‘Don’t worry about it.’ Caruso placed each one back on the plate and tried to brush off the crumbs. ‘It’s a stressful time for everyone. So, did you see anything yesterday?’ he repeated. ‘It may not even seem important, but any tiny detail can help.’

She frowned. ‘Just Josh,’ she said. ‘But I told you that already.’

‘Has he ever been to playgroup before?’

‘No, but I know him because he picks Zoe up from day care when she comes here.’

Caruso glanced around the room again. It was nicely set up for kids to play. His sister had managed to avoid the whole day care discussion thanks to his mum’s insistence that she would look after her grandchildren. Until Dad’s cancer diagnosis. At least they were all at school now, so they’d gone into after-school care a few months ago. The four of them were loving it and said it was ‘heaps better than being at home with Nonna’. They were under strict instructions not to share that sentiment with their grandmother.

‘Are you registered with family day care?’ Suze asked.

‘No, I’m just helping friends at the moment, but I hope to build it up.’ Mel followed Suze’s gaze to the swings outside. ‘I haven’t been in Canberra that long so I’m still settling in really.’ The woman had an easy manner about her, she would be accepted wherever she went.

‘Where are you from?’

‘We were in Byron Bay before. The winter here was a shock. Sammy had never seen frost. He kept trying to lick it.’

The Canberra winter wasn’t for the faint-hearted, not compared to places like Sydney and Byron Bay. Caruso was used to it, though, and missed the crisp, sunny days when he was away. Up north, winter passed by without even announcing itself.

‘How did you end up in Merrigang?’ he asked.

‘I was very lucky.’ She put her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry. I shouldn’t use that word today. A friend I know once lived down here and told me about the place. It’s a gorgeous village and such nice people.’

Caruso’s phone pinged and a message flashed onto the screen: We’ve got her on CCTV footage. He nodded at Suze and rose.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘We have to go.’

They hurried towards the front door. Just before he stepped outside, he threw his last question over his shoulder.

‘Ms Wainwright, how do you think Bella got out of the playgroup?’

The earth mother was behind him, so their eyes didn’t meet. She could say what she thought without looking at him.

‘I think … her mother didn’t lock the gate properly.’

20 LEXIE

20

LEXIE

IMOGEN HAD STAYED BY MY SIDE ALL MORNING AND FORCED ME TO EAT a sandwich. She was the one who had convinced me to show my face to the cameras.