‘I figured as much,’ Zara said, ‘but please let me know if I can help you in any way.’

‘I’m sure we will.’ Jack paused. ‘You could like our new Facebook page, if that interests you? I’ve just started one under the name of Barker Police. Not that we’ll be putting anything newsworthy up there, obviously, but you’ll get any updates on what we’re focusing on or gentle reminders of road rules.’ He smiled.

‘Excellent, I’ll do that. Very forward moving of you. I follow heaps of police pages. Great way of connecting with the community.’

‘Well, it’s a good way to get messages out there,’ Jack nodded. ‘So, how come you’ve ended up in Barker? We haven’t had a journo here in the whole time I’ve been around.’

‘I’m only around for a while. I’ve just had a transfer out here for family reasons.’

Jack stared at her. ‘Ah, I can see it now. I thought you looked like someone I knew. You must be Will Ellison’s sister, yeah?’

Zara nodded, feeling like she had Will’s name tattooed on her forehead.

‘Sorry to hear he’s so crook. I played footy with him when I first moved here. Hell of a nice guy. Must be really tough for you all.’

Unexpectedly a lump appeared in her throat, and all she could do was nod.

The door opened and a gust of cool wind blew through, bringing Dave with it.

‘Bloody hell, that wind is off the icebergs,’ Dave said as he combed his hair down with his hand. ‘Ah. G’day, Zara. What brings you here?’

‘Just came to introduce myself,’ she said after clearing her throat. ‘Let everyone know I’m around.’

‘Good to know. Glad you’ve met Jack. How did you go last night? First night in the house and all.’

Zara heaved her shoulder bag up a little higher. ‘No problems, although when the galahs got going at daybreak, I wondered what on earth the noise was.’

Jack laughed. ‘Certainly are noisy buggers,’ he agreed.

‘Make sure you pop over for a drink sometime,’ Dave said. ‘I’m sure Kim would love to have a chinwag.’

‘I will. And could you thank her for the meal last night—it was the most delicious curry I’ve had in a long while.’

Jack looked over at her. ‘Mate, did you get Kim’s chicken curry? God, that’s good. I pretend I’m sick just so she brings it over to me.’

Dave looked at him. ‘Really? I’m going to tell her that.’

‘Yeah, it was fantastic. Just one more question.’ Zara interrupted their banter and then watched as they both arranged their faces into neutral expressions. She wanted to laugh, they were both so alike. She bet Dave had spent a lot of time schooling Jack about how he should react to the media. ‘Who’s the local stock agent?’

Jack’s face split into a grin. ‘Going to introduce yourself there too?’

‘That’s what good journos do.’

Dave took his mobile phone out of his pocket and scrolled through. He scribbled out a number then handed her the piece of paper. Jack rolled his eyes at Zara—clearly Dave hadn’t yet mastered the technology of sharing phone contacts.