When he got back to Norma’s that night, Gordon applied to become a Justice of the Peace. At one o’clock in the morning, while he was completing the online form, his phone rang. It was Jada from the nursing home, delivering the news that Ron had passed away. Gordon thanked Jada and went to Norma.

Since moving Up North, Gordon has certified a couple of drivers’ licences. Now, with a cheeky smile, Kelly presents him with a passport application. Gordon’s jaw drops.

‘Carl doesn’t have a passport?’

‘Believe it or not, he’s never travelled outside Australia.’

‘I had the impression Paris was his second home. Where’s he going?’

‘Spain. He wants to walk in Cervantes’s footsteps.’

‘Fuck me. The things people will do when they come into money.’ Two weeks after the fire, Carl had emerged from a drug house in the inner western suburbs. To the police’s disappointment, he too had an alibi. Carl had taken Daniel from the cricket match with mischief in mind, but not to The Lodge. They had gone to St Patrick’s College and broken into the sports department, where Daniel defecated on the desk of Mr Ryan Stoyle and Carl photocopied his buttocks then pinned the image to Stoyle’s door. They committed further acts of petty vandalism before heading to the residence of the chaplain, the outside wall of which they had painted with the words Pedos die! Initially, someone had thought it was classical Latin, a first hint that Carl Chidgey might be involved. It was in Northern Beaches English, but the substance of the paint had given away the identity of the authors. When analysed, the paint was found to contain traces of human urine, faeces and semen. Due to his criminal history, Carl’s DNA was on file. Further evidence from a school caretaker confirmed that the vandalism had taken place between four and six o’clock of the afternoon in question. A wharf surveillance camera then showed them sharing a certain Fast Ferry season pass, registered in the name of Douglas Oscar Gilsenan, to travel across the harbour before the fire was lit. It was beyond doubt. Being vandals meant Carl and Daniel could not be arsonists. Daniel pleaded guilty and received a good behaviour bond. Carl contested the charges and received a suspended three-month jail term and a fine of fifteen hundred dollars, plus responsibility for damages amounting to five thousand dollars. Leonie paid his fines for him.

Leonie? She put the Hilton on the auction block and moved back to the Gold Coast to reunite with Tino, her son from her first marriage. Now in his mid-thirties, Tino is recovering from a rough stint in a Thai rehab facility. Leonie has delegated the handling of the Hilton sale to her new legal adviser.

Gordon signs Carl’s passport application.

‘Sure he’s going to get it? He’s got a lot of shit on his record.’