‘I like talking to people, so if there’s an opportunity I’d be keen to take guided walks and do nature interpretation. School visits, maybe. Back on Bruny, I used to look after the Scouts.’

‘Sounds great, but to start with you’ll be checking toilets and doing the rubbish and track maintenance. Sorry. But that’s how it is. Once you’ve settled in, we can talk more.’

Leon hid his disappointment. After years of toilets and tracks, he’d been hoping for something different.

Brian was already focusing back on his computer. He glanced up at Leon from beneath bushy brows. ‘Terry will get you sorted with a computer and uniforms, then he’ll take you up to the park.’

The conversation was over.

They were on their way out of town in a white Toyota LandCruiser when Leon’s phone rang. It didn’t look good taking personal calls first day, but he thought he’d better answer it. ‘Sorry,’ he said to Terry. ‘It’s my mum—she might need something.’ He pressed the phone to his ear and kept his voice low. ‘Hi, Mum. What’s up? Have to be quick. I’m with another ranger.’

‘Stan’s here.’ Her whisper was urgent.

Stan was Dad’s drinking partner who plied him with grog even though it was killing his liver. Stan would never have visited if Leon was home, so word must have got around that he was gone. ‘What’s he doing?’ Leon asked.

‘He’s at the door.’

‘Don’t let him in.’

‘The car’s in the garage. I can’t pretend we’re not home.’

She sounded panicky. Even over the phone, Leon could hear the pounding on the front door. What was Stan doing? Trying to knock it down? ‘Tell him to get lost,’ Leon said.

Then his dad’s voice, distant, muffled. ‘Someone’s at the door, Sylvia!’

‘Don’t go,’ Leon pressed.

‘I have to. Your father is shouting at me.’

‘Don’t do it. You know what will happen.’

The line went quiet. She was gone.

Leon felt as if he was hanging above an abyss. He’d counted on his dad being too weak to do anything—that was the strategy to keep his mum safe. But maybe this plan was delusional. If Stan got Dad drunk, it could go anywhere.

‘Everything okay?’ Terry asked.

‘Yeah, yeah. It’ll be fine.’

Terry shook his head in sympathy. ‘Families.’