Free Body in the Gorge (Cockatoo Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Lyn Walker

a group leader named and a list of volunteers in that group. The group leaders were obviously police, Rangers or Fire officers mainly. I spotted Becca’s name under Jim’s list as well as Todd, Emma’s youngest boy also a helicopter spotter too. Then I spotted Randall’s name on a list .
    I turned still pointing at the name. “Sergeant you found Randall, where was he yesterday?”
    The Sergeant walked over. “Yes he says he was in town all afternoon with his friend Jake, Jake’s Mother was there too.” Sergeant Grant pointed to the top of that list. “I have him in Constable Mathews group though so we can keep an eye on him.” I was relieved that at least some of our concerns about Randall had been noted.
    The day wore on slowly with no word of Caz. Groups came back for rest breaks and food and drinks, then went out again. The day was getting hot and concern was mounting for Caz.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIXTEEN
    The clue
    Early in the afternoon one of the ladies said from the refrigerator. “We’ve run out of butter, she turned to me. “You know Madge at the caravan park don’t you, it would be quicker to get some from there, it’s much closer than the shop in town. I’ll just give her a ring.”
    I headed back to the ‘van for the car keys. Cracker was so excited to see me, I took pity and decided to take him with me. There was a large branch under the tree, I shoved it into the back seat so it was sitting tightly, then released Cracker from his cage and took him over to the car and settled him on the branch, he did a little dance, happy to be out of the cage. I just hoped Emma wouldn’t mind. I waved to a group of horse riders I passed as they were heading back for a rest.
    I looked at Cracker. “We’d better hurry and get the butter they’ll run out of sandwiches soon.”
    Cracker flapped his wing, but he kept his eyes on the road ahead. I thought, he seems to be searching like the rest of us. As they were coming closer to the national park Cracker let out a squawk and jumped onto the back of the front seat to get a better look. I braked hard as I saw something on the road. As I opened the door of the car Cracker hopped onto my shoulder and we walked around to see an Echidna shuffling along, not in a hurry to cross the road. He was more interested in trying to find some ants to eat. Cracker jumped down to greet the Echidna beak to snout.
    “Do you know this fellow, is he one of Emma’s orphans?” Cracker bobbed up and down. “I guess that’s a Yes,” I surmised.
    Cracker then tapped the back of the Echidna who immediately curled over and humped his back and his spines stood up presenting a very prickly barrier. The sun sparkled on something shiny, I bent over to get a closer look and gasped, it was an earring just like the pair I had admired on Caz yesterday. I unhooked it quickly as the Echidna uncurled and went lumbering on its way disappearing into the long grass on the other side of the road.
    I looked in the direction the Echidna had come from there was a very rough overgrown track leading off into the bush which you wouldn’t even notice unless you stopped right here.
    I picked up Cracker and got back in the car. “Cracker we’d better have a look up that track Caz may have come this way to hide from someone or maybe she was taken here, we’ll just check it out. I’ll just take the car off the road and under this tree in the shade.” It was a squeeze to get out again because of the bushes and tall grasses. Along the track I pushed through more overhanging branches and prickly shrubs.
    “I don’t think the horse came this way.” I said as I shielded Cracker from another branch.
    The next step I stumbled over loose stones and dirt, I stopped and looked down.
    “This looks like Echidna diggings to me maybe this is where the earring fell off.”
    I jumped over the newly dug holes and pushed on down the track. The path twisted and turned and I noticed some large footprints in a