Seeking to get ahead of the game, Chandler brought up computer-generated maps to get an idea of the area they needed to cover. On the screen it looked viable for a small team, contour lines and markings scattered sparsely over the map, but the dog-eared paper copies spread across the meeting table confirmed the sheer size and expanse of the region. There might be nothing up there, but there was an awful lot of nothing.

‘You’re going to have to call HQ,’ said Tanya.

Chandler knew that. He also knew what it would entail. HQ meant Port Hedland. And Port Hedland meant Mitch.

‘I know.’

‘We’ll need at least . . . twenty, don’t you think?’ said Luka, immediately making it obvious that he had never set foot on the Hill.

‘Triple that unless we strike lucky,’ said Chandler. He looked to Tanya. ‘See if we can get a chopper or a set of wings up today. Get them to eyeball for anything unusual, maybe narrow the area down.’ He turned to Luka. ‘Luka . . . check up on the name Heath, any criminals with that forename. Or surname. Focus on anyone charged or convicted for murder or assault. Get me all the info you can.’

Orders given, the officers went. That left Chandler with a task he was dreading. Involving Mitch. A task that would reduce his role from leader to assistant. But if Gabriel was correct, then they had a serious criminal on the loose. He needed support to surround the area, erect roadblocks to contain the suspect, as well as organize a search of the Hill and nearby farms. It was too much for five officers on their own.

He reached for the phone but was interrupted by a cry from the main office. Nick’s Melbourne drawl swooped through the air like a foreign language.

‘Zero-zero-one, Sarge.’

An inside joke, code for a call from his mum. Chandler was her personal emergency service. Most likely Dad attempting something she didn’t like. Given it was summer he was probably trying to haul the large rubber pool from the garage to the backyard. Another of Chandler’s jobs. In exchange for free babysitting.

‘What’s it about, Nick?’ asked Chandler. He could do without the distraction right now. The stifled chuckle might have been imagined but it was enough to irritate him.

‘Something to do with Sarah.’

‘Right, put her through.’

Chandler answered halfway through the first ring.

‘Chandler?’

‘Yes, it’s me, Mum.’ He sighed.

‘What’s with your new boy’s accent, I thought I’d phoned the wrong place.’

‘You phone twice a day, Mum.’

‘No, I don’t.’

Though her voice was soft, she stated everything with the confidence of a woman who knew her standing in the world and was content with it. Chandler decided to back down. He didn’t need to get into a pointless argument.

‘What’s wrong with Sarah?’