Ten minutes later, he turned off the water, rubbing the elbow he’d smacked on the wall and smiling ruefully at the cramped amenities. He was in for more of this when he transferred out west, not that any reservation he had about the move mattered in the slightest. It was a small price to pay for the chance to raise a family in the country with Vanessa. Ryder dressed, shrugged on his coat, and ran a comb through his hair. From memory, Thalia Cooper was a lot like Sergeant Collins. Collins seemed to have everything about rural policing worked out. He knew the townsfolk well, and while he was responsible for keeping Khancoban safe and orderly, he appeared to have struck the right balance of being able to successfully work and live in the community.

Ryder opened the bathroom door. Hopefully, he’d be able to strike that balance too.

‘Sergeant Ryder, nice to see you again,’ Cooper said when he emerged with his bundled-up ski gear tucked under one arm. ‘It’s good to see you making use of our facilities.’

‘And very nice they are too, Sergeant.’

Cooper smiled and walked with him and Flowers to the entrance. ‘I’ve just been telling Detective Flowers I know of Rodney Garrett, though he doesn’t show his face around town very often. I understand he’s a huntin’ shootin’ fishin’ kind of guy—not into snow sports. We don’t see much of the people who live on that property. It’s very secluded, and they keep to themselves. I’d appreciate you letting me know how you go out there.’

‘I will, though we won’t get there until later this afternoon,’ said Ryder. ‘We have an appointment in Cooma first.’

‘You sure get around, Sergeant.’ Cooper opened the station door for them. ‘Take care.’

They left Ryder’s car parked in front of the police station and set off for Cooma together in Flower’s car. ‘How’d the meeting with Sterling go?’ Flowers asked as he turned onto the Snowy Mountains Highway.

‘She’s staying undercover.’ Ryder ran Flowers through his conversation with Sterling. ‘All we can do is wait and see what Heidi Lorrimer does. It’s unlikely to happen today. Sterling has the day off.’

‘That’s good,’ said Flowers, ‘we can relax for a little while.’

The law offices of Thomas and Associates were on the first floor above a local bank in Cooma. The receptionist showed them into a small conference room overlooking the main street and told them Mr Thomas would be with them shortly. Flowers poured himself a glass of water from a jug in the middle of the table while Ryder stretched and went to stand at the window. During winter, the normally quiet streets were bustling with tourists passing through on their way to and from the mountains, skis and boards strapped to their roof racks.