No Roads to Darwin by Rex Ellis
This novel is about a journey, a very hazardous journey, which begins for one of the pursued in Italy. It is the result of an idea from mega wealthy arms dealer, Enzo Grassi, who has a great respect and love of Australia. He is embarassed by his inherited wealth, and has a vision where the donation of a large sum of money to the Wentworth Group in Australia can kickstart a chain reaction that will help save the Earth from an environmental disaster down the track.To 'kill two birds with one stone' he gives his spoilt daughter the project. She has to find an Outback guide to take her from near Adelaide to Darwin without travelling north on major roads and railways.They can,however, fly or take trains East or West. Grassi ropes in the sons of some of his wealthy friends to 'pursue' his daughter with paint guns.If 'shot' the project is over.One of the paintballers has a large debt held by the Italian Mafia and is desperate for a solution. He tells the Mafia who see an opportunity for large financial rewards. In partnership with one of the large agricultural chemical companies, who see the Grassi project as a very real threat, the Mafia sends a contingent of their 'soldiers' to Australia. They employ rogue elements of the SAS as well to hunt down Gina Grassi and Jake Riley to prevent them reaching Darwin where the $5 billion would be beyond their reach.