Excitement increased as a second door opened. A man in a drab suit led a group in uniforms to the podium. Jack was last, walking in his fairly plain CFA gear, behind a man in a blue uniform with bits of gold braid attached, obviously designed to impress.

The man in the grey suit took the microphone first. ‘Thanks for being here. Assistant Commissioner Roderick Brady, chief of Taskforce Phosphorus, has a statement to make then there’ll be time for questions.’

Roderick Brady coughed into the microphone and touched his bits of gold braid. ‘I have news about the recent fires. You’ll already know our investigators believe the Brunton fire was deliberately lit. Right now they’re looking for traces of accelerants.’

Cameras were flashed, questions yelled. A pride of reporters and police officers were stalking my baby. Roderick Brady raised his hand. Directing the hunt. ‘I’ll take questions at the end. We’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses in our efforts to find the arsonist. We’re hoping for enough evidence to apprehend him soon. We believe we’ve confirmed the location where the fire was lit. We want to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of the old Damper Creek fossicker’s hut on the day of the fire. Our list of suspects has narrowed to one member of the CFA. We have concerns for the suspect’s own safety.’

Guffaws. A suspect’s safety was incredibly amusing. Nauseated, I wanted to climb into Roderick Brady’s skin, control him. No, there won’t be an arrest after all. We were mistaken.

A reporter stood. I recognised him as Arthur Simmons. In person, his face reminded me of the brown leather on a dated, collapsing sofa. His hair hat had slipped.

‘Exactly what charges will the suspect face?’

Brady’s white knuckles relaxed. ‘We’re investigating charges of murder.’

Murder.

All these people gathered around Caleb’s life, scavengers around an injured creature. Feeling like a Brunton first grader, trying to get attention, I raised my hand. Brady nodded at me. Beside him, Jack looked startled. I’d have to explain later.

‘An arson charge carries twenty-five years in jail,’ a reporter in a loud tie interrupted.

‘Yes,’ Brady agreed. ‘Murder by arson.’

‘CFA chiefs have said they warned the government months ago that this would be a devastating season. Do you have a list of measures the government put in place as a result of these warnings?’

‘That’s obviously a question for members of the government. I’m here to talk to you about a crime.’ I straightened my back, more assertive. ‘What makes you so sure it’s arson at Brunton? People aren’t saying that about the other fires?’

‘Because of how the fire started and the pattern of its spread. Other fires have been largely attributed to natural causes.’