Author: Steve Rogers
ASIN: ‎ B07NNTLF3H
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This book introduces the main characters in the Carter De Freitas series by Steve Rogers.

The story is set in WA’s far north, features road-train driver Carter De Freitas and his cattle dog Carpenter who are inadvertently caught up in a drug smuggling operation. De Freitas, an ageing character, picks up a young Swedish back packer, Elise Alquist, who is stranded after her vehicle breaks down on the way to a job as a cook/deckhand on a charter boat out of Broome.

The platonic relationship between the two unlikely companions, Elise and Carter, is cemented when it is revealed they are both competent artists, and the truck driver assumes a protective, mentoring role to the attractive young woman.

Delivering Elise to the charter boat, De Freitas fears for her safety, and with time to kill until his next contract, he joins the crew as engineer. The fishing charter is not what it professes to be. An overseas drug syndicate is attempting to set up a distribution network in Australia, however, Carter, Elise and Carpenter, become thorns in side of the criminals. The drug importation is a series of disasters due to the incompetence of the two men entrusted with transporting the haul to the distribution network in Perth.

This is followed by retribution set in train by the drug boss, Mr Dat. A number of twists and turns in the plot keep the police and all involved, on their toes.

Key to the story are the characters and scenery of the Pilbara and Kimberley region. 

About the author

Steve Rogers, born in 1946, is a late starter as a commercial fiction author.

He graduated from Agricultural College in Western Australia and followed a diverse career including stints as jackaroo, farmer, broadcaster, roustabout, retailer, journalist, teacher/technician in animal husbandry, and as a TV presenter.

Steve later launched a video production company, which he ran for over 30 years.

His video work focused on mining and resources documentaries which he wrote, directed and often filmed. This work has taken him to remote locations throughout Australia, South East Asia and Africa, all the while writing bush poetry, short stories, scripts and crime fiction.

Due to his love of, and experiences in a rural environment, the settings of his stories are in remote locations where the characters and landscape are uniquely Australian.

Steve lives in North Fremantle, and incorporates his colourful life experiences into adult murder/mysteries.

Married, Steve has a daughter and two grandsons.

Also by Steve: Hard way to make a crust

Extract from Truck That, Chapter 21:

Carter showered, turned his underpants inside out, became reunited with the shirt he had pressed by laying it under the mattress, and pulled on his shorts.

He slicked his still-wet hair to one side with his fingers, and when that didn’t please him he slicked it the other way. Giving up, he tousled it and decided to let it dry as it landed. They won’t be able to resist a good looking rooster like you De Freitas, he thought to himself. He took the key from the bureau by the door, slid into his rubber thongs and stepped into the warm Broome evening.

As Carpenter bounced along in front of him, sniffing every vertical surface in sight, Carter whistled as he strode towards the Roebuck Hotel. His mobile phone rang. It was Jacquie.

‘Carter, mate.’

He could tell from this greeting the news was bad, inconvenient, or Mooney wanted a favour.

‘What’s up Jeck? That old bastard want to borrow some money from me?’

‘He wants your truck for an interstate trip. There is a load to go from Broome. Wide-load and a road escort. Big dozer to go to Mt Isa.’

‘So aren’t I good enough for that?’

‘It’ll take a week to get over at about the speed of treacle, before a backloadvia the Riverina. I didn’t think you’d want to take that job. I’m sending Artie.’

‘Well, you were bloody right. So what does the old prick want me to do?’

‘He said he wants you to enjoy the flesh pots of Broome at his expense for a week or so until the Scania comes in from Darwin. Then you can bring it home.’

‘God, I feel like I’ve won the bloody lottery. Tell him thanks for nothing. OK, but I’m going to book up a new set of clobber to his account.’

‘He knew you would, but he said you should stay away from Tony Barlow’s*’.

‘OK love, I’ll speak to you tomorrow.’

He really didn’t mind having a few days off.

He had a sketch pad with him and he could spend some time drawing some of the characters around Streeters Jetty in central Broome.

With that thought, he changed direction and headed towards the Broome Boulevard where he knew he could buy a shirt, undies and some toiletries.

                              ——

The first person he saw, wheeling a trolley fully of groceries towards him, was Elise. She looked pleased to see him.

‘I guess you found your skipper?’

‘Yes, and he’s put me to work straight away.’

‘What is he like, this new boss of yours?’

‘He seems OK,’ she replied unconvincingly. ‘He was a bit drunk I think. He was with the man who is chartering the ship. He was a little bit drunk also.’

‘Have you seen the boat?’

‘No, and I think they might not be leaving straight away. They have lost their engineer and they have to find a new one. I feel a little bit uncomfortable about it all.’

Carter thought. If you feel uncomfortable meeting someone in Broome, you probably have every right to be. His protective instincts kicked in and he made up his mind to see if he could help out.

‘I know a bit about diesel engines and I’ve got a week to kill. Ask your man if he wants to talk to me about taking the job. Here’s my number.’

He wrote it down on the back of a supermarket docket.

‘Thank you, Carter. I will do it.’

He watched as her shapely Scandinavian figure struggled against the wonky wheel of the supermarket trolley and into the car park.

After buying new socks and undies Carter felt he deserved a drink.  He sat on the verandah of the hotel looking across the road at the shop windows reflecting the last of the late afternoon sun. Carpenter lay on the floor on one side,  a plastic shopping bag on the other and a frosty schooner of beer on the rail in front of him.

‘I’m as dry as Mother Superior’s whatsit Carps.’

After his second sip, his phone rang.

Without any introduction, the male voice said, ‘I understand you’re looking for work on a boat.’

This is not a good start.

‘I understand you don’t have an engineer.’

‘Are you experienced with marine engines?’

‘I know my way round them. What kind?’

‘I dunno, big yellow ones. Two of ’em. Do you want the job?’

‘How about we put the cart behind the horse. I don’t know you or your boat from a bar of Burfords*. I’m happy to meet you and see what you’re about.’

‘I’m about ready to leave to go to the boat now. Where are you?’

‘At the Roey. I can be out at the port in twenty minutes. What’s the name of the boat?’

‘Sea Sprite. It’s at the landing, half way along. My girl will be unloading supplies. We’ll be sailing in the morning if you’re any good.’

Carter bit his tongue so he wouldn’t suggest the person on the other end try something anatomically unorthodox.

He downed his beer, told Carpenter what was happening, and walked back towards the motel to get the ute.  ‘My girl! What a prick,’ he said out loud.