‘I’ll leave Dad at the entrance arch,’ I said. ‘He won’t be coming to talk to you. That’s just me. If he does try to approach you, stay out of his way. Run if you have to. But I don’t think he will, I think he’s got more sense than that.’ I hoped so, but I couldn’t guarantee it. ‘I’ll walk in a couple of hundred metres to where the park is emptiest. Meet me there.’ I wanted plenty of room, so that we could see if anyone or anything approached. ‘You are here, aren’t you, Aiden?’

‘I’m here.’

‘Good. I’m walking now.’

I hung up and turned to Dad. ‘Stay here. Any move and we’ll both be gone. I’m having a conversation with my brother. After that, he may want to talk to you. Then again, he may not. Either way, we’ll respect his wishes.’

Dad just nodded. He looked worried and scared and defeated all at the same time. That suited me. That’s exactly how I wanted him to be. I turned and headed into the park.

The sun was already intense and the humidity was off the scale, a consequence of last night’s storm, which was severe even by Sydney standards. I wiped sweat from my forehead and scanned the park. I didn’t see Aiden until I’d stopped in the very middle of a clearing, the nearest tree maybe sixty or seventy metres away. He stepped out from behind one of them and started walking towards me. I was expecting to see the yellow dress, but he had different clothes on. Maybe he’d stolen some … but then I saw Xena and a couple of her gang appear from behind neighbouring trees. She held Zorro in her arms and watched as my brother approached me. He’d found them. They’d given him clothing and shelter. I felt one worry melt away. Trouble was, there were so many others and they were solid and enduring.

Aiden stopped a metre away. He glanced over my shoulder, checking out Dad, I guessed. He seemed in much better shape this morning. When I’d rung last night he’d been tearful, on the verge of a breakdown. Now he was … cool. Thinking. Analysing. It was better this way.

I pointed over his shoulder. ‘You should tell Xena and the others that they need to find another activity. Standing around looking threatening is getting a bit old.’

Aiden didn’t smile.

‘I thought all this might have been some elaborate sibling joke, Ash,’ he said. ‘But Dad is behind you, so I guess he puts paid to that idea.’

‘I wish it was a joke. It isn’t.’

‘So tell me.’