Confusion caused Jake’s mind to freeze momentarily. ‘I don’t follow? We know who the baby’s mother was.’

‘I mean Lilith. Someone we keep on file for exclusionary purposes popped up as closely related to her, as in a grand­parent or half-sibling. That close.’

‘Murphy?’

‘No, Senior Sergeant Aiden Kelly.’

Jake’s mind churned. Kelly had two sons and a daughter … that Jake knew of. How many other children might he have out there?

‘You think Kelly is one of Lilith’s grandfathers?’

Possible family trees churned through Jake’s mind. One possible combination fit the known facts. ‘Geezus.’

‘This helps?’

‘You’re fantastic. But right now I have to go.’

Jake could almost hear her smile down the phone line.

‘Go!’

*

The sun glowed dimly through the canopy of fog riding the mountains to Dunton’s east as Jake pulled up outside Aiden Kelly’s home. He ran to the apartment door at the side of the building where Evelyn lived and knocked loudly.

No answer.

He ran back to the front door. Maria Kelly opened it a crack to reveal her maroon velour dressing gown and a shock of hair.

‘Is the sergeant here?’

‘He’s out on a call,’ she yawned. ‘Shouldn’t you know that?’

Jake assumed his most reassuring smile. ‘He might be out of phone range. Would you mind if I check his study? I noticed he sometimes writes case notes in there before heading out.’

She hesitated.

‘Something important’s come up that I think he should be the first to know about.’

He followed her down the warm corridor into the lounge room. A sliver of darkness lined the edge of the study door.

‘Would you like a coffee?’ she asked.

‘I have to keep moving, but thanks.’

Jake waited for her to exit the room before opening the door. The rainmaking tube that Evelyn liked so much caught his eye.

He picked it up and tipped it one way, then the other.

The soft pitter-patter actually did sound like light rain.

He placed it diagonally on the desk to stop it rolling, closed his eyes and took two deep breaths.

Okay, what in here was going to help him?

There was a notepad on the desk, the top sheet blank, and there may be something in the drawers.

Jake pulled pair of latex gloves from a pocket to begin searching through Kelly’s desk.

The second drawer he opened contained a set of binders.

Jake pulled out the folder with the letter ‘M’ on the spine and opened it …

Murphy, Bob. Works Mon to Fri at garage, pub on Sat. Gambles.

Murphy, Carl. Not working, mostly at home address. Pot.

Murphy, Carly. Mon to Fri late shift supermarket. Affair with Brown, Tom 2002–2005. Drinks.

Jake flicked through the pages then pulled another binder from the drawer. Every page contained lists of locals—information on where they worked, their main movements each week, and presumably their vices or pressure points.