Derek had just finished eating the double-cut ham, cheese and tomato roll one of the team had thoughtfully decided to get him for lunch, when his phone rang.
‘DI Ryan.’
‘Derek, it’s Harry Welcome from Mt Barker.’
Derek stopped brushing the last few crumbs from his bread roll off his lap. Harry was the Inspector in charge of the station at Mt Barker. It wasn’t like they spoke every day, let alone twice in the one day. ‘What’s up, Harry?’
‘I’ve got Tessa King and two little girls in my office, one of which is Ella Taylor.’
‘Is she unharmed?’
‘She’s fine. She’s sitting here with Tessa’s daughter, Mia. Apparently they’re friends from kindergarten.’
Okay, that’s one of my worries solved, thought Derek. ‘What’s her story?’
‘Short version is Ella was kidn*pped by her husband and brother a
