‘I know they won’t let us look, Uncle, but maybe it’s time we just did what we had to? Isn’t that where Laney went in the first place?’ His face darkens as I remind him of all the reasons he is furious with me.

Mum intervenes. ‘Not accordin to Troy.’ She pulls the map closer and points at a different property. I can’t remember the name of this one but it shares the Potter’s western border. ‘This is where he told the cops they parked, then they walked over onto the Potters’ place. We’ve been all over there but.’

‘That’s not what Tyrone told Rhi.’ I frown. ‘He told her they were near the m—’ I look up into Uncle’s face and change tack. ‘Place we shouldn’t go. But Dan Potter and Mick Franks said something … about too many blackfullas out there lately?’

I can’t look at Uncle but I swear he’s snarling under his breath.

‘Daughter, if we’re gonna go near that place, you need to be sure.’ Mum doesn’t have to spell out the danger.

I try to remember but the specifics just won’t come. ‘I’d have to ask Rhi to be sure.’

‘Give her a ring, quick.’

I bolt to the house phone that’s stashed in a corner of the dining room and call Aunty Mel’s number. The hectic sound of kids going mad floods my ears.

‘Oi, what’s up?’ Rhi’s voice throws me right off.

‘That’s how you answer the phone?’

‘We got caller ID now, cuzzie.’ Rhi laughs. ‘So what’s up? Quick, I’m in the middle of feedin the kids.’

Aunty Mel has a fair few of them and Rhi is the oldest so she’s always busy round this time.

‘Do ya memba what Mick said bout blackfullas being out there?’

‘Something about settin a example to stop more blacks goin there?’

My memory jolts. ‘Boongs and their bombs! Thanks, cuz!’

I hang up as she shouts something.

‘Rhi said Mick went on about too many blackfullas bein out there and how they needed to set another example to stop them comin out in their bombs. Why would they talk about the car if Troy and his mob hadn’t been there?’ Folding my arms I dare them to tell me I’m wrong. I can see their hesitation.

Mum puts her head in her hands. ‘Why there of all places?’

‘We can’t go out there, Al.’ Uncle is tense and I see something I never thought I’d see. Uncle Joe is scared, really scared.

‘Not us, but the cops could.’ Mum’s head comes back up. ‘We’re goin to Mundubbera, Joe, right now.’

‘How do we get them to look in the right place?’ He isn’t trying to poke holes, I can see that, but he is pissing Mum off.