‘What?’ Tilly gave a sad crack of mirth. ‘That’s funny, it really is. Tax was the least of it. Gerry owed money all over. I had no idea. Some men came to see me – to threaten me actually. It turned out that the boat wasn’t his. I had to sell it and our home in Cairns, and it still wasn’t enough to cover his debts. Thank God my name wasn’t on the business or I’d be liable for the rest. So no, I doubt he was cheating the tax man. Anyway, Gerry wasn’t like that. His catch was legal, he was as honest as anyone else, so why they would even suspect . . .? That’s what makes the whole thing so weird. And those photos? Why would Burns suppose I’d know anything about those men?’

‘I don’t know. Only you said it was your boat in the pic, didn’t you? Maybe he can’t find anybody else to ask. How many people live on the river?’

‘Hundreds!’ Tilly said tersely. ‘Through the season, that is. Besides the regular commercial fishermen like Gerry, the place was always overrun with anglers, all trying to catch a barra. They never stay long and they change all the time, so whoever took those pictures was probably snapping grocers and mechanics and bank managers, not terrorists, if that’s what Burns thinks they are.’

He frowned. ‘Why would they be terrorists?’

‘Well, terrorists, drug runners – I don’t know. Whatever the flavour of the month in cop-land is, I suppose. Anyway,’ she said, standing up, ‘I have to get on.’ She pushed her chair in, then paused in the act of turning away. ‘I’ve been meaning to ask – have you found your tree orchids yet?’

‘What? Oh, not yet. Well, there was one maybe, but it was pretty high up and branches were in the way. I couldn’t get a clear view.’

‘That’s too bad,’ Tilly said. ‘When you find one, I wish you’d take a photo. I’d just love to see it. There were a lot of orchids in Cairns, but mainly the big showy ones – cymbidiums and cattleyas. They’re lovely, of course, but it would be great to get a look at some of our native ones.’

‘I’ll have to see what I can do then. Payment for all the cake.’ Connor raised his brows.

‘Thanks.’ She managed a wan smile. ‘Orchids are my favourite flowers. Even the weird-looking ones.’

Sophie, learning of the sergeant’s return, was annoyed. ‘It amounts to harassment,’ she said. ‘I’ve a good mind to complain on your behalf.’