‘So what do we do now?’ asked Chandler. ‘What else do you need to know?’

‘What I need to know, Sergeant, are all possible ways in and out of town.’

‘You can see that on the map. Why don’t you use your laser pointer?’

‘Yes, but I want to know from you which are the most viable. Draw them up and get them to me. Show me how a rat gets in and out of town with the least chance of being noticed.’

‘Gabriel won’t know them; he’s from Perth or that direction. You know those runs better than him.’

Mitch stayed quiet for a second, taking a breath. ‘Okay. I’ll put it a different way. Let’s assume he does know. Let’s assume he is a rat. Find out how best he could get out, Sergeant. Come back to me when you do.’

And that was that. Mitch stopped talking and flicked his eyes towards the door.

Chandler took the hint, glad to get out of there. The office was empty, the ants having fled the nest to begin their hunt for prey. At the front desk Nick looked disturbed but eager.

‘And that’s Mitch,’ said Chandler.

‘He’s very . . . serious,’ offered his young constable, pausing to find the right word.

‘It’s the badge talking,’ said Chandler. He wanted to believe that the old, semi-reckless teenager resided within Mitch somewhere.

‘At least he’s getting things moving,’ said Nick, before backtracking. ‘Not that you weren’t as well, Sarge, it’s just that he’s brought more people and . . .’

It was obvious that his constable was impressed with the display of authority.

‘It’s okay, Nick. Just do what he says . . . if he ever talks to you.’

With his own computer shoved into the corner of Mitch’s new command centre, Chandler logged on to Tanya’s and brought up a map of the town. He quickly discovered that there were no end of rabbit holes that might have shielded Gabriel’s route out. The back of Fraser Street and down into the storm drain; Yoppy’s Lane behind the football field; Rose Avenue; Lincoln Street; even the alley behind Cook if he were sneaky enough. He drew them all up, red lines sprouting from the hotel like lava flows and brought them to his superior.

Mitch was leaning back in Chandler’s chair, the smile on his face confirming his delight at watching his former partner do his bidding.

‘This is what we’ve got,’ said Chandler. ‘Plenty of ways in and out. Jim’s here,’ he continued, pointing at the image projected on the wall with his finger and trying not to be blinded by the glare of the bulb. ‘Tanya here, Luka here. State are on 95 and 138. The hotel he absconded from is the Gardner’s Palace, which is—’

‘I know where it is.’