The door flew open, and a man who looked to be in his early forties came in. Dressed in a Wallabies jersey, jeans and runners, his blond-turning-silver-grey hair was damp and brushed back off his face. ‘Detectives.’ Dan Lorrimer looked from Ryder to Flowers. ‘Kristin said you wanted to see me—something about Art.’

‘Yes. You might want to sit down,’ Flowers said.

‘Oh God,’ Lorrimer said quietly, but he did as Flowers suggested and sat in a stiff, upright chair while waving them towards a comfortable-looking sofa. ‘Please, take a seat.’

Flowers sank into a lounge covered in oversized cushions so plush he doubted he’d be able to get up again. Ryder remained standing.

Flowers cleared his throat. ‘I regret having to inform you that a plane, piloted by your brother, Arthur, crashed on Khancoban Airport just after ten o’clock last night. I’m sorry, but your brother didn’t survive the accident.’

‘Oh my God, are you certain it’s Art?’ Lorrimer asked. ‘Has someone identified him already?’

Flowers heard Harriet’s voice in his head. We’ll need more time with this one. We’re going to be scraping him off here.

‘The plane caught fire,’ Flowers said quietly. ‘He’ll need to be identified by DNA.’

‘So, you can’t be certain it’s him? I’m sorry, it’s just that Art rarely comes home.’

‘The plane was a Cessna 210. Your brother did communicate with the airport yesterday afternoon.’

‘Jesus.’ Lorrimer rubbed a hand over his forehead then looked up as Kristin came into the room. ‘Art’s dead,’ he told her, his face drained of colour.

Kristin moved towards her husband. She’d changed into black leggings and an oversized jumper, but her feet were bare. She sat on the floor beside his chair, crossing her legs in a yoga pose and looking to him for an explanation rather than to Flowers or Ryder.

‘He’s been killed in a plane crash,’ Lorrimer said, his voice shaky.

‘You didn’t know he was flying in?’ Ryder spoke for the first time.

Lorrimer shook his head. ‘I had no idea.’

‘Maybe he was going to surprise you,’ Flowers suggested. When Lorrimer didn’t comment, he asked, ‘Is there anyone from the old days he’s still friendly with? A good mate he might have called?’

‘I wouldn’t know who Art associates with anymore,’ Lorrimer said quickly. ‘He’s been gone a long time.’

‘Well, if anyone comes to mind, please let us know. We’re trying to work out where he was going to stay.’

‘Yes, I’ll do that.’

‘We’ll have to let Heidi know,’ Kristin said suddenly.

‘And Ethan,’ Lorrimer added.

‘Heidi’s your sister?’ Flowers asked.

‘Yes, she and Art are twins. Oh God.’ Lorrimer shook his head. ‘This is going to be hard on Heidi.’

‘Heidi still lives here at the property?’ asked Flowers.

Kristin raised an eyebrow. ‘When it suits her.’