‘Instinct, Badenhorst,’ she hissed, her cheeks burning, obviously ashamed for her comment but too proud to back down. ‘All good detectives have it.’

‘You acted like you were still in high school, and look at what it got you – kicked off a case that could’ve made your career,’ said Con. ‘Worse, it’ll turn everyone against me, the professional who still has to try and solve this case.’

‘Oh no, “I’m the hero of the Jaguar case, I need everyone to love me.” Not everyone likes you? The horror!’

‘Why are you getting angry at me? It’s not my fault.’

‘Why are you yelling at me?’ she shouted.

‘I’m not!’ he shouted.

‘You think you can solve the case without me? Fine. Good luck, dickhead.’ She stormed out of the room.

The unfairness of it made Con bristle. It was made worse by the fact she was right – it was good instinct on her part.

He turned to head after her – he wanted to give her another serve, he wanted to make sure she was okay, he didn’t know what he wanted – then pulled up short. He’d forgotten something.

He ran back to Jack’s ward. The young man was being wheeled out of his room, unconscious and with a breathing tube down his throat. Nurses and doctors buzzed around him.

‘What’s going on?’ said Con, even as he squeezed against the wall to allow them past.

The nurse from Jack’s room spoke to him. ‘He’s on his way to surgery. There may be more internal damage than we thought.’

Con felt a stab of guilt that he angrily pushed aside: the harsh questioning had been necessary. Three girls’ lives were hanging in the balance.

‘What about the other woman? Eliza – blonde, glasses. Did you see where she went?’

The nurse shrugged, already catching up to Jack’s bed. ‘Haven’t seen her.’

Con watched them go, then headed for his car.

Should he call Gabriella or the commander first?

He called Gabriella.

She rejected his call.

He swore and called the commander.

‘Cornelius,’ she said. ‘What do you have to tell me?’

CHAPTER 28

ELIZA

Eliza gripped tightly to Darren’s back, the search controller’s jacket rough against her cheek, the seat of his dirtbike worn and hard. They raced down the track past Lake Mackenzie, hugging the sandy shoreline, which gave a full view of the cold alpine lake, its dull sage green and navy blue tones, reflecting sky and mountain peak.

If Madison had her way, this would be Eliza’s last chance to join the search. Her last chance to guide the search towards where Georgia had seen that figure and maybe, just maybe, find something that’d find the girls, and maybe stop Madison before Wren’s life was ruined.