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A cool breeze ruffled Dawn’s hair as she stepped out of the passenger’s side. Despite the breeze, her hands were sweating as she pulled her weapon from her handbag.
Ryan lifted an eyebrow but said nothing as he drew his own gun and led the way up the winding driveway.
Holding her gun in both hands, Dawn peered in the driver’s side window of a black Audi parked at the top of the driveway. She tested the door as she passed by. It was locked, no keys in the ignition.
Ryan waited. She lifted her right hand and pointed for him to go on.
The house was quiet. No yelling or screaming. The only sound was gum leaves swaying in the wind.
Ryan stepped onto the porch and stopped. Dawn took another step, but Ryan pointed for her to press back against the front of the house.
Taking two more steps, he studied the front door, then turned to face Dawn and wave her towards him.
She scurried closer, keeping her head ducked down instinctively.
‘The door’s open,’ Ryan whispered.
She nodded for him to go in.
He stepped up, peered in, then scampered to the other side of the door. Dawn was ready by the time he got into position. She waited for the signal.
Tactical police did this type of work back in Adelaide. She wondered if they should be calling someone in, but this was likely a domestic case. Not exactly a terrorist or organised crime raid.
Ryan nodded. Dawn pushed the door the rest of the way open and stepped into the foyer to the left.
‘Police!’
Ryan entered a fraction of a second behind her, heading to the right, weapon first.
‘Police!’ he called, but silence greeted them.
Dawn’s heart thudded in her chest as she scanned Brad’s office.
‘Clear.’
She heard Ryan call out from the other side of the hall and joined him back in the foyer.
‘Ronnie! You home?’
Dawn pressed herself against the left wall and stalked her way up the stairs and into the kitchen and family room area.
Her breath caught in her throat. She turned to see if Ryan was seeing what she was.
He nodded, his eyes darting to the blood smear on the white marble floor.
A sound from behind them made them spin round, guns raised.
‘Whoa up!’
Brad’s face went white as his hands shot up into the air, keys dangling from his right thumb, eyes wide.
Dawn lowered her gun. Ryan didn’t move.
‘Brad. Where’s Ronnie?’
‘What?’ He frowned at Ryan, then Dawn.
‘You need to step out. Now!’
Dawn ushered him back outside.
‘I’ve got to get the kids out of the car. What is going on?’
‘Outside Brad, now!’
Dawn’s adrenalin was on high alert as she turned him around and shoved him out the door.
‘And don’t touch anything.’
‘What is going on? I need to get the kids inside.’
‘The kids need to stay where they are.’
‘But they’re tired.’
‘I don’t have time to explain. I will, though. But I need to clear the house with Ryan first.’
She guided him towards the car, trying to back her partner up at the same time.
‘Clear the ... what is going on. Where’s Ronnie?’
‘Brad. Just do what I’m telling you to do. Take the kids, drive into town and I’ll get Ross to call you when we’re done.’
‘Done?’
Brad seemed to suddenly realise what was going on.
‘Ronnie!’ He tried to push past Dawn.
‘Brad. Stop! Your kids.’
Dawn heard the little girl’s cries and saw something click in Brad’s eyes. He stopped trying to push past Dawn.
‘I promise. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.’
She watched as he hurried to the driver’s side of his car, slid behind the wheel and with shaking hands, put his key in the ignition.
Turning, he soothed his daughter and backed out of the driveway.
Dawn hurried back through the door to find Ryan standing in the kitchen, staring at the floor. Her heart thudded as acid rose in her throat, but as she rounded the long white stone bench, she let out a breath with relief.
On the floor wasn’t the body of her friend like she’d been expecting. Instead, it was Ronnie’s mobile phone, screen smashed. Blood spots dotted the floor, but not enough to be lethal.
‘Let’s clear the house and call the sergeant.’
Ryan stalked his way towards the hallway, while Dawn crossed the family room to what she thought could be the laundry. All the time her head was spinning with the same questions, over and over again.
Why Ronnie? Why now? And most of all, how was this connected to Jessica and Tracey’s murders?