Kellaher stared at Hirsch awhile with fathomless eyes. It was an old interrogation trick, one that, from some people, was difficult to wait out. Remorseless, distant, exposing your faults. Hirsch faltered: he glanced at Dock, who gave him the ghost of a sharkish smile. Both men wanted to unsettle him, in their different ways. Hirsch began to feel that an air of suspicion hung over everything he’d said and done or would say and do.

When Kellaher finally spoke his voice was hushed and intense. ‘I understand you had a history with the dead woman and her family?’

‘Not as such, sir. I met her briefly, with her youngest child.’

‘Explain.’

Hirsch began by describing the toddler-in-the-car incident, then readied his phone to replay the recording he’d made on the way to the hospital. ‘You’ll hear my voice, the voice of the woman known to me as Denise Rennie—and Doctor Pillai. And briefly the child singing.’

They listened. Hirsch paused the recording. ‘Two things: she mentioned her husband, but none of the other children. And the address she gave me was false, as I found out a few days later, when I tried to find it.’

Dock said harshly, ‘Any reason why you tried to find it?’

‘My job,’ Hirsch said mildly. ‘I make two long-range patrols each week, checking up on people.’

With a look at Dock, the inspector said, ‘And what did you make of that, Constable Hirschhausen?’

Hirsch was intrigued. Kellaher seemed to be inviting him to give his five cents’ worth. As he thought about his answer, phones rang behind him, voices called, someone laughed.

He drew a breath. Said, ‘Given what’s happened, her earlier behaviour seems significant. Also, the request for a welfare check came directly to Sergeant Brandl’s mobile from police headquarters in Sydney. As if they already knew who to contact if the family disappeared from the radar. It all seems to indicate the family was in hiding.’

‘A tidy line of logic,’ Dock said, still twinkling on Hirsch’s flank.

Kellaher gave an almost undetectable grimace. Straight-bat player, Hirsch decided. But how far to trust him? ‘Sir, is there a husband or boyfriend? Were they hiding from him?’

‘Can’t tell you—because I don’t know. I’m hoping for answers when officers from Sydney get here later today.’

‘Witness protection, maybe?’ said Hirsch.

‘Constable, I don’t know. What else can you tell me?’

Hirsch suspected the two men did know at least a little more. They were probably receiving updates from their Homicide Squad colleagues at the kill house, too. He changed tack. ‘It could be that Mrs Rennie was recognised from a YouTube clip I, ah, starred in.’

Kellaher wasn’t amused. ‘It’s certainly possible.’

So, he’s seen the clip, Hirsch thought. ‘And someone recognised her and came looking.’

‘Do you feel some responsibility, Constable Hirschhausen?’ Dock said.