He fetched it from a stack beneath a window, placed it at the card table and watched Roesch settle herself. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Almost 8 p.m., Hirsch thought: hair immaculate, dress barely wrinkled. She shot him a look, a smile.

Hansen joined them, carrying a fold-up chair that he placed at the card table. Now they were a small, overpopulated island.

‘Go on, Sergeant Dock.’

Dock cleared his throat. ‘In your own words, Constable Hirschhausen, starting with why you went to the location in question.’

Again Hirsch outlined the day’s events, concluding: ‘Whether or not McAuliffe—or whoever he is—shot Mrs Rennie and her son? I don’t know. That’s for others to decide.’

‘He registered under the name McAuliffe?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then let’s call him that. Did you search his room?’

‘No. There’s a team doing that now.’

Roesch interrupted: ‘I’ve had their preliminary findings. A change of clothes in a weekender bag, that’s all.’

‘No rifle?’

‘No rifle.’

Dock turned to Hirsch. ‘Did you search the Audi?’

‘Well, yes…’ Hirsch shifted on the flimsy little chair. ‘I thought if there was a petrol leak…’

Dock waved that aside. ‘What did you find?’

‘Wallet with false ID. No firearm.’

Roesch leaned in. ‘You replaced the wallet?’

‘Yes.’

She shook her head as if frustrated. ‘Did you at least take note of the names?’

Hirsch nodded and took out his phone again. He scrolled through the three licence photographs. ‘I’m betting you know him, senior sergeant.’

A quick glance and Roesch frowned. ‘Vaguely familiar. Rob?’

Hansen leaned in. Shook his head. ‘Don’t know him. Let’s hope his prints are on file.’

That was enough of that. ‘Next question, sergeant?’ said Roesch.

Dock complied. ‘The pistol you found. Could McAuliffe have ditched it?’

Hirsch shook his head. ‘I found it past where he was killed.’

‘The shooter ditched it?’

‘I’d say so.’

Roesch inclined her head towards Dock. ‘Perhaps your people could have a thorough look tomorrow, in case the driver himself ditched anything.’

Dock blushed very slightly. ‘Will do,’ he said.

Hirsch thought of all the kilometres of road between the woolshed and the Audi. With any luck he wouldn’t be part of that particular search.

Dock shifted his attention to Hirsch again. ‘Was there any indication McAuliffe had company with him? An accomplice?’

‘Nothing in his car to suggest it. I haven’t seen his room.’

Roesch cut in again. ‘As I said before: just a weekender bag packed with clothing.’

Dock nodded, accepting that. He said to Hirsch, ‘What about the kids? Any sign they’d been in his car?’

Hirsch shook his head. ‘If he’d snatched and disposed of them, he’d hardly stick around.’

‘Mmm,’ Dock said. ‘So he was sticking around to finish the job, or he was there for some other purpose entirely.’

‘Yes,’ Hirsch said.