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I want it to mean something.

Declan had left for The Mount, but his words settled deep inside me.

I was silent and dazed, making a cup a tea for Mum and Dad who were watching golf on TV. My head was spinning with searing images of kissing up against a tree and trying not to add details to what followed because my parents were in the next room.

A text from Kui jolted me. Calling you about Janey . I hurried over to the TV room, leaned in, gave Mum a look, and we took it outside.

“Bad news,” Kui said on speakerphone. “I just talked to my niece at the police station. Apparently, Thatcher Bell is leaving tomorrow on an overseas sabbatical. Something to do with outrigger racing.”

Shit, I’ll have to get over there now. My heart raced. What would Declan say? He was talking to his contact about what Mr.Otto had told us and giving instructions to his team. As a precaution, they’d agreed to turn off their phones.

He was out of contact, so it was impossible to know how he’d react. Guilt poked me in the ribs, but I ignored it. I had to act now. And, of course, I’d be careful this didn’t bleed into our heroin investigation.

“I’ll have to leave it until he gets back,” I said, pretending to be resigned to the delay. I couldn’t involve Kui, Mum, or Bevan in the next step. This guy had everything to lose.