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senior constable who’d organised and led the search for the missing seven-year-old Alana Bennett. When the search was called off it was Markham, a good friend of Adam’s late father George, who’d come to the house with the tragic news.
    Adam would never forget the evening when Markham sat with him on the back porch of the old house, telling him how it took a special kind of strength to deal with the loss of a loved one; how Adam would need to be brave and strong, like a policeman, and help his parents as much as possible. Markham had stayed in touch with Adam ever since – later, coaching him at the basketball stadium – and he’d become something of a role model to the young, impressionable boy.
    Markham was a country boy himself, raised on a farm with little chance for advanced education. He’d joined the police force at age eighteen. His main interest, however, had always been forensic pathology. As a young policeman he’d gone to university part-time to obtain a medical degree, later transferring to the regional coroner’s office.
    ‘Nevertheless,’ Markham replied, ‘if this girl isn’t identified quickly, if it is going to drag on like the “mermaid” case, then take some advice: you don’t have to personally handle every local investigation. Request that it be handled by Johnson over at Castlemaine.’
    ‘It was a long time ago, Brian. I admit it’s brought back memories. But I’m fine. If anything, I’m determined to find out who this girl was and how and why she drowned.
     
    Adam was no sooner back in his office when his phone rang.
    ‘It’s Barbara Cail, Detective. I’m so sorry to disturb you this early…’
    ‘It’s okay, Barbara. What’s up?’
    She told him about the state in which she’d found Costas the night before; how she hadn’t been able to raise her local doctor and how Costas had refused to go the hospital. ‘I think he’s suffering shock. He threw up again this morning. I thought that maybe you’d seen this sort of thing before. Could you suggest something?’
    ‘I need to interview Costas today about last night’s events,’ Adam said. ‘That will give me a chance to suggest some help. Will he be at the house this morning?’
    ‘Silly man says he’s going into his shop.’
    ‘Tell him I phoned and asked if he could wait for me at your place. And don’t worry, Barbara. He’ll be fine. I’ll try and persuade him to see a counsellor who can help him through this.’
    ‘That would be terrific, Detective…oh, hold on.’ She was away from the phone for just a moment. ‘It’s Joey, wants to say a quick hello.’ She sounded flustered.
    ‘That’s fine, Barbara. Put him on.’
    There was a rustling sound as the phone was exchanged at the other end. ‘Hi, Adam.’
    ‘Hi, Joey.’
    ‘Guess you’re really busy now, with that dead body and all.’
    Adam could detect the hint of awe in the boy’s inflection.
    ‘Pretty busy, Joey. Are you being as much help as you can to your Mum right now?’
    ‘Oh yeah. Sure am.’
    ‘Good man.’
    ‘Well, I just wanted to touch base. You be at practice Thursday night, Adam?’
    ‘Sure will. I’ll see you then.’
    ‘Okay. ‘Bye.’
    Adam smiled to himself as he hung up the phone. He remembered how, at a similar age, he’d worshipped Brian Markham for a while. He wondered whether he’d been as obvious as Joey was being with him. But his thoughts turned quickly to Barbara’s boyfriend, a warm, friendly, shaggy bear of a man who sometimes accompanied Barbara to watch Joey’s basketball game. He felt concern for Costas, and cursed himself for not anticipating that the man might suffer a reaction to the shock.
     

 
     
     
     
CHAPTER SIX
     
     
     
    Walter had heard them, somewhere close under the cloak of night. He had hidden, remaining deathly still and holding his breath for long periods at a time, listening to the sounds of the hunters as they passed nearby. He could tell from the rhythm of the movement that