‘It’s happened before.’ Flowers unlocked the car and slid in behind the wheel. ‘There were a few fishing boats in the marina, and yet Lorrimer kept his in the garage. He could take the boat out and slip it anywhere.’

‘Maybe he doesn’t want to pay the marina fees,’ said Ryder.

‘Maybe.’

‘I’ll look into it.’ Ryder pulled the seatbelt across his chest and clicked it in. ‘Let’s say he is hauling in something besides fish. He goes home, puts it in one of those duffle bags, drives to the airport and from there he can transport it anywhere.’

‘He’s been done for possession before.’

Ryder was quiet for a bit. ‘Once I get a copy of his flight log this afternoon, I’ll look for patterns and recurring destinations. Let’s go meet the ex.’

Ten minutes later, Dawn Fleming led them into the front room of her home. Stockily built, with short red hair and wearing rimless glasses, she held a swaddled baby in her arms and gave them a friendly smile. ‘Would you like to have a look at Mabel before you sit down?’

Flowers glanced at Ryder then nodded. ‘Sure.’

Dawn gently lifted back the edge of a soft white shawl to show them the baby. ‘I’m a home carer.’

‘Oh wow!’ Flowers gazed in wonder at a tiny koala the size of his hand. Blissfully asleep, the young joey was clinging to the furry back of a toy koala three times its size. ‘That’s so cool.’

‘How do you become a home carer?’ Ryder asked, looking as smitten as Flowers felt.

‘Through the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary,’ Dawn said, sitting down and inviting them to do the same. ‘Her mother was killed on the road, so I took a few weeks’ leave from work to look after her. The sanctuary can’t take them all.’

‘Will they take her when they have space?’ asked Flowers.

‘No, most of the ones in the sanctuary will be there for life because of blindness or a head injury from being hit on the road or falling out of a tree. Mabel will be released where she was found when she’s big enough. The koala’s digestive system grows accustomed to the gum leaves in their area, they won’t eat if you return them to a different one.’

‘That’s something everyone should know,’ said Flowers. People like Dawn restored Flowers’ faith in humankind. If he hadn’t been on a tight schedule to make his flight, he would have liked to learn more about the sanctuary, but Ryder wanted him back in Thredbo so someone was close to Sterling.

‘You said on the phone you wanted to talk about Art,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe you think he was murdered. It’s so upsetting.’

‘Yes, I’m sorry,’ said Flowers. ‘A pilot at Pokolbin gave us your name, though he did stress you were a former partner.’