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smile off his face and got down to business. ‘Any news on the driver?’
    â€˜The truck’s owner says he was inside the petrol station paying for his fuel, when someone took off with his truck. He couldn’t see who was behind the wheel, but called it in straightaway, and he’s not lying. The truck was listed as stolen at eight this morning.’
    â€˜You figure out what happened?’ He wanted to hear this ‘accident’ was because of a blowout, failed brakes, swerving to miss a pedestrian, or someone’s dog … anything unavoidable, accidental. But his gut was telling him that was bullshit; still, he could hope.
    Takumi clenched his teeth, not happy, Brock noted.
    Christ, what now?
    â€˜You gonna make me wait all day?’ Brock pushed.
    â€˜Nope. Just from a quick look over the truck, there’s no faulty steering. Brakes are good and so are the tyres. The driver has fled the scene, uninjured I reckon. There’s no blood to suggest he’s walking around half loopy, but I could be wrong, for all we know, he could have an almighty lump on his head. Also, no one has been admitted to hospital with a dicky heart, a seizure, or a coughing fit. What I’m not wrong about is, this may have been deliberate.’ Tak nodded and pushed himself off the car. ‘What’re you doing here anyway? It’s your day off.’
    â€˜Helping a friend. It’s Sofie Dove’s house.’ Brock inclined his head, eyes narrowed, studying Takumi’s face, and asked, ‘What makes you think it was planned?’
    â€˜Yeah, I know it’s Sofie’s.’ Takumi peered at him, brown almond eyes alert. ‘Shit! Have you been seeing each other? And do you have enemies? Does Sofie have a stalker? Are you seeing her?’ he repeated.
    â€˜Jesus, Tak. No to all of that.’
    â€˜Well, fuck,’ Takumi whispered roughly, ‘every time you two get close, global warming takes a hit. I don’t know much about Sofie’s background and only a bit of yours, but hell, you two are missing out.’
    Brock pointedly ignored his partner’s romantic ideas. ‘Why do you think it was planned?’ he ground out.
    â€˜No skid marks to indicate the driver tried to brake or swerve. A neighbour said the truck wasn’t speeding. He just ploughed straight into the garden, turning at the last minute to do maximum damage to the house. And that’s how I see it as well.’
    â€˜Hmm … Sofie is …’ Brock mumbled, not finishing what he was about to say; it would only give Takumi more fuel to his already fertile mind.
    Too late, mischief shone in his partner’s eyes, and then he asked again, ‘What’s Sofie to you? It’s police business, you know.’
    â€˜Yeah right, not the part you’re asking about. I repeat, Sofie’s a friend, there’s nothing going on.’
    â€˜Well, how stupid are you? Anyone with half a brain can see she’d have you in a flash,’ he chuckled, ‘though God only knows why, you walk around with a pole up your arse most of the time.’
    â€˜Watch your mouth, Tak!’
    â€˜You’re off duty, I can say what I want and what you need to hear … old man.’ Takumi laughed, took a boxer’s stance and feigned a few air punches.
    Brock put his dinner-plate hand on Takumi’s face and shoved, hard enough for the other man to stumble back.
    â€˜Hey, I wasn’t ready.’
    â€˜Shut up, Tak. Any news on Britt Ingesson?’
    In a blink, Takumi u-turned from teasing to serious. He straightened up and, face a deadly mask, clipped, ‘No.’
    Obviously Brock had hit a sore point. He sighed. ‘Sorry, mate, she’ll turn up, and wonder what all the fuss is about.’
    â€˜Nice try,’ Takumi muttered.
    â€˜Yeah, I’m going home, feed Britt’s dog and take him for a run, and think about all this shit.’
    â€˜Brock,