‘How do we find those?’ said Con.

‘Jack Michaels will know,’ said Gabriella, pulling out her phone.

‘Jack Michaels?’ said Con, a prickle of guilt. ‘I forgot all about him.’

‘Well, he’s awake and recovering,’ said Gabriella waspishly. ‘Luckily I remember all the important witnesses. This is why you need a partner who’s a detective, not a drug dealer.’

‘Your civilian pet was Eliza, so I don’t think you can talk,’ said Con.

‘Drop us off at Eliza’s house – I need my car,’ said Gabriella to Cavanagh, climbing into the squad car.

Con held out his hand to Murphy. ‘We’re gonna need that gun, Murphy. I can’t have you walking around with it.’

‘Who do you think I’m gonna shoot: Madison or Eliza?’

Con kept his hand out.

Murphy handed the Glock over.

‘Cavanagh, when you get back to the station, bag this as evidence but . . . keep Murphy’s name out of it.’

They all climbed into Cavanagh’s Stinger, Gabriella calling the hospital to speak to Jack while the sirens blared.

CHAPTER 51

ELIZA

Eliza slowly brought the Landcruiser to a stop. Ahead of them, through gaps in the trees and out over the high cliff, were the ancient Tasmanian mountains, clouded, the deep blue of eucalyptus mist. They were on a downward slope of red dirt and jagged rocks that led right to the cliff’s edge. Eliza pulled the handbrake and switched the engine off.

Madison beat on the top of the cab, screaming. To Eliza, it was a beautiful sound.

The edge of the cliff was perhaps 20 metres away.

Eliza climbed out of the Landcruiser.

‘Please, Miss Ellis,’ said Madison, her make-up ruined by tears and sweat. ‘Please . . .’

Eliza found a thick branch fallen from a snow gum, covered in leaf litter. When Eliza lifted the branch, Madison started shouting, ‘No, no, no, no!’, but Eliza only dug it in deep right in front of the rear wheel.

She opened the back door and retrieved Tom’s hunting rifle from beneath a blanket on the back seat. She slung it around her shoulder and moved around to the front door of the cab, reaching inside to release the handbrake.

She locked the doors and then walked to the edge of the cliff.

‘Please! Miss Ellis, please!’

The mountains. The breeze. The bush and rocks and bluffs. The blue sky and pearl clouds. A wedge-tailed eagle wheeling on the wind.

Eliza threw two sets of keys over the edge of the cliff, the handcuff keys and the Landcruiser keys.

‘Please . . . Oh, God, help me!’ screamed Madison.

Eliza walked back behind the Landcruiser, the slope setting her above Madison, and sat on a rock at the side of the road. She rested the rifle across her lap.

For a short time she watched Madison sobbing, pleading. Then she said, ‘I’d like to leave this town. There’re too many memories here.’

‘Miss Ellis . . .’