‘Of course he’d say that,’ I said. I was trying not to sound defensive, but I heard my voice go up a notch. I studied his expression for signs that he’d taken the accusation seriously.

‘He says you threatened to shoot him.’

Well, I had done that, but I wasn’t even carrying a weapon at the time. Best not worry Wheeler with it, I decided. ‘So that’s how he’s going to play it,’ I said, skirting the issue.

Wheeler nodded. ‘Anyway, you’d better watch yourself when he gets bail.’

‘Sure, boss,’ I said warily. It sounded like a castigation. Like if Jack came after me, I’d get my just deserts. I didn’t think Jack would come after me. Not after our little chat. With crooks, it’s in their DNA to recognise a pecking order. I reached for my phone, about to show Wheeler the text from the night before—Beware bitch. Youll get yours—but he wasn’t finished. ‘Wozza told me about the car following you last night,’ he said. ‘Anyone you know?’

There was something in his voice that made me wary. I held my phone, hesitating. ‘Nope. Not sure if it was connected to Jack Barratt’s arrest or if it was a random thing.’

‘Hmm.’ Wheeler looked me up and down, then left the office without further comment.

I watched him go, unsettled by the exchange. I found men like him hard to read. It was as if they studied ways to dismiss women and leave them feeling uncomfortable. Not only was it rude, it was bad policing and bad leadership. His brief visit to my office was to accuse not interact. Wheeler had left me alone so far, but I had learned the hard way that the true test of a boss was not how they treated you when times were good; it was how they were when the shit hit the fan. It was only after Wheeler left that I realised I hadn’t shown him the threatening text.

My phone rang. The number on the display told me it was Pip. I answered it and felt the warmth in her hello.

‘Pip! I miss you so much!’ Pip had been my mentor when I first joined the force and we had remained close. I always felt better talking to her.

Pip laughed. ‘So, how are the paddocks?’

‘The paddocks are fine, the ocean is beautiful but … some things never change.’

Pip picked up on my hesitation. ‘Everything okay?’ Concern in her voice.

‘I had a weird night last night.’ I told Pip about Jack, the white ute and the text message.

‘Did you tell your senior sergeant? What’s his name again?’

‘Bill Wheeler and no, I didn’t tell him. There’s something I can’t quite put my finger on. Anything about him on the grapevine?’