Page 60 of On the Edge

‘Have a seat.’

‘Why are you doing this to me?’

He shook his head.‘I’m not doing anythingto you.You think I can write an article about the lighthouse and not mention Maddie Marshall?Or you?I’m a journalist, Nel.I write the truth, and right now, what I wrote in that article is all we know about what happened to Maddie.’

Nel covered her face with her hands.They sat silent for a few minutes, then she looked up.‘When you came into the clinic, you said you were looking into the case.’

Trent nodded.

‘Well?What have you found?’

‘Maddie discovered she was pregnant shortly before she died.’He watched her closely.‘You knew?’

‘I just found out.It was in her medical file.How do you know?’

‘I have a contact who was involved in the investigation.’

Nel’s mind raced.‘Frisk?’He shrugged.

‘So the cops knew.How?’

‘Your father came forward.He said he’d done a blood test a few days before Maddie disappeared.The results were faxed through on Friday the twenty-second, before her body was found, but the clinic was closed due to the search so he didn’t see them until he went in on Monday the twenty-fifth.’

‘Was it Frisk—sorry,your contact—who told you about the missing ring?’

‘No, I got an anonymous tip about that,’ Trent said.He narrowed his eyes.‘I thought it might have been from you?’

‘Me?’

He held her gaze for a moment, as though he was deciding what to make of her denial.‘What were you and Jimmy doing at the lookout?’

Nel hesitated, then decided she might as well tell him.‘We were stepping back through what we know about that night.’

Trent raised his eyebrows.

‘What?’she asked.

‘Nothing, it’s just … I’m surprised Jimmy’s getting involved in this.’

‘Why?’

‘I would have thought he’d be playing a straight bat after what happened in Wollongong.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He hasn’t told you?’

‘Told me what?What did he do in Wollongong?’

Trent shook his head.‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.I thought you knew.’

Chapter 38

Jimmy rang that night as Nel was unpacking the groceries she’d picked up after work.

‘I know we’re not meant to be talking about Maddie, but I’ve got some news,’ he said when she answered the phone.

‘Yeah, me too.’