Dave let himself into the interview room where Sophie was pacing the floor. ‘Sorry to leave you so long, Sophie. Just got through a long chat with Lee.’

She smiled and sat down. ‘That’s okay.’

Not the response Dave was expecting.

‘You don’t seem to mind that you’re here,’ he observed.

Sophie shook her head. ‘Not at all. We haven’t broken any laws and we’re very open about what we’re doing, so we’re never not going to answer your questions. The more people we speak to, the more awareness we raise.’

‘So, Sophie, the question I have for you is, why are you involved with this group when it seems clear you blame them for your dad’s death?’

‘It’s not the group I’m angry with. It’s Gerard Hooper. Dad died standing up for something he believed in and so it’s my job to keep his legacy going. I know Dad died during a logging protest, but he loved animals. That’s what he was fighting for, the fact that animals would lose their homes if the forest was destroyed. I love animals too, that’s why I joined Voices for Animals after Dad died. We’re a peaceful protesting unit.’

Dave nodded. That made sense. ‘Okay, you’re free to go, but I want a talk with you all before you leave.’

Gathering the three together, Dave spoke severely to them. ‘I can’t charge you with anything. The dope—well, you’re lucky there isn’t enough there for me to charge you, and even if there was, it’d only result in a slap on the wrist. From what I’ve seen, you haven’t done anything illegal. Firstly, because you’re operating the drone from outside the farm boundaries, and secondly, you haven’t filmed any people.

‘What I need you to understand is that you are treading on very shaky ground. What you are doing is an invasion of people’s privacy. I am telling you with as much force as I can that you must adhere to all the rules and regulations stated by CASA when operating that drone. If I hear so much as a whisper that you are breaking any of those laws, I will come down on you all like a ton of bricks.

‘And I can’t guarantee that any of the farmers around here will be as generous if they find you anywhere near their places. My suggestion is to get the hell out of town and go back to where you came from.’ He paused for emphasis. ‘All right?’

The three of them looked at one another and nodded.

‘Good. Get out of here then.’

CHAPTER 19

Chapter 19