The investigation dragged on. There were generally no quick determinations when fatalities or truck drivers were involved, and there had been witness statements about an unmarked B-double in the vicinity at the time. Second vehicle involvement had to be investigated and eliminated first. Dan called Maggie several times over the following weeks, every time another witness came forward to record a statement. Although careful not to say too much, each call was an excuse to hear her voice and know she was doing okay.
He’d cut short his leave and returned to work. The boss didn’t say no. Sadly, the Christmas holidays meant busy workloads for the crash team. Every second night the kids stayed with Dan. Tracy was having a tough time with the pregnancy and Emily and Mike were keen to get away from ‘kooky Roger with the goo-goo baby noises’. Mike’s description, not Dan’s.
Dan had started calling Maggie once a week, then a couple of times a week, now it was every second night, their conversations slowly shifting from things like Brian and who was to blame, to laughing over Ethne and Barnacle Bill’s bar room barnies, Sara’s monster-in-law jokes, and Noah’s squabbles with his pain-in-the-butt half-sister. One night Maggie had surprised Dan, telling him carefully about her son’s sexuality. That particular night they’d talked for three hours, crying one minute, laughing the next. Maggie told Dan about Phillip’s offer—at Fiona’s suggestion—to have Noah board with them in their penthouse should Sydney University accept him. Noah had decided on a Bachelor of Music degree so he could teach music. Dan had sensed Maggie’s reluctance about Phillip’s offer, particularly regarding Fiona’s influence, and he offered her his thoughts and observations of a very changed young woman who he saw from time to time in that impossible-to-miss canary-yellow Saab convertible. Dan had dined in the Potts Point penthouse several times at Phillip’s request and discovered Fiona worked in a building not far from police headquarters.
Tonight, when Dan dialled Maggie’s number, she answered before the second ring. He was glad. There was lots to talk about.
In his hand he held a letter.
It was from the Rev. Joe Lindeman.
Forgiveness. Finally.