‘Were you happy when I’d gone?’ Dave wanted to know.

‘I guess I’d be lying if I said I was unhappy. There’s a difference, you know. A decision about the farm had to be made because that farm was never going to support all of us, it was just too small.’

Dave let out a strangled sound. His heart thumped through his chest. He’d been right all along. They’d all wanted him to go.

‘It’s not what you’re thinking.’

Dave saw a parking bay ahead and flicked on his blinker. He wasn’t in any fit state to drive.

‘Adam and I … it wasn’t like that. We’d been trying to talk the old man into buying more farming land …’

Dave slammed his foot on the brake and came to an abrupt halt. ‘What?’

‘We’d been trying to convince Dad to buy more acres so we could all stay. But he wouldn’t have it. I guess when I saw how it all turned out, I figured it was the path of least resistance and went along with it. I was weak.’

So Dean had tried. He really had. And Adam too. Dave briefly wondered where Adam was now. His middle brother hadn’t been heard of for years. Maybe he should search for him.

‘I didn’t know that.’ He felt like he’d said that too many times today. There were so many things he really didn’t know. That he’d assumed.

What had he drummed into Jack when they’d first started working together on investigations? Never assume anything. He should take some of his own advice.

Dave couldn’t speak. His tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. He leaned over and grappled in the foot well of the passenger’s side for the bottle of water he kept there. Frantically he gulped at it.

‘Dave? Are you still there? Dave?’

‘I’m here,’ he managed.

‘Are you all right?’

Staring out of the window, Dave tried to analyse how he was feeling. Shocked, for certain. A tiny glimmer of happiness. Maybe it would take a while to process exactly what had just happened. ‘I’m fine,’ he said eventually. ‘Actually, I’m more than fine.’

CHAPTER 25

Chapter 25

Jack was ready. His long hair was pulled back into a greasy ponytail and he was wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a tight T-shirt that had Be the change emblazoned across the front. He nervously patted his pockets to make sure he had everything and then shrugged into the bomber jacket that Dave had given him.

‘All set?’

Jack nodded once.

Handing him two pens, Dave said, ‘Slot these in your coat sleeves. They’re cameras and a recording device. When you’ve finished, give them to us and we’ll get the info downloaded. Or someone who knows how to will.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘It won’t be me.’