‘Jasper? No! Why would I want him to help? He doesn’t know . . . he’s a . . . he’d just mess things up.’ She sounded horrified at the thought.

‘Ask him for me. I know he’d want to help.’

‘But what help could he—?’

‘Anything,’ interrupted Chandler. ‘Just so he doesn’t feel left out.’

There was a pause, a huffed breath, the indignity seeping from the receiver. ‘Okay, something,’ she said, then added, ‘Dad?’

‘Yes, honey.’

‘When are you coming home?’

‘I’m not sure. Maybe not tonight.’

‘Why not?’

‘Something’s come up.’

‘Oh. Okay.’

And that was that. The disappointment at her father not coming home easily overcome. He was disgusted that she was so used to his absence she didn’t even question it. No wonder Teri had brought a custody case against him. He wouldn’t admit it to her but she was right, he did spend too much time at work. But what Teri failed to grasp was that he was in charge of a small force with a large area to cover. A valid excuse. Plus the fact that they were a man down after Bill’s retirement last year. Another excuse that may not fly when it got to court. But that was a battle for another day. A quieter day.

‘Daddy?’ It was Jasper. How long had his mind drifted? Chandler scolded himself that he couldn’t even manage to give them his full attention during a five-minute phone call.

‘Yeah, I’m still here, Jasper.’

In his head he pictured his son at the other end of the receiver. Nine years old and only just brushing four and a half foot, his hair a briar untamed by brush or gel. Only a liberal dose of water anchored it down sufficiently enough to plaster it into shape.

‘I seen the go-kart in the garage today. Can we take it out when you come back?’

The go-kart had been last summer’s project. It already seemed like years ago. Since summer’s end it had been sitting in the back of the garage waiting to grab the boy’s attention again.

Chandler thought about getting him to ask Grandpa, but let it slide. Keep them inside, he reminded himself. He need not have worried. Jasper had already squelched that option.

‘Grandpa’s no good. He’s too old. He can’t push me around. He gets tired too easy.’

Chandler smiled at how angry Grandpa would be if he heard that. ‘Yes, don’t you go making him run around after you. I already warned you about that.’

‘Yes, Daddy.’

Chandler glanced at the front desk. Nick remained on the phone. ‘Now get Nanna or Grandpa for me, will you please?’

‘Okay. Bye, Daddy.’

‘Bye, Jasper.’

There was an immediate rustle of the receiver. His mum’s voice seared across the wires, already on the warpath.

‘So you’re not coming back?’

‘How much did you hear?’