It has been a few hours since then and our patrol has come to an end. I am currently in the middle of writing a lengthy report about how boring the patrol was. I am soon interrupted by the sound of my personal phone ringing. I quickly answered it even though I was not sure who the number belonged to.
"Eden Hopper,"
"Lieutenant?' The voice sounds familiar but I can't place it.
"Yes. Who is this?" I ask.
"Jason Merrit. Braxton Mining has gone too far. I need to speak with you," Jason seems panicked. With a few swift movements, I grab a pen and paper.
"Give me the details," I demand.
"Not over the phone. It's too risky. Meet me tonight. I'll tell you everything," Jason counters. After a minute of discussion, we finally agreed on a meeting spot. With that I hang up. The good thing is I finally have a lead that will get me somewhere. I am hoping that Jason can prove once and for all what is going on. Despite my optimism, I know that something or someone may stop Jason from showing.
It has been a few hours since I got Jason's phone call and I am waiting. For some reason, Jason is taking forever to arrive here. I check the time on my watch. Forty-five minutes late is not a good look. With a sigh, I leave. As I approach my car I notice some blood on the road. I quickly follow the trail to a car. What I see when I glance in the window confirms that whoever is dumping the chemicals in the water doesn't want to be found. They got to Jason before I could.
It is the day after and I am talking to Mike about what I saw. Unfortunately, the police seem to think that it was a clear-cut case of suicide.
"So they are calling it suicide?" I find myself getting irritated but the fact.
"Yes. He had the gun in his hand," Mike replies. His voice is surprisingly gentle for someone who is worried about one of his crew members.
"If that is the case why would he organise a meeting with me if he was planning to kill himself?" I counter. Besides, I know what I saw. It was not suicide.
"If Jason was taking bribes from a mining company or involved in some kind of cover-up he would be under a lot of pressure," Mike says.
"But…maybe someone got to him before he could talk," I counter. This conversation is going nowhere and fast.
"Look it is a possibility but I need you to be careful," Mike warns me.
"I will be boss," I retort. I may be walking into something but unlike Jason, I am not going in blind. Now that Mike seems satisfied he excuses himself. I soon turn my attention to researching Braxton Mining. As I dig deeper I begin to realise that the situation is a lot more complicated than just ocean dumping. I find myself sighing. After a couple of minutes, I decided to stretch my legs. As I head past the junior officer's mess I notice a familiar logo on the deck of cards that Kosov-Meyer and a couple of other junior officers are using to play poker. I quickly snatch one to have a closer look.
"Hoppo that's an ace-,"
"Where did you get the deck from?" I ask.
"I must have picked them up by accident-,"
"I don't care about how. I only care about where," I snap. I quickly compare the logo on the back of the ace to the logo on a printout of Braxton Mining's website.
"Umm…I got them from the wheelhouse of the palm oil trader," Kosov-Meyer timidly speaks up. Thanks to him taking the deck of cards I now have the proof that I need.
"Thank you. Your desperation to play poker may have saved Stokes Island and if I were you 2 dads I would hold off this round," I say before excusing myself. After a minute I find myself explaining what I found to Mike, Kate, Robert and Dutchy. They don't seem surprised at all. As if reading my mind Robert reaches for Hammersley's radio. Thankfully it doesn't take long for Robert to get the information we need.
"Marine services said the trader left Port Gallagher at 0800. They were heading north," Robert passes on the information. The good thing about that is the fact that everything is now falling into place. I am soon struck by a realisation.
"There is a Braxton Mining Group location at Bandra which is twenty-five kilometres away from Port Gallagher," I say putting all of the evidence that we have collected together in one coherent thought.
"And you think they've made a collection?" Kate jumps in.
"Yes. I also think they are using palm oil as a cover to come into the country to collect mining tailings. I reckon they are using the palm oil containers to hold the toxic chemicals and my guess is they are heading to the dump site now. We would catch them red-handed as they are heading near Stokes Island," I explain my hunch.
"Ok let's go," Mike confirms.
It has been a few hours since then and we made it to the location where we suspect the palm oil trader would be. Luckily for us, it was where we predicted. Right now Kate and I are waiting for confirmation of the contact.
"We have contact with the trader," Dutchy announces as I work to get a lock with the EOD.
"Ok, Ro make the call," Mike announces. Well, here we go.
"Trader on my starboard bow this is HMAS Hammersley. Stop and heave to immediately," Robert makes the call as I lock on to the trader with the EOD. As soon as I get a good look at the ship I notice the tell-tail signs of ocean dumping.
"Hey, sir take a look at this. They are pumping water overboard," I bring Mike's attention to the water.
"Whatever it is it is not greywater. They are also picking up speed. They must be heading for the line. Hoppo I want you to lead a boarding party. Make sure you get a sample," Mike orders. After a couple of minutes, we are in the water.
"2 dads have you got your helmet cam switched on?" I double-check as I want as much evidence as I can get my hands on.
"Yes, Ma'am we are definitely rolling," Kosov Meyer confirms. With some careful manoeuvring we try to get closer however we are stopped by a couple of crew members throwing barrels. They are trying to stop us however I know that they are soon going run out of things to throw.
"Hoppo what's going on?" Mike radio's in
"The crew have gone on the attack. They are trying to prevent us from getting a sample," I confirm.
"We can't let them cross the line without the evidence," Mike replies. He is just as frustrated as I am.
"I know sir. We are going in for a second attempt now," I announce my plan.
"Rodger that. I am sending another RHIB party over to assist," Mike says.
"Copy that sir," I acknowledge before taking a deep breath. After a couple of seconds, we are joined by the second RHIB.
"Hoppo on your port side," Charge announces. Finally.
"Ok, we are going to use the second RHIB as cover. I am going to need to get as close as I can to get the sample," I call out. With a string of orders, we finally got close enough for me to reach out for a sample. After a few seconds, I have enough of the water to test.
"We have enough water. I'm testing it now," I radio in as I pour the water into the tester that Doctor Wallace gave me.
"Hoppo we are five hundred meters from the line," Mike says.
"Ok. Charge I need a little more time," I respond.
"Don't worry I'll be here all day if need be," Charge replies. After the longest few seconds of my life, we finally have the results. It turns out it was worse than we thought.
"We have them, sir. It's positive," I confirm. With that, Mike gives us the order to board. With a few swift movements, we board the vessel. A fight soon breaks out between Swain, Dutchy and a couple of the crew. Unfortunately for the two crew members Dutchy and Swain have combat training which means the pair are easily subdued. The captain soon joins us. He is not happy.
"You have no jurisdiction. We are no longer in Australian waters," He calls out.
"It's over we found the waste that you were dumping-" I respond as I move to apprehend the captain.
"There has been a misunderstanding. We are carrying palm oil and we are heading home empty," The captain tries to worm his way out of the situation.
"We tested the waste that you dumped. It contained arsenic and mercury. We also have footage on that camera showing the exact time and location of the dumping," I counter as I gesture towards Kosov-Meyer's helmet camera. I am flooded with relief as Dutchy restrains the captain.
It has been a couple of hours since then and I am wandering through Cairns Hospital. I am looking for Ruby and her family. Thankfully it doesn't take long for me to find her room. Seeing Ruby lying in bed hammers home the fact that some victories are not worth the collateral damage. To my surprise, Doctor Wallace is by her bedside as well.
"Doctor Wallace?" I greet him
"Hello, Lieutenant," He responds. After placing a small gift by Ruby's beside I turn my attention to getting an update.
"How is she?" I ask.
"The nurses say she is responding to treatment," Doctor Wallace replies. Even though it is looking good for Ruby Doctor Wallace seems upset.
"That's good. I've also got good news. The police have arrested three executives from the Braxton Mining Group and they have been charged with illegal ocean dumping, arson and the murder of Jason Meritt," I explain.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Most people wouldn't bother to listen. Even fewer wouldn't have the courage to follow up on something like this," Doctor Wallace sings my praise.
"Look I'm sorry that it took me so long to find the evidence I need. The residents of Stokes Island are lucky to have someone like you on their side," I find myself apologising. The truth is the Braxton Mining Group knew how to cover their tracks which made it harder.
"Well looking after people is what I do," Doctor Wallace counters. He is not wrong. After some back and forth I leave. At least things are finally starting to look up for the people of Stokes Island. It is just a pity that it took so long for someone to pay enough attention to Doctor Wallace. Well, it's over now.