‘I’m sure you’re right,’ she said.

Fourth lie of the day. Mandy knew that this lie, the Baby Lie, was the one that made everything else a lie, and made it pointless counting the small, polite ones. She also knew, in a quiet, buttoned-down place, that she was falling out of love with her husband. And she wasn’t fighting it, this fading out, this dimming of the light. Because it made the lie easier to tell.

‘I was thinking,’ he said. ‘I might set off on this job first thing tomorrow. Get it over with.’

‘Oh?’ She managed, she hoped, not to sound delighted. ‘First thing?’

‘Might as well crack on. Won’t be any easier if I leave it.’

‘You’re probably right, love.’ She could smell the sea spray in the air. ‘You’ll be gone a few days, then?’

‘’Fraid so, darl. You know I’d sooner be home with you.’

‘I know.’ She stood and put her cigarettes in the drawer under some serviettes. ‘I do know that.’

3

Ivanhoe, New South Wales, 1966

Steve saw her first, kneeling in the dirt at the edge of the creek. She looked happy enough. Five or six older kids with her, poking at something in the water with a stick. He turned away, kept his foot on the gas and hoped to God she’d run off before Harry spotted her. His shirt was wet against the car seat. He hummed a tune, to break the silence, and let himself believe he wouldn’t have to do this one; he’d tell Ray they couldn’t find her. With any luck they’d have a busy few months and it would go on the back burner. He’d be able to sleep tonight.

No such luck. The kid jumped to her feet and started shouting at the others to come and see, come and look at this. Waving the stick in the air. Steve kept driving, kept humming, and she kept waving the stick and yelling. What did she have to go and do that for?

‘There she is!’ Harry jumped clean out of his seat. ‘Over there, by the creek.’

Steve braked. Turned off the ignition. ‘Well spotted, mate.’

Harry wandered over to her, nice and easy, for all the world like he was her favourite uncle come to visit. He started talking to her, squatting down by the water. Steve knew what he’d say: ‘I’m going to take you for a ride in a police truck.’ He always said that. ‘And then you’re going to have a little holiday.’

Steve climbed out of the truck and waited. Harry held his hand out and the girl took it. She was taken with him, you could see it. Looking up at him and smiling. With any luck they could do this nice and quick without a scene.

‘There’s a baby too,’ Harry said, just loud enough to reach him. ‘A boy.’

‘Do we need to do that today?’

‘I should say we do.’ Harry looked at him like he was out of his mind. ‘Get the job done, mate. No sense dragging it out.’