As Chandler eased Gabriel inside the station, Nick’s jaw dropped and he sprang up from his chair, which slammed into the already marked wall.

Chandler allowed himself a small smile. The win felt good, Mitch scouring Turtle’s farm for clues to Gabriel’s whereabouts while he had the real thing under arrest.

‘Where did you find him?’ said Nick, scrabbling for the paperwork to fill in but keeping his eyes on the second potential serial killer they had apprehended today.

‘Fell into my lap.’

He looked around the station for Mitch’s two minions, Bill and Ben, or whatever their names were. Nick anticipated his question.

‘The inspector radioed in and told them to head up to Turtle’s. Said you were on the way back to cover for them. I’m glad you’re here. I was getting lonely.’

‘Where’s Heath?’ asked Gabriel, nerves causing him to shake at the end of Chandler’s arm.

‘In the cells.’

‘Don’t put me in there too.’

‘We have to. For the time being,’ said Chandler. ‘Cell number three, Nick.’

‘And where is he?’

‘Not cell number three,’ said Nick.

‘Oh,’ said Gabriel. Chandler continued to feel the tremor reverberate through his captive as Gabriel looked at him. ‘I’m sorry about earlier, Sergeant. Getting worked up and that. I was just so scared . . .’ Gabriel trailed off.

‘You won’t be in the cells long,’ said Chandler.

‘Good.’ The worry in his suspect’s face seemed to ease. ‘You’ll release me?’

‘No. We need to question you again.’

The worry returned. ‘Why? You already have my story. It hasn’t changed.’

‘We’ll need it again. In more depth.’

‘What do you mean?’ said Gabriel, frowning.

‘We’ll clear that up later.’

‘Okay. You’re sure he’s secure?’

‘As secure as you’ll be in a minute,’ said Chandler. His prisoner shivered with nerves. ‘Can’t we do the interview somewhere else, like back at that hotel?’

‘Not after last time,’ said Chandler, sternly. He wasn’t going to fall for that again. If he did he may as well resign on the spot rather than wait for Mitch to kick him out of town.

‘I won’t run.’

‘Doesn’t matter. All our recording equipment is here. And so are you,’ said Chandler, adding, ‘Relax. You’re under no threat now.’

Gabriel winced, the deep wrinkles ageing his face in an instant. ‘When you’ve been drugged, captured, chased through the outback and told to your face that you’re going to be murdered, there’s threat everywhere, Sergeant. A killer in every shadow.’

Gritting his teeth, Gabriel closed his eyes. He inhaled deeply through his nose. ‘But I’m ready to face him if I need to.’

‘You won’t need to face him,’ said Chandler, leading him towards the door to the cells. ‘Just answer a few questions.’