barristers here in five hours to defend me if the police lay charges” Edgely poured himself another cup of coffee as if they were talking about dinner that night. “I’ll give it some thought.” Trace stood up. “Don’t leave it too long. Shall we say a week? I’ll contact you then.” Sure you will. Trace left the garden area without another word. He had some research to do.

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Bruce Cooke

Chapter Five Kate arrived at his home late that afternoon, anxious to find out what happened with Edgely. He noted the look of anticipation in her eyes. It was of genuine concern, and he felt pleased. “Did you see him?” “Yes. He’s a cool customer. He wasn’t anxious at all. In fact, he looked as though he was enjoying the confrontation. He had a cast-iron alibi that he set up beforehand.” “And he admitted he tried to kill you?” Kate had an astounded look on her face. That sort of violence was foreign to her. “Yeah, perhaps I’d better tell you what happened.” Trace went through his meeting with Edgely as Kate listened without interruption. “A million dollars. He offered you a million dollars? I don’t believe it. What are you going to do?” Trace grinned at her. “I’ll do some research on him and find out his weakness. Everyone has one.” “God, he sounds dangerous. Be careful, Trace. I don’t want to see you hurt.” Her voice developed a small tremor as she spoke. “I’ll be very careful. Thanks for caring.” Kate bit her lip before speaking. “Seeing you hurt is not what I want. In fact, it terrifies me.” She slipped her arms around him and looked up into his eyes. “Just what do you want?” he asked gently. “Can I say something foolish?” He didn’t try to pull away. In fact, he enjoyed her arms around his neck, her nearness. “It’s never stopped you before, but I love your honesty. You really are a very attractive girl, Kate. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” A slight smile broke out on her face when she heard his words. He figured she was pleased, but he meant every word. “I guess it’s unusual for girls to say these things but—” “But what?” He frowned as she fumbled for words.

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Trace Elements “What I want is for you to take me into your bedroom and shag me. Damn it, I care about you, Trace. You don’t seem to have the same feelings for me, but if you’re in danger, then I need to say this.” “Hey, I do care about you too. You’re my best friend.” “When I say care, I won’t use the “L” word, as that puts pressure on you to respond. You don’t have to respond. I know you don’t have the same interest in me.” “Maybe I have some bad memories that I have to overcome before letting myself go. Don’t give up on me, Kate. Give me time to get my head together.” “Look, I know you still carry a torch for Sarah, but she’s been gone a long time, and she’s not coming back. We could have a good future together. I would do my best to make you happy.” “Don’t think I haven’t thought about a future with you. You always acted like a sister to me.” She laughed at this suggestion. “Sister? You don’t sleep with your sister.” “Maybe you’re not like a sister.” To sleep with Kate was not a proposal that sounded revolting. Actually, it sounded quite appealing. “Look, I presume you saw other girls when you were up north. I imagine they would come chasing you.” She had a determined look on her face. “There were one or two,” he conceded. “And all you did was have coffee with them,” she said sarcastically. He smiled. “Not exactly.” “So you went to bed with them. Now tell the truth.” “Okay, it got lonely up there and they were friends.” Kate looked into his eyes as if probing his soul. “I know you don’t sleep with girls who are not friends.” He shrugged his shoulders. “No, I don’t.” “Am I a friend?” She stepped back a little. “My best friend, I told you that,” he answered quickly. “Then what is there to consider? Men don’t knock back offers like this. I want to sleep with you.” She frowned at him. “But not if you don’t care about me enough to do it.” He held her back with both of his arms and stared into her eyes. “I do care about you enough for that, Kate. You should know that.” “Great. Then prove it.” She had a stubborn look on her face as she returned his stare. “You mean now?” “Sure. Why not? No sense in putting it off until later. You might think about it then and refuse. I don’t expect unbridled passion. Look at it as an experiment. Only you and I will know about it. If you don’t like it, then I’ll know where I stand. I don’t want to finish up a frustrated virgin for the rest of my life. Get over Sarah. It’s time to move on.” He gave a grin. “Are you saying you’re still a virgin?” She smiled coyly at him. “Hell, I’m twenty-four. I haven’t asked you about your previous sex life, have I?” He laughed. “You just did.”

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Bruce Cooke “Okay, I did. Then perhaps you can find out for yourself. I am on the pill.” He noted the look of desire in her gaze. “I can’t promise to make bells ring.” He touched the side of her face. Hell, he really did care for her, so why not? “Good. I’m tone deaf anyway. Look at it as having a nice time for both of us. You don’t have to love someone to have sex with them.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Are you sure about this? I don’t want to break up a wonderful friendship if it turns sour for you.” “I’m sure.” She took his hand and led him upstairs to the bedroom. He gave no resistance as he closed the door. Kate immediately threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. “You don’t know how many times I’ve dreamt about this,” she said softly. The look of anticipation on her face made him feel good, but something had to be said. “Look, you were right. I still think about Sarah a lot, but if you’re comfortable with that, then so am I.” “I know how you feel. Are you going to talk all afternoon, or are you going to take off my clothes?” He hesitated for a second. “God, you’re not going to wimp out, are you?” He shook his head, breaking out into a huge grin, and lifted her top up as she raised her arms. He felt surprised to see she wore no bra. He removed her top, leaving her in her shorts. One thing he had admired about Kate was her slim waist and legs that seemed to climb to the heavens. Her tanned skin added to her attractiveness, and her blue eyes were big and full of expression. She lifted his shirt and dropped it on the floor with hers. She smiled as his fingers undid the button of her shorts and slid down the zipper. She stepped out of them and stood only in her panties, then gave her attention to him. The sight of her brought him to attention very quickly, and as she dropped his shorts to the floor, his erection was already at full peak. “I like the look of that.” She smiled and lowered his underwear to release him of any restriction. His fingers went to hers and intertwined, locking them together. Soon she too was naked and hot for him. As if in slow motion, he lowered her panties to the floor. “You know, I’ve never seen you naked before,” he said, enjoying the sight of her body. “You’ve seen me in a bikini, in shorts and other clothing. There’s not much difference in a bikini and nakedness.” He grinned. “That’s what you think.” Kate slipped her fingers around his hot flesh, and he drew in a deep breath as she began to caress it smoothly. She pushed him back onto the bed and fell over him, her pert breasts only a few centimetres from his mouth. He pulled her down, turned her over and dropped his lips over one of her nipples. She closed her eyes, seeming to enjoy

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Trace Elements his touch, then opened them and looked to the ceiling. She pulled away and stared at him lovingly. “If you don’t like this, then say so?” “Like what?” he asked. She smiled, rolled him over, then dropped her mouth over his member and took him in, running her tongue softly around his flesh. God. How could anyone not like that? When he gave a sigh, he noted Kate smiled and continued to stimulate him. He had made love to other women before, but they wanted him to take care of their needs, not take care of him, as Kate was doing. He let her continue, enjoying every suck, movement of her tongue, and sensation she gave him. Suddenly he was in a world of ecstasy and lay back, taking everything she gave him. Damn, Kate was right. He couldn’t think of Sarah for the rest of his life. He had to move on. She was never coming back, and Kate was here, wanting him, pleasuring him. He pushed her back before it was too late and dropped his hand to the juncture of her legs. It was her turn to enjoy the pleasure. He pressed a finger inside her and proceeded to stimulate her internal pleasure spot until she gave a long sigh. Her legs opened wider and wider as he continued to stroke her, stimulating the bundle of nerves above her opening while teasing her G-spot. He noted how her eyes glazed, something he had never seen happen to her before. He enjoyed watching her succumb to pleasure. He abruptly stopped and held her legs apart by placing each hand on the inside of her thighs. There was no resistance, and she lifted her legs open as far she could to allow him to enter. When he did, she gave a little sigh and moved with him. He was surprised how quickly she climaxed. Trace had expected her to resist a lot longer, but her need for him seemed to be great. She gave a little scream that encouraged him to give in as well. As she held him inside her, erotic convulsions spread over her body. This brought Trace to his peak, and he ejaculated inside her warm, welcoming body, before dropping exhausted over her. He felt her fingers run through his hair, caressing him gently. Now that the passion was over, he felt a little guilty, but Kate certainly didn’t seem to feel that way. He eased himself off her and looked into her eyes. “I hope you weren’t too disappointed,” he said softly. “You’re a liar, Trace. You said there would be no bells, but my ears are still ringing.” He grinned, stood up and grabbed his shorts and underwear. “I guess that broke the ice, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed either, but let’s take this nice and easy.” “I understand. Now you have a conscience about Sarah. The next time will be your idea, not mine. Deal?” “Deal.” He grinned at her. “You’d better get dressed too before it happens again.” “I’m game,” she said, smiling. “I have some research to do,” he said, watching her dress. ****

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Bruce Cooke As soon as Kate left, Trace turned on his computer. He punched in Grogan Pharmaceuticals and waited until the information came up. With a pen and notebook handy, he began to write down whatever he thought he would need. What he read made him whistle. It gave a background on Edgely. The information was probably a couple of years old, but it told heaps. It seemed Grogan was founded by Mathew Grogan some forty years ago. When Grogan died, four others succeeded each other as president of the company over the years. The last man in charge was Hubert Casper. Charles Edgely began working as a young man straight out of university, but showed great promise. He worked his way up to vice president after making huge profits for the company. Five years ago, Casper died in a terrible accident when his car went over a cliff and caught fire. Edgely was elected to president and began buying up a majority of shares. When Casper’s wife was murdered by an unknown assassin, Edgely became the outright head of the company. He had been married three times. The first wife was a socialite named Beatrice Beaumont from Boston. The marriage only lasted six months. She left the family home and went to England to live, stating she left for health reasons. The second wife was a television announcer, Katrina Suva, and that marriage lasted four years. She fell down some stairs and suffered a broken leg and facial injuries. She retired from television and divorced Edgely with a good payout. She lived quietly in Sydney. Wife number three was Peggy Hardcourt, a lawyer and expert in finance. Unfortunately, she’d fallen from Edgely’s helicopter over the ocean on her way to a holiday resort and drowned before she could be rescued. Her body had never been recovered. Edgely gave a heart-rending address at her memorial service that was widely reported by the press. Tragedy seemed to follow Edgely, but he always seemed to come out on top. Not for one moment did Trace believe the death or accidents were coincidence. He had plans to make if he wanted to survive. Later he rang Kate. “Trace? You never ring and now you do after a night together. Do you want me to come around again, or is there extra work to be done?” He could hear the smile and eagerness in her voice. “No, but it’s a delicious idea. I’m going to Brisbane for a day or two. Can you feed Max for me? Then do me a favour and keep an eye on your e-mails? I will want to send you something.” “Is it a proposal? Can’t you just drop around and ask me?” She had a chuckle in her voice that made Trace grin. He had to admit, it had been a very pleasant experience, and maybe it would happen again. “I’ll explain tomorrow. Thanks, Kate.” Trace went to see Leigh before going to Brisbane. “He said you questioned him about the attack.” Leigh nodded but didn’t get up from his chair. “Yeah, he had a cast-iron alibi. He was in a meeting with the mayor about financing some building project. I checked it out with the mayor and it’s true.”

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Trace Elements “I also went to see him. He admitted the attack but said someone else was driving the boat. As he said, I can’t prove anything.” Leigh thought about his response before speaking. “He’s right. Did he say why he wants you dead?” “Yes. It’s all clear now. I’m trying to save the reef from destruction, but he wants the coral to die. It seems he has this remarkable cure for Alzheimer’s, but the base element comes from the dead coral, and if I save the reef, then he will lose billions.” “Shit, I can see why he’s doing what he’s doing.” “He thought of offering me one million dollars if I sell him the formula.” That got Leigh’s interest. “What did you say?” “That I’d think about it.” Trace gave him a smile which brought a reciprocal grin. “Yeah, like you’d think about standing for Prime Minister.” Trace nodded. “Yeah, he’s given me a week to accept his offer before hostilities resume.” “There’s not much I can do about it until he tries something again. By then it might be too late.” Leigh put his feet up on his desk and leaned back in his chair. “Yeah, I know. I have something in mind to stop him.” Leigh gave Trace a dubious look. “Like what?” “You don’t want to know. I have to go.” “Trace, don’t do anything that will make me have to arrest you.” He got to his feet. “I’ll be careful. See you.” He turned and left the office. **** The drive to Brisbane was occupied with thoughts about what he would do and how he would do it. He found accommodation and walked around the city until he came to Grogan’s multi-storey building. It stood twenty stories high, and it seemed the top five floors were taken up by Grogan Pharmaceuticals. Stepping into a newsagency, Trace bought an A4 envelope. He also bought a bulky calendar and slipped it into the envelope after writing Confidential: Sir Charles Edgely only. Checking his watch, he noted the time was just on five thirty. He purchased a few other items before he was ready. He then entered the building and took the elevator to the top floor after checking Edgely’s office on the information board in the lobby. When he walked out of the elevator, a flurry of people walked in, all eager to get home after a hard day’s work. A young woman at the receptionist desk greeted him with a friendly smile. “Can I help you, sir?” Trace returned the smile and noted the interest in her eyes. “Look, I know it’s almost closing time, but can I please see Sir Charles? It’s urgent.” “I’m sorry, sir. Sir Charles is not in Brisbane at the moment. He’s holidaying up the coast.” Trace feigned surprise. “Up the coast?” “Yes. Can I have your name? I can arrange an appointment for when he returns.”

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Bruce Cooke Trace frowned as if disappointed. “No, it will be too late then. I wanted to see him about an important deal that could be worth millions. When do you expect him to return?” “He didn’t say, but he is in contact with us every day.” Trace noted how she ran her eyes up and down his body. “Look, can I leave this envelope for him? It’s important he gets it as soon as he returns.” “Certainly, sir.” She placed it alongside her phone. “No, it’s really, really important. I would be obliged if you would put it on his desk for him to look at first thing. If he missed out on this deal, he’d be very angry.” The girl’s eyes opened wider as if the thought of Edgely’s temper was not something she liked to suffer. “Of course, sir.” She stood up and carried the envelope into a large office on her right. Trace watched as she placed it on the desk. Now he knew which office was Edgely’s. Office staff began to pack up for the night, and Trace turned away, only to look at the girl again. “Could you tell me where the men’s room is?” “Down the hall on the left. You can’t miss it. Better hurry. The building will be closed in five minutes.” Trace offered his thanks and went to the toilet. He inspected the room and locked himself into one of the cubicles. He would have to wait until it got dark, probably about an hour. **** When he came out, the office was cloaked in darkness. Checking out the walls, he saw a security camera sweeping the room. Trace produced a can of spray paint he had purchased earlier, kept to the wall, and sprayed the lens of the camera. He knew he would have to work fast as security would investigate as soon as they checked their screens. He hoped it would be at least half an hour. Edgely’s office door was locked, so Trace put his shoulder to it and forced it open. Without hesitating, he made his way to the computer on Edgely’s desk and opened it up. The computer asked for a password, so Trace tried several without success. Edgely’s name, his ex wives’ names, his date of birth—none yielded any results. As a last resort, he punched in Planceline and breathed a sigh of relief as the files opened up. Trace studied the personal files and again gave a whistle. They showed every dirty deed Edgely had done in the past five years. Scams, payoffs, in fact, there was one that showed a payment for ten thousand dollars to a company called Project Freedom. Trace had never heard of it, but the date on the file was just before the assassination of Mrs. Casper. Trace thought the police might be interested in that if the “project” turned out to be a hit man. The files showed transaction records of millions of dollars that had been spent and collected from various organisations throughout the world. Trace noticed the name on one of the transactions was Edgely Fun Money. He recalled a story that was in

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Trace Elements the papers several years ago. It seemed someone from within Grogan had skimmed off five million dollars of the company’s money, but the culprit couldn’t be traced. It had sent Grogan to the wall. Edgely had offered a reward of fifty thousand dollars for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the culprit, but there were no takers. Ironically, Edgely’s “fun money” seemed to be an identical amount to the missing funds… With all of these files at his fingertips, he now had the dirt on Edgely. Isn’t that just like someone as arrogant as Edgely, to leave this kind of incriminating information in a place so unsecured as his office? Well, his stupidity equals my payback. He just had to get it back to Swordfish Bay. It didn’t matter if Edgely knew who had broken into his files. Trace used a USB key he had concealed in his pocket to download the files instantly and then tucked it into the heel of his shoe. He would go to an Internet café as soon as he got out of here and e-mail the lot back to Kate’s computer with a note to make several copies.

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Chapter Six Trace quickly closed down the computer and made for the office door. He noted the lights on the elevator moving, and he slipped into a nearby cleaner’s closet where he found the usual cleaning supplies needed for a big building. He took note of the brooms, vacuum cleaners, buckets, cleaning fluid, and, hanging on a hook, a pair of overalls. He picked them up and put them on. Fortunately they fit reasonably well. Trace stepped back out into the reception with the commercial vacuum cleaner and plugged it into a power point on one wall. He turned it on and began cleaning the floor when the elevator door opened, and a man wearing a security uniform came rushing in carrying a gun. Trace feigned surprise and stared at the man. “Who the hell are you?” he said, watching the gun. “That’s my question,” said the man menacingly. “Look, if you’re after money, all I have is five dollars. Don’t shoot. I’ll give you all I have.” “Why are you in Sir Charles’s office?” Trace gave an exasperated look. “Isn’t that obvious, mate? I’m cleaning. If I don’t, I’ll get the sack.” He then raised his eyebrows. “Wait a tic, you say Sir Charles? Isn’t this Carrington Insurance?” “No, it isn’t. They’re five floors down. Raise your arms.” Trace stopped the vacuum and raised his arms. The man patted him down and seemed satisfied he had not stolen anything. “See? What are you on about anyway? It’s an honest mistake.” Trace continued his bluff. “No one except Sir Charles’s private cleaning staff are permitted to do the cleaning here.” He inspected the camera and saw the paint splashed over the lens. “Did you see anyone else up here?” Trace eased back and touched his chin with a finger. “Yeah, as a matter of fact. When I stepped out of the elevator, there was a bloke waiting to get in. It was only just after closing time, so I figured he must have been working late.”

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Trace Elements The guard’s gaze intensified, and he withdrew a pad of paper from this back pocket. “What did he look like?” Again Trace rubbed his chin, thinking about Sean Barlow. “He was rather short but powerful-looking, if you know what I mean. One thing I did notice was he had a bald head, like he’d shaved it. He was wearing a suit and carried a briefcase, like most people round here.” “Did he speak to you?” “No, I said good evening, but he was in a hurry to get into the elevator. That’s all I know.” The guard returned the notepad to his pocket after making a short note. “All right. Now, take your stuff down to the insurance office. And don’t come up here again.” “Sure,” said Trace. “Can you give me a hand getting the vacuum into the elevator?” “That’s not my job. And you be sure to check out of the building at the desk in the foyer when you leave.” “Sure. It won’t be for another couple of hours yet. I have three floors to do.” Together they stepped into the elevator, and Trace pushed the button for the fifteenth floor. He stepped out and waited until the man continued on to the ground floor. He figured if the man knew his job, he would check him out as soon as he reached his desk. Once the elevator reached the ground floor, Trace pressed the button once again and waited until it reached his floor. Then he jammed the vacuum in the opening, making it impossible for the door to close. On the wall was a fire button. He broke the glass with his elbow and pressed the button. He ran to the stairs as the alarm rang loudly and began the long climb down to the ground floor. By the time he reached the ground, the fire brigade had arrived. Firemen stood in the foyer as other cleaning staff hurried out of the building. Trace quickly joined them. People were shouting and trying to identify which floor the alarm had come from. He noted the guard he had encountered talking to one of the firemen. Without a second glance, he walked away and headed for his car. **** It was almost ten the next morning when he arrived back at his home. Swordfish Bay was a four-hour drive from Brisbane, so he paid his bill at his overnight hotel and left early. Max greeted him enthusiastically, but Trace only gave him a pat and headed for his computer. There was nothing waiting for him. Straight away he dialed Kate’s number and waited impatiently until she answered. “Kate. It’s me. Did the files come through?” “Yes. He’s a nasty piece of work, isn’t he? It’s clear to me anyway what all these transactions are for.” ****

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Bruce Cooke Kate sat at her office chair and thought about the night of passion she had shared with Trace. Working with him couldn’t have worked out better. “I’ll come over and tell you about what happened. Make sure your disc is hidden. If Edgely gets his hands on my USB, I’ll have a backup.” Kate quickly hung up the phone and waited for Trace to arrive. He was knocking on her door within five minutes. She opened the door, threw her arms around his neck, and ushered him in. “Where is it? I want to make sure it’s copied to your disc correctly.” His voice was anxious. “Good morning, Kate. I hope you’re well. Thanks for doing this for me. Certainly, Trace, it was no trouble.” She stood with her hands on her hips, waiting for a response. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s been a harrowing night.” She still stood waiting. He gave her a grin. “Thanks for doing this for me.” “That’s better. Now sit down and I’ll make you a coffee. Better tell me all about it. I also wanted to say to you again that there’s no commitment from you-know-what.” “I know. We made that perfectly clear. Er, that’s not to say I don’t care about you,” he added quickly. Kate twisted a lock of her hair nervously. “You don’t think I’m just a quick shag, though, do you?” She looked up at him, trying to conceal the nervousness in her voice. “Well, it was rather quick. Maybe next time will last longer.” He winked and Kate felt her stomach flip-flop. “Then, there can be a next time?” She dropped the strand of hair from her fingers and looked up at him wistfully. “Maybe, but don’t get pushy on me now, Kate; this is more important at the moment.” “Of course. Please, go on.” Trace told her what had happened, and Kate sat, not saying a word until he finished his tale. “What are you going to do with the information?” She raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer. “Hide it where Edgely won’t find it. What I want you to do before erasing it from your computer is to send a copy to mine. If he breaks in when I’m not home and finds the files, he’ll erase them and think he’s safe. I’ll also copy my formula to my key. I’ve never kept a copy of it on my USB or computer, too risky if anything ever happened to me and it fell into the wrong hands .If Edgely gets his hands on that, then he’ll think he’s won the lottery.” “You mean the formula isn’t on your computer?” “No. The important parts are in my head. Thanks again, but I have to go.” He stood up to leave, then hesitated. “If I should suddenly meet with an unfortunate accident, send the disc to the police.” “You will be careful, won’t you?” Kate grabbed his hand and squeezed hard.

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Trace Elements “Very careful,” he said and turned to the door. At the last second, he paused and came back to her, kissing her lightly on the lips. “Look, I shouldn’t tell you this, but I’m going to hide my key on Sawtooth Reef. If you lose your disc and I suddenly disappear, then you’ll know where a backup copy is. Don’t tell anyone, not even Cliff.” “That’s encouraging.” She smiled at him. “What is?” “That you trust me more than you trust Cliff.” “You’re my best mate, Kate. I can’t have too many people knowing the whereabouts of the evidence. Edgely thinks you’re just someone who types up my notes, nothing else.” “That’s funny, that’s exactly what I think.” He laughed. “You’re more than that and you know it.” He pulled her close and gently kissed her on the lips once again. Kate wanted more than just a kiss, but beggars can’t be choosers. She watched him go. Somehow she thought he would never see her as a vibrant, attractive woman, certainly not when compared to Sarah. He treated her as a friend, but it was more than friendship she wanted. At least she had made progress. **** At twelve, Trace made his way down to the wharf and met Cliff. Cliff sat in his office, pen in hand and a pile of contracts a mile high. “Morning, Cliff. I want to take out a boat and some scuba gear for a while.” “Shit, you’re not going diving again after what happened with the shark the other day?” Trace gave a smile. “You know what they say. If you fall off a horse, you—” “Get back on,” Cliff finished. “Okay. Want me to come with you in case the nightmare is back?” Trace shook his head. “No, he’s probably a hundred kilometres away by now.” He jumped into the boat and released the rope holding it to the wharf. Cliff waved as he sped out towards Sawtooth Reef. He checked behind him to see if he was being followed. Satisfied that he wasn’t, Trace sped on towards the reef and dropped anchor. Donning his scuba gear, he reached into the backpack he’d brought with him and pulled out his USB. He had wrapped it carefully in plastic to keep it waterproof, then placed it in a small box and vacuum-sealed it for added safety. This time he’d also brought an explosive speargun, just in case. Trace dived overboard and worked his way down to the reef he loved. Coloured fish darted into the coral for safety, but he ignored them as he looked for somewhere to place the box. There were various places where the fish lived, and he found a small opening big enough for a moray eel to fit. The eel came out and scooted away. Trace pushed the box into the small opening, noting the distinguishing rocks and coral surrounding it, then returned to the boat. Two hours later, he was back at the wharf.

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Bruce Cooke **** Trace headed for Edgely’s hotel and asked the desk to phone him. He was invited to come up, so he reached the first floor and knocked on the door. It was opened by Sean, who didn’t seem very happy to see him. Trace ignored him and walked into the room. Edgely didn’t hold back as far as luxury was concerned. The room was bright and airy. Only the finest furniture had been used. On the walls were some valuable paintings, and a silver tray holding coffee and cups sat on a small table in front of a sofa. The latest plasma television set stood in one corner. If a first floor room was like this, Trace wondered what the penthouse would be like. If he had Edgely’s money, then maybe he could sample it one day. This time Edgely had lost his cool. Gone was the suave outward appearance, and his only greeting was a sharp snarl. “You broke into my office last night, you bastard.” Trace gave him a smile. “Yeah, it’s a nice office. Wish I had one like it.” “What did you steal?” Edgely was obviously trying to regain his composure. “Actually I broke into your computer. You have some interesting files on tap. I’m sure the police would be interested in reading them.” “How did you get past the password?” Edgely, his face pale, sat down, waiting for an answer. The air of confidence he had previously held vanished. “You’re not the only one who can do research. I looked you up on Grogan Pharmaceuticals and followed your trip to the top. Three wives? And one dead. How unfortunate. Then there was the accidental death of your old boss, the murder of his wife, quite a few dirty deals, even a little money laundering from what I saw on your computer. I put the names of your wives in first. No result. Then I tried another few. I was almost ready to give up, but then I thought about a name no one knew anything about. Planceline? Very clever, but so arrogant. Operation Freedom? Who was the hit man you paid off? I’m sure the police would have a record of his activities.” “What are you after?” said Edgely softly, but with a hidden aggression in his voice. “Oh, I think you know. It’s simple. You leave me alone and I don’t pass this on to the police. If I somehow meet with an accident, then the information will be posted to the authorities.” “It seems we have come to a stalemate. I think we’d both better cool down and think about our positions. There’s still your father to think about.” “I’ll make my own decision about that. I don’t like anyone telling me what I should or should not do.” Edgely resumed his confident manner. “A million dollars would go a long way in your research on other matters. Think about it.” “Just keep out of my way and I’ll keep out of yours.” Trace turned and left the room. ****

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Trace Elements When he left, Edgely began to pace. “That man is a formidable opponent, Sean. We have to get those files back. His personal testimony will be easy to discredit, but files are another thing.” “Do you think he’s bluffing about having the files sent to the police if he dies?” “I don’t know. It would have to be someone who was very close to him, someone he could trust. From what I have observed, he spends most of his time working.” “What about the bloke who runs the fishing fleet?” Sean waited for a response. “The man is a trusted employee, but I don’t think Trace would put him in any danger. There must be someone else.” Sean cracked his knuckles and smiled. “If he’s got the files at home, then it would be a shame to see the house burn down…with him in it.” “The only way he could get the files to his home would be to send them over his email. That means they’re on his computer. Perhaps a fire would work. Show me some results, Sean, but you will have to delete all his e-mails first.” “It will be a pleasure.” Sean rubbed his hands together. “Watch his movements. This person, whoever he is, must be close to him. See where he goes or who he visits. You may have to do another job.”

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Chapter Seven It was after midnight before Trace went to bed. The encounter with Edgely stayed in his mind. At one a.m. he was wakened by a low growl from Max. He leapt out of bed, silencing the dog with his finger. There was definite movement in the front room, but whoever it was made little noise. Creeping in that direction, he made out a figure holding a can in his hand. The distinct smell of petrol wafted through the air. He turned on the light, and Sean whipped around, startled by Trace’s appearance. “How the hell did you get in?” Trace’s nostrils flared angrily. It was then that he noted a revolver in Sean’s hand. “I’m an expert in such matters. I thought you would be asleep. I’m really going to enjoy this, Patterson. You wouldn’t take the hint. Now, I’m going to shoot you and burn the place to the ground.” Trace gave a sadistic grin that was meant to unnerve Sean. “If you think the files are here, you’re mistaken.” “Maybe, maybe not. What’s important is destroying your formula. You’ve already admitted some of it is on your computer and the rest in your head. I’ll take care of both, here and now.” “You mean you intend to kill me now?” Sean gave him a sickly grin. “You really are smart. How did you work that out?” “And what about Max?” “Who’s Max? Is he the one you asked to send the files?” “No. Max is in my room now.” Sean gave a laugh. “I didn’t think you were queer. We learn every day. Get him out here. He’ll have to go too.” “Okay.” Trace opened the door. “Max, get him.” Sean’s eyes opened wide when he saw the teeth, but only for a second as Max leapt at his throat, knocking him backwards. Max sunk his teeth deeply into Sean’s arm, causing him to drop the weapon. Trace calmly picked it up as Sean cried out in pain. Max let go and bared his teeth only centimetres from Sean’s throat. “I wouldn’t move if I were you. I think he’s still hungry.”

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Trace Elements “Get him off!” There was panic in Sean’s frantic demand. “In a moment. You tell Edgely if he wants war, then war it is. The only reason the police don’t already have the files is because of my father. Even now, I think I know what my father’s opinion would be if he were capable of reasoning. I think he would want me to save the reef. Don’t even think about trying to poison Max. He only takes his food from me, and if you ever harm him, then you will have more trouble than you can imagine. Okay, Max, let him up.” Max stood back and they both watched Sean carefully get to his feet, holding his bleeding arm. Sean’s face was covered with sweat. He went to grab the petrol can, but Trace spoke sharply. “Leave it. I’ll put it in my car’s tank, compliments of Edgely. Now go while you’re still in one piece.” Sean ran for the door and hurried into the street. Trace placed the gun on the kitchen counter. It might be good insurance if the oaf came back. He watched Sean disappear into the night at top speed. Trace patted Max and locked the door. It seemed Sean had the knack of picking locks, as it appeared undamaged. Then he went back to bed. **** Kate came rushing over as soon as Trace phoned her the next morning to tell her of his late-night visit. “Are you all right?” She was nervous and looked around his place as she spoke as if expecting to see the intruder still lurking in a corner. “Yeah, thanks to Max. It seems Edgely is getting desperate. Barlow wanted to know if Max was the one holding the files.” “I hope you didn’t tell him another dog is holding them.” Trace laughed at her joke. “If you’re a dog, I need my eyes tested. You’d be the prettiest dog I’ve ever seen. I’m about to open a can of Pal for Max. Would you like some?” “Just the usual coffee will do. Oh, and thanks for the compliment.” “Compliment?” He raised an eyebrow, not sure of her sense of humour. “You called me pretty. That’s a start.” He looked at her with amusement. “How come you don’t have a husband or boyfriend?” “You already know I’m saving myself for Mr….Perfect.” She glanced sideways at him. “He doesn’t exist and you’re too nice a person to waste your time waiting for me.” “Are you making me an offer?” she smirked. “If you’re not snapped up in a year, I’ll think about it.” “Gee, a whole year. I’ll be an old maid by then. A girl can hope, can’t she?” Trace took in her words and turned them over in his mind. “I’m not ready for any commitment yet. As I said, you’re a mate. Finish your coffee and get out of here before something sexual happens.” She gave him a mock salute and left.

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Bruce Cooke **** Sean had parked down the street, out of sight of the house, and watched her leave, then followed her to the fishing co-op. When he reported back, Edgely sat twirling his fingers as he listened. Sean sat down. “There’s this girl who visits him. Her name is Kate Gardner. She works at the fishing co-op.” “Interesting. She’s the only friend he has?” Edgely began to smile at this news. “It appears so.” Barlow understood what he was thinking. “Then we might have to take her out.” “Now?” Barlow returned the grin. This was the sort of work he liked. Edgely tapped his fingertips together. “Not yet. Only if it’s necessary. We’ll see how things turn out.” **** Next morning Trace decided to speak with Edgely. He wondered what Edgely would do now that his idea of burning down the house had been defeated. Picking up the phone, he rang the hotel. The answer surprised him. “I’m sorry, sir. Sir Charles has checked out and flown to Brisbane in his helicopter.” Trace grinned. It appeared Edgely had given up. “Thank you.” Reason told him that a man like Edgely wouldn’t give up so easily. He expected Edgely to make another attempt, but would wait until it happened again. What was important now was that he finish his formula. Then he could get on with saving the reef. **** It was three days later when he heard a car pull up outside his house. Moments later there was a knock on the door. Trace’s mouth dropped open when he saw who it was. “Hello, Lancelot. Aren’t you going to invite me in?” “Sarah…” He stepped back to let her in. He was aware of the new red Laser parked in his drive. He bit his lip and noticed his heart racing. She always did that to him. “God, I haven’t seen you for—I can’t remember when.” Her perfume almost sent him dizzy. She was so beautiful, even more feminine now than she was a teenager. “Me either. You look great.” “So do you. What happened to the girl I used to know?” He looked at her. Talk about sophistication. She was dressed in a smart business suit. Her dark hair was immaculate and hung around her shoulders in a sexy manner. She wore a pair of expensive sunglasses, and her tan was something to see. Diamond earrings adorned her ears, and a necklace holding a diamond solitaire hung at her throat.

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Trace Elements Her makeup was light, and her lipstick was just the right shade. She removed her sunglasses, and her grey eyes sparkled at him. “Gone with the dinosaurs.” She leaned across and kissed him on the cheek. “Oh, it’s great to get away from the rat race.” “But why are you here? Certainly not to visit me.” She gave a giggle. “And why wouldn’t I want to see you? Actually I’m on vacation. I thought I’d come down and check out how Barry is handling the business.” “Coffee?” he asked, inviting her to sit. “A cold beer would be better.” “I see some things haven’t changed.” He opened the fridge and took out two stubbies. “Now tell me what you’ve been doing.” Sarah took a sip and settled back. “Me? I’ve been everywhere. When I left uni, I applied for a job with a large company that sold cosmetics. I soon became valuable to them and was promoted. It was the best thing I ever did. Next thing I knew, they wanted me to go to Europe as a senior sales representative. I don’t like to boast—wait, I do actually,”—she smiled at him—“but I became irreplaceable to them. Then I was on their board of directors. Me, a woman on the board of one of the biggest companies in the world.” “I always knew you had it.” He was happy to see the smile on her face. “Sure you did. I was sent to America for a year, and now I’m back in Oz. I’ve been so busy, I told them I was taking a vacation. What better place to take it than Swordfish Bay?” “I could think of a few.” Trace took another sip. She shook her head. “No. I’ve been to all those exotic places, but there’s no place better than Swordfish Bay. Is that why you’ve never left?” “Partly. My father is not well, so I have to look after him.” “Norm? What’s wrong?” She looked alarmed at the news. “Alzheimer’s. Sometimes he doesn’t even know me. He’s in the local nursing home.” “God, that’s expensive. Look, I earn over two hundred thousand a year. If you need money to cover expenses—” Trace gave her a smile. “Thanks, but it’s all covered. We’re not poor either.” “I loved Norm when I was a kid. He thought you and I would marry one day.” “So did everyone else. I guess we both had things to do.” Sarah nodded. “We did. We were only teenagers then. I think we’ve both grown up a bit since those days.” “You’re certainly still beautiful,” Trace said, admiring her figure. “You’re not horny, are you?” She laughed loudly and Trace joined in. “Remember when we did it on the sand after the school graduation ball? I thought you were sorry after.” “Hell, I was only fifteen and still a virgin. It was a big thing in those days. But I wasn’t sorry I lost my cherry to you.” “I kind of thought that might have been the reason you left the Bay. We only did it twice more, once on your sixteenth birthday and once on mine.”

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Bruce Cooke She gave a giggle. “Rest easy, Lancelot. I wanted to go to Uni, like you did. I think we sort of drifted apart. Don’t tell me you didn’t use your charms on some of the girls in Brisbane?” He took another sip. “Perhaps we had better leave our love lives out of this. Where are you staying?” “Nowhere yet. I could book into the hotel, but I’ve had enough of luxury. I thought you might be able to put me up for a few days in this crummy dive.” “Thanks.” He smirked at her words and looked around his room. “I have a spare room. Apart from the funnel webs and rock python, it’s comfortable. We could catch up on lost years.” “Great, I was hoping you’d say that. I’ll get my bag.” She returned moments later, carrying an expensive-looking bag that held a handle to pull it along and wheels. Trace showed her the spare room and she settled in. When she returned, she sat down. He noted she had changed into a pair of shorts and a thin, almost see-through top. It took his breath away, and he was sure that was her intention. There was no doubt she was intent on seduction. “Tell me, what’s happened with you? No wife or girlfriend?” “No. I work for the Fisheries and Wildlife Department of the Queensland Government. Cliff runs the business while I work on a formula to save the Barrier Reef.” “I didn’t know it was dying,” she said with a touch of sadness in her tone. She placed her empty bottle on the table. Trace told her of the devastation the crown-of-thorns starfish was wreaking and the formula he had developed for saving the reef. He also told her about Edgely trying to kill him to get the formula and how he said he had a cure for Alzheimer’s. “Who is this Edgely?” she inquired, frowning. “Sir Charles Edgely is the head of Grogan Pharmaceuticals. He’s a very powerful man and a crook to boot. I think he had some people killed in his climb to the top. Now he wants me dead so he can get my formula.” “Yee gods. Have you told the police?” She looked shocked as she took in the information. “I told Leigh, but it’s his word against mine. No one would believe me. But now I have some proof. I broke into his computer and took some files. They show evidence of a number of the nasty deeds he’s done. I’m keeping them as insurance in case he tries again. I feel a little nervous telling you all of this, but we used to be close friends, so I hope I can trust you to keep all this to yourself.” “That’s awful. I hope you have them safe.” “Well, they are on my computer, but that’s not the only copy. I have a USB key hidden that tells all.” “Where, for God’s sake?” Sarah questioned, her eyes opening wide. “If I tell you that, you might be in danger.” “You’re right. I certainly don’t want a man like him coming after me. As a reward for putting me up, how about I cook you a wonderful dinner?”

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Trace Elements “You cook? That’s a new occurrence.” She gave a tinkling laugh. “I have all sorts of talents now.” **** It was nearly three when he heard a knock on the door. “Can you get it, Sarah?” he asked as he worked on his computer. “Sure,” she answered, moving to open the door. Trace didn’t know who was the most surprised, Sarah or Kate. Kate stood with her mouth open. “Sarah, this is a surprise. Is Trace home?” Trace watched the confrontation with amusement. Two girls: one from his past and one from his present. Kate was red in the face and wore a shocked expression. It seemed to him that Kate was experiencing a visit from the “green monster” at seeing Sarah in his home. He knew Sarah wasn’t helping much. She stood taller and thrust her breasts out just a little, obviously trying to rile Kate. The smile on Sarah’s face indicated to him she had the upper hand when it came to Kate. Hadn’t she always, in every situation? “Yes. Come in, Kate. I’ll get him.” Kate stood in the doorway while Trace answered Sarah’s call. “I just came to tell you that the report won’t be ready until tomorrow.” Trace knew it was a lie, but understood Kate’s embarrassment, especially when confronted with Sarah being in his home. Trace turned to Sarah. “Kate has been doing my typing for me. She’s a whiz at editing my work before I send it off.” He turned to Kate to explain, “Sarah is staying a couple of days while she’s here.” “That’s nice. I hope you enjoy your holiday. You’ll be able to catch up,” Kate said, looking at the floor. “That was all I wanted to say. I must go.” She turned and left quickly. When he closed the door, he saw Sarah smiling at him. “What?” “Is she your girlfriend?” “Kate? No. She works at the fishing co-op and does some work for me.” “She doesn’t do nocturnal work in your bed?” “Kate? Hell no. She’s just a friend. Why do you say that?” He hoped it sounded convincing. Sarah twirled his hair with her finger. “The girl is in love with you. I can see it in her eyes. When she saw me, her face nearly went green.” Trace looked down. “Rubbish. I’ve never even kissed her. She’s a friend and nothing more. I’ve never thought of Kate like that.” That was an outright lie, but best to leave that alone. No good could come of him telling Sarah the truth. Besides, he wanted to see what would become of Sarah being back in Swordfish Bay. “Perhaps you should have. She’s been in love with you since we were all kids. You couldn’t see it, as you only had eyes for me.” He laughed. “That part is true, but I think you’re mistaken.” “Does she have a boyfriend?” Sarah kept questioning him.

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Bruce Cooke Trace frowned. “Come to think of it, she doesn’t. I could never understand that. She’s pretty enough and smart.” “There you are then. You could have been a naughty boy all this time and enjoyed yourself. Too bad. Now, tonight I’m going to cook you the best meal you’ve ever had.” **** Trace watched in surprise as Sarah placed a mouth-watering plate of crayfish and salad in front of him. “Where did you get this?” “I slipped down to the wharf to see Barry and dropped into the fishing co-op. I couldn’t resist when I saw the crays, or ‘lobsters’, as they say in the States.” “You’ll have to stay for a month if this is an example of your talents.” They sat and chatted for hours, catching up on each other’s lives. Sarah even mentioned her brother and the horrific shark attack that took his life. Trace was subdued as the memories came racing back again, but felt happy she could talk about it, especially after all this time. He often sat alone thinking about the loss of his friend and their teenage adventures. By eleven p.m. Sarah yawned and went to bed. Trace did the same, but around one a.m. he heard his door open. He sat up to see Sarah standing in the doorway, wearing a see-through nightdress. “Something wrong?” He couldn’t hide his surprise. “Not yet, but there will be if you don’t invite me to your bed.” “Are you sure?” Suddenly he was getting offers he didn’t expect. The second time in a few days, he had a woman throwing herself at him. He frowned cautiously as she moved towards him. God, she always had this hold over him. Sarah smiled and slipped into his bed. “If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be here. We’re both adults now, and I still fancy you, even though it’s been a few years.” “I like you too.” Trace took her in his arms. “There’ll be no strings attached. We both have our own lives now. I’ve always thought about you, Trace. I hope you thought about me.” “Often,” he said, kissing her gently. He could feel the warmth of her body against his as they embraced. She giggled. “I can see Lancelot is the wrong name now. Perhaps I’d better call you Excalibur.” “I haven’t used my sword for a while,” he lied, “but maybe the time is now.” “You still talk too much. Show me your swordsmanship.” She had hands and fingers that seemed like magic as they went to work on his shaft. He felt her hand slip up and down, gently making him lift himself from the mattress. She pushed him back and sat over him with an alluring smile on her face. He wondered why she had stopped her foreplay, until she smiled at him. “Enjoy,” she said and dropped her mouth down to take him fully. Every movement of her tongue brought him almost to a climax, but he couldn’t work out why Kate’s face flashed into his mind. By now all thoughts had left him as he was lost in the world of pleasure she was applying.

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Trace Elements He soon found that Sarah had learned a lot about lovemaking in her adult years, and they enjoyed a passionate night together. When he slipped inside her, he found her responsive. Trace had a conscience about what he was doing to Kate, but Sarah always had been that attraction he couldn’t deny, the one that got away. He forgot about anything except for Sarah and being inside her, especially when she starting cooing as he thrust into her. She matched his movements as if they were always one. When she wrapped her legs around him, holding him inside her, it brought his climax. It seemed this was a magic button that set her off too. “My God,” she screamed and held him even tighter with her legs and thrust up until he subsided. Later they lay in each other’s arms, talking quietly about lost youth and regained friendship.

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Chapter Eight Sunday was a typical Queensland day—perfect with little breeze. Together he and Sarah walked along the beach hand in hand, something they hadn’t had the chance to do since they were teenagers. The white sand looked as inviting as ever. People stood on the beach with surf rods in their hands, hoping to catch the big one. Children played cricket and families sat on blankets, eating a picnic lunch. It brought back pleasant memories of a wonderful past, except for the tragedy of her brother that had engulfed them. Sarah laughed as she had in the past and bent down and scooped up a handful of water and rubbed it in his hair. She screamed in jest when he picked her up and made a threatening motion to throw her in the water. Then he lowered her down, and as the water gently ran around their ankles, they kissed. “That was nice,” she said, her hand behind his head, pulling him down once again. **** For the next three days, they enjoyed each other’s company. By then Sarah spent each night in Trace’s bed, and their lovemaking made him gasp. In the early afternoon on the third day, Trace walked to the wharf to check in with Cliff about a contract problem. The four days Sarah had been there had flown. Not once had Kate made a visit or made contact with him. He saw Kate sitting on a seat, eating her lunch. “Hi, Kate,” he said sheepishly. “I haven’t seen you for a couple of days.” “No,” she said tersely. “I didn’t want to intrude on your love nest. I gather you and Sarah are sleeping together?” “Look, you know how I’ve always felt about her. When she arrived, I was as surprised as you. I never expected to see her again.” “So you are sleeping with her?” Her voice was sharp and she stared ahead. “You told me no strings attached after we made love. Let’s not argue.” Tears began to appear in her eyes. “Was I just another shag to you, Trace? Someone to bed when the offer came?”

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Trace Elements He took her hand. “You know that’s not right. You’re my best friend, and I don’t want to lose you. Sarah is only here for a short time, and then she’ll be gone. Lost loves are hard to put away, especially when she climbed into my bed. I’m sorry, Kate. Are we still friends?” She turned and looked at him, the tears still clouding her eyes. “You’ll always be my friend, Trace, but I really want more than that. Get Sarah out of your blood, and we’ll see what happens.” He leaned over and pecked her on the cheek, amazed at how well she was responding. “Thank you for understanding.” **** By evening, Trace checked the time and turned to Sarah. “Better put on your best clothes. I’m taking you to dinner at the Sea View Hotel.” “Whoa!” Sarah kissed him on the cheek. “The Sea View. Only the best for Trace Patterson.” “No, only the best for Sarah Sutcliffe. Better get changed. They don’t allow beautiful women dressed in shorts with long, beautiful, tanned legs and a gorgeous body into their main restaurant.” “Oh, I like you,” she said and went to her room to change. Sarah grabbed his arm when she returned dressed. “It’s only four thirty. How about we go visit your father?” “Great idea, but I must warn you. He won’t know who you are.” “That doesn’t matter. I’ve missed him, and I’d like to see him while I’m here.” The car wound its way up to the nursing home, and Trace kept looking in the rearvision mirror in case Edgely suddenly appeared. Nothing. It seemed he really had gone back to Brisbane. **** Soon they were sitting with Norm at the nursing home. “Hello, Dad. You remember Sarah, don’t you?” Norm stared at her with no recognition. “Hello, Mr. Patterson. It’s nice to see you again.” Norm just sat. “Who are you both?” Trace looked at Sarah with pain in his eyes. “I’m your son, Trace, and this is Sarah Sutcliffe. Sarah and I grew up together.” Norm still didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. They spent an hour with him, then left. On the way back to town, Sarah touched Trace’s arm. “It’s so sad to see him like that. What are his chances of recovery?” “Nil,” said Trace, staring ahead. “Let’s go to dinner.” Half an hour later, they were seated in the restaurant, enjoying a meal, when Trace froze.

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Bruce Cooke “Something wrong?” asked Sarah when she saw his face. “It’s Edgely. He’s back.” He looked towards the entrance, and Sarah turned her head to see Edgely and Barlow being escorted to a table. “Which one is Edgely?” she said, frowning. “The good-looking one. The other is his hit man.” “Do you want to leave?” “No. Edgely isn’t going to drive me away. Just ignore him.” They continued to eat, and before dessert, music started. Trace escorted Sarah to the dance floor. It was great to get his arms around her once again. Her wit hadn’t been lost by Edgely’s appearance, and she kept him laughing. Together they ignored Edgely until they returned to their table. Trace tensed his fists as Edgely approached with a smirk on his face. “Trace, how nice to see you again. Aren’t you going to introduce me?” “No, I don’t even want to talk to you. Get lost.” Edgely continued to smile while keeping his gaze on Sarah. “I’m Charles Edgely. Perhaps we can have a dance, seeing Trace isn’t going to be friendly.” “Go away.” Trace stood up, trying to intimidate Edgely. Sarah stared at them both, seemingly uncomfortable with the confrontation, and quickly stood too. “If I have one dance, then you’ll go away?” “Of course, if that’s what you want. One dance will keep me very happy.” Sarah looked at Trace, then took Edgely’s hand. “I’m Sarah Sutcliffe. Can we get this over with?” Trace began to protest, but knew Sarah was trying to be diplomatic and prevent a fight that might easily erupt. He sat down and watched them on the dance floor. Edgely was laughing as he talked, but Sarah kept silent and held a grim face until the dance finished. Edgely escorted her back to the table. “Thank you, my dear. I really enjoyed that. I’ll talk to you at the end of the week, Trace. Goodnight. Enjoy the rest of the evening.” “You didn’t have to do that,” Trace said when Edgely walked away. “No, I didn’t, but I could see you were becoming nervous. I certainly didn’t want to watch you in a fight with a man like that. If he’s a multi-millionaire, then more than likely we would both be thrown out.” Trace gave her a grin. “You always were the sensible one.” At the completion of the evening, they left for home. “Which bed do you want?” he asked diplomatically when they were ready to retire. “The spare room.” She touched his face. “I think I need a good night’s sleep. The last few nights have been very…energetic.” “Wise decision. I’ll see you in the morning.” They went to their rooms and slipped into bed. Two hours later, Max gave a low growl, alerting Trace to something amiss. Trace jumped out of bed and entered the living room, expecting to find Barlow trying to break in again, but frowned when he saw Sarah, dressed and making her way to the door. He stepped back, observing her quietly so she wouldn’t see him, then watched as she opened the front door and slipped

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Trace Elements out into the darkness. Trace quickly put on some shorts and a T-shirt and followed her. He saw the red Laser drive off quietly. He followed on a small motor scooter he used to run around town. It suited his needs perfectly. His car was only used on long trips, and the scooter was easy to park and get through the traffic without trouble. He wondered where she was going at this time of night. His jaw dropped when he saw her pull up outside the hotel and go into the foyer. He parked outside and watched and waited as a light came on in Edgely’s apartment on the first floor. Then his mouth dropped open when a naked Sarah shut the curtains, closing off his view. He turned his bike around and drove back to his house. **** Two hours later, Sarah arrived back. She kept the lights off, and Trace watched her go to his computer and turn it on. She sat in his chair, trying to bring up his files. After a few minutes, she slapped her hand on the desk in frustration. Trace felt a burning fury inside his stomach. This was a girl he cared about, a girl he trusted, and she had betrayed him in the worst possible way. He wanted to confront her. He wanted to tear her heart out as she had done to him. Instead, he closed his door and returned to bed. There was no fear she would have his formula. He’d taken good care of that. Perhaps he could use her to find out what else Edgely had planned. He would pretend he knew nothing of her treachery and see what developed. It seemed sleeping with him was part of her plan. It certainly hurt to think she was using him in such a way. Now he had a problem. If she initiated sex again and he refused, she would be suspicious her plan was foiled. He had to continue the charade and take her to his bed if the offer was on. How else could he learn Edgely’s plan? Kate suddenly became even more important to him, as she would never stoop to such a low act. She was loyal, she was intelligent, and her body movements never went unnoticed. What the hell was he doing sleeping with a two-timing bitch like Sarah? He must have been out of his head to fall under Sarah’s spell. Would Kate understand him sleeping with Sarah after what he had learned? It was a risk he had to take. In the morning he stepped out into the kitchen to find Sarah had made breakfast. “Hope you like bacon and eggs.” She was obviously unaware he knew her secret. He forced a smile. “Looks good to me.” He sat and ate the meal without much appetite. He knew Sarah sensed something was wrong. It must have been his body language, for she frowned. “Is something wrong, Trace?” He gave a half-hearted smile. “No. I just missed you last night. I’ve enjoyed having you sleep with me.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I’ve enjoyed it too. Don’t worry. I’ll see what I can do tonight. I have a few things to do, so I’ll be missing for most of the day. I have a few phone calls to make. I just can’t seem to get away from business.” “Yeah, I understand. I have some work to do on my formula too, and I have to go talk to Cliff about an ongoing problem with a contract. See you later.”

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Bruce Cooke He left the house, removed his car from the garage and drove down the street, turned off the motor and sat waiting. He didn’t have to wait long. Sarah drove her Laser to the hotel and disappeared inside. No doubt she had to report to Edgely that she didn’t get the formula. Edgely wouldn’t be happy, but they would have to make other plans, and Trace wanted to know what they were. He returned to his home and went to Sarah’s room. Careful not to visibly disturb things, he searched her drawer, her suitcase, and anywhere else he thought might give him some information. Then he found it—a small case holding a syringe and a glass container filled with clear liquid. He wondered why she would have it. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Moreover, he didn’t want to believe that she was capable of such treachery. He removed the glass container holding the liquid and replaced it with something of his own. As he was returning the case, his eyes popped. At the bottom of the case was a bright red baseball cap and a pair of dark glasses. Now it was clear who was driving the boat during the attack. But how the hell did they swap places? Of course! Pelican Point. All he had to do was go around the point, meet up with Sarah and change places. Carefully he closed the lid, taking the syringe for testing, not knowing what it held. **** When Sarah returned around five, she found Trace preparing dinner. “Seeing how you did such a good job cooking the other night, I thought I would cook you up a treat.” “Hmm. Smells good,” she said, breathing in. “Nothing special. Just some sweet and sour prawns.” “Yummy. I’ll go and change.” She left him cooking and went to her room. He hoped she didn’t notice anything amiss. **** With the meal completed, they sat back and discussed their lives once again. Sarah told him about her life in Europe, in America, and all the exotic places she had been to. Trace listened attentively, still seething inside about her betrayal. At eleven they went to bed. Sarah put on a show for him, removing her clothes seductively. “I thought you might like some special attention, particularly since I ignored you last night.” She smiled. “It seems fair,” he said, sitting back on the bed, watching. She obviously had experience in this type of seduction. Barry was correct; she was no longer a small-time country girl. When she was naked, she began to unbutton his shirt, and soon, he too was naked. Sarah used all her skills in lovemaking, and Trace decided he would enjoy her little playacting, in spite of her deception. All her skills went into the lovemaking gentle touching as she swept her hands down over his chest, the little nips she gave on his flesh. He closed his eyes as he felt her mouth take him in as she had done the last time they made love. When he tried to reciprocate, she pushed him back to the mattress.

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Trace Elements “This is my treat,” she whispered and resumed her gentle act as her tongue flicked his skin and the slow movements of her mouth moved up and down. “Better stop that before it’s too late,” she said and pushed him back onto the bed and mounted him. He stared into her eyes, looking for any trace of emotion. She looked as though she was enjoying every second of their encounter, every stroke of his body in hers. She closed her eyes with a look of extreme pleasure, placed her hands on the mattress and breathed deeply as she used her muscles to tighten on him. “That’s so good,” she said, a smile starting to appear on her beautiful face. Leaning back, she smiled at him while he stayed firmly implanted inside her. If she went back any farther, he thought it might snap off. She certainly knew how to make a man feel good. “Is this better? I hope it makes up for last night.” “It will be if you don’t stop.” He grinned. She recommenced her movements until he gave a gasp and pushed upwards against her as he climaxed. Sarah stayed above him until he lay back. “Now how was that?” she asked, evidently satisfied with her effort. “Pretty good,” he uttered. “I should sleep well.” “Me too.” She moved and lay alongside him as he closed his eyes. An hour later Trace was still awake, but pretended to be asleep. He was aware of Sarah getting out of bed and returning moments later. Then he felt the syringe slip into his leg. He gave a fake groan and returned to his pretend sleep. He guessed it was around ten minutes later when Sarah slipped out of bed and went to his office. Trace could hear her talking on the phone, so he picked up his bedside phone gently and listened. He soon learned she was talking to Edgely. “Everything is okay, Charles. He’s asleep.” “Did you give him the shot?” Edgely sounded blunt. “Yes. Just what is it I gave him?” “A triple dose of Plancilene. It should be all over in fifteen minutes.” “All over? You mean he’ll be dead?” “Don’t worry. It will seem like cardiac arrest. Just get the formula from his computer and leave quietly. No one will be suspicious.” Sarah sounded upset. “But you didn’t say it would kill him. I thought he would just be unconscious.” “I didn’t tell you because he used to be a friend of yours. I didn’t want sentimentality stopping you from doing what needed to be done.” “God, you should have told me. I didn’t want to do this, let alone be involved in murder.” “It didn’t seem to bother you when you were driving the boat.” “You didn’t tell me it was Trace we were trying to kill.” “Forget it. I presume you fucked him?” “That’s what you told me to do.”

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Bruce Cooke “Then he went out with a smile on his face. Get over here as soon as you have the formula.” Trace heard Edgely hang up. He put on a robe and walked into the office to find Sarah opening up the computer. “I told you there was no way you could get the formula.” Her face went white when she saw him. “Trace—I— you—” “Should be dead,” he answered. “I found the syringe earlier today while you were visiting Edgely. I replaced it with one filled with saline.” “Saline? You know I work for Edgely?” “Yes. I followed you last night and saw you enter the hotel. I waited a while until I saw you naked and closing the curtains of his room. What’s the story? You pretend you don’t know him, but you certainly know him well enough to sleep with him. Then I find you trying to bring up my formula.” Tears began to form in her eyes. “Okay, I work for him. He pays me a fortune, and I was under orders to try and locate your formula. Sleeping with him is sort of compulsory if I want to keep my job.” “And how long have you been doing that?” Trace stood without expression, burning inside. “On and off for about six months. He brought me into his office one day and said he would promote me and pay a huge wage. All I had to do was sleep with him whenever he needed me.” “That makes you a prostitute.” “Your words, not mine. I see it as a chance to advance in the world of commerce. He’s not bad-looking and he is a very attentive lover. It’s no hardship.” “How many other women does he sleep with? Have you ever asked?” “Probably hundreds. As long as I make my way up the corporate ladder, I don’t really care. The money makes it well worthwhile.” “It doesn’t bother you that the man is a criminal, the fact he’s killed people, one of them his former wife, and possibly his former boss? He’s stolen millions of dollars, laundered money and committed a host of other crimes.” Sarah had a disbelieving look on her face. “You don’t know that. I find it hard to believe. I haven’t found him like that at all.” “Then injecting me with what was a deadly serum didn’t seem criminal to you?” “I didn’t know it would kill you. You have to believe me. He said it would render you unconscious. I’m glad you changed the syringe.” Trace sneered. He wondered if it would have made any difference if she had known. “I listened in on your phone conversation. If he tires of you, he might get rid of you in a similar manner. You were the one driving the boat that day.” “But I didn’t know it was you. If I did, I wouldn’t have done it.” Again he sneered. “You don’t mind killing someone else, but if it was me, you wouldn’t have been part of it. It sounds a bit hollow to me.” She turned away from him as colour flooded her cheeks. “I don’t think he will attack me. I know too much about him.”

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Trace Elements “So you fucked me at his request?” “It was no hardship. I enjoyed making love with you. We did it when we were inexperienced kids, and I enjoyed it then.” Trace grimaced. “Well, you’re wasting your time trying to get my formula. It’s late, but I expect you to go and pack your bags and get the hell out of here.” “Sorry, Trace, but I had to do it. I have a lifestyle to keep up too. I’ll leave right now.” She turned and went to her room. Moments later she emerged with her luggage and left without another word. Trace turned to his computer and put in a new password on all his personal files. Then he went back to bed. With Sarah gone, probably to Edgely’s bed, he was left pondering Edgely’s next move.

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Chapter Nine The car pulled up in the car park of the nursing home. Edgely and Barlow stepped out and walked to the reception desk. “Can I help you, sir?” asked the nurse. “You can indeed. We’re only in town for a short stay, and I heard my old friend Norman Patterson is a patient here. I wonder if I can visit him.” “Mr. Patterson won’t remember you, sir. He’s suffering from Alzheimer’s.” “I understand, but we would like to see him before we leave.” Edgely gave her his best smile. “He’s out in the garden, sir. He likes to sit alone under the large palm tree.” She pointed through the glass door to a lonely seated figure staring into space. Edgely nodded his thanks and walked through the door to where Norman sat. Norm looked at him with dull eyes, obviously not recognising his visitors. “Who are you?” he said bluntly. Edgely sat beside him and took off his coat. “Good morning, Mr. Patterson. I’m Doctor Foster. I’ve come to give you your usual injection.” Norm stared with a vacant look on his face. “What injection?” “Why, the one you get every day to make you better. Can you roll up your sleeve, please?” Norm rolled up his sleeve. Edgely nodded to Barlow, who produced a syringe and handed it to Edgely. “This will make you much better by tomorrow, Mr. Patterson.” Edgely injected the serum into Norm’s arm and rolled down his sleeve. “Thank you, Mr. Patterson. I hope you have a nice day.” They left Norm under the tree and walked to reception. Edgely smiled at the nurse. “You were right. He didn’t recognise me, but I wanted to see how he was. I feel sure he’ll improve rapidly.” “We hope so.” She returned his smile as if she felt the same way. Edgely and Sean reached their car and drove off. ****

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Trace Elements The next morning Doctor Ernie Walters came for his daily check-up on Norm. What he found staggered him. As soon as he walked into Norm’s room, Norm looked at him with a gleam in his eyes. “G’day, Ernie. When can I get out of this dump?” “You recognise me?” he said, his eyes opening wide. “Of course I bloody recognise you. Christ, we went fishing together for years. What the hell is wrong with you?” “You’ve been sick, mate. I’ll just do a few tests.” Ernie put him through some tests, asking him questions about his youth, his wife, his life in Swordfish Bay. “Have you seen Trace lately? He never seems to come and visit me.” “Not true, Norm. Trace comes nearly every day when he’s in town.” “Is he away again on his field work?” Norm sat up, looking his former bright self. “No. He’s back in town. He was here yesterday and the day before that.” “Yeah, well you’d better tell him to come and visit. Maybe he can get me out.” Ernie felt overwhelmed by Norm’s improvement. No way had he ever thought this would happen. He couldn’t remember one case where such an improvement had happened. As soon as he finished his tests, he rang Trace. “Yeah, Doc. Is Dad all right?” “More than all right. You’d better come here now.” Trace slammed down the receiver and hurried to his car. Almost at record speed, he pulled up to the nursing home and sprinted to the entrance. Ernie waited to greet him. “What’s happened? Where is he?” “Don’t panic. You’ll get a big surprise.” Trace followed Ernie to Norm’s room. He staggered back when he saw him. “About bloody time. Get me out of this place, Trace.” “Dad! You know me?” “Are you crazy? Why wouldn’t I know you? I’m perfectly well.” “But how—why—” “Don’t stand there like a dummy. Help me get dressed.” Ernie held Trace’s arm. “Not so fast, Norm. You’ve been here for several months. Let’s wait a day or two to see how you progress.” “Like hell. I want to go home.” “No, Dad, listen to Ernie. He knows what he’s doing. You’d better stay a few more days.” “A few more days? Who’s running the business?” Trace looked at Ernie, then back to Norm. “Cliff is in charge and doing a great job. He took over when you got sick. Just take it easy for a day or two. Then you can come home.” Norm snorted, but he seemed to know he was beaten. “Okay. Two more days and I’m out of here.” “Good decision, Norm,” said Ernie. “Two more days.” As Trace left with Ernie, he frowned. “How could this happen?”

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Bruce Cooke “Don’t know. Never seen such a rapid recovery before.” As they passed the desk, the nurse smiled at Trace. “I’m glad to see your father is on the mend, Trace. Pity he didn’t know his visitors yesterday.” “What visitors?” said Trace, mystified. “They didn’t leave a name. They just said they were in the area for a short time and wanted to see your father before they left.” “Can you describe them?” Trace asked, doubts coming to mind. “Of course. One was a rather good-looking man, around forty or so. Well dressed and elegant. The other was a smallish man, built like a tank. He had a very bald head.” Trace gritted his teeth. “Thanks. I think I know them.” He left the nursing home and rang Edgely straight away. When he answered Trace almost barked at him. “What did you do to my father?” he shouted. “Please. Not so loud. You’re disturbing Sarah. We visited him in the nursing home and gave him a free shot of Plancilene. How is he this morning?” “You injected him with your drug?” “Yes. I wanted to show you that Plancilene is the drug of the future to cure Alzheimer’s. He should be showing some progress by now.” “Even though you tried to get Sarah to kill me.” “The stupid girl should have kept the syringe well hidden. At least you had a good time. You haven’t told me how your father is.” “He’s back to his normal self. What do you expect to come of this?” “Gratitude and common sense. You can see how effective it is. It will save thousands of lives—and make me a nice profit. All you have to do is give up your quest of saving the reef and we’ll both be happy.” “We’ll see.” Trace slammed down the receiver.

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Chapter Ten Norm was sitting at the table eating his lunch when Ernie sat down. Norm looked up and shoved a forkful of food into his mouth. “You try this?” said Norm. “It’s good.” Ernie was still amazed by his recovery. “I’ve already eaten. How are you today?” “Nothing wrong with me. How about I go home this afternoon?” “Tomorrow is what we agreed to. Don’t be so impatient.” Norm took another forkful of his lunch, then put his fork down. “Something wrong?” asked Ernie, seeing his face go white. “Got a bit of a pain in my chest. I’ll be right in a minute.” Next thing Ernie knew, Norm gripped his chest and collapsed on the floor. Nursing staff came running. A stretcher was called for, and Norm was taken back to his room and placed on the bed. His eyes were open as Ernie listened with his stethoscope to Norm’s chest. Norm gave a sudden jerk, went stiff and closed his eyes. Ernie called for help and began CPR to try to revive him. Electric shock was given in hopes of getting his heart going again, but to no avail. Ernie looked at his watch. “Death occurred at twelve forty-two p.m.” He sighed, sad to see his old friend slip away, especially after Norm had begun to recover so quickly. Reluctantly, he went to a phone and dialled Trace’s number. This was the sort of news he hated giving. **** Trace couldn’t believe it after seeing his father’s recovery. He almost dropped the phone. A terrible sense of loss overcame him. He had been expecting this to happen for months, but when it did, it was too much. Then Edgely’s words came flooding back. “There have been one or two complications, but we’ll overcome them.” He hadn’t mentioned what the complications were, but now he knew. Edgely had murdered his father and would have to pay. When he phoned Edgely with the news, Edgely didn’t sound very sympathetic.

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Bruce Cooke “Sometimes Plancilene works and sometimes it doesn’t. I told you there were complications to sort out. That’s why I gave Sarah a triple dose to inject you.” “You’ll have to sort them out in jail. I’m going to see you convicted of murder.” “And how do you figure that?” said a confident Edgely. “You have no evidence, and I can hire the very best in the country to represent me.” “I have the syringe you gave Sarah. I’m also going to get my father’s doctor to take a blood sample. If your Plancilene shows up, and it will, then you’ll be charged with murder when I give it to the police.” “I don’t think so.” Edgely hung up. **** Trace went to the nursing home and spoke with Ernie after seeing his father. “I believe my father was murdered, Ernie.” “Trace, I can assure you that no one here would ever do such a thing.” Ernie looked horrified. “I know that. Those two men who visited my father injected him with a serum, thinking it would cure him. That’s what killed him.” “A serum? What sort of a serum?” Ernie frowned at this news. “The men in question have made two attempts on my life to prevent me from saving the Barrier Reef.” “But why?” This seemed to be hard for Ernie to understand. Trace told him of the serum Edgely had invented, along with why he wanted Trace dead and where he got the raw material for it. “He really wants the reef destroyed?” Ernie looked incredulously at Trace. “Yes. What I want you to do is take a blood sample and test it for Edgely’s serum. It’s called Plancilene. I’ll give you a sample to compare.” “Never heard of it.” Ernie scratched his head. “No one has. It’s a secret at the moment. If it’s present in Dad’s blood, then Edgely has committed murder.” “I’ll do it straight away. I’ll take it back to my laboratory and test it tonight.” “Thanks, Ernie. I’ll see you tomorrow.” **** Edgely swore and turned to Sarah. “What’s wrong?” she asked, as if concerned by the tone of his voice. “That was Patterson. It seems the serum we gave his father had an adverse effect. His father died this morning. Pity it didn’t work on him.” “Norm is dead?” Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth. She apparently had never expected that outcome.

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Trace Elements “Yeah. It’s bad luck, but now Patterson is going to have his doctor test his father’s blood for the serum. He has the syringe to compare it with. Do you know who the doctor is?” “Yes. It’s Ernie Walters. He’s been the Patterson physician for years. Nice man.” “That nice man is going to make big problems for us. I’d better think about this.” After Sarah left the room, Edgely offered Barlow a seat. They had things to discuss. “I have a little job for you, Sean. I want you to make a visit to the good doctor’s house and destroy that blood sample.” “It’s done, boss, it’s done.” **** After taking a blood sample, Ernie returned home, ate dinner and began to do the tests. It was after nine p.m. before he started, but he was determined to work all night if he had to. He didn’t hear the door open, but turned quickly when he heard a voice. “Dr. Walters?” Ernie turned to see a bald-headed man grinning at him. “Sorry, I’m busy. If it’s an emergency, go to the hospital.” His face paled when he saw the gun in the man’s hand. “Look, I don’t keep money or drugs on the premises. You’re wasting your time.” “Turn around.” When Ernie did, he was hit hard and knocked unconscious. **** Sean worked quickly and left the laboratory for a few seconds, returning with a can of petrol. He splashed it around and then laid a trail to the door. He had done this a few times before, so it was routine to him. Striking a match, he lit the fuel and hurried outside. With the engine started on his car, he drove away, watching the flames get higher and higher in his rear-vision mirror. A loud explosion erupted, and the whole place turned into an inferno. He never turned his head back to watch. As he neared the hotel, a fire truck went screaming past, its siren ringing loudly. **** When he entered Edgely’s room, Sean nodded to let him know he’d finished the job. Edgely smiled and relaxed. One problem taken care of. He sat down at his desk and wrote a letter. The Queensland Government was going to get news they didn’t want to hear.

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Chapter Eleven Kate looked surprised when she answered the knock on the door. “Trace? Have I done something wrong?” She looked up and down the street, wondering where Sarah was. “No, I have. Can I come in?” “Of course.” She stood back and let him enter. Trace sucked in a deep breath after being invited to sit. “Look, you have every right to say, ‘I told you so,’ but I found out Sarah is working for Edgely and is even sleeping with him. It seems he sent her to butter me up and find the files and formula. She was even in the boat that attacked me.” Kate gasped. “She tried to kill you?” “She claims she didn’t know it was me in the boat, but that doesn’t excuse her. She was with Barlow, so she knew his intent.” Kate gasped. “I’m sorry, Trace. I know how much you care for her.” “It was a blow. Thanks for sticking with me.” “I can’t believe she sleeps with him,” said Kate in a disgusted tone. Trace grimaced. “It seems he pays her a large salary, and she figured she had to sleep with him to hold her job.” Kate shook her head. “That almost makes her a prostitute.” Trace nodded. “That’s what I told her, but she said it was just my interpretation. You were right when you accused me of sleeping with her. It was passionate and I thought she actually loved me. She sucked me right in.” Kate touched his arm in sympathy. “I understand. She’s always been on your mind. She was your first love. I could see that, even when we were teenagers.” He hesitated. “Look, I really enjoyed making love to you. I hope I didn’t hurt you too much when Sarah arrived. It’s just that she held wonderful memories for me. I didn’t even stop to think about why she arrived so quickly.” “I enjoyed it too, Trace. More than you realise.” “There’s more. When she thought I was asleep, she stuck a syringe into my leg. Edgely told her it would render me unconscious. It was really a triple dose of Planceline. Edgely hoped to kill me.”

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Trace Elements “My God, how come it didn’t?” She was aghast at the news. “I found it earlier, after I found out she was sleeping with him. I exchanged it for saline and pretended I was dead. I could tell she really was shocked when I walked in on her. She had been talking to Edgely on the phone.” “And you kicked her out?” Kate placed a finger under her chin. The near-miss to Trace scared the hell out of her. “You are better off without her, Trace. I’m here if you need me.” “Thanks, Kate. Its good to know who your friends are.” **** The news of the fire hit Trace like a bolt of lightening. He knew what had happened and felt responsible for Ernie’s death. He had no way of implicating Edgely, but knew it was Sean’s handiwork. All he could do was retrieve the files and give them to the police. The day of Norm’s funeral had a double hit as he read a letter from his employer. He frowned when it arrived, then scowled at its contents. It said he had been fired because of information they received in a letter from an important man. It said he had taken money to give a false report concerning his formula and the negative results on the crown-of -thorns starfish. He screwed it up and threw it in the bin. It seemed no matter what he did, Edgely had an answer. The funeral had a big turnout from the local population. As expected, nearly everyone who could attend did so. Norm had been a very popular man in the community and had provided many jobs for many people. The church was packed, and an abundance of flowers were placed outside the church to be collected by the funeral director. Kate was there to give her condolences. She touched his arm, then kissed him lightly. Trace mumbled his thanks and noted the tears in her eyes. He was pleased she was still talking to him. Leigh gave him a gentle slap on the back and passed on his condolences. “I’ll see you later about this, Leigh. I have some evidence that Edgely was involved.” “We have to do this right, mate,” said Leigh. “I’ll look at what you’ve got after the funeral.” As Trace was about to enter the church he saw Sarah waiting for him. She was dressed in black and still looked beautiful. There was a mark on her cheek. Kate must have seen her too and frowned, walking away quickly. Sarah approached tentatively, her eyes looking down, tears glistening on her cheeks. “What do you want?” He scowled. “Just a word—please.” “I think we had our words before.” “Please, Trace. I feel terrible this has happened to Norm. He was a wonderful man.” “Did you ever think you may have been partly responsible for your part in all this?” He still held his scowl, but could see she felt remorseful.

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Bruce Cooke “I did. I did. That’s why I resigned from Grogan. I told Charles I could no longer work for a man who showed no responsibility with what he did. I have a lot of respect for Norm, and I’m appalled that this has happened.” Trace again looked at the bruise on her cheek. “I gather he did that? I told you he was a killer, and you wouldn’t listen.” She blew her nose on a hanky as she spoke. “I know. I just didn’t think he was capable of doing this.” “You know, of course, that he also killed Ernie.” Trace could see the discomfort she was in. “I suspected it. I think Sean Barlow visited Ernie when you told Edgely that you were having Norm’s blood tested.” “I received more bad news in a letter from the Government. It seems an important man said I was receiving money to give a false report on my formula. They didn’t mention who but obviously they were impressed with Edgely. Now I’m fired.” “It had to be Charles,” she said sadly. “Obviously. What did Edgely say when you said you quit?” Sarah looked down. “He wasn’t very pleased. As you can see, he hit me. He said I would never be able to leave, not until he was sick of me. I told him I knew all about his games and if he tried to stop me, then I would tell it all to the authorities.” “That wasn’t smart, Sarah. Now he might move on to you.” Her face paled. She obviously hadn’t considered that. “Do you really think he might harm me?” “Yes, I do. If I were you, I’d get as far away from him as possible. Try moving to another state. I have to go.” He turned and entered the church, leaving her staring at him. Sarah took a seat at the back as the service began. Kate sat with Trace and squeezed his hand. When the coffin was removed from the church after the service, Trace noticed Sarah standing back in the crowd, her face stained with tears. The hearse moved off and he looked in the side mirror of the mourning car to see her staring. He was still mad at her, but at least she was out of Edgely’s control. He hoped she would take his advice and get the hell out of Swordfish Bay. The cemetery had just as many people standing around the grave as there were in the church. After a brief ceremony, Trace received condolences from Norm’s many friends. Kate stood by his side, giving him her support. Standing away from the crowd, he saw Sarah. She had obviously found her own way to the cemetery, and he gave her a nod. He spoke to his friends when he heard the sound of a car engine revving and turned to see it speeding towards Sarah. At the sound, she looked at the approaching car and threw herself sideways as the car reached her. It struck her a glancing blow, knocking her to the ground. The car sped off, leaving her sitting and trying to get up. Trace rushed to her with a horrified Kate by his side. “Don’t move. You may be badly hurt.”

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Trace Elements Her face showed the shock she felt and she nodded. “I think I’m okay. Can you help me up?” Trace put his arms around her and lifted her to her feet. Others rushed forward, but Trace waved them away. “She’s okay. Thanks for your concern.” He turned to her. “It had to be Edgely. I told you to be careful.” “You’re right. Should I tell the police?” “I’m sure Edgely has all his bases covered. You’d better come with me to the church hall with the mourners to have refreshments.” “I’m scared now, Trace. What will I do? If I leave, he’ll find me.” “I’ll have to find somewhere safe to hide you for now.” “Is there anything I can do, Trace?” Kate’s voice was shaky, as if just realising Sarah had almost been killed. “No. We’ll be okay. Thanks, Kate.” He took Sarah’s arm and led her to his car, leaving Kate staring at them. “I’ll find my own way back, Trace,” she said as they walked away. He turned and offered his hand. “Like hell you will. You’re with me.” She nodded and followed them to the car. Kate sat next to Trace while Sarah sat in the backseat, still shaking from the ordeal. **** The refreshments at the church hall lasted at least two hours. People shook his hand and gave their condolences once again as they left. Kate had the feeling she wasn’t wanted and gave Trace a peck on the lips. “Take care, Trace. I’ll ring you tomorrow. If you need me, just call.” He pulled her close and embraced her. “Thanks for the support, Kate. I really need friends now.” “I’ll always be here for you. You know that.” She gave Sarah a cold look and left. **** At last only Trace and Sarah remained, with the exception of the people cleaning up. “I’ve been thinking about a place to hide you. For now you had better stay on my cabin cruiser. Edgely might come looking for you at my place.” “You think he doesn’t know about the cruiser?” She put her hand to her mouth. She seemed terrified. “I don’t think so. My other boat is still being repaired from the bullet holes Edgely inflicted on it. This one doesn’t have the Patterson brand on the side. There must be at least two dozen in the marina.” “Most of my clothes are in my car.” Sarah seemed to be pondering his suggestion.

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Bruce Cooke “We’ll pick them up and you can leave the car at my place. Edgely will waste time scouting out my home.” “Thank you, Trace. I don’t deserve this.” “You’re right, you don’t, but I don’t want anything to happen to you, Sarah. We go back too far.” Fifteen minutes later, after retrieving her clothes, she settled in the cabin cruiser. It had everything needed for a short stay. People used the cruisers for a week’s holiday on the water, diving and fishing. “Don’t wander around. Just keep out of sight. I’ll come and see you after dark. It will give us time to find a more secure place.” **** It was around ten when the phone rang. The moon was up and the night fairly clear. Trace reached for his phone and answered. “Trace Patterson,” he said and then heard Sarah’s frightened voice. “Trace, I can see Barlow checking out the cabin cruisers. What will I do?” He frowned heavily. How the hell did Edgely know about the cabin cruiser? “Keep out of sight and lock the door. I’ll be there in five minutes.” It looked as though Sarah was in as much danger as he was.

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Chapter Twelve Trace drove his car to the marina as quickly as he dared. Edgely’s car had been parked by one of the sheds, but he could see no sign of Barlow or Edgely. Precautions needed to be taken. He bent down and put a match head in the valve of one of Edgely’s tyres and watched as it slowly went down. He gave his attention to the marina. Some fifty metres away, he could see Sean checking each cabin cruiser out. He would be at Trace’s in no more than five minutes. Using the dark as cover—not that there was much—he came to the wharf light and watched Sean farther up. He made a dash to his cruiser and tapped on the door. “Sarah, it’s me. Open up.” He heard the door being unlatched, and he rushed in as it opened. Sarah threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “He’s out there, Trace. He’s going to kill me.” “Not if I can help it. Barlow is still fifty metres away. When I say so, run like hell to my car. I’ll be right behind you.” Trace watched Barlow step onto one of the boats and disappear when he tried to enter it to check it out. “Now!” Trace let Sarah run ahead with him close behind. It was a sprint for life, and both gave it all they had in an effort to escape. They had just reached the end of the lit area when Barlow gave a yell. Trace opened the car door, as did Sarah, and started the engine. She panted for breath, but Trace felt no such discomfort. His morning running proved the difference. He took off as Barlow and Edgely, who had suddenly appeared from one of the other cabin cruisers, ran to their car to try to stop them. Trace raced up the ramp and onto the open road as Edgely and Barlow started their engine. The last Trace saw of them in his rear-vision mirror was Edgely getting out of the car and kicking the flat tyre. Once out on the highway, Trace drove as fast as he could. “Where are we going?” Sarah asked, seemingly more comfortable now. “I can’t take you back to my place. That’s the first place they’ll look. I’ll set you up in a motel in Farrington.” “It’s only ten K’s away. Will that be far enough?”

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Bruce Cooke “If they don’t know about it, it will. Stay inside the room until I make other arrangements. I’ll get back to you in the morning.” “What other arrangements?” she asked as the car sped down the highway. “Somewhere they have no hope of finding. I know just the place.” Trace stopped outside the motel and then drove in. He went into reception and ordered a room. “Your name, sir?” asked the receptionist. “William Hodge. I only want the room for one night. I have to move on in the morning.” The woman handed him a key and a tray holding a small jug of milk. “Room twentyeight, it’s the last one on the left.” Trace paid the woman in cash. “If you want breakfast, leave the order in the reception pigeonhole.” Trace nodded and they got back in the car and drove to the last room. Nearly all the units were occupied. He opened the door and entered, with Sarah right behind him. She inspected the room and nodded. “Fill out a breakfast order, and I’ll pay on the way out. Don’t open the door for anyone. I’ll be back around seven a.m.” Sarah filled in the breakfast order and handed it to Trace. She gave a sob and threw her arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry for all this, Trace. Thank you for helping me.” She lifted her head and kissed him passionately on the lips. Trace felt himself start to stir as her body was held close to him, but he pushed her back. She always had that effect on him. “We haven’t got time for any of that.” “I’m sorry. I suppose you don’t even want to touch me after what I did?” “We all make mistakes, Sarah. The important thing at the moment is to keep you safe. Edgely won’t find you here, at least until tomorrow. By then I’ll have made other arrangements. Ring me straight away if there’s trouble.” He picked up the breakfast order and returned to reception. The woman took the order, and Trace opened his wallet. “I’ll be leaving early. Can you leave the tray outside the door and then knock?” “Sure.” She took the money for the meal. Trace headed for the car, then turned back onto the highway and drove back to Swordfish Bay.

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Chapter Thirteen The alarm went off at the same time as his phone. Bleary-eyed, he looked at the time as he picked up the receiver. The clock radio read six thirty. “Trace,” he said, already anticipating a problem. “It’s Sarah. I think they have found me.” He was instantly alert. “How do you know? Can you see them?” “No, but I can see Charles’s car. It’s parked outside the motel.” It seemed Edgely was as determined to kill Sarah as he was to kill Trace. How the hell had he found her so quickly? It should have taken hours to locate the motel she was in. It showed just how good this man was in finding and eliminating people. He thought quickly. “Is there a back door to the unit?” “Yes. All the units have one. It leads onto a courtyard where a barbeque and tables are set up.” “Okay. Slip out the back and try to find your way to the next street. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” He slammed down the phone and grabbed his car keys after slipping on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. “Stay here, Max,” he said, closing the door and hurrying to his car. It only took seventeen minutes, as the traffic was light and no cops were around. He drove to the back of the motel and looked anxiously for Sarah. She stepped from behind some large bushes in a garden and raised her hand. He threw on the brakes, and she opened the car door and put her case on the backseat. “Have you seen them?” “Charles and Sean were walking into the reception as I slipped out. I don’t know if it’s manned at this time of the day.” He put his foot down on the accelerator as Edgely and Barlow came running around the corner with guns in their hands. Trace looked into the rear-vision and grinned at the exasperated look on their faces. They turned and ran back the way they came, but he knew he would be well ahead of them by the time they reached their car. “That was close. I can’t figure how they knew where you were so quickly.”

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Bruce Cooke “Charles has a very good intelligence setup. All he had to do was ring his office and twenty people would be on the computer searching for every motel and hotel in the area. It was just a matter of elimination.” Trace pulled over to a side street and parked. Sarah looked startled. “Why have we stopped?” “Because Edgely will be on our tail all too soon. He should be flying past in only a few minutes.” They waited and watched until Edgely’s car went racing past. Trace started his engine again and took off, staying well behind Edgely. “I’d rather see him than have him see me,” he explained. “He’ll go straight to your place,” said Sarah hesitantly. She seemed uncertain that this was a good manoeuvre. Trace kept his eyes on the car ahead and his fingers tight on the steering wheel. “He’s a determined bastard, isn’t he?” said Trace, still keeping Edgely in sight. “Yes, he is. What will we do now?” “I have a place that he will never find. It’s quiet, peaceful and will give us a chance to get our breath back.” “Where?” she asked in surprise. “You’ll see. Even you don’t know of its whereabouts.” “It’s that good?” Sarah stared at him, noticing the grin on his face. “Better than good. We’ll go to my place first and get some gear, then we’ll be on our way before Edgely finds us.” Trace drove to his house, but stopped some distance away. There was no sign of Edgely, so Trace collected his gear, including a box filled with vegetables, and at the last minute, took Barlow’s gun from his drawer, then took Max to Kate’s place. Kate was half-asleep when she opened the door. Her face showed her surprise when she saw Trace, but her expression changed when she spotted Sarah sitting in his car. “Can you do me a favour?” “That’s what friends are for. Is that Sarah?” “Yes. She’s in big trouble. Edgely wants to kill her, and I have to find a place to hide her. Will you look after Max for me?” “Of course. Max and I are friends.” She gave him a pat and he wagged his tail. “Kate. Edgely might know about you, and if he thinks you have the files, he might want to hurt you. Please be careful.” “Don’t worry. I’m a big girl now. I’ll have Max and I have my father’s old shotgun that he left me.” “He only used it with birdshot,” said Trace, shaking his head. “But Edgely doesn’t know that, does he? A charge up his backside might deter him.” “Okay. Any sign of him and you call the police straight away.” “Where are you taking her?” “Can’t tell you that. If you don’t know, then you can’t tell Edgely.” “Will you have your mobile?”

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Trace Elements “It’s like my head. I never go anywhere without it, but where I’m going, there might not be a signal.” “Try to keep in touch. I’m scared for you, Trace.” He gave her a hug and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Just keep out of sight.” He kissed her gently again and left her standing in the doorway, watching. “I told you she’s in love with you, didn’t I?” said Sarah as they drove off. “She likes me and I like her. We’re just close friends. She’s someone I can rely on when I’m in trouble.” “Stop denying it, Trace. You have feelings for her too.” “Maybe.” **** Trace drove to the marina, and they climbed aboard his cabin cruiser. Minutes later the boat headed out to sea, leaving a wake behind it. Trace turned the boat north along the coast, keeping a steady course for about an hour. Then he turned the boat into a small cove that held a jetty. He tied the boat to the jetty, looked up the hill and pointed to a house built on the top of a cliff. “That’s where we are going.” “Who owns it?” she asked as she surveyed the house. “I do. Dad and I built it two years ago as a getaway holiday place. There’s a small reef offshore, and the fishing is great. We kept it to ourselves to keep away sticky noses. It’s so relaxing you could stay there forever.” Sarah smiled as she looked at the house from the beach. “You know, of course, that Charles has a helicopter and will search the coast if he thinks that’s where you’ve gone.” “The coastline is huge and he wouldn’t know if we went north or south. It would take him a year to find us. We’ll settle in for a week or so and make a plan to bring him down.” “It won’t be easy. You can see how determined he is. No one beats Charles Edgely.” “Let’s get to the house. I’m sure you’ll find it comfortable.” The path up was steep and winding. Sarah wondered how they got the building material up there, but then considered it would probably be by helicopter. There didn’t appear to be any road in. Sarah’s eyes opened wide when she entered. The house was large and airy. The view from the front room gave a breathtaking view of the ocean. The kitchen was ultra modern with a stove, microwave, refrigerator and freezer. The three bedrooms were tastefully decorated, and a small office had been built at the back. A computer and printer sat on a small table. “Trace, this is wonderful. No wonder you have kept it a secret. How about electricity and gas?”

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Bruce Cooke “There’s a small generator that does the job. The refrigerator and freezer run on LP Gas, so cooking and heating is not a problem. A solar heater gives us hot water. Make yourself at home.” “How about food?” “I brought some vegetables, and there’s fish and meat in the freezer. We certainly won’t starve.” “You’re very clever. I feel much safer now.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek and gave him a hug. **** Trace could see she was more relaxed now that she had seen the interior of the house. After they had settled in, Trace took her into a locked shed at the rear of the house. When he opened the door, Sarah smiled. “Scuba gear? How wonderful.” “I’ll bet it’s been a while since you’ve dived on a reef. Feel like getting your feet wet again?” “Yes, please,” she said, seemingly delighted with his idea. “Grab a wet suit and get changed. I’ll do the same, and we can explore the reef together.” Ten minutes later they had entered the water and begun exploring the reef. Trace knew she would love seeing the beautiful coral and the many coloured fish again. It brought back memories of their youth. Together they swam, looking at every fish they could find. A large stingray swept past, and a grouper came out to investigate the intruders. Shoals of different varieties of fish swam past, all unafraid. Sea grass moved gently in the current, giving a hypnotic effect. The water was crystal clear and gave them an uninterrupted view of the surroundings. Trace touched her arm when he saw a reef shark, but it wasn’t interested in the humans. They spent at least an hour enjoying the beauty of the reef before reluctantly returning to the house. Trace began to strip off his wet suit. “I’m going to have a shower. Want to go first?” “No, you go ahead. I’ll get some shampoo and a hair dryer from my case.” **** He stood under the warm water, letting it run over his head as he washed out the salt water. When he heard the shower door opened, he turned quickly. Sarah stood naked but quickly moved in to join him. “Hope you don’t mind, but I feel I owe you a huge apology, especially after you saved my life.” “You’re in here because you’re grateful?” He was shocked at her words. “No. I’m here because I still have strong feelings for you, and I hope you have them for me. Please forgive me. I never thought it would lead to the death of Norm. I just didn’t believe Charles was that sort of man.”

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Trace Elements “I guess you know now.” “Are you going to do something about me being in here with you?” “Look, I would be feeling like I betrayed Kate. We have made love.” The thought of Kate flashed over his mind. He felt Sarah’s hand drop and gather his penis in her fingers. It had the desired effect. “You’re not engaged to her. In fact, you said she’s only a friend. There’s no commitment with her. It doesn’t worry me that you slept with her. She’s a pretty girl and any man would.” Trace felt her fingers still stroking him. By now he was fully erect, and he gritted his teeth. Why did she have this power over him? “I’d really like it if we made love once again.” Shit, he was losing his willpower. He knew it and she knew it: he couldn’t resist her. Her other hand dropped to his testicles, and she gently held them, making it even harder to resist. “Only if you really want to.” Trace still had reservations about her. She seemed to jump into bed with anyone who offered her hope. Flashes of Kate’s face swept over him. He felt as though he was torn between two women. One he trusted fully, the other he wasn’t so sure. The thing he did know was that his future seemed to be with Kate. Sarah would be off on another adventure once this was cleaned up, but she was so damned beautiful. Old habits were hard to break. He gave in to the temptation. “I do. You have no idea how much I want to.” She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. It brought the desired result as Trace returned the passion. The water ran over both of them as his hand slid to her breasts. Then he dropped his lips to encircle a nipple. She gave a sigh and reached for him. “I see Excalibur is alive and dangerous.” “If only I could find a place to put him.” “I can help there.” She guided him to the opening of her body and opened her legs wider. He eased into her, and she gave a gasp, then a little giggle when he was deeply inside her. “Oh God, I like that,” she said, making small movements. Trace lifted her legs, and she wrapped them around him as he pushed her against the wall. “Oh yes,” she sighed as he began to move with her. He placed his hands under her buttocks to support her weight. She stared into his eyes, conveying the same passion that he was feeling. “Don’t hurry, Trace. Make it last.” “I’m trying, but it’s not easy.” She lowered her legs to the floor and opened them as wide as she could. “My God, this is wonderful.” She gasped and pushed into him. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. He kept up his slow movements for five minutes, watching her eyes glaze with the pleasure, but he couldn’t hold back any longer and gave a hard, lifting push, staying as deeply as he could inside her. He ejaculated, his member relaxing inside her. When he withdrew, she touched his face. “I enjoyed that.”

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Bruce Cooke “Me too.” He grinned. She may have betrayed him, but she was still beautiful, and he had feelings for her that wouldn’t disappear. Where this was heading, he had no idea. Maybe after Edgely was gone, things might change. He didn’t know if she intended to return and settle down in Swordfish Bay, but perhaps they could resume their relationship before she left. Of course she was a different girl now, but he too had changed. Could he ever trust her again? Probably not. That question would have to be resolved before anything serious could evolve. Maybe it was just sex for the enjoyment of it, or maybe she really did care about him. Then there was Kate. How did he really feel about her? More than he wanted to admit, her face kept slipping into his mind. For three days they relaxed in the seclusion of the house. During the day they dived and fished. During the night Sarah came to his bed and they slept with their arms around each other. Trace watched her face and was happy to see the smile on it, especially after they had made love. It was actually turning into a honeymoon. The world seemed so far away and their troubles behind them. The sunsets were something to see as the dying rays of the sun brought the ocean even more alive, the colours changing almost by the minute. The vegetables he brought were almost gone, but fish proved to be no problem. On the fifth day, Trace took her in his arms. “I’m going to have to go back and get more rations. I’ll get some vegetables and fruit. Can you think of anything you might need?” “Only to renew my contraceptive pills prescription.” She giggled. “I think I’ll need them. I’ve almost run out.” He gave a laugh. “I’ll try to find out what Edgely is up to. You’ll be okay here alone. I shouldn’t be gone more than five hours.” He climbed into the cabin cruiser, gave Sarah a wave and took off. **** The night fell quickly as Trace eased his boat into the marina and tied it up. He glanced at his watch and noted it was only six thirty. The marina was full, as most fishermen had settled in for the night, and the wharf seemed almost deserted except for one or two men standing and talking. No sign of Barlow or Edgely. He breathed a sigh of relief as he tied the boat to the wharf. He went to Cliff’s office and could see the light still on. When he opened the door, Cliff was sitting at his desk. He looked up sharply when he saw Trace standing there. “Where the hell have you been?” he asked, a relieved look on his face “Hiding Sarah away from Edgely.” “Shit, is he having a go at her too?” “Yeah. He didn’t like it when she told him she quit. It appears she knows too much about him. Has he been snooping around?” “Not that I’ve noticed. Where did you take her?” “Can’t tell you that. If you know, then Edgely might try and make you tell him.” “Fair enough. Do you need anything?” “Yes. Some fruit and vegetables, maybe some fish and meat too.”

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Trace Elements Cliff gave him a smile. “Sounds as though you might be away for a while.” “Only until I work out a plan. If I’m in trouble, I’ll ring you on my mobile.” “Okay. Give me a list and I’ll get your stuff.” Trace handed him a list, and he grinned when he saw the contraceptive prescription. “Doing a bit of reading, are we?” “I’ll be back in an hour. I’m going to see Kate.” “She’s going to love this.” He gave Trace a stern look. “Yeah, I know.” He left Cliff looking at his list and drove to Kate’s house. She must have seen his car arrive because she met him at the door. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “You’re back. I’ve been worried.” “I’m okay. No sign of Edgely. Can you do me a favour?” “Of course. Don’t I always? What?” “I looked Edgely up on the Internet under Grogan. See if you can find anything else out about him. He has to have a weakness somewhere.” “Is Sarah still with you?” She bit her lip, waiting for an answer. “Yes, of course. Edgely is after her too. He won’t find us where we are. I’ll contact you soon.” He turned to go, but Kate called, “Are you and Sarah back together?” He hesitated, then turned to her slowly. “Sort of. Not sure where it will go, but we do like each other. Kate, please don’t desert me. I need you more than ever now.” “I see. I’m back to being a friend again,” said Kate, a shiver running up her spine. “I’ll try and find out what I can.” He walked back to her and took her in his arms. “I’m confused at the moment. I have this beautiful friend who cares deeply about me as I care about her. I also have this other friend who has her life threatened. I have to help her. I sort of hope my first friend will let me work it out before throwing me in the scrap bin. It’s asking a lot, I know. I can tell you that I don’t particularly trust Sarah, but I do trust you. Sleeping with her was not my idea, but it has happened. Once it’s over, she will probably be gone forever. I hope you’re still here when it’s all over.” Kate said nothing for a few seconds, then gave him a sad smile. “Only if you wash it thoroughly before you visit your first friend.” He gave her a squeeze that nearly fractured her ribs. He returned to find Cliff and felt relieved to see his order had been filled with more. An hour later, Trace was on his way back with his supplies. He had enough to last another week, but where the hell was Edgely?

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Chapter Fourteen Edgely poured a glass of white wine and did the same for Barlow. “It’s time we put the next phase of our plan into action.” Edgely tapped his fingers together. “Which is what, boss?” asked Barlow. Edgely knew Sean always grew bored with inactivity. “That friend of Patterson’s, what’s her name again?” “Kate Gardner.” “She has to be the one helping him. She has to go.” Barlow grinned and took out his gun. Edgely raised his hands in mock protest. “No, no shots. Strangle her, wrap her body in chains, and we’ll drop her off in the ocean somewhere. She’ll just disappear.” “Like Peggy Hardcourt, your former wife?” Barlow gave a sneer, remembering the way he had gotten rid of her. “Yes. That bitch had to go too. With what she had on me and the business, I couldn’t take the risk.” “She might have the dog with her,” said Barlow. The thought of getting his hands around a woman’s neck again was erotic to him. “Can I you-know-what before I do it?” “If you want to enjoy yourself, go ahead. Just don’t attract any attention with screams. And as for the dog, take a tranquilizer gun with you. It’s silent and will knock the animal out. Phone me when you’re through, and we’ll take out the helicopter.” “This sort of work I like.” Barlow grinned broadly. **** It was just after eight when Max gave a soft growl. Kate became instantly alert and looked out of the window but could see nothing. “What is it, boy?” she asked softly as he continued to growl. “Who’s out there?” Kate eased the door open and let Max out, then quickly slammed it shut and locked it. He immediately raced across the grass towards a car parked in the street. She saw the window lower and a tranquilizer gun was aimed at Max and fired.

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Trace Elements The dart caught him high in the neck, and Max leapt at the window, but after a few seconds began to stagger. The man grinned and waited for the dart to take full effect and watched Max collapse on the grass. Then he opened the car door and made his way to the house. Kate watched, horrified, and ran to the cupboard to find her father’s shotgun. She quickly loaded it with birdshot, turned off the lights and sat in the corner of the room, holding the gun. She heard the door handle rattle, some noises, and then the door opened. The man’s frame was silhouetted in the darkness as he stood trying to get used to the dark room. It had to have been a full minute before he saw Kate sitting in the corner. “Hello, Kate. You and I are going to have a little fun before I kill you. Enjoy.” Instead of showing fear, Kate replied with an even voice. “Not as much fun as I’m going to have.” She lifted the shotgun and aimed at Sean. His eyes opened wide and he turned to run. Kate pulled the trigger, and the full force of the shot hit him in the buttocks as he ran for his life. He gave a little scream and hobbled out of the door, running as fast as he was able, considering his restriction. She ran to the door and fired a second shot over his head, then watched in satisfaction as he opened his car door and sped off. It brought a smile to her face. If they were going to mess with her, then they had better be wary. She found Max still asleep on the grass and gathered him in her arms. His weight bothered her, but she managed to get him inside and remove the dart from his skin. Then she waited for Max to wake up. **** When Sean rang Edgely, he was almost screaming. “The bitch shot me with a shotgun.” “How bad?” asked Edgely, frowning. “She hit me in the arse. I think it was birdshot. I can walk, but it’s bloody sore.” Edgely swore. “Okay. She can wait. Let’s get to Patterson as soon as we can. Then we can take care of the girl.” **** When Trace arrived back after making sure he hadn’t been followed, Sarah rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck. “No problems?” he asked when she released her arms. “Only the wind. I imagined I heard footsteps and the door rattling, but it was my imagination.” Trace lifted the box onto the bench and began unloading it. He filled the freezer and refrigerator and grinned when Sarah quickly grabbed her prescription. She threw him an anxious glance. “Did you see Charles or Barlow?”

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Bruce Cooke “No. My house hadn’t been broken into, and there was no sign of either of them. I rang the hotel and he’s still booked in, so he’s around. He’s probably looking for us.” She looked scared. “But he won’t find us, will he? Not here?” “Can’t see how. Even Cliff and Kate don’t know where we are.” “Kate? You went to see her?” “Yes. She’s a friend and she’s worried about me. Don’t worry. She knows nothing.” “Maybe you have feelings for her that you deny.” Trace laughed. “I keep telling you she’s a friend, and yes, I do have feelings for her. As I have for you. I wanted her to do something for me. I was only there long enough for a cup of coffee.” “And that’s all?” She smiled at him. “That’s all, but I did think about it.” “I thought I was keeping you satisfied,” she said, putting her arms around his neck. “You are, but Kate is special.” “I’m jealous,” she said, looking slyly at him. “Behave. It’s late. Let’s get some sleep.” She grabbed his hand and dragged him into the bedroom. **** For two more days nothing happened. On the second night, they had settled down to sleep when Trace got out of bed to close the window. The wind was howling, and the curtains were sweeping into the room. The flash of a torch gathered his attention. The light came on and then flickered off again, as whoever was climbing up the steps to the house didn’t seem to want to gain any attention. Trace touched Sarah on the shoulder and woke her. “What’s the matter?” she asked, still fighting sleep. She looked at the clock. “It’s only five thirty. It’s still dark.” “Get dressed quickly. There’s someone outside.” “But how could they find us?” The terror could be plainly heard in her voice. “That’s what I want to know. Quickly, we haven’t much time.” Together they slipped on shorts and T-shirts and hurried to the back door. Trace led her to a rise overlooking the house, and they dropped behind some vegetation and watched the house. Nothing happened for a few seconds. Then Trace grabbed her arm. Without speaking, he pointed to the flash of the torch again, but this time it was in the house. The first signs of daylight began to emerge across the sky. “Who is it?” Sarah peered into the dark. “Not sure, but I bet it’s Barlow. I still can’t work out how he found us.” “He must have followed you when you came back.” Trace shook his head. “No. I made sure I wasn’t being followed. He must have had some other way of finding us.”

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Trace Elements As he spoke, he produced Barlow’s gun that he had confiscated earlier and checked the magazine. Barlow came hobbling out of the back door, and they could plainly see he was armed: a gun in one hand and a torch in the other. “What are we going to do?” Sarah’s tone was now very nervous. “I read somewhere that a famous sporting coach said the best form of defence is to attack. I’m going after Barlow. Stay here.” He left Sarah and eased his way down the rise, keeping his vision on Barlow. Barlow swept the torch light back and forth as if trying to pick up some sign of tracks. Trace picked up a stone and hurled it over Barlow’s head, into the bushes in front of him. Barlow fired two shots in the direction of the noise. Trace took careful aim and fired a shot at Barlow’s feet. It lifted splinters of rock up, and Barlow whipped around, concern showing on his face in the torchlight. “Drop the gun or the next one will be in your head,” said Trace aggressively from his hiding place. Barlow hesitated for a few seconds and placed the gun on the ground. Trace moved forward and picked up the gun, then called Sarah. She came running, fear still showing in her eyes. Trace handed her the gun Barlow had dropped and then gave his attention to Barlow. “How the hell did you find us?” he asked, pointing the gun at Barlow’s head. “Sir Charles can find anyone, anywhere. You can’t win, Patterson. He wants those records you stole.” “I told him if he left us alone, then the records wouldn’t see daylight. Now he has given me no choice. I’m going to pass them on to the police. Why wouldn’t he let it go?” “Because this stupid bitch has too much on him. He can’t let her tell what she knows.” Trace nodded at his words. “So, Edgely decided to kill her.” “He has no choice. Neither of you can live now.” “Sorry to disappoint you. How did you get here?” Barlow sneered. “I have a launch in the next little bay. I parked it there and came overland. I never expected you to see me until it was too late.” “Blame the wind. I got up to close the window and saw your flashlight. Keep the gun on him, Sarah, while I search him.” Sarah held the gun in two hands like a professional as Trace ran his hands over Barlow, finding only a knife. “Are we going to kill him?” asked Sarah, her hands shaking noticeably. Trace frowned at her. “He’s a killer, but I’m not. We’ll tie him up and let the police come and get him.” “Then we’re going back to Swordfish Bay?” She gave a little sigh of relief. “Yes, but not until I retrieve the evidence.” He pushed Barlow towards the house. “You mean it’s here?” “No. But it’s not all that far away.” As he turned to face Sarah, Barlow knocked the gun from Trace’s hand, and it went spinning across the ground.

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Bruce Cooke “Gee, I’m glad you did that,” said Trace as Barlow moved closer. With a roar Barlow charged, only to be knocked flat on his backside by a vicious right hook. He leapt to his feet and charged again, his powerful arms swinging like a threshing machine. Trace ducked and drove his fist into Barlow’s stomach, and when his eyes popped, Trace smashed him in the face, breaking his nose and sending blood streaming down his shirt. Calmly, Trace retrieved the gun and forced Barlow into the house. Once inside, he forced Barlow onto a chair and began tying his hands behind him and to the chair. “That should hold him for a few hours. Help me load up the boat.” Sarah seemed shocked, as if she expected Barlow would have been too powerful for Trace, but that opinion had certainly been dashed. He opened the door of the back room and began removing the scuba gear. Wet suit, leaded belts, flippers, air bottles, and anything else he thought he might need to dive. At the last minute, he picked up his speargun. If a shark came by again, then he would have some protection. “We’re going diving?” she asked, puzzled. “Yeah. The evidence is stashed on Sawtooth Reef, and only I know where it is. Let’s go.” Trace looked at his watch. “It’s almost six. Time to go.” He patted Barlow on the head and received a savage look in return. Blood still ran from his nose. “Don’t think you’ll get away with this, Patterson. Both you and the girl are dead meat.” “By the time you get out of prison, I’ll be ninety years old. See you, Sean.” They hurried down the steps to the boat and moved out into the ocean. Trace figured they would reach the reef just after daylight. **** Kate couldn’t sleep from worrying about Trace. She resumed her search on the Internet, looking for some sort of weakness Edgely may have. She must have persevered for two hours before she made a successful hit. At last she found a profile on the life and times of Sir Charles Edgely from his early days until last year. It was all there; his rise to the top, his successes, his appetite for young women, his rise to chairman of Grogan, the death of his third wife and the unfortunate death of his predecessor, the marriages to his other wives and what happened to them. Then she saw it. She sat stunned at what she read. “My God,” she gasped, turning off her computer and hurrying to the door. **** Cliff was about to slip his key into his office when Kate came driving up at a furious pace. She slammed her car door shut and ran to him, almost knocking him over. She breathed hard and her face had reddened.

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Trace Elements “Whoa, slow up. What’s the problem at this time of morning?” “Trace is in big trouble. More trouble than he thought. We have to go to him.” “I don’t know where he is. Lately he’s always in trouble. Better explain.” “I think he’s heading for Sawtooth Reef. Can you take me there?” “How do you know that?” Cliff rubbed his chin. “Because he mentioned to me that he was going to hide the files there.” “So he told you and not me.” He gave her a grin. “There must be a message there.” She looked down, not sure if he was insulted Trace had not told him or delighted that he’d trusted her instead. “If it’s as bad as you say it is, then let’s go. We’ll take the small launch. It’s faster.” Kate shook her head. “If he’s not there, then he soon will be. I’ll explain as we go. Do you have a rifle?” “Of course. It’s on the boat. Standard equipment. Do you think we’ll need it?” “With Edgely, anything is possible.” Cliff picked up his phone before moving to the boat. “What are you doing? We don’t have a moment to waste!” Kate looked horrified. “If there’s going to be shooting, then I want Leigh in on it, just to protect ourselves.” He dialed Leigh’s number and got a sleepy reply. “Swordfish Bay Police,” he muttered. “It’s Cliff, mate. Get down here as soon as you can. Trace is in big trouble with Edgely, and there could be shooting.” “Shit,” said Leigh, now fully awake. “I’ll be there in five.” He slammed down the phone, dived into his trousers and grabbed his gun and shirt. His wife looked up at his haste. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” “Pig shooting,” he shouted back and dashed for his car. He was still doing up his shirt as he ran for the boat with Kate and Cliff waiting anxiously. “What kept you?” said Cliff looking at his watch. “Funny. Get going to wherever we’re going.” “To Sawtooth Reef. Hold on to your hat.” Cliff started the engine of his launch and took off as Kate told him what she had found. **** Sean struggled with his bonds, but found he couldn’t free himself. Then he heard it: the helicopter hovering overhead and touching down high on the top of the hill. He hoped to hell it wasn’t the police as Trace must have been gone for over an hour. He sighed when, five minutes later, Edgely opened the door and hurried in. “How long since they left?” He undid the rope holding Barlow. “About an hour. He’s heading for Sawtooth Reef to get the evidence.” He rubbed his wrists to get the circulation going again.

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Bruce Cooke “Looks like things are going as planned.” Edgely smirked. “Sawtooth Reef? Now that’s ingenious. And for God’s sake, wipe your nose. There’s blood everywhere.” Edgely handed him a towel that had been left laying on the bench. “We’d better hurry.” Sean stood quickly and wiped his face. “No hurry. It would take him two hours to get to the reef. Let’s say another half hour to retrieve the evidence. I presume he has Sarah with him?” “Yeah, they are both going to dive to get it.” Edgely looked at his watch again. “Let’s see. The tide should be right out by the time we get there. They’ll be clearly visible from the air. Some of the rocks will even be above the waterline. We’ll be there in thirty minutes or less. I think we have time for a cup of coffee.” Sean gave a grin. “I suppose we have. Maybe he has something a little stronger than coffee.” “Maybe he has. Better look.” **** At last Trace and Sarah came to the reef. Trace noted some rocks had appeared as the tide receded. The shallow depth would make things that little bit easier. Without a word to each other, they began putting on their wet suits. With the lead belts in place and their flippers on, Trace tested the air tanks. At the last minute, he reached for his speargun. Satisfied, he nodded to Sarah, and together they threw themselves backwards into the clear water. They swam downwards, noting the fish and beauty of the reef. Trace gave a quick glance around, afraid the monster shark might have returned, but his concerns didn’t bear fruit. He led Sarah around the reef until he found the spot where he had hidden the package. He had noted several marks and rocks to guide him to the hiding place. Carefully he prodded the speargun into the hole in case the moray eel was still at home, but when there was no response, he reached in and felt for the package. A sigh of satisfaction emerged, and he pointed the package out to Sarah. He felt Sarah grab his arm, and he looked left, then right. The huge shark was back, circling the reef some twenty metres away. The same feeling of dread hit him again, but at least now he was armed. He pushed Sarah behind him and faced the shark, his speargun with the explosive shell ready. Trace and Sarah began to slowly rise to the surface, keeping their gaze on the shark. Even in the warm water, sweat began to run from his forehead under the mask. Suddenly, bullets from the surface fizzed into the water. Trace looked up to see the launch slowly sinking into the clear water. Even from two fathoms, the bullet holes were clearly visible, and both swam aside to evade the sinking boat. Trace watched with dismay as it settled on the bottom, sending up a cloud of sand. The shark seemed to have disappeared, probably because of the bullets and the sinking launch. He knew they had no choice, and together they swam to the surface. It seemed Edgely wanted them stranded in the water with no hope of escape.

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Trace Elements As soon as their heads broke the water, Trace could see the helicopter hovering overhead with Edgely grinning and sitting at the entrance, holding an automatic weapon. He dropped a rope ladder and indicated for them to climb up. Sarah went first, followed by Trace, and they sat, glumly looking at a grinning Edgely.

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Chapter Fifteen Kate, Cliff and Leigh sped towards the reef as fast as their boat would go. “Should be there in fifteen minutes,” said Cliff as he steered. “Do you think he’ll be okay?” she said with a touch of fear in her voice. “You know Trace. He always seems to wriggle out of tight situations.” Kate stared at him. “But he knows nothing about this.” “Well he will when we get there. You love him, don’t you?” She nodded. “Yes, but to him I’m just a friend. He’s still in love with Sarah.” “Have you ever told him how you feel?” She shook her head. “It’s not for a girl to say such things to a man—at least not until he commits himself. And he made it clear that he only wanted to be friends. I didn’t want to scare him off.” “And they say women are the smart gender. Christ, girl! How the hell are you going to know how he truly feels if you don’t tell him how you feel?” She bit her lip and felt her face colouring. “We have slept together. I thought that might convince him.” “I can tell you now, he does think about you.” Cliff threw her a glance, obviously trying to give her confidence with his words. “I can see how he looks at Sarah. I don’t want to make a fool of myself.” Cliff gave a chuckle as he looked at Kate. “Seems to me that Sarah is a career woman who doesn’t want ties. I think even Trace can see that. There never would be family and kids with her.” “You think I have a chance?” She bit her lip again as she gave his words some thought. She felt it was like grasping at straws, but she was willing to believe anything to get Trace. “More than you could hope for. Who did he trust with the evidence? Certainly not me! He might not know it yet, but he does have strong feelings for you. Bloody tell him and see how he reacts. You might get a surprise. What’s he going to do, throw you in the ocean?” “First, let’s make sure he’s safe, and then I’ll think about it.”

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Trace Elements **** Edgely pointed the gun at both Sarah and Trace and held out his hand. “The package please.” Reluctantly, Trace handed him the waterproof package, and he snatched it out of his grip quickly. Barlow gave Edgely a satisfactory grin as he piloted the helicopter. “You’ve led me on a merry dance, Trace, but now it’s over.” “Maybe, maybe not. How did you ever find us?” “I’ve known where you were all the time. It was all planned to make you recover the package, which I now have in my hands.” “But how? You didn’t follow me. You found Sarah in the motel quickly. You found us at the house, which I thought was impossible. You must have had some sort of warning.” Edgely looked at Sarah. “I’m always a step ahead of you. Show him, Sarah.” She reached into her wet suit and produced an electronic device no bigger than a cigarette lighter. Trace’s eyes widened as he stared at Sarah. “That little device sent out a signal that guided me to you.” “She still works for you? But you tried to kill her!” Trace still couldn’t work it out. Edgely gave a belly laugh. “Sarah was never in danger. We just made it look as though she was. It was the only way I could get my hands on the formula and the evidence. I sent her in as soon as I knew you had raided my office. After the boat attack, she went back to Brisbane to wait on my orders. She phoned me when you took her to the motel, and I slipped her the electronic device then. All we had to do was wait until you came running to the rescue.” Trace frowned as he looked at Sarah. “He must be paying you a fortune. You had me completely fooled. When we made love, I thought you meant it.” She smiled. “But Trace, I certainly enjoyed every passionate minute of it. You really are a very good lover.” Edgely grinned again. “She fucked you with my permission. It was the only way to get your confidence.” “Why would she want your permission?” Trace watched the gun firmly in Edgely’s hands. “Because she’s my wife. We’ve been married for nearly eighteen months, haven’t we, darling?” “Twenty, actually. I’m sorry, Trace, but there’s too much at stake. We had to get the evidence.” Trace couldn’t believe it. “You encouraged your wife to sleep with another man? You’re both perverted!” Edgely raised an eyebrow. “I sleep around sometimes. I have no objection to Sarah sleeping with you. She usually keeps herself for me, but when the occasion arises…” “But why did you marry her? You could have had any woman you wanted.” “Of course, but Sarah is very intelligent. She has a fierce ambition that only I can satisfy. She’s beautiful, as you’ve undoubtedly noticed. What man wouldn’t want to

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Bruce Cooke sleep with her? She knows everything about my firm and plays a big part in the administration. She attracts plenty of business as clients want to get into her pants.” “Do any succeed?” Trace glanced at Sarah once again. She gave him a sadistic smile. He felt like a fool for ever trusting her. It seemed she had changed remarkably from her teenage years. Now she was ambitious, greedy and had no problems doing away with him. He wondered if she really knew about the syringe that held the Plancilene, and if she did, would she have injected him anyway? “One or two. She’s brought in millions of dollars. What does a little action between the sheets matter when it makes us millions? Once Plancilene is on the market, she can keep herself entirely for me. She’ll be worth millions. We make a very good couple, don’t you think?” “Yeah, like two tiger snakes mating. What happens next?” “Simple. You have to die.” “So you’re going to shoot me.” “I’d like to, but it might cause problems. It’s better if your body is found floating in the ocean. It will be an accidental drowning.” “And how are you going to manage that?” Trace was puzzled. “We are twenty kilometres from shore. You can’t swim that far with an empty tank. You’ll be found in your wet suit, but unfortunately your tank will be empty. Now take it off and open the valve.” “You won’t get away with this, Edgely.” “But I will. If you think that girlfriend Kate will help, then you’re mistaken. Once you’re out of the way, we’ll take care of her. Now, do as I say or I will have to shoot you.” Barlow winked at Sarah as he piloted the helicopter. “There’s a dry towel here, Sarah,” he said, pointing alongside him. Sarah smiled. “Thanks, Sean.” She moved to the seat alongside Sean and opened the towel. There lay Sean’s automatic pistol. Edgely still held his gun on Trace. “You’ve been an admirable adversary, Trace. I’ve enjoyed the chase. I think—” He froze, feeling the cold steel of Sean’s gun against his head. It was Sarah’s turn to smile. “Throw your gun out the open door, Charles.” He did as instructed. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he snarled. He certainly didn’t expect this. “Good girl, Sarah,” Trace said evenly. “Give me his gun and we’ll get this helicopter back to Swordfish Bay.” He felt relieved at the way this was going. Sarah turned to Trace and pointed the gun in his direction. “I don’t think so, Trace. Nothing’s changed except Charles is going to join you in the swim back home.” “What?” Trace and Edgely cried out in unison. “Sean and I have gone into partnership. Charles was paying him a paltry $200,000 a year. Once Charles is dead, then I inherit his entire business. He owns the majority of

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Trace Elements shares in Grogan, and I will be in control of the Plancilene. Sean will get a salary of $4,000,000 a year.” “You still want the reef destroyed for the money you will make?” Trace scowled at her. “You really are an evil bitch.” “Thank you for saying so, Trace. It’s nice to be appreciated.” “You’re making a big mistake, Sarah,” said Edgely, his face contorted with anger. “You sure know how to pick your women, Edgely,” said Trace, almost as angry as Edgely. Sarah smiled triumphantly. “Now, Trace, empty the tank, replace it on your back, and jump. Charles will be right behind you.” “And if I don’t?” said Edgely. “Then I will shoot you here, and Sean and I will weigh your body down and dump you in the trough. Your choice.” Trace stood up by the open door and could see Barlow smirking at him as he held the controls. “Bye, Trace,” said Sarah. “I’m sorry about this, but we have no choice. There’s too much at stake.” She opened her hands as if appealing. Trace stood looking down at the water some thirty metres below, the jagged rocks now above the waterline as the tide was now out. “Don’t jump yet, Trace, or I will have to shoot you. Now open the valve.” Trace slipped off the bottle, held it in his hands and opened the valve. They listened as the air rushed out with a scream. Edgely sat silent, still coming to grips with Sarah’s betrayal. “Once it’s empty, you will put it back on and jump. If you’re lucky, the shark might get you.” As the air finally rushed out, Trace held the bottle in both hands. He looked up at the whirling blades above him, and an idea came rushing into his head. “Sorry about this, Sarah.” He faced the trio. With all his strength, he leaned out and threw the bottle upwards towards the blades before jumping down into the water. A terrible screaming noise erupted, and bits of the bottle and blade flew through the air. The helicopter began to spin madly as Trace hit the water. He surfaced only ten metres from the exposed rocks of Sawtooth Reef and watched the chopper spin farther away, now totally out of Barlow’s control. He imagined how Barlow would have been struggling and the look of fear on the other two faces; it was somehow comforting. Then he heard a shot and saw something fall from the chopper. He watched the helicopter, now only ten metres above the water, hit with a terrible crash, sending a large spurt of water into the air, then disappear below the waves into the deep trough. And then, as noisy as it had been, everything became serenely quiet, with only a few pieces of wreckage floating on the surface. There was no sign of any survivors. He swam slowly to the rocks and pulled himself up. He couldn’t believe what had just transpired and was still in a state of mild shock when a familiar voice pierced the air.

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Bruce Cooke “You’re dead, Patterson!” Unbelievably, it was Edgely, swimming towards him from not more than twenty metres away, and he had a gun. What had looked like a fall must have been Edgely jumping after shooting Sarah, Sean, or perhaps both. It seemed in the spin and panic that Edgely had taken the gun from Sarah Edgely fired a shot in Trace’s direction. The distance was too far for accuracy, and the shot hit the rocks at least four metres from Trace. Then Trace saw another movement in the water: a large dorsal fin, gliding swiftly, only fifteen metres from Edgely. His four-metre nightmare was back to its hunting grounds. “Edgely, get out of the water!” he yelled, but it was too late. The shark moved like a runaway freight train and sped toward Edgely at frightening speed. Edgely screamed as the shark grasped him around his torso and shook him vigorously, a spurt of blood expanding and staining the water. Then it seemed as though Edgely was controlled by an outboard motor as he seemed to speed forward in the jaws of the shark. His screams were inhuman as both he and the shark disappeared into the deep trough. Trace’s nightmare was over. He hoped to hell some passing boat would pick him up before the tide turned. **** Cliff and Kate saw the crash when the chopper hit the ocean’s surface. A great gush of water lifted into the air. “Oh God!” she screamed as Cliff, grim-faced, sped towards the reef. When they approached, Kate gave a sob when she saw Trace sitting on one of the rocks. Cliff eased the boat over, and Leigh offered him a hand. Trace climbed aboard. Kate threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. For a second he didn’t respond, and then he returned her kiss. “I love you, you big dope. I thought I’d lost you.” Tears ran down her face as she hugged him tighter. His sense of humour returned. “Now you tell me,” he said tenderly. “Why didn’t you say something before? I thought you only wanted to be friends.” “I’m sure you knew better than that after we slept together. I knew you were still in love with Sarah.” “I liked her, but love—that was over when we were teenagers. She threw herself at me when she came back. She was quite beautiful and hard for a man to resist. I guess I always had a suspicion things weren’t quite what they seemed. I have to admit, when I thought Edgely was trying to kill her, that changed things a bit. It seems it was a charade to get the files.” “I found out on the computer she was Edgely’s wife. She was using you.” “Yeah, I found that out too, only a few minutes ago. Do you still have the disc? Edgely got mine.” “It’s safe and sound.”

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Trace Elements “Good, Leigh will be very interested in Edgely’s affairs.” “You bet,” said Leigh, grinning. “I could even get a promotion out of this.” Trace threw him a glance. “Then you might have to leave Swordfish Bay for a bigger town.” “Yeah, bugger the promotion. My wife would kill me if we had to leave.” “I still have work to do on my formula, and I have to explain to the Queensland Government that Edgely was a crook.” “Will they listen?” Cliff steered towards Swordfish Bay. “Of course. They still want the reef saved as much as I do.” “When are you going to do that?” said Kate, still holding his hand. He grinned at her. “Maybe tomorrow. I have plans for tonight.” She looked down. “Am I included?” Trace looked at Cliff. “Do you think you can keep Max for the night? I won’t be home.” “I can manage that.” Cliff gave them a cheesy grin and turned the launch back towards Swordfish Bay. “You can see about getting the launch lifted from the bottom of Sawtooth Reef tomorrow. I have something to discuss with Kate.” “You must be running out of boats by now.” Cliff laughed. Kate smiled and squeezed Trace’s hand. Things certainly looked better now.

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Bruce Cooke

About the Author Bruce Cooke - When I retired from teaching in 1990 because of poor hearing, I began writing. I now have over fifteen books completed but hardly ever bothered to send them out to publishers up until the past two years. I like to write adventure romance and historical romance with an Australian flavor. I now have seven book contracts and three short story contracts with various publishers. I have been fortunate to have four novels and three short stories with Eternal Press and a novella yet to be published. My current published novels with Eternal Press are Jungle Heat, Friendly Enemies and Meeting at Princes Bridge. My short stories are Vietnam Holiday, Top Secret and Journey to Tobruk. My favorite topic is Australian Colonial stories of my countries past filled with adventure, romance, tragedy and savagery something like the American Wild West.

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Trace Elements

Available now from Eternal Press

by Bruce Cooke About to leave for Tobruk, Captain Tom Harper is asked to take Lieutenant Jane Kenny with him to a hospital ship leaving in three days. Thrown together when they are attacked by a German half track, they flee to a cave high above the desert. Tom and Jane spend a sizzling night of passion in each other’s arms and discover an ancient treasure hidden in the desert cave. Can they evade the Germans and make it back to their boat in time to reveal the hidden secret? Or will they be captured at the last only to face execution? Jane gasped when she saw a second body in the shaded portion of the coffin, a body that appeared smaller than the first. “There’s two bodies,” she managed to say, after staring at it. “Yeah, my guess is it might be this bloke’s wife and his favorite dog. I read somewhere, that once the head of the house died, they buried his wife with him. Of course this was only for important people.” “You mean she died with him?” Jane said, trying to take in what he meant. “Yeah, they probably strangled her and lay her with him. You can see she’s not wrapped with the same care as he is.” “But that’s barbaric,” she managed to say. Tom laughed. “That was the custom at the time. Aren't you lucky you weren't married in those days?” “I think I would have remained a spinster.” He shook his head. “No, you would probably have been married off when you were thirteen or fourteen, maybe even younger.” “Younger?” she said dubiously.

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Bruce Cooke “Yeah, in those days they would have picked someone out for you when you were only six or seven. It would have been tough, fronting up to some old man of around fifty.” She shook her head in wonder. “You mean they had sex with children in those days?” “It’s been with us for a long time. Women were made for the comfort of men and to bear children. It wouldn't have worried men in those days to have a young girl for sex. It would have been expected.” Jane couldn't believe what he was saying. “I would have kicked him in the family jewels if he'd tried it on me.” “Then you would have been stripped, held down by his men and raped.” “My God,” she said, shaking her head. He grinned and looked around the cave. “What are you looking for now?” she asked. “There’s no guards in here, so I thought there might be some rope.” “Did I mention I’m a great shot and came first in my class for self defense?” “Maybe I’d better behave.” He reached into the coffin and pulled out a gold chain with the figure of a small ibis hanging on it. “Here’s a peace offering.” She took it in her hand and studied it. “It’s beautiful. Should I keep it?” “I won't tell anyone if you don't. He won't want it anymore.” He turned her around and slipped the golden chain over her head. “Beautiful,” he said admiring her. “But it’s robbing his grave,” she said, feeling it in her fingers as if it were fine crystal. “If he were alive today he would have been showering you with gifts like this. Beautiful women always attracted men of importance.” She tucked it into her shirt and pecked him on the lips. “I thought I was dark and ugly.” “The light is better in here.” “Are there any more treasures in there?” she asked, looking into the opening again. “Probably but we'll leave him in peace now. Let’s get the lid back on.”

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Trace Elements

Available now from Eternal Press

by Bruce Cooke Private Steve Ellis wasn’t looking for love when he was ordered to escort nurse Kate Crosswell through the perilous jungle to safety. The enemy is all around them…so are Steve’s hellish nightmares from his childhood. Even the best-laid plans of others are thwareted when Steve and Kate realize that nothing matters except the smoldering passion they find in the jungle heat.

She stopped sobbing and turned her head. "Thank God. I thought you were dead. Can you move?" With great effort, he slid over to her, reached for his scabbard to find his knife. He cut the vine rope from her arm, freeing her. She took the knife from his hand, slicing through the remaining ropes holding her feet and other arms. She broke free and attended to him. Still naked, she inspected his wound and breathed a sigh of relief. "It's not fatal, but it will get infected if we don't get you to safety." She pulled a shirt from one of the dead Nips and stuffed it over his wound, stemming the flow of blood. "I thought that was my job," he said, gritting his teeth with the pain. "Now it's my job." "Love your uniform," he said trying to joke. "I'll dress when you're all right. Thank you again." "He raped you, didn't he?" She shivered, still thinking about her ordeal. "Not quite, thanks to you. He was about to when you shot him. He said they were going to keep me alive all night at their pleasure and kill me when they moved out."

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Bruce Cooke

Available now from Eternal Press

by Wendy Stone A young doctor kidnapped from her hospital parking lot finds herself in hot water when she is forced to use her doctoring skills to heal a gorgeous specimen of a male. Can this angel of mercy find a way out for the two of them?

Struggling against the rising panic, she thought back. She remembered being at the hospital. It’d been a long day, a double shift for her and she wanted nothing more than to go home, shower, grab a bowl of soup and find her bed, in that order. She had walked out of the ten-story hospital building, crossing the brightly lit parking lot while fumbling in her purse for her keys. Her car was in the doctor’s lot, not far from the hospital’s main doors. A security car patrolled all the lots, twenty-four hours a day since a nurse had been raped a few years back. The lot was as safe as standing in her driveway, probably even safer. She’d gone to her car, not even paying attention to the cars around her. A doctor’s pass was needed to park in here. No one could get in without the pass unless he wanted his tires punctured. So what had happened? She went to her car and remembered setting her purse on the hood, scrounging through all the assorted necessities she carried in it, searching for her elusive keys. Had that been it? She had a foggy memory of a huge hand covered with a white cloth coming from behind her. She was drugged!

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