Tess chatted happily with one of the other passengers, a girl about her age, and he didn’t want to burst her bubble yet. When they got to town, he drove to the police station and gave Sam the keys.
Tess straightened from where she’d been dozing against the window. “What are we doing here?”
“Dot asked us to stop by before we went home.”
She stiffened and clenched her hands, all relaxation gone. “What about?”
“She didn’t say.” He turned to Sam. “I’ll call you when we’re done.”
“Take your time.”
On the pavement, he slipped his hand into Tess’s. “It’ll be fine.” They pushed into the air-conditioned station, and Ed greeted Matt’s sister, Senior Constable, Nhiari Roe. “We’re here to see Dot.”
Nhiari buzzed them in, and flicked back her long braid which had fallen over her shoulder. “She’s been waiting for you.” They followed her through to Dot’s office.
Dot stood. “Thanks for coming in. Take a seat.” She glanced at Nhiari. “I’ll take it from here.”
Tess’s hand trembled, and he rubbed his thumb over the back of it before releasing it and sitting in the hard plastic chair.
Dot placed a photo in front of Tess. “Do you recognise this woman?”
Tess jolted away from the table and gasped. “Yes, that’s the woman who was shot!”
The sergeant nodded, as if she had guessed it already.
“Who is she?” Ed asked.
“Charmaine Lansdell. Married to Roger, the man who tried to get Brandon to sign the contract selling the Ridge.”
Ed’s mouth dropped open. It was all connected. Last month, Stonefish Enterprises had kidnapped Lara, and Roger had presented the contract to Brandon to sign. Turned out he’d been little more than a minion, asked to do it because he owed someone money. “Why kill her?”
“Because Roger told us what he knew,” Dot said. “It might not have been much, but I gather the murder was to show what happens to people who cross Stonefish.” She sighed. “She was reported missing this morning, and fit Tess’s description. When I saw the name, I had a hunch.”
“You haven’t found her body?” Tess asked.
“Not yet.”
“So what now?” Ed asked.
“We’ll continue searching for Salvatore, and for Charmaine’s body.”
“What do I do in the meantime?” Tess asked.
Dot pursed her lips. “When do you go back to university?”
“Not for two weeks.”
“I can arrange for a new passport,” Dot said. “You could return home—if you think you’ll be safer there.”
Tess hesitated and bit her lip.
Ed didn’t want her to go, but he was surprised she wasn’t more keen on the idea. Sam’s warning buzzed in his head.
The thought Tess might be playing him made him feel ill, but he still couldn’t leave her to fend for herself. “You’re welcome to stay at the Ridge,” he said. “I’ve got another ten days here, and hopefully by then, this will all be resolved.”
“It’s a lot to ask,” Tess said.
“We’re both fighting the same person. It makes sense to team up.” He would keep a close eye on her, make sure she had no opportunity to sabotage anything.
