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Tarni’s interest flared. ‘A cattle station? When?’

‘My cousin asked me to go out for the weekend to give him a bit of a hand with drenching.’

‘What’s drenching?’ she asked.

‘Are you a philistine? You don't even know what drenching is. Do you know anything about cattle?’

‘I know they moo, and we get milk from them, and the steaks in the supermarket come from cattle,’ she said.

Cy shook his head. ‘Well, you’re in for an education, girl. Drenching is used to balance their diet, plus it’s like vaccination. Protects them from getting sick.’

‘How do you do it?’

‘We bring the cattle into the yards and put it in their mouths with a nozzle.’

‘I’ve never seen a cattle yard.’

‘If you’d like to come on the weekend, I can show you around the property. I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up. I can take you out to Hidden Valley and show you how spectacular it is. I need to go out there.’ Cy’s voice was quiet, and he stared past her.

‘Is it a special place?’ she asked.

‘Sort of. I didn’t tell you that my dad died a few days ago.’

‘Oh no, I’m so sorry. You should have told me! What happened?’

‘It was him I went to visit in the hospital on Sunday. It’s okay; we had a pretty difficult relationship. I’ll tell you about it around the fire later. Anyway, I’d like to go to Hidden Valley. To remember him.’

Sadness filled Tarni. How could Cy not even have mentioned it?

‘I’d be honoured to come out with you. Thank you.’ Tarni crossed to the fridge and stared at the interior.

She froze, and her eyes widened. ‘Cy, this might sound silly, but have you been doing stuff in the fridge?’

‘Doing stuff? I only took my Coke out the other day. Why? What’s wrong?’

‘Someone’s been in here today. Look, three plastic water bottles lined up in the door, and each one was full to the brim this morning. Now two of them are half empty. I noticed that this morning because I left them here to get cold, ready to fill the water purifier this afternoon.’

‘Did you fill it and forget, maybe?’

She put her hand to her head. ‘No, I’m sure I didn’t. I know I haven’t been thinking straight with my hand hurting, but I didn’t take them out.’

‘Strange.’

‘And look, the lid is off that two-litre milk container. I haven’t touched it. Ellie left it there, and I haven’t opened it because I drink my coffee black. I’ve got a bit of lactose intolerance. I have not opened it. I keep meaning to take it to the shed to see if you could use it.’

Cy walked over to the fridge and lifted the milk container out. ‘There’s no sign of the lid in the door, and some’s been tipped out of it. Are you sure it wasn’t already open?’

‘I am one hundred per cent sure.’

‘Were you in the shed when Jerry left?’

Tarni nodded. ‘I think so. I did hear a car, but I didn’t take much notice. I assumed it was you. I forgot he was down there today.’

‘I’ll have a chat with him tomorrow. He’s the only person who’s been on the place apart from us.’

Tarni shook her head. ‘It couldn’t have been him because both doors were locked just now when I came up.’

Cy looked at her strangely, and Tarni wondered if maybe he thought she was losing the plot. She was beginning to think she was.