Page 90 of Cold Stock

Finn’s dark eyes narrowed, already darkened by the brim of his stockman’s hat.‘Do you think Lenora has been stealing from her father’s crocodile farm, setting up to make her own farm?’

‘It could be Bastion.’Stone didn’t want to think it was Lenora, because he liked her.He’d known her for a long time.‘Malcolm may be a cranky prick, but he’s a good crocodile farmer.But I’ve also seen how Lenora has taken that hatchery to a whole new level, putting Saltscale well ahead of the competition on a global scale.’

‘Is that why the thieves were so selective in what they took?’Amara pulled out the map of Saltscale’s hatchery, placing it on top of the growing collection that covered the car bonnet.‘They stole the eggs and the juveniles from different clutches, because it’s prime cold stock.That’s what you called it, didn’t you, Stone?’

Stone nodded, even if it was getting harder to ignore the possibility that Lenora had a hand in it.He still believed in innocent until proven guilty—but he was just as keen to find the stolen stock.

‘And that means we have a clear motive.Malcolm is giving the property to Lenora’s younger brother, Jed, and you’ve said it’s Lenora’s hatchery work that put them on the map, and she’s not getting a reward…’ Finn grabbed another map and ran his finger over an area.‘This is us here.Romy, I’d like your drone to fly over Lenora and Griffin’s properties, here.’

‘It’d be pretty dumb to keep the crocs stashed on their own properties like that, Bossman.If you’re thinking it’s Lenora, she’s a lot cleverer than that.’

‘I agree,’ said Amara.

‘You do?’Stone arched his eyebrows at her.

‘I know it’s rare, but in this case, Stone might be right.’

‘Did everyone hear that?I should have taped that and turned it into my ringtone for you.’He pulled out his phone.‘Say it again, Duchess.’

‘Rack off.’Amara pushed his phone away.

‘They’ve been playing us, all along.’Finn scowled so ferociously that poor Romy stepped back.‘You might be right about the thieves keeping that stolen cold stock close.That’s why our goal today is to scout potential holding locations.What was your theory on distance, Stone?’

‘Give or take a hundred k’s from Saltscale, tops.That’s as far as you’d risk hauling croc eggs by road.’He circled the boundary on the map with his finger.

‘Guess whose property is well within that radius,’ said Craig.

Well, hell… Stone hated the idea of Lenora being involved with the theft, but he had to put that aside.He had to think like a thief, which uncovered another clue.‘I think Bastion and Lenora may be working on falsifying the records to create ID markers when those eggs hatch.They’re in charge of the paperwork for stock at Saltscale as it is.’

‘Can they legally do that?’Amara asked.

‘Lenora is a licenced crocodile farmer, authorised to engage in all aspects of the industry.That includes egg collection, incubation, breeding, and the farming of crocodiles for commercial purposes.Lenora is more qualified than her brother, Jed, and possibly even her own father.I know she went to uni to gain some formal qualifications to run that hatchery.’

‘Wait!’Amara held her hand up, scrolling over her screen.‘Bastion studied for a few years to become a veterinarian but never finished.At the same university Lenora went to.’

‘So Bastion would have the necessary skills, like that mystery techie who took the genetic samples from the rough stock?’

‘Yes, sir.Both Lenora and Bastion collect the DNA from the crocodiles as part of their duties in that hatchery.’

Finn narrowed his eyes, his voice deepening.‘Constable, see about a warrant to collect DNA samples from all those who work in Saltscale’s hatchery.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘What about this Griffin?’Finn asked.‘What do you know about him, Stone?’

‘I’d only met him when you did.But I’m assuming, if he’s working as a pen-keeper, Malcolm or Lenora would have hooked him up with the correct licencing.He did tell Romy that he went pig hunting and was a dogsbody, and a station kid.’

‘Which is normal for any kid who grows up on a cattle station.I don’t know Griffin much, but I know his parents through the traps.They used to manage cattle stations,’ said Craig.‘But if Lenora and Griffin are both licenced, why not collect their own eggs, like you do, Stone?’

‘Why bother, when they can take the best from Daddy’s farm as payback for all their hard work.’Stone shrugged, keeping his emotions in check over the players in this game—especially Lenora.He kept hoping she hadn’t done it, that she hadn’t stooped that low.

‘So, what does Bastion get out of it, if he’s part of this team?’

‘Money.Like most crims want…’ Finn scowled over the map.‘Craig, you know this land.Where do you suggest we search?’

‘I’d say they’d have them there…’ Craig tapped on the map.‘Dixby Downs.It’s their neighbouring property, that’s deserted.’

Amara paused to peek over her tablet.‘How can you have a deserted cattle station in the heart of cattle country?’

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