Chandler felt the warm glow turn into anger. She had him again. He couldn’t let the mother of his kids walk around with Gabriel out there somewhere. Unlocking the door, he pushed it open.

‘Get in. But don’t talk.’

Teri offered no promises and slid inside.

As he drove to his folks’ place, she talked about how much the piece-of-shit town hadn’t changed, throwing up her hands in anger and frustration that she had to be here at all, a primeval, instinctual mannerism to make herself look bigger than she was, her green eyes flashing, teeth bared for action.

He dumped her off with his parents, both sides affronted at this turn of events. As ever, Teri couldn’t modulate the volume of her voice, waking the kids who sprinted into her arms for a hug. Chandler listened as Teri promised that she would protect them. When Jasper asked from what, she said from the tickle monster and chased him around the kitchen. Chandler’s mum and dad looked at him for an explanation, his dad not making an effort to hide the gun. Chandler merely told them that he had to go.

41

Despite the numerous orders to disperse, the reporters remained outside the station, trying to work their way inside like semi-sentient zombies. Mitch had returned, conducting the symphony, running through leads phoned in by his team and by locals, more in charge than Chandler ever had been. He even had Nick and Luka working efficiently.

Chandler entered Mitch’s office.

‘Mitch?’

Mitch flinched at the informal addressing but didn’t retaliate.

‘I need to talk to you,’ continued Chandler.

Grabbing another set of papers from the cluttered desk Mitch pretended to read them.

‘I have a theory about the victims,’ Chandler said, undeterred. Mitch turned another page, disinterested. ‘The names of his victims: they’re all linked to the Bible, somehow. Some religious angle he’s following,’ said Chandler. ‘Something he mentioned earlier about being let down as a child – by his parents and religion.’

For a moment Mitch continued to pretend to read before he finally acknowledged Chandler’s presence – by waving the bunch of reports in his face.

‘Forget your theories, Sergeant, and check these out first.’

‘You’ve got a team for that,’ said Chandler.

‘Which you’re part of.’

Chandler stifled a laugh. ‘I’m on the bench, at best. Where you put me. And by the way Teri’s made it to town in case you were wondering. The Camry ran out of juice and she hiked to mine. She said she was trying to get in touch with her boyfriend.’

Leaving Mitch with his unchecked reports Chandler went to the cells and sat outside Heath’s, hoping to confirm something with the victim.

‘Mr Barwell?’

There was no answer. No one wanted to talk to him it seemed.

‘Did Gabriel seem like a religious man to you?’

Still no response.