past Port Chalmers, down at Murdering Beach.’
‘Murdering Beach? Who was murdered?’
‘Some Pakehas, back in the early 1800s. They were sealers.
‘Oh.’
‘They’re not your Pakehas though. The ones you’re on about are the ones from way back. I know the story well. Koro told me all about them. They must have been there too, cause Koro never lied.’
‘Koro?’ Matt asked, feeling dumber every minute.
‘Grandfather,’ Aimee answered, garnering a smile from May. ‘And they had a cave there? We heard that they married into the tribe and all.’
‘Don’t know anything about a cave,’ May said, looking curious. ‘Why are you so interested?’
‘Just fascinated,’ Matt answered, half truthfully. He was fascinated. He could see that May wasn’t someone to lie, she really didn’t know anything about a cave. But Matawai and Andrew were sure about that part of the history, just their location was wrong. Now, with the two pieces of information, Matt really felt like he had something to go on. Tomorrow, they would go and find this Murdering Beach and they would search for the cave. Who knew what adventure the new day could bring?
CHAPTER 43
Hemi decided that Warren had broken his promise. Despite being on the lookout all day, Hemi hadn’t seen Warren anywhere as he trotted around all over the Otago Peninsula in the wake of Matt and Aimee. He had only been back in his motel room for about ten minutes when there was a knock on his door. He walked over to the peephole and peered through. Bastard keeps his word, Hemi thought as he opened the door and greeted Warren. The two of them sat at the little two-seat breakfast table and exchanged stares. Warren spoke first.
‘I’m a bit disappointed with your work, but we’re not going to let that get in the way of our mission. Tomorrow we’ll follow Matthew Cameron together.’
‘No problem’ Hemi answered, caught off-guard by Warren’s friendliness.
‘Do you know where they’re going?’
‘They questioned a local woman over at the Otakau Marae today. She mentioned Murdering Beach to them. According to the information I got from her after they left, they had been particularly interested in finding a cave over there.’
‘A cave, huh? Doesn’t really strike up images of Spanish. Maybe of cave-dwelling Celts though.’
Hemi thought he detected a twinge of amusement in Warren’s voice.
‘Ah yeah, anything’s possible I guess.’ he said. Anything to keep his thoughts away from the Spanish investigation. Warren seemed to really hate the whole scenario any time it went down that road.
‘I don’t expect they will head out there tonight though,’ Warren said. ‘So we can settle for a quiet film or something and then we’ll track them from a little bit behind in the morning. Unlike you, I don’t want them to know we’re following them until the time is right.’
‘Alright,’ Hemi answered, feeling a little uncomfortable about sitting down for a film with the man responsible for his father’s death. But if he could discover anything incriminating about Warren, it would be worth it. ‘Should I go get us a feed? Some KFC sound good to you?’
‘KFC will be perfect, my shout though.’
Hemi watched as Warren pulled his jacket back slightly, reaching in to take his wallet from the inside pocket. In doing so, Warren inadvertently gave Hemi a clear look at the concealed handgun that he was carrying. Hemi did a double-take. He looked at Warren’s eyes, they weren’t watching him. Hemi decided that Warren didn’t know he had seen the gun. That was lucky. Warren continued to take thirty dollars out of his wallet and pass it to Hemi, asking for a Works Burger, chips, and gravy. Hemi confirmed the order and went into the bedroom to grab his keys and the bathroom for a quick piss. He used the opportunity to collect his thoughts.
Shit. The bastard’s got a gun. This situation is getting way out of hand. What if he intends to use it? I need to warn them. Hemi washed his hands. He wanted to wash his hands of Warren too. He would. He had too. Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would sort this situation out once and for all.
‘See you in a half hour or so,’ Hemi said as nonchalantly as possible, walking through the main room of the unit. The noise of the TV already filled the air. He closed the door behind him and got in the car. Right, KFC it is, but first things first. Hemi drove out of the motel car-park and about one hundred metres up the road before pulling over and parking again. He pulled his mobile from his pocket and dialled a number that he had never used before, the emergency line to the NISO.
Matt’s phone vibrated, causing his ass to lift two inches off the sofa. The ringing noise wasn’t so bad, but the vibration got him every bloody time. He checked the number that was displayed on the screen, but didn’t recognise it. Someone in New Zealand though, he shrugged at Aimee and accepted the call.
‘Matthew Cameron,’ he said.
‘Hi Matt!’
‘Oh, Warren. Hi, how are you?’ Matt blurted the words out in his excitement. He had completely forgotten to make contact for the last few days.
‘I’m good, mate. How are you going down there? Been to the beach? Enjoying sunny Nelson?’
God, Matt had neglected Warren. He didn’t even know they weren’t in Nelson anymore.
‘Actually, the beach is kind of a no-go zone where we are.’ Matt said light-heartedly, hoping he wasn’t going to upset his friend by his interest in his father’s investigation. Oh God, you haven’t even told Warren about your father’s death.
‘Where are you then?’ Warren chuckled. ‘Invercargill?’
‘Not quite, but close enough. We’re in Dunedin.’
‘Dunedin! What on earth would inspire you to waste your time on that town?’
‘What? It’s beautiful. So far, if I had to choose somewhere to live in New Zealand, it would be a fight between Dunedin and Nelson.’
‘I’m just teasing. Us Aucklanders can’t admit to liking a place like Dunedin. So what’s going on there that warrants your attention?’
Matt explained to Warren what had happened at his father’s house. Warren sounded interested and asked lots of questions and was even able to fill in a few details for Matt surrounding oral histories and the Spanish helmet. Then Matt broke the news about his father.
‘Bugger, I’m really sorry mate. Is there anything I can do? Are you coming back for the funeral?’
‘No, I’ll stay down here and keep looking into his work.’
‘That’s also honourable, Matthew. I’d have been blessed to have had a son like you. But God apparently didn’t have the same plans as me.’
Matthew was touched by Warren’s words. A tear formed in the corner of his eye, but he was able to wipe it away before Aimee noticed.
‘Do you want me to go the funeral in your place? Pay your respects on your behalf?’
‘Would you do that, Warren?’
‘Sure, I’d do anything.’
‘That would be great. Thanks, it means a lot to me.’
‘Look, it’s no problem. You don’t even think on it, alright?’
‘OK,’ Matt answered.
‘So where will you go from here?’ Warren asked. ‘Have you got some more direction since you got to Dunedin?’
‘We sure have,’ Matt answered, happy to change the direction of the conversation back to the rumoured Spanish. He continued to tell Warren about the meetings with the Maori elders and on the marae, and how excited they were to have found what they think will be the location where there apparently were Spanish people settled long before Tasman or Cook came by. Warren sounded excited too. He even said he wished he could be there with them, exploring Murdering Beach, seeing if they could find the cave.
