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‘I doubt it. If Imelda thought the notes were here, then I think Assumpta mentioned it to her.’

‘We should ask Imelda. Save ourselves time.’

Lottie looked under the bed then sat back on her hunkers. ‘She was anxious to get up here, just before Hayes walked down the stairs.’

‘Do we pull up the carpet and lift floorboards?’

‘Not a bad idea, but Mooney would kill us.’

She moved to the wardrobe. The clothing appeared to be all washed and clean. Hung neatly by type of item, then size. She pushed the dresses to one side and felt around the back of the wooden frame. Nothing movable. After a fruitless check of the pockets of jackets and jeans, the clothes swaying over her head,she leaned down and ran her hand over the flooring. ‘Boyd, I think this board is loose.’

He joined her. ‘Yep, it is. Will I get Mooney to come up?’

She wanted to see for herself, but knew Mooney was the one to do it in case they found something that provided evidence. Chain of custody was crucial.

‘Yeah, do.’

She sat on the edge of the bed and waited.

‘The back door was shimmied,’ Mooney said when he shuffled into the small bedroom. ‘I think it’s time you two left this to me.’

‘We’ll move out of your way,’ Lottie said reluctantly, hating not to be the one to do this.

‘I’ve never met a more persistent person in my life.’

He pressed hard on the loose timber and it sprang back. He lifted the board to reveal a small opening. ‘Better not be a mouse nest,’ he said.

Lottie shuddered. ‘Better not or I’m out of here.’

‘Ah-ha. Now I know how to get rid of you,’ Mooney said. He shone a thin flashlight into the opening. ‘I’ll be damned, you were right. These must be Assumpta’s notebooks. I’m not touching or removing them until I get someone to take photos.’

‘I can take photos on my phone,’ Lottie chanced.

‘You could, but you won’t.’

Lottie didn’t want to leave until the SOCOs arrived. Irritated at not being allowed in on the find, she launched into a rant.

‘It’s not fair. I want to know what she wrote,’ she said, marching around outside on the footpath.

‘Forget it.’ Boyd took her car keys. ‘Let’s go to Grace and Bryan’s place.’

‘You do know I’m not welcome there?’

‘For fuck’s sake, Lottie, will you do what you’re told for once in your life?’

‘Jesus, you’d think I was a five-year-old.’

‘You’re bloody well acting like one. Get in.’

‘I’d rather just go to the hotel.’

‘You’ll do what you’re told or I’m calling a taxi for myself.’

‘Fine, then.’

She got in without further protest and opened the glove box. She found a packet of paracetamol and took two, then rested her head on the side window and closed her eyes.

When the car stopped, she was jolted awake outside the farmhouse. She was raging with herself for having fallen asleep.