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way, Sofie started loading the dishwasher. Bending to her task, the nerves up her spine started tingling—there was a presence behind her. Heart pounding she swung around. ‘Christ, Brock, you scared the daylights out of me.’
    â€˜Didn’t mean to startle you. Feet apart, he stood at ease … kind of. ‘You left a message at the station. Something about a package?’
    â€˜I thought you were on nights?’ Sofie said snappishly, still smarting over his rejection. Did the man have no empathy?
    His brow wrinkled, eyes questioning. ‘You okay?’
    Maybe he did have empathy. Could a big scary man look cute? Damn it, yes he could.
    â€˜Finished my nights till next month,’
    â€˜Right, well, it’s in the staffroom back there.’ Sofie pointed. ‘Second door on the left, connected to the sunroom. I’d take you back there, but with Britt away, someone has to watch out for customers. It’s horrible to think she’s roaming the country with no one looking out for her. Doesn’t anyone know anything ?’
    Forehead creasing, face intense, Brock stepped into the kitchen, blocking the doorway, which pretty much disappeared behind his big frame.
    â€˜We’ve interviewed everyone that knew her except you. Figured Jennifer was her boss and would know everything there was to know, but she doesn’t have anything we can go on. Heard recently that you and Britt spent a lot of time together.’
    â€˜Yes, so?’ Sofie locked eyes with Brock; his non-verbal communication was clear and a little scary. Not that he was scary per se, just the information he was clearly hesitating to share. ‘Britt isn’t in witness protection, is she?’
    â€˜No.’ His face remained tense.
    Worried, all she could do was stare at him.
    The bell tinkled again. ‘I’m here!’ Claudia’s best friend Michelle sang out.
    Footsteps thundered down the back stairs, and Claudia herself called, ‘Me too!’ then barged past Brock.
    â€˜Scuse us,’ Michelle said, following Claudia.
    Coming out of her stupor, Sofie stuttered, ‘Wh-what are you two doing here? Teenagers sleep until lunch.’
    â€˜Mum, it’s the weekend. Move over, the pros are here to make coffee.’
    â€˜That’s right,’ Sofie pointed out again, ‘weekends you sleep even later.’
    Claudia rolled her eyes. Michelle giggled. Jennifer’s husband Calum came downstairs and into the kitchen closely followed by Jennifer. Everyone starting talking at once about sleeping in, needing to get up and lack of communication.
    â€˜We’re leaving,’ Calum said as he wrapped an arm around Jennifer’s waist, kissed her hard and took her back upstairs.
    â€˜Bye, Sis,’ Sofie said longingly as they disappeared.
    Strange, squeaking noises made her turn towards Brock—he was trying damned hard to keep his chuckling under control. She wanted to kick Mr Hot-and-Cold in the shins.
    Then Claudia shoved her in the back saying, ‘Mum, you’re in the way.’
    â€˜Okay, I’m going. I’ll have a look in the real estate window for a place to rent.’ Turning to Claudia, she said, ‘Sorry hon, but sleeping with you is like sleeping with an Olympic hurdler.’
    Claudia gave her a sad face, mock pout and chin-tremble.
    â€˜I’ll just get the package, leave you all to it,’ Brock mumbled, with a grin and a sideways nod towards the staffroom. ‘I’m on duty today, need anything, ring me.’
    ***
    Brock eyed the package, then carefully picked it up by the string—no way was it something he could leave there. At arm’s length, he took it out the back way to his car and placed it in his heavy-duty checker-plate tool box. If anything were to happen, hopefully the box would protect him. He arrived at the police station, carefully manhandled the box out of his car and left it in the garage with a note