I ignored that. This wasn’t about him. I was the one in the firing line here. My thoughts returned to the day. I replayed it in my mind. The run to the car. Waffles barking at the trees … ‘There could have been someone else there that day,’ I said. ‘Waffles barked at the trees on the way back along the path.’

Daniel looked at Waffles, curled in a ball at the base of my chair. He raised his eyebrows. ‘So? Dogs bark.’

‘You don’t understand,’ I said quietly. ‘He’s a trained police dog. He was on the harness, which for him indicates work. The more I think about it, the more I reckon the bark on the path was an alert bark. There was someone there.’

‘It won’t stand up in court,’ he said.

I looked at him, this man I had loved. Possibly still did. Didn’t stop me from wanting to throw a cushion at his head. This wasn’t about what would stand up in court. It was about figuring out what the hell happened on the cliff that day.

With a jolt, I realised I hadn’t checked what time I’d called Pip from the car. I got up from my armchair and walked over to the kitchen bench, where my phone was on charge. I scrolled back through recent calls till I found what I was looking for. Monday 4.16 pm.

Standing at the bench, looking at Daniel so comfortable in my house, I wondered what on earth we were both doing.

‘When are you due back at work?’ I asked casually.

‘I’m on afternoon shift tomorrow,’ he said, looking at me.

Those eyes. That mouth …

CHAPTER 36: THE CALL LOG

CHAPTER 36

THE CALL LOG

Wozza was in the office looking like he hadn’t slept—which he probably hadn’t.

‘How did you go last night?’ I asked, setting a coffee in front of him. Ange at the bakery had thrown in a breakfast pastry with the coffee order.

Wozza rubbed his eyes. ‘Ta,’ he said and took a sip. ‘Government undertaker didn’t arrive till sunrise. I’m suffering from a distinct lack of beauty sleep.’ The coffee revived him a bit and he managed a smile. ‘More importantly, how did you go last night? Cyril at the servo said you had a gentleman caller who arrived Wednesday night asking for directions to your place, then he was back in town yesterday afternoon picking up ingredients for a special dinner.’

Bloody Daniel. He’d said he found my house by asking directions. Servo Cyril was the biggest gossip in town. At the same time, I recognised Wozza wanted to avoid any conversation about the case. Talking about Jack Barratt to me crossed a line. I didn’t want to put him in that position so I let him redirect.

‘Well?’ Wozza took a bite of his pastry and settled back.

‘My ex turned up out of the blue.’