‘Kayla pinched me! She pinched me!’ Phoebe cried.

‘Kayla—’ I began.

‘Don’t do that.’ Phoebe shoved Kayla, who pulled Phoebe’s hair.

‘Girls!’ I jumped up.

Enraged, Phoebe slapped Kayla. By the time I reached them, they were locked together, squirming and screaming. When Phoebe raked her nails across Kayla’s left eye, I grabbed both children and yanked them apart.

Phoebe’s yell was so piercing that I immediately dropped her arm. She gazed down at the red mark I’d left on her. ‘You hurt me,’ she whimpered.

‘No, I didn’t—’

‘You hurt me!’ She gazed up into my face, her eyes filling with tears. ‘You’re not allowed to hurt me! Mum said!’

That’s when I knew I was in trouble.

2019

2019

I GLANCED THROUGH the kitchen window at the parade ground. Joyce was following a tide of visitors as they poured down the veranda steps. Her hand was clamped to Aaron’s shoulder. She was muttering in his ear.

‘Rob,’ said Warren, ‘what’s going on?’

Outside, the other veterans were herding everyone down to the water. As families mobbed them, they edged towards the jetty, shouldering their packs. Colonel Creswell was leading by example; he was already halfway there, locked in an earnest conversation with Zac’s father.

‘Rob, are you all right?’ Warren touched my arm. When I didn’t reply, he said, ‘I can see why you thought Darren dumped prawns on your bed. Jesus—that woman!’

‘She’s a liar.’

‘’Course she is.’ His voice was gentle. ‘Don’t worry, mate. I’m not stupid.’

Joyce was steering Aaron down the road now, past Shaun and Dean and the Kollios family. Dean was with the tall, balding, crumpled man from the second-last row of seats. Jake was with the male police officer. Joyce gave them both a wide berth, then passed out of sight.

Unable to see her from the window, I made for the door.

‘I need to do a recce and make sure none of the kids have wandered off,’ said Warren, who was hot on my heels. ‘But I’ll stay here and help you clear up afterwards. Shaun can’t; he has to visit Tyler.’

From the veranda I had a better view of the jetty road. It was a seething mass of people. The kids were all bobbing rucksacks and boonie hats. Their families were receding into the distance at a rapid rate. If Joyce was among them, she was hiding behind a solid wall of Paratas.

I couldn’t see her. Or Scott.

‘Okay. I’ll be back soon.’ Warren brushed past and bounced down the steps. Then he made for the dormitory.

‘If you find anyone who’s staying on, will you tell me who they are?’ I called after him.

He lifted a hand without turning his head. ‘Roger that.’