As he’d been checking the empty mall, Victoria called and said they were in Ainslie on the other side of the city. They’d got a lift with ‘some guy to a party’ and now the guys were hassling them. Could Marty pick them up quickly? Christ. The suburb of Ainslie was sort of near the university. Were they hanging out with drunk uni students? He drove there as fast as he could.

Marty realised he was holding his breath when he spotted them standing under a streetlight on the footpath, his own relief reflected in their young faces. Once the girls were cocooned safely in the car, Marty made his short speech about being sensible in a new city.

‘I love you, Dad, you’re the best father ever,’ Victoria cooed.

Marty was stunned into silence. He’d been expecting a tart retort—blah, blah blah, Daddy-o. We’ve heard it all before. He was still deciding how to respond when Kimmy spoke.

‘And I love you, Victoria. You’re the best friend ever.’

Kimmy threw her arms around Victoria and the girls hugged in the back seat. In fact, why had Victoria climbed into the back seat?

‘Have you girls been drinking?’

The teenagers, still entwined in their hug, burst out laughing.

‘Absolutely not!’ Victoria shouted. ‘Don’t you know how bad alcohol is for the developing teenage brain?’

‘Marty …’ Kimmy interrupted. ‘Is it okay if I call you Marty, or would you prefer Dr Marty or Dr Ross? Oops! Not Dr Ross. That’s your old name, isn’t it? Don’t worry, Dr Parker, I won’t tell. Do you ever accidentally call yourself Ross? Poor Vee has a different name to her dad.’

‘That’s okay, I like Mum’s name. But of course I like Parker too, Dad. And Ross. I like all the names.’

Oh fuck, had they been taking drugs? He pulled the car over to the kerb, switched on the interior light and swivelled around to examine the girls. Victoria looked up at him and he could see it. Dilated pupils. Both of them.

‘What did you take?’

The girls turned to each other and began giggling.

‘Nothing. We’re just happy to be in Canberra with you, Dad,’ Victoria said. ‘It’s a party town.’

‘That party had the best beats. Mr Blue Shirt was a bit gross but that other one was fit. He wanted me.’

‘No fucking way! He wanted me.’

‘So not true. He was stroking my arm.’

‘Mine too. Didn’t you see?’

‘Oh my God—he was playing both of us.’

‘Do you think he was too old?’

‘Nah, he was perfect.’

Listening to the girls’ banter, Marty felt sick. How old were those guys? Had they given drugs to the teenage girls planning to have sex with them?

‘I need to know what you’ve taken. Was it ecstasy?’

The laughter came again. Higher-pitched this time.

‘Smartees and skittles,’ Kimmy said, giggling.