‘It’s alright, mate. Thanks for the offer,’ said Con again, eyes roving the car park.

‘Look, Badenhorst —’ began Doble.

‘Detective, a few words?’ came a voice from nearby. It was a newswoman, closing in fast.

Her approach identified him to the gaggle of media huddled under a shell of umbrellas. They came swarming like seagulls to a chip.

‘Of course,’ he said, forcing a smile.

Once word had got out about four teenage girls going missing, media from all over Australia had gathered to this nowhere country town with inhuman speed. Con had transferred to Tasmania from his native Sydney over a year ago, but even there he’d rarely seen so much media assemble so fast.

Commander Normandy should have been dealing with them. Which, of course, meant Con would be dealing with them. It’s all part of the job, he reminded himself. But damn, he wanted this case solved as quickly as possible.

‘Are you expecting to find the girls safe and unharmed?’ asked one journalist.

‘We are hoping for the best, of course, but preparing for any eventuality.’

‘But the Tiers are dangerous, especially this area,’ prompted another. ‘What safety precautions are the SES taking?’

‘They’re trained for situations exactly like this.’

The media swarm shuffled, jostling for position.

‘Could the girls have just run away?’

‘Considering the conditions, it’s not likely,’ said Con.

‘Is there an assumed connection to the 1985 disappearances in the Meander Valley area? Teenage girls, taken from bushland?’ The journalist paused for effect. ‘Is the Hungry Man active again?’

The swarm pressed closer.

‘We have four teenage girls missing on a hiking track in a storm,’ said Con. ‘So it would be helpful not to make it bigger than it is. It’s not something we haven’t dealt with before, we know where the girls are – they’re up there somewhere,’ he waved his hand in the direction of the looming bluffs, ‘and the SES will get to them.’

‘So why are the CIB here?’

‘Standard procedure,’ said Con with a toothy grin.

‘So there is no assumption that the 1985 killings are related . . .?’

‘No. The 1985 killer was found,’ said Con.

Now the questions came hard and fast.

‘Could there be a copycat killer?’ shouted one newswoman.

‘The family of Theodore Barclay still claim his innocence,’ shouted another. ‘And the bodies were never found.’

‘Should the teenage girls of Limestone Creek be taking extra security measures?’

‘A man was just taken away,’ said another. ‘Jordan Murphy. He’s the father of one of the missing. Is it true he assaulted a search volunteer? Is he considered a person of interest?’

‘Well, yes, but we can’t discuss our suspects yet,’ said Doble loudly.

‘Sergeant, leave this to me,’ said Con firmly.