She smiled, happy memories of her father teaching her to waterski coming to mind. These days her racing boat was stored at a friend’s property on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, along with her caravan. While she no longer raced herself, she loved driving the boat for the next generation, and being involved in the sport she loved.

Reluctant to cool down too much, she turned away with a pang of longing and broke into an easy jog. Hugging the shoreline, she thought back to her meeting with Ryder when he’d pitched the idea of her coming to Khancoban.

‘We think you’re a good fit for this assignment. You’re not known in the area, and you’re a young-looking thirty-two, the perfect age to spend a season in the snow and mix with a lot of people. Have you ever spent time there? I know you’re an ace waterskier.’

‘Waterskiing’s nothing like snow skiing. I’ve snowboarded a couple of times.’

‘Any good? Come on, Sterling, don’t be modest.’

‘I found it pretty easy.’

‘Do you think you could handle the weather?’

‘Sure.’

‘Good. Well, we’re only talking about it at this stage, but you might want to think about throwing your hat in the ring if we decide it’s a goer.’

She’d accepted the assignment, fearful of another sideways shift if she refused. Not that she thought Ryder would do that to her, the sarge was awesome, but he kept saying we, and she knew people higher up the chain of command were involved. People she didn’t know or trust. Any one of them could be like her old boss, or her ex-police partner, Rob, in Taree.

Memories of that horrible day replayed in her mind.

‘Sterling.’ Rob hitched a thumb over his shoulder. ‘The inspector wants you in his office.’

‘What about?’

He shrugged and sat down at his desk while Sterling hurried to the inspector’s office, tapping lightly on the door.

‘Come in, Sterling. Look, what’s happened here?’ he asked, not inviting her to sit, just sliding a report across the desk to her.

Sterling picked it up and ran her eyes down the page. It was the report she’d written from the warehouse job Rob had given her. ‘I’m sorry, Inspector, I don’t understand.’

‘There are cameras at that location.’

‘No, Sir, there aren’t.’

‘I’m telling you there are,’ he said insistently, his eyes on her. ‘How do you explain it?’

Sterling’s heart began to thunder. ‘When we arrived at the warehouses, I asked my partner if he wanted me to go and locate the security cameras. He told me not to worry about it, that he knew the spot well and there were no cameras there.’

‘Well, that’s wrong, and you’ve written the report, Sterling. You’ve put your name to it.’