‘Yup.’ He picked up his coffee cup and took a slurp before screwing up his nose. ‘Yuck. Cold.’ Then he glanced at his watch. ‘No wonder. I made it hours ago.’ He refocused on her. ‘What’s up?’

‘I don’t know, but I’ve got a feeling.’

Lachy peered over the top of his glasses. ‘I’ve always told you to trust your feelings.’

‘I know.’ She came into the room and sat down opposite him, choosing her words carefully. ‘I suspect there are animal activists involved in this so-called accident at Jantarna.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the protesters who have been camped outside of Tammy and Stu’s piggery up and left yesterday. The source I spoke to inside the police department told me they believe it was sabotage.’

‘Why are you thinking activists?’

Zara shook her head. ‘I don’t really know. All this non-violent stuff they’re doing, it just doesn’t sit well with me. I think there’s something going in the background. That they’re leading up to something big. But I admit, I have no evidence to base my suspicions on at all.’ She crossed her legs and sat back in the chair. ‘I can’t help thinking back to Colin Grawd. He and Gerard Hooper were both members of Voices for Animals. I’ve noticed some protesters are the same people from when Colin was killed.

‘Now the other interesting thing is that Sophie Grawd is a member of this group too, and she was one of the people involved in flying the drone around in Barker. I’m seeing a link here.’

‘We can’t report thoughts without fact.’

‘I know! And that’s what’s so frustrating.’

Lachy fossicked around on his desk and found an email he was looking for. Passing it to Zara, he said, ‘Why don’t you go to this rally tomorrow. Voices for Animals has sent a media release out saying they’ll be protesting at the abs down south.’

‘What should I be looking for?’

‘Shit, I don’t know. There’s a reason you’re an award-winning journalist. Look for these familiar faces you’re telling me about, ask if there are any other projects they’ve got coming up. Befriend them, make them trust you so they’ll talk. You know the drill.’

Zara nodded. ‘Righto, I’ll be there tomorrow.’

CHAPTER 27

Chapter 27

The pub that Crumbs had directed Jack to was down a narrow alleyway. Not the kind of place to be frequented by anyone other than locals.

Dave had sent Jack a message about the incident at the feedlot. It would give him ammunition when he talked to Crumbs. Apparently the detectives on the case were certain it wasn’t an accident.