‘She just put her own address up on her video? Is she insane?’ said Tom.

The front door opened: Monica was back from visiting Wren at Tom’s mother’s house. She was in tears again, her make-up smudged, her hair in disarray.

While Monica came and kissed Tom, Eliza left the lounge room, heading into her bedroom, arguing with herself. Jack and Jasmine. It was time for her tell the police.

Did she have a right to? Was it truly even her decision?

She took a post-it note from her desk and quickly scribbled on it.

I give permission for Eliza Ellis to do what’s right.

Signed, E. Ellis

So that was that.

Con Badenhorst had left her his business card. He picked up on the fourth ring.

‘Detective? It’s Eliza Ellis.’

‘Everything alright?’

‘Yes . . . I mean, no. Not really. There’s something I should’ve told you. But you have to promise me, no one can know it was me who told you.’

‘What is it, Eliza?’

‘I do know who Jasmine was dating. But he couldn’t have been involved . . . he has an alibi, so I didn’t think I needed to tell you . . . He’s a good man, and —’

‘Who is it, Eliza?’

‘The teacher’s assistant . . . Jack Michaels.’

CHAPTER 20

CON

‘Thank you, Eliza. Let me know if you think of anything else.’

Con ended the call, resting his shoulder against the Masons’ front door, having just stepped outside to take the call.

Jack Michaels was dating Jasmine Murphy. Why didn’t I interview him sooner? Stupid, stupid, stupid . . .

But seriously, what the hell is wrong with this town?

Gabriella and Con had arrived at the Masons’ house only ten minutes earlier, and only then heard about Madison’s video giving out her address. Mrs Nelly Mason was in hysterics, terrified someone was going to kidnap Madison.

‘That stupid channel,’ she’d kept wailing.

Con re-joined Gabriella at the kitchen counter. It smelled of detergent and red wine. He sipped the coffee Nelly Mason had handed him, which had a faint soapy taste. Mr Bruiser, the trembling little whippet, was adding his own incessant yipping to the mix.

Jack Michaels, he thought again. Surely Detective Coops interviewed him. Did I miss the report?

He vaguely remembered someone at the car park mentioning Jack Michaels that first morning. Was it a parent? A search volunteer? Or Tom North himself?

When the girls were walking back from the camp, Jack had been at the front of the group and far from the action, but he still should have talked to him. Would he even have known what questions to ask? There was just so much going on, so much material coming into his inbox, and there were only so many leads Con could follow. Had he made a bad mistake?

I’m an idiot, he thought angrily. Jack Michaels was the one who found Eliza!