Kerr appeared. ‘You made it,’ she said, smiling.

Manolis examined her face all over. She was sweaty and creased, the dark lines in her skin reflecting an accumulated tension.

‘You okay?’ he asked.

‘I’m fine. What happened, where’s Sparrow?’

‘Where’s Onions?’

‘He’s coming now.’

‘And Omari’s family?’

‘They’re still inside.’

The two officers were led to the administration building where they sat and waited in the air-conditioned calm. Manolis asked for a cup of water, which he was given with great reluctance. He told Kerr about Rex and Vera, and of course Sparrow. She was immediately distressed; she loved him like a little brother.

Onions arrived, tie straight, shirt immaculate.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting, Detective. We’ve had a rather challenging morning with unexpected developments.’

‘I heard,’ Manolis replied. ‘I thought you said Omari made up a family to improve his chances for a protection visa?’

Onions’s face flushed pink with embarrassment.

‘Ah, so you do know. Yes, it turns out we were wrong. It happens from time to time – our intelligence isn’t always accurate. In this case, it was the Greek authorities who made the error. You can see how it might happen, they’re overrun with people and claims and are nowhere near as resourced as us.’

Manolis needed to stay cool. This wasn’t quite the stand-off with Fyfe or pursuit of Rex, but Onions was still a formidable individual within his kingdom. His time would come. Quietly, Manolis vowed to build his case, starting with Fyfe’s testimony. But at that moment, it was the asylum seeker’s freedom that Manolis had at the forefront of his mind.

‘Well that is unexpectedly good news,’ he said. ‘And I have some good news of my own: there’s been a breakthrough in the Molly Abbott investigation. For the time being, I can’t say any more but I can say this: Ahmed Omari had nothing to do with it. He’s innocent and needs to be released from solitary ASAP. I believe Constable Kerr already informed you as such. No doubt Omari’s family is desperate to see him after all this time, especially his young daughter.’

Onions looked at his staff, then back to Manolis. ‘I understand that. But Omari is in the managed accommodation area for behavioural management. This area is for detainees who incite mass unrest or have undertaken real or threatened acts of self-harm. For people who are abusive, aggressive, antisocial or noncompliant. Omari spat at my guards, at my staff. That is intolerable behaviour. I assure you that we don’t like having to put anyone in there for any extended period of time. We take all other options first – it’s a last resort. Ultimately, it’s for their safety, and the safety of others, I can assure you. The government has a duty of care to protect asylum seekers from harm, not cause further harm.’