‘Not much, only that someone murdered Scruffy Freidman for turning informant. And Heidi may, or may not, help Sterling get access to drugs. We need to wait and see.’

‘Sterling said something interesting at Perisher. She said her focus had switched from Freidman’s murder to Art’s because Heidi’s a workmate. She’s consciously trying to keep in mind the job she was sent here to do, which is to try to learn something about the drug ring.’

Flowers hitched the blanket higher on his shoulder. ‘I see what she means.’

‘It got me thinking,’ Ryder said. ‘We know Art had a record, and he disappeared because he owed the wrong people money—dangerous people, people not afraid of showing up at the cattle station even when Art’s parents were alive. We’re familiar with crims, we know they have long memories. If they’re still operating down here, this could have been long overdue payback.’

Flowers took a biscuit from the plate Eva had put on the table. ‘Yeah, maybe it’s the only chance they’ve had because he’s never been back.’ Flowers bit into the biscuit, and they were quiet for a while mulling over their thoughts.

‘If you’re right,’ Flowers said, ‘it would mean that the Lorrimers are innocent.’

‘And everyone else.’

The door flew open, and Eva and Jack’s daughter ran in. She pulled up short when she saw them, the small backpack she took to pre-school hanging from her shoulders. Clearly surprised to find them in the kitchen, she put her finger in her mouth and said a quiet hello.

‘Hello, Poppy,’ said Ryder, smiling down at the little girl. ‘How was pre-school?’

‘We read Bluey,’ she said in a voice barely above a whisper.

‘Bluey’s cool,’ said Flowers, picking up the plate. ‘Would you like one of your mum’s biscuits?’

Poppy nodded and took a biscuit as Eva came rushing in. ‘Sorry, she got away from me. I’ll just get her a glass of milk.’

Ryder stood up. ‘We’ll get out of your way, Eva. We can finish up in my suite.’

Eva gave him a grateful smile. ‘Thanks. I should start prepping for dinner.’ She glanced at Flowers. ‘Would you like to stay and eat with us tonight, Mitch?’

Ryder watched as Flowers hesitated.

‘Thanks for the offer, Eva, but I’ll head off as soon as I finish up with the sarge. Once I get home and comfortable, I won’t feel like coming out again.’

‘No worries, I get that, but any night you feel like joining us.’

‘I’ll get around to it, I promise.’ Flowers stood up.

‘Why do you have that on?’ Poppy asked, pulling on the blanket Flowers wore.

‘He likes that colour,’ Ryder said. ‘Suits him, don’t you think?’

Poppy giggled and looked at the lilac-coloured blanket. ‘No.’