‘Why can’t you leave these people alone?’ Shaun’s mum said the moment he was in the car.

‘They invited me!’

She sighed. ‘Elaine said that Peter had got into trouble. What happened?’

How could Shaun tell the story without getting himself in trouble?

‘He got into a fight with the safety officer at the mines,’ he said. ‘He was arrested.’

‘God,’ his mum muttered under her breath. ‘You need to leave them alone, okay? They’re grieving. People go weird at times like this. Remember how …’

Her voice faded away, but he knew what she meant. He’d never forget how she changed in the days after his father’s death.

‘Yeah,’ he said.

‘You just need to concentrate on your school work. You’ve got the doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and we can talk about everything then.’

He’d forgotten about that. She had a day off tomorrow, so she would make sure he went to school and then pick him up straight after to go to the doctor’s. He wouldn’t have any time to see Megan again and find out what had happened to her dad. Or maybe even kiss her.

When they got home, he closed his bedroom door but his mother yelled out, ‘Get some sleep! Don’t stay up!’

He wasn’t thinking about going online, though. He couldn’t wait to read the stolen letter, a thickly folded wad in his back pocket. He smoothed it out and looked at it under his bedside light. There was some kind of card inside the envelope, heavier than ordinary paper.

He ripped it open and pulled out a single sheet of folded paper and a thick plastic card. He read the letter three times.

Mr Grant,

Enclosed is your new accommodation key for Viveco Workers’ Village. You will continue to stay in room 315.

Your old card has been cancelled. If you find it, throw it away. It will no longer work.

If this card is lost or stolen, you will be charged a $50 replacement fee. There will be a penalty if you are found to be using a card that doesn’t belong to you.

A reminder that your room must be reasonably clean upon departure from your shift. Any excessive mess will incur a penalty.

Regards,

Tanya Smith

Manager, Employee Care and Accommodation

At the top of the letter was the Scotts logo with the address of their Sydney headquarters. It had been written a little over a week ago. Tyson would’ve been on his shift when the letter arrived at the house.

Shaun fished his phone from his pocket and searched for Viveco Workers’ Village. He already had a rough idea of where it was. The map confirmed his suspicions. The large camp was about 30 kilometres away, just on the edge of the mining site. It was one of six or seven camps that surrounded the town.

He spun the key card in his hand. With access to Tyson’s room, what clues could he find? He pictured the scene: another change of clothes; a diary spilling out all Tyson’s thoughts; his phone, maybe, with messages between him and his murderer, unveiling the whole story behind his disappearance and death.

But 30 kilometres was a hell of a distance on his bike. It would take him ages.

He put the letter to one side and scrolled through his phone. He thought about texting Megan, but didn’t know what to say. She’d probably be too distracted with her dad to even think about Shaun and their kiss.

She was the last thought on his mind as he drifted off to sleep. Smiling and perfect, her face moving closer to his, until the only thing separating them was his own beating heart.

The knock on the front door was loud and urgent. It woke Shaun up. He reached for his phone and checked the time. It was just before seven in the morning. The knock came again, louder, a pounding fist. It shook the front windows.

He heard his mum’s muffled footsteps as she walked down the hall.

He stared at his bedroom ceiling and heard Charlie’s serious tone, but he couldn’t make out the words, only that his mum then welcomed him into the house. In seconds she was at his bedroom door.

‘Sweetie,’ she said, standing in the doorway. ‘You need to come and talk to the police. They’ve found Tyson.’