With a shake of his head, Tobey sighed, my persistence finally wearing him down. ‘He’s checking out a couple of my suggestions, starting with Owen Dowd. Dowd’s the only other person besides Eva who would know where Troy and Libby are, though taking them would bring him no advantage. First of all, how would he even know about my daughter? And, if he had learned of her existence, why would he want me out of the way? Dan would be his target, not me. If he thought I was responsible for Dan’s demise, he’d be more likely to send me a Crossmas hamper than try and put my arse in prison.’

I nodded. That made sense.

‘Jon said he’d join us after he’s spoken to Dowd. In the meantime, we’ll go and talk to Shane.’

‘Why would Owen Dowd answer any of Jon’s questions?’ I asked with a frown. Owen and Dan Jeavons were two sides of the same coin – ruthless and mercenary. So why would Owen help Jon, unless there was something in it for him?

‘Jon told me that he can get things done and I believe him,’ said Tobey.

Uh-oh. ‘I don’t allow Jon to break the law when he works for me. Not even a little bit.’

‘That’s why he’s currently reporting back to me,’ said Tobey.

I didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to know what that meant. ‘As PM, aren’t you meant to set a higher standard?’ The judgemental words spilled from my mouth.

Tobey gave me a pointed look. ‘Not at the expense of my daughter. This is precisely why I didn’t want to include you in my conversation with Jon. I wouldn’t want to put you in the position of having to compromise your oh-so-precious ideals.’

‘Meaning?’ I frowned.

‘Well, you never were one to let human faults, failings and frailties get in the way of your principles.’

My mouth fell open. Wow! That was quite some bitch-slap.

A moment of silence, then Tobey said, ‘Do you ever think about the day you found me with Misty? Does it cross your mind once in a while or do you pick at it every day like a scab that never heals?’

Oh hell, no. ‘I’m not going there. Hard pass,’ I declared. ‘Crazy hard pass.’

‘Neither of us will ever get past it if we don’t confront what happened. It’s the great sky-high wall between us.’

‘And you think discussing it after all these years will break down that wall?’

‘God knows I’ve tried everything else.’

Tobey’s vehement words made me start. How dare he make me feel so uncomfortable, as if I was the one in the wrong?

‘You don’t get to do this, Tobey,’ I bristled. ‘You don’t get to turn this round on me like I was the one who screwed you over.’

‘Callie—’