That was when Sophie, contacted by Elaine, had stepped in instead. And now, when her life had shakily resumed its imperfect rhythmn and the scar over her injury was beginning to heal, the day’s visitors had torn it open again, bringing back the full horror of the event – along with the unanswered question she had been too angry and confused at the time to even think of, let alone ask.

Why were the police looking for a dead man?

Chapter Three

The morning came with its wakening chorus of birdcalls, and when Tilly stepped out onto the verandah to view the brightening east, she found Mickey waiting on the balustrade, his throat pulsing with song. ‘You clever thing! How did you get up there?’

As if to answer her, he flapped his lopsided wings and glided down to her feet, cocking his head to look at her with a bright dark eye.

‘All right, food’s on its way. Just let me get the kettle on first.’

She fed him before starting on breakfast. The others were up; she could hear the shower running and one of the men had gone to start the pump, for water suddenly shot from the sprinklers dotted across the grass, startling a flutter of finches off the basin. Mostly double-bars and a few crimsons, she noted: no Gouldians this morning. Breakfast ready, she made lunches for all three, for they would, she knew, be working at the campground today, preparing it for the influx of visitors scheduled from the middle of the month onwards.

Binboona was designated as bush camping, which meant basic showers, fireplaces and compostable toilets. No dogs, cats or generators allowed. The rangers kept the long grass cut around the camping area, supplied firewood and serviced the hot water boilers in the showers. Customers could also book a walking tour with a ranger. These varied from bird-watching strolls beside the river to serious treks into the bush along the edge of the escarpment. Though she had never seen them, Tilly had heard there were springs and caves in the area as well, a vast section of rocky pinnacles known as the Lost City and some rocks where Aboriginal paintings could be seen. These had been fenced off, Sophie had told her, to protect them. They were very old, the ochre in places faded into no more than a shadow on the sandstone.