The last group of campers stumbled out of the bush soon afterwards. Ali, Bruno and Sam had gone all the way to the western side of the island, so their trip back was the longest. They seemed grateful to drop their box of phones, all of which had drained batteries—so no one made a fuss when Warren took them. ‘They’re probably safer with you than with us,’ Zac remarked, as Ali handed over cache number three.

I was carrying the confiscated electronics to my office when I saw a police launch mooring at the jetty. The officer who disembarked was Jodie Morris. We’d spoken once before, during a search for a missing fisherman. She was a blunt object, but I found her less intimidating than most male constables. For one thing, she was quite small.

After greeting me by name, she said she’d come to collect a couple of paramedics. I told her they were due any minute and gave her a quick rundown of what had happened: a fall, a break, a rescue. I didn’t mention that Tyler had been injured in a scuffle. If I ever had to testify about Tyler’s attempt to push Matt downstairs, I would. But I was loath to get involved with the police. Not unless I had to.

Anyway, it was Shaun’s business. Shaun’s boot camp. It was his job to take the lead.

I introduced Jodie to Warren, then returned to my office and secured all the tech. After that, as I patrolled the complex, I kept a very sharp eye on the boys. Joe wasn’t there; he’d flown off with Tyler in the chopper. Shaun was on the phone for at least an hour. Warren and Rhys were finding it hard to control their platoon because the kids were all tired and fractious, stirred up by the day’s events. A tearful Matt had to be counselled by Rhys. Flynn kept complaining about his own ‘leg injury’. Marcus punched Connor for deliberately treading on his heels.

With all this going on, none of the veterans had time to watch Jake. But I did. While everyone else goggled at Jodie as she guided the paramedics down to the launch, I kept my gaze pinned on Jake Duggan. He knew it, too. A couple of times he even winked at me.

But he didn’t get the chance to skulk away and sabotage anything. I made sure of that.

Later, while Shaun addressed his troops on the parade ground, I set things up in the kitchen. Then I went and told Rhys I didn’t want Jake with me that evening.

‘Section one is fine. But not Jake,’ I said.

‘Um…’

‘You can move him to section two. Tyler’s gone; it shouldn’t be a problem.’