Judging from the size of the woodpile he’d made, he’d been at it for quite a while. There were chunks of kindling scattered across the lawn. It was a bone-chilling afternoon, but sweat was pouring down his forehead. She approached quietly, not wanting to startle him into chopping off a toe. He looked strong and handsome, shifting the weight of the axe from his left hand to his right, lifting it high and swinging with precision. It cleaved through a branch with a sharp, dry crack. She noticed an almost tangible release of tension in the air.

‘Hi, babe,’ she said.

He looked up and grimaced. ‘Abby?’

‘I came through the house. The front door was open. I hope that’s okay.’

‘Are you following me?’

The accusation took her by surprise.

‘Following you? No. I was driving past on my way to work and … Why would I be following you?’

He set the axe against the fallen tree and lifted the collar of his T-shirt over his face to clear the sweat. It left a small, spider-shaped smudge of dirt above his right eye. ‘Sorry, I was in my own head. You startled me, that’s all. It’s usually just me and the birds out here.’

The wind snuck beneath the folds of her tunic and nipped at her. She pointed to the fallen tree and asked, ‘What happened here?’

‘I’ve been waiting for this one to go for a couple of seasons now. She was a tough old girl. Wish to hell she’d fallen two inches to the left and missed the birdbath.’

‘Did you talk to the police?’

‘Not yet.’

‘You said you’d see them first thing, before work.’

‘I know what I said. I just haven’t got around to it yet. I’ll head into town when I’m done cleaning up this mess.’

‘Well, shit, Ray, it’s not like you forgot to pick up a litre of milk,’ Abby said, frustration – or was it fear? – creeping into her tone. ‘The police will want to speak to you, and I’d rather they didn’t do it in front of the kids. I get why you might be scared, Ray, but I’m sure all they’ll want to do is check and vet your alibi.’

‘Check and vet?’ he baulked. ‘This isn’t a true-crime book, Ab, and I’m not scared. I’m busy. I said I’d do it and I will.’

‘Why are you being so defensive about this?’ Abby asked.

In lieu of a response, he lifted the axe and swung it. It cracked through a damp dead branch with a jarring shaak! ‘What are you doing out here, Abby?’

‘I told you. I was driving past and—’

‘Why are you really here?’

‘I didn’t want to shit where we sleep,’ she said.