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scanning the job ads, he came up with the plan on the spot.
     
'Excuse me,' he smiled at Rose Deloso, a dark-haired woman wearing a neat tracksuit. 'You're not looking for a job, are you?'
     
The woman looked him over, her brow furrowed, and said nothing. He nodded at the columns in the paper she was poring over.
     
'It's just that I'm having trouble filling a job.' He smiled reassuringly, trying hard not to look at the boy playing with Lego at her feet. 'You're not by any chance interested in casual work at a café, are you?'
     
'Really? Are you serious?' She was smiling now too. 'I mean, yeah, I'm looking for work. Are you for real?'
     
'Yep. You wouldn't believe how hard it's been getting someone to work the hours we need.'
     
'Well, I'm only looking for school-hours work.' She looked at him doubtfully, 'I've got to pick the kids up at three. Well, except for Fridays, when their dad's got them.'
     
'It's hard, isn't it, when you're on your own?' Wayne tried for empathy. 'I've just got one son. Me and his mum thought it would be best to have him a week each. It's working out pretty well, but only because my mother can drop him at school. I'm right to pick him up. You don't have anyone to help you out?'
     
'Nope. My parents still work themselves. It's just me, I'm afraid.'
     
Bingo.
     
Wayne smiled again, warm, but professional. 'Well, I can't promise you the job now, but we actually need someone ten till two, for the lunchtime crowd. Monday to Friday. If that suits, we could both be happy.'
     
'Oh my God, I can't believe this,' she laughed. 'This is the last thing I thought would happen here.' She self-consciously smoothed her ponytail, sat straighter, and shushed her delicious five-year-old boy, who was playing with the germ-infested clinic toys. 'Well, what should we do? How can I apply? Should I give you my mobile number?'
     
As easy as that.
     
'Look,' he said, thinking fast. 'You should have a look at the place first.' He gave her the location of a Burwood café he frequented. It was next to the railway station and was popular with the after-school rush.
     
'Listen though,' he added, leaning forward slightly, 'I'm the owner, not the manager, and the manageress is a bit, well, territorial. She likes to do the hiring and firing.' He smiled with chagrin, shrugged his shoulders. 'Would you mind not saying anything about the job when you have a look? Save me any conflict with Cath? I'll speak to her and call you in for a formal interview if she hasn't found anyone. What do you think?'
     
'Yeah, okay. Sure. I'll go have a look. And you'll call about an interview?' Rose was standing now, hurrying her son. Her name had been announced by the receptionist; it was her turn to see the doctor.
     
'I'll call you tomorrow,' he said, tucking her number into his pocket. Now to get into her house.
     
Wayne called Rose the next morning. Could she come in for an interview? Eleven tomorrow? Great.
     
Another call that afternoon. So sorry. A last-minute appointment in Brisbane had come up. He'd call her on his return.
     
Wayne's tone was polite but friendly when he called Rose the third time.
     
'Rose, I've spoken to Cath and she'd like to meet you. It's busy at work, though, and it'd be easiest for her if we stopped in at your house for a coffee after work tomorrow. Do you think that's okay? She knocks off at six. We could drop 'round at 6.30, and be gone by seven. What do you think?'
     
Rose seemed hesitant, somewhat puzzled, but was eventually won over. She wanted the job, and when Wayne arrived, alone and apologetic, bearing chocolate mud cake with Rohypnol-laced icing, she let him in.
     
Wayne made sure she had the biggest slice, and fifteen minutes later, with Mummy sound asleep with her face in the cake, he went to play birthday parties with the five-year-old.
     

8
C AROLE D EAN HAD FINALLY HUNG UP . Standing at the base of her winding gravel driveway, still in her pyjamas, Mercy dropped the phone handset into