‘I don’t want to take risks, but time is important here. You know what these country folk are like: probably more likely to open up to one of their own.’

‘Con, even after a year down here, I think the only thing you know about country folk is what you’ve read in books.’

They drove in silence for some time, Gabriella tapping at the computer. ‘Eliza’s niece was named Denni King. Her suicide was a messy affair . . . and it involved Madison Mason, Cierra’s sister. She’s some kind of YouTube celebrity. This is interesting.’

‘Jasmine . . .’ Murphy croaked, pulling at his seatbelt as he woke up. He cast around, eyes bloodshot and wide. When he realised Con was watching him, he looked away with a scowl. He covered his face with his forearm, resting against the car door. Though he tried to hide it, his shoulders shook in silent sobs, tears rolling down from behind his arm.

Con shifted in his seat. Still a suspect, he thought.

The Launceston General Hospital was a grey and sprawling complex, the traffic in its avenues and car parks moving slowly in the rain. They pulled into a loading zone near the emergency department.

Murphy jumped out of the car before it had stopped moving.

The three of them headed straight into emergency. Con showed his badge to the nurse at the desk, asking about Eliza.

‘Transferred to the medical ward,’ said the nurse without looking up from her computer.

Con nudged Murphy forward. ‘Well, here’s where we leave you. You’d better get your wrists sorted.’

‘Like hell,’ said Murphy. ‘I’m coming with you.’ He set off in search of the medical ward, and Con and Gabriella jogged to catch up with him. When they found it, the nurse at the desk pointed the way to Eliza’s room.

‘Ah, damn,’ said Con, pausing. ‘We need to call the commander first.’

‘What?’ said Murphy.

‘It’s fine . . . you go ahead,’ said Gabriella. ‘We’ll be right in behind you.’

‘Gabby, I dunno if we should let him in without us —’

‘It’s fine, he deserves to see her,’ she said. ‘Go, Mr Murphy. We’ll follow once we’ve made all the right calls.’

Murphy glanced between them, then loped off into the ward.

‘Good job,’ said Con quietly.

‘Call me Gabby one more time and I’ll blind you,’ she muttered, flicking her hair back.

Con flashed his badge again and asked someone on the staff to bring them Eliza’s current medical file. Then he and Gabriella stepped into an empty room that smelled of antiseptic and urine, and sat on a crisp-linen bed. Con pulled out his phone and AirPods, passing one to Gabriella. He pulled open the app that was synced to his live voice recorder.

‘Slipped it in his pocket when I nudged him at the intake desk.’

‘You sly fox. Ignoring the fact this is illegal, of course.’