Ryder was the only person sitting outside the Pretty Valley kiosk. He’d arrived in time to catch the first lift, then spent twenty minutes having a dodgy ski around, wondering why Vanessa was always so keen to get up for first tracks. Being the first one up the lift this morning hadn’t enhanced his skiing style at all.

Now, as he waited, he kept his helmet and goggles on and looked down at the hot chocolate he’d bought for Sterling, complete with three marshmallows on a stick that looked like a snowman.

The scraping sound of a snowboard close by told him she’d arrived. ‘Any problems on your way here?’ he asked as she propped the snowboard against the bench seat.

‘No. I thought one car was tailing me, so I pulled into the place that sells honey, but it didn’t follow me in.’ She sat down and looked at the hot chocolate in his hand. ‘Nothing like an early-morning sugar rush, hey Sarge?’

He pushed the mug in front of her, keeping his eye on a couple of skiers loading onto the Pretty Valley chairlift. ‘It’s for you.’

‘Thanks, I love these.’

‘I know.’ Ryder stretched out his goggles strap and lifted them onto the front of his helmet. ‘Did you leave the car at Bullocks Flat?’ he asked, squinting in the sudden glare. The day was bright and sunny with little wind, perfect conditions for snow sport enthusiasts.

‘Yep. I caught the ski tube, then walked over from the terminal.’

‘Good. I’m in the Perisher carpark.’ Their separate arrivals gave him confidence they were safe here for a short while. ‘Flowers is updating the case management file then he’s heading into Jindabyne to talk to Sergeant Cooper. We’re trying to get some history on Garrett. Then we’re off to see the lawyer who acts for the Lorrimers.’ Ryder told her about the trust deed and insurance policies.

‘There’s motive there,’ Sterling said in a low voice. ‘I only know Heidi a little. What are the two older brothers like?’

‘Daniel comes across as pretty open,’ Ryder said, keeping an eye on their surroundings as he spoke. ‘His behaviour is typical first-born male. Ethan’s cagier, harder to read. I get the feeling he’s not a people pleaser. They’re different, but they seem to be pretty much aligned on the sale of the property. Honestly, it’s hard to tell. Anyway, we shouldn’t stay here more than ten minutes,’ he said, looking around at the almost deserted runs. ‘Tell me how you are, Sterling.’

She picked up the snowman and bit the head off. ‘I screwed up,’ she said, swallowing the marshmallow. ‘I mixed up the phones and took the wrong one to work.’

Ryder’s hopes plummeted. ‘Did someone borrow it?’