Fox was last sighted at Merrigang Primary School on Monday, 16 September. Concerns are held for her welfare.

Anyone who has seen Fox or who has any information about her whereabouts is urged to contact ACT Policing.

46 BRENDAN

46

BRENDAN

‘BRENDAN, TWO POLICEMEN ARE HERE TO TALK TO YOU.’

His mother’s voice rang out from the front hallway. That same singsong voice she used when speaking to kids at her childcare centre. Brendan had forgotten that annoying trait. Tossing Snowboarder Magazine back on the bed, he checked himself in the bedroom mirror. A big square of white bandage still covered the stitches in the middle of his forehead. Smoothing down his t-shirt and jeans, he sent up a silent wish. Let this be over soon. He’d get the police onto a different topic, ask them about victim compensation. He’d already paid for his accommodation in the snow; the hotel wouldn’t refund it but maybe Jeff could take his place and pay him back. If he got some compo as well, he could double up. That’d be sweet.

In his parents’ good room, the two policemen stood waiting: older coppers with faces wrinkled from both the sun and the cold. These guys were New South Wales police—would they know about victim compensation in Canberra? Stupid how these things differed between states. It was the same with education: different systems when you stepped across state borders.

Brendan shook hands with the men, offered them a seat and then launched straight in.

‘Can you tell me if the protection order against Dr Parker has been filed?’ he asked. ‘I don’t want to go back to Canberra until it’s in place.’

What would the doctor do if he found out that Brendan had picked up his teenage daughter in the car, taken her to a party and given her drugs? When Brendan had recognised Tory’s photo in the newspaper that morning, he’d nearly shat himself. And the frigging friend kept texting him; he had to get rid of that phone.

‘Mr Parrish, we can’t speak to you about the protection order,’ said the one with grey hair, Sergeant Simpson. ‘We’re here on a different matter. One of your students, Fox Hensley, has been reported missing.’

Oh fuck. Brendan shoved his hands under his thighs to stop them shaking.

‘That girl’s always running away. Have they checked with the local shops?’ The words poured out in a rush. ‘She usually goes up there to steal lollies and chips.’

‘Fox has been missing for a week, sir.’

Brendan screwed up his face, sending a spasm of pain across his forehead.

‘When did you last see her, Mr Parrish?’

Cold sweat prickled under his arms and around his groin. He focused on the wedding photo of Lynette and Trevor on the mantelpiece.