Oh, wow. Wayy long update, I may have gotten a little carried away, lol. This was great fun to write. But I've noticed that the more fun I have writing, the less people seem to like it. So... do tell me what you think, hmm?
Lawson hadn't expected Kerry to show up so quickly. As she let rip into the Senior Sergeant, with Josh watching grimly, Lawson tuned out.
"- then you turn up late, let one of your officers get smashed by a motorbike, and-" Kerry cut off. "You're not listening?"
Lawson snapped to attention. "I'm listening!"
"Good. Then you let one of your officers get smashed by a motorbike! And then..."
"I started working on this property when I was seventeen, recommended by a family friend. It seemed pretty good, and even better when I went in for the interview. I knew the boss, knew his missus and the kids, and the manager was the guy who suggested me for the job. Got to work with some great people." Jay crossed her arms. "I worked here for two years. Earned some money. But I hated the job. The boss was a total dickhead, his wife wasn't much better. The boss - he wanted everything done, and he wanted it done five minutes ago."
"Why didn't you leave?" Stella was enthralled by the story.
"Because of the people I worked with. My manager was one of the greatest people I've ever met. He was kind, forgiving - everything you'd want in a friend. Also, at first, two New Zealanders, travelling and working. They were there for ten months, which means I worked with them for... four months." Jay looked at Stella.
"This place turned me insane. I have split personalities, my other half speaks to me, telling me I did the wrong thing by kidnapping you. But she's also commending me for not hurting you, which was never my intention. I may not have a great deal of sanity, but I'd never hurt someone that didn't mean to get in my way."
Stella trembled. "Why did you hit Michael, then?"
"There's no brakes on that bike." Jay began to laugh, a maniacal, howling laugh that made Stella cringe in her chair.
"There's tyre tracks here, Shan!" Christian pointed to the ground with one hand, cupping the other around his mouth as he shouted to the Sergeant.
"That's the road, Christian! It's a dirt road!"
"Oh." He shrugged. "So?"
Shannon face palmed.
"So what happened to your boss?"
Jay smiled, her yellowed teeth on display as she lit up a fresh cigarette. "He got in my way."
"Tell me."
"It wasn't all that bad. The idiot stood in front of the loader when I had the hay forks on." Jay shrugged. "Floored the loader and speared him."
Stella turned a distinct shade of puce.
"He's still alive, though he's been in hospital since then. It was ruled an accident, 'cause I claimed that I'd meant to hit the brakes. After that, they left the farm, sold all the cattle and machinery, and set up in the city. My manager found another job, he's now living in the hills near Canberra, living his dream. But I'm still here."
"Which was unfortunate for us."
"Us?" Jay had a questioning look on her face.
"You. Me. Josh and Shannon. Michael."
"Agreed."
Kerry continued to rip into Lawson, until Leon interrupted her.
"Kerry, Airwing's spotted the motorbike used by the offender about three kilometres from your current position."
"So my tyre tracks were right!" Christian threw his hands in the air in some sort of victory pose, while Shannon frowned.
"Yes, but Christian, it's a public road. That anyone can use. Duh."
"Okay, give us directions. We need backup, too."
"I'll go first." Josh pointed to the two-wheeled motorcycle. "I can get close, then scout it out."
"Fine. You do that. Bring Stella back, while you're at it. That stupid motorcycle is why we're in this mess."
"You know, Jay, you're really interesting." Stella propped her head up with her fist, leaning on the table.
"Why, thank you." Jay grinned. "You haven't talked much, though."
"Why, should I have?" Stella knew to keep her abductor talking, so she could buy more time for the others to find her.
"It'd be a little more interesting while we wait for your team to turn up." Jay chuckled at the look on Stella's face. "I know they're going to find me, so why put off the inevitable? I don't intend to make it easy, no, no way, but they'll get me. I can promise that."
Josh approached the small cottage on foot, having being directed by Leon. He noticed the red motorbike standing idle, and grinned. To his left, he glimpsed movement, and turned his head swiftly, being rewarded with the sight of a small black poddy calf, which looked rather poorly fed.
"Hey, little girl," he whispered.
The calf blinked, before opening its mouth.
"Oh no-"
"BLAAAAAR!" The calf screamed, probably hungry as anything, prompting Josh to quickly hit the ground, crawling into the cover of some overgrown weeds.
"BLAAR! BLAR!" The calf continued to howl, as Jay burst from the house, towing Stella behind her, and practically threw the Senior Constable onto the back of the bike, then quickly jumping on and starting it.
"Shit!" Josh managed to pull himself off the ground and sprinted towards where he'd left the two-wheeler, as Jay ripped the bike in a tight circle and headed the other way.
"Lawson, she's got a bloody alarm set up on the place." Josh didn't feel like explaining how his cover was blown by a poddy calf.
"Shit! Where's Jay now?"
"Taken off on the motorbike, obviously taken Stel with her. Airwing's still around, right?"
"Yeah, they're tracking her now."
"Good." Josh arrived at the motorcycle, vaulting on and kick-starting the machine, making sure to pull the stand up before racing off.
The rushing air hit Stella's face, making her squint as she looked over Jay's shoulder at the speedometer on the bike.
65... 70... 80...
As the bike's engine screamed in protest at the high speed, Jay partially turned her head.
"You'd better frigging hold on!" Jay yelled back, as Stella looked ahead, and the colour drained out of her face as she saw a bridge not far ahead, about a metre high and impossibly steep.
Josh drew on every ounce of power the motorcycle had, and it responded gustily. The speedometer didn't function properly, but Josh knew he was going way too fast. The sand and dust from the road whipped at his face and eyes, making him curse inwardly, but he could still glimpse a dust trail about a kilometre in front of him, making him twist the accelerator that little bit more.
Shannon and Christian sped along the sand road in TR2, Christian holding on for dear life as Shannon planted her foot on the accelerator, causing the vehicle to skid slightly.
"Stupid soft god-damn city four wheel drive!"
Jay was attempting to slow the bike down somewhat, but was still travelling at around fifty when her and her captive hit the bridge.
The motorbike sped over the bridge, causing Stella to scream in pure fright and Jay to whoop insanely, gaining air. Josh stopped and watched in amazement as the bike hit the ground on the other side, tossing its riders around before reining the grip on the road and roaring, again gaining speed.
"Got eyes on them!" Josh released his comms, not waiting for a reply, before flicking the cycle into gear and crossing the bridge, following again.