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‘What have we got?’ Finn carried a heavy duffel bag as he approached with Amara and Craig, slipping on their official vests marked Federal Stock Squad .

As Stone slipped on his own vest, Romy’s eyes widened, as if realising it was a bulletproof vest. ‘Don’t worry, shortcake, you’re staying right here, close to the chopper.

’ Stone wasn’t letting her get anywhere near the action.

He checked his handgun, holstered on his hip.

He wasn’t going in naked, like last time.

‘What’s going on in the shed?’ Finn dumped his heavy bag with a thud before taking a knee and checking the load on his sidearm.

Beside him, Craig did the same, armed with a handgun, but with a stock whip on his hip.

‘The third vehicle has just arrived. You won’t believe who’s inside?’

‘Griffin and Lenora?’ Finn unzipped the duffel bag, revealing weapons, knives, boxes of bullets, and other lethal goodies, and pulled out a set of binoculars.

‘And Bastion.’ Stone tapped on the drone’s controller that held a screen bigger than Amara’s tablet. Stone didn’t care about Griffin or Bastion, it was Lenora and what she’d done to her family that bothered him the most.

‘Where’s the drone?’ Craig tilted his head at the screen. ‘It’s so clear a picture, it must be close.’

‘Romy parked it on the roof, right on the edge of a broken skylight panel. And she’d used the noise of the third vehicle to conceal the drone’s noise.’ He was so proud of her skill.

‘That’s some fancy flying,’ Craig said to Romy, who even got the nod from Finn. It was enough for that rose colour to brush her cheeks.

‘But it gets better. Check this out.’ Stone turned the dial on Romy’s small speaker—who was such a genius, he could kiss her.

Voices crackled over the small speaker.

‘That’s Lenora and Griffin’s voices.’ Stone’s smile fell at not only seeing but hearing Lenora Rowntree was part of this.

‘Are you taping the audio on this conversation?’ Amara crouched down beside Romy.

‘My drone isn’t equipped for that. Sorry, I haven’t had time to make any modifications or set up anything properly without being spotted. And Stone won’t let me get any closer.’

‘Don’t push me, shortcake.’ Not when his heart iced over at the thought of her getting hurt. ‘I’ll tie you to a tree.’ Stone may be grinning at her like it was some game, but he’d do it if she pushed him, just to protect her.

‘I can fix the issue of sound.’ Amara dragged out her phone and hit record as they settled around the drone console’s clear picture.

The shed sat less than a hundred metres away, hidden behind a half-collapsed stone wall—one of the last remnants of the old holding yards. Romy nudged the controls, slowly panning the drone’s camera through a gap in the broken roof panelling. Even parked, it tracked smooth as a CCTV rig.

Inside the shed, two vans sat beside rows of plastic ponds—just like the hatchling setup Stone had created at Craig’s quarantine station, where heat lamps hung low, casting a dull glow over the water.

‘Your drone is ten times better than the standard issued drones I’ve used for past operations,’ Finn said under his breath.

‘It’s for filmmaking. Custom made.’ Romy gave a shy smile, but her eyes shone with pride.

‘Which we’ll use to our advantage… Zoom in on the exit and entrance points of the shed, and let’s work out a plan.’ Finn’s dark eyes narrowed at the screen, no doubt three steps ahead of the bastards inside.

From this spot, they could see both the shed and Stone’s helicopter, parked a few paddocks back and well out of earshot.

But with Romy’s drone catching everything in crisp detail, all Stone needed now was Finn’s call to action… and maybe a beer and some popcorn to watch the show.

???

‘How many does he want this time, Bastion?’ Griffin asked, closing the passenger door of Lenora’s four-wheel drive, parked just at the entry to the shed.

‘Thirty eggs and ten juveniles, preferably females only,’ replied Bastion, loading up the back of the white van. The second van was navy blue, parked on the other side.

Lenora approached the right corner, where a large cluster of ponds glowed under red lights. ‘Where did all the juveniles go?’

Bastion paused from loading the plastic crates onto the metal trolley and looked back at Griffin to answer.

‘In the van, to go to the Stock Agent.’ Griffin sauntered towards her and slung his arm over her shoulders. ‘Look, hon, we discussed this. For us to pay for the infrastructure to start our croc farm, we need the cash injection.’

‘So who is the Stock Agent?’

‘He’s a man who pays cash, as long as you don’t ask questions.’

Bastion scooted past the couple, rolling a metal trolley filled with specialised crates and began loading them into the van.

‘But if Bastion knows him, why can’t I meet this Stock Agent? What does he have to hide? You can tell me, Bastion.’

Bastion shook his head. ‘I can’t. Not this time, Lenny. Seriously, I can’t.’

‘Why not?’

Bastion shrugged his skinny shoulders, his pale face all twisted as if truly apologetic. ‘He’d kill me. And you. Sorry.’

Lenora’s face fell as she stepped back from the men. ‘What sort of people have you got me involved with, Griff?’

‘The sort who’ll do business with us and not ask questions.’ Griffin helped Bastion load the first van then closed the back doors. ‘The containers will keep them warm while travelling. Just watch the bumps if you can.’

‘Seriously, it’s not the first time I’ve transported these guys.’ Bastion climbed into the driver’s seat. ‘Seeya, Lenny.’

‘Drive safe, and I’ll see you on the other side.’ Griff saluted Bastion as he drove out the shed.

???

‘Do we follow him, sir?’ asked Amara, crouched beside the rest of the team watching the shed below them.

‘I’m sure Stone can catch up with Bastion quick enough. First, I want those two.’ Finn pointed to the shed. ‘Now I’ve seen the shed’s layout, I have a plan.’

???

Inside the shed, Griffin started loading up the second van.

‘What are you doing? We’re only here to check on the eggs, then go to work. We can’t have both Bastion and me away from the hatchery. Someone’s bound to notice.’

‘So, um, this is the part where I tell you that, um…’ Griffin scrubbed his nails across the back of his head, before readjusting his hat and said, ‘I quit.’

‘Quit what?’

Griffin slid a large box with small airholes along the sides into the back of the van. He then went back to the side of the ponds and scooped up two more crates and put them on his trolley. ‘I quit and I’m taking everything.’

Lenora rushed over to the large incubators and pulled open the trays. All of them empty. ‘Where did all the eggs go? The hatchlings?’

Griffin shrugged while pushing the loaded trolley to the back of the van. ‘Bastion’s talking to the Stock Agent today, and he’s pretty sure he’ll take the lot off our hands.’

‘But that’s meant for us. For our crocodile farm.’ Lenora slapped her hands on the trolley, stopping him from pushing it any further.

‘Sorry, hon, but I’m done. I’m out. You said the cops would never be called, you were counting on your dad to not call, based on his pride to save his business reputation. But the cops showed up.’

‘That’s not my fault. Jed told Stone—’

‘Who works for the Stock Squad. The Stock Agent warned Bastion that they’re not normal cops.’

‘It was pure coincidence that Stone showed up. He’s a family friend. They won’t find anything.’

‘But they did. They not only found the gear we dumped by The Vegan’s place, but the relay box.

Face it, Lenny, the Stock Squad is closing in, and it’s time to go.

’ Griffin tugged her fingers free from the trolley, effectively pushing her out of the way, and began loading the crates on board. ‘I’m selling these and heading west.’

‘What about us? Our land?’ Lenora’s voice was so shrill, it matched the shock she wore on her face.

‘I’m putting my land on the market. Bastion’s way of making cash is so much simpler. One job, and I’ve earned more than I did from half a year’s pay working for your family.’

‘We were supposed to go into business together. I helped you buy that land.’

‘Yeah, thanks for that.’ Again, Griffin adjusted his hat, only this time he wore the snide smirk of a con artist. ‘Few people would buy me a block of land with cash and gift it to me. It’ll make it easier to sell.’

‘You used me.’ Lenora’s face fell again as she stepped back from the man she lived with. ‘Did you ever love me?’

Griffin paused from packing to place his hands on her upper arms. ‘I honestly did, for a long time too, Lenny. But when Malcolm gave the place to your brother, Jed…’ He shook his head, as his voice filled with disappointment.

‘There’s no way I’d work for Jed. He wouldn’t know what a left-handed screwdriver is.

We both know he’ll ruin that place if left in charge.

Unless that’s what Malcolm wants to happen. ’

Lenora squeezed her hands into fists. ‘Stop putting my brother down.’

‘What does it matter now? We both know you’ll never have the guts to go against your dad. And this croc farm is just a pipedream for you, because you’ll always be too scared about what your father is gonna say.’

‘Of course I’m doing this. I just received the plans to build. Wait!’ She held up her hand. ‘Have you been taking stock from the farm before this haul?’

Griffin shrugged, then loaded up the last crate onto the van.

‘You just said earlier, how many did the Stock Agent want this time. How many crocodiles have you stolen from my family?’ She grabbed his arm, making him face her. ‘You and Bastion agreed to help me steal from the hatchery way too fast.’

She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘Funny how you never mentioned how that relay box showed up—or that it had access to every security feed on the property.’