‘They drove off on Saturday night with a car full of stuff. Left a text on Mitch McCall’s phone saying sorry but it was the only way.’ Ries was watching me intently. ‘You know Mitch, don’t you? He says you’ve met.’

I had to sit down. Krystal had bolted? I couldn’t believe it.

‘Are you sure she hasn’t just…’ I fumbled for the right term. ‘Taken a break?’

‘I don’t know,’ Ries said. ‘You tell us.’

I frowned. What the hell…?

‘We thought you might have some idea where she is,’ Ries continued.

‘Me?’

‘You’re friends, aren’t you?’

‘No.’

‘Then why do you have her couch in your garage?’

My mouth dropped open. Then I remembered: they’d been talking to Mitch. ‘She said it was an emergency. There was nowhere else. I felt sorry for her.’

‘Why?’ It was the first question Rick Waring had asked.

I glared at him. ‘You should know. You’re a mate of Scott’s.’

‘So you’ve discussed Scott with Krystal?’ When Ries took over again, I didn’t like his tone. Enough, I thought.

‘Krystal McCall is a parent from school. We’ve had a few meetings. I’ve seen Scott Rooney following her around. That’s all I know.’ Then something else occurred to me. ‘If she was leaving, why did she buy a new couch?’

Ries shrugged again. ‘Misdirection? Or it could have been a spur-of-the-moment thing.’

I grunted. It could have been. That certainly sounded more like Krystal.

‘Has she spoken to you about running away?’ Ries inquired.

‘No.’

‘Has she talked about friends who live out of town? Or places she’s always wanted to visit?’

I shook my head.

‘Did she leave anything else with you?’

‘No. Just the couch.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’

‘So you don’t have an emergency contact number? Or stuff she might want you to send her at a later date?’

I stood up. ‘You can go.’

‘Ms Ayres—’

‘I know what this is. This is Joyce.’ I was seething. ‘Joyce Rooney hates my guts. Whatever she told you is a lie. I barely know Krystal.’

‘That’s not what we heard,’ Waring interposed.

‘From the Rooneys?’ My voice curdled with contempt.

‘There was no involvement, then? No relationship?’ Ries was staying very calm.

‘None.’ I turned on my heel and walked to the front door, which I opened with a shaking hand.

‘We’re just trying to get to the bottom of this.’ Ries hadn’t moved. ‘What’s happened here is a crime. And anyone assisting in the commission of a crime can also be charged.’

‘Fine. If you want to charge me, go ahead. I’ll call my lawyer.’ Who worked in Sydney, but they didn’t know that. ‘Otherwise—out.’

Ries couldn’t pull off an apologetic smile. It looked more like a snarl. ‘We’ve only got a few more questions…’