By the time Ellie left Black Rock, this time in the front seat of the patrol car with Constable King driving, the media had arrived. They were kept back as Frank Barlow’s body was loaded into the waiting coroner’s vehicle, their questions relentless as it drove away.
Ben had protected Ellie, shielding her from the mob as he escorted her to the police car. Once she was inside, he squatted beside her.
“Okay now?”
“Thank you. I’m so sorry for Frank’s wife. What terrible news for her.”
“It was going to be bad whoever it was.”
“But murder? Oh, Ben. Who would do this?”
“Homicide will be doing their job to find out. And I will escalate the search for Jack. Are you going home?”
“I’m doing an interview with Teresa Scarcella. It might get her off my back for a while and besides, she owes me a
