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how she could possibly see where she was going. “Hi, Tiff.”
    â€œMorning, Gemma.”
    Tiffany’s tattoo and piercing business brought an interesting clientele and its share of variety to Gemma’s beauty salon. When she’d listed the space to rent, Gemma had never envisaged a business like Tiffany’s taking it. But so far it had worked out well. Tiffany looked through the small gap in her fringe and the fake diamond in her upper lip twinkled in the bright salon lights. She gave a lopsided grin, displaying her unnaturally white teeth through cherry red lipstick. Her eyes skipped about before a look of recognition worked its way across her facial features.
    â€œHello, Mrs Hilton,” said Tiffany. “Getting your legs done this week? Let me know when you want that little tattoo. I’ll help you pick out the perfect one to drive Alfred crazy!”
    â€œThank you, but not this week. I don’t want to give him a heart attack just yet. Need to update his life insurance policy first.” Sheryl’s chuckle sent her whole body into a minor tremor.
    Tiffany snorted a laugh, tugged at her short tartan skirt and meandered over to her corner of the salon. Gemma watched her go, amazed that her stockings could stay on with the amount of holes in them. Tiffany slumped into the overstuffed lounge below a wall of tattoo photos, flung her legs up and closed her eyes.
    And that was it. Gemma knew she wouldn’t get another peep out of her until her first client came in. She didn’t know how she kept her side of the business going. But she did. In fact, Tiffany hadn’t missed a single rent payment since she started two years ago.
    â€œHow are the kids?” Mrs Hilton returned to their earlier conversation.
    â€œThey’re great. They come up with the weirdest stories, though. You wouldn’t believe what they said yesterday. They told me they overheard a bunch of guys talking about robbing a bank.”
    â€œDon’t sound like somethin’ kids would make up.” Tiffany surprised Gemma with her comment. She’d thought she was asleep.
    â€œWhat? You think would-be robbers would use the old shed down the road to plan a robbery?”
    â€œYou never know.” Tiffany curled to face them. “All I’m saying is those boys would need a bloody good imagination to invent a story like that.”
    â€œOh, they do, that’s for sure.” Gemma giggled as she ripped off another wax strip.
    â€œWouldn’t it be funny if it were true?” Sheryl said.
    Gemma huffed. “I doubt it. Trent’s notorious for exaggerating.”

Chapter 5
    T he two cars thundered along at maximum speed, barely braking to take the bend in the track. Both drivers were determined to win this time. The ground was rough, and not just with the odd pothole or two; heavy rain had washed away parts of the track making it downright dangerous. The leading car was a Mitsubishi Triton with roll bars on the back tray, but even with its four-wheel drive capabilities it was sliding all over the road. Up ahead the track split into two paths. One path wound its way above the other. The higher track, although shorter, was more rugged; the lower path longer and smoother. The Triton driver made a snap decision to take the higher one and prayed it would pay off.
    As he’d anticipated, the other driver took the lower track. His Holden Monaro would be no match for the rugged top path. He laughed aloud when the Monaro only just made the swerve onto the lower route.
    The downhill was crazy. Not only did the Triton have to avoid the giant troughs that would swallow the wheels, the driver also had to steer clear of the cliff on the right-hand side. Just going straight was a battle against the cavernous hollows.
    The Triton driver couldn’t believe the Monaro was actually leading when he reached the bottom. Their wheels skidded in the gravel, and both cars swerved at the last second