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‘What about Bill?’ Kane stared at her.

‘I would trust him with my life. He’s always been like a second father to me.’

‘Okay, this is what we’re going to do. David and I will go up to the farm. The house is empty and they, or he or whoever, might have taken Gina there. They’ve already got their thugs up there guarding the place.’ His jaw was set as he fired instructions off. ‘Ellie, can you get someone to look after the children this morning?’

She nodded.

‘What time do the guys start work at the lodge?’

‘They get together for a cuppa and plan the day’s work over at the workshop about seven o’clock.’

‘I want you to go over there and speak to the group you can trust. See if they can think of anywhere that Gina could be hidden around here. An old shed, an abandoned farm. Anything. Get them to keep a look out as they travel around.’

David shook his head. ‘I’m not sure about this. What if it gets back to Fairweather?’

‘Do you have a better plan?’

‘No. I guess I’ll just have to trust your judgment.’ David glanced down at his watch. ‘It’s almost six-thirty.’

‘I’ll ask Jan to come and babysit and then I’ll make us some coffee.’ Ellie turned to the laptop. ‘Wait a minute, there’s one email I haven’t opened.’ The message had come in last night but she’d left it as there were no attachments. She clicked on the subject and scrolled down. ‘Yes! I asked Em to see if Mum knew the password to Dad’s Gmail account and she’s sent it to me.’

‘Daddy!’ David pushed his chair back and went over to the sofa as Binny stirred.

Ellie watched David gather the little girl into his arms and the lump that had been stuck in the back of her throat all night came slamming back. The email was forgotten as she watched David hold his daughter close. Ellie swallowed and caught Kane’s gaze, not surprised to see a sheen of tears clouding his eyes.

‘Where’s Mummy?’ Binny asked.

David caught Ellie’s eye and the anguish in his expression tore at her. ‘She’ll be back soon.’

‘With our new baby?’ Binny climbed down from her father’s arms. ‘I’m hungwy, Daddy.’

‘I’ve got some breakfast cereal and long-life milk in the cupboard.’ Ellie moved the laptop to the benchtop in the kitchen as David carried the little girl over to the table. She pulled out some bowls and put it all on the table for David, and then went back to the computer.

The quiet voices of the children were forgotten as she successfully logged into her father’s email account.

‘How sad is this.’ She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand as Kane gently squeezed her shoulder. ‘Emails to Dad. Still being sent five years after he died.’

It took a few minutes to scroll back through pages and pages of newsletters and ads covering the last five years. ‘Look, there’s a few emails from Panos to Dad, just before he –’ Ellie took a quick breath and narrowed her eyes as she leaned closer to the computer. ‘Oh my God. Read this.’

She turned to Kane and a huge grin crossed his face as he read the email open on the screen in front of him.

‘We’ve got him, David. We’ve nailed the bastard.’

Chapter 33

6.50 am Saturday

Makowa Lodge

Kane kissed Ellie before he crossed to the Jeep where David was waiting. Andrew and Binny had hugged their father as Ellie stood with Jan on the verandah. In the end they had only told Jan that Gina was ill and that David had to go and see her. He waved to the kids from the car.

‘We’ll see you later, Ellie.’ He held up Gina’s phone. ‘If there’s any news, you have this number?’ Ellie nodded.

Jan led the children inside and after the door closed behind them, Ellie said, ‘Be careful.’

‘I’ll call if we have any news,’ David said.

‘Me too. After I see the guys, I’ll see Heather and I’ll let you know what I find out.’