Joshua looked around. They both got out of the car to have better look. The others watched.

“Hey, Aaron, once when I was out driving with my window down, a police man pulled up beside me and pointed at me and said, ‘Pullover’.” I looked at the police officer, tugged the top of my clothing and said, ‘No, it’s a cardigan’.” Mel said.

Mel made Aaron laugh, even though at times it may have been inappropriate. Churchie and Wally were laughing at this one.

“I think I’ve heard that one before, Mel,” said Churchie.

Wally chirped in. “Me too. It was in a movie called Dumb and Dumber. I think Mel was in the movie, too.” Wally started laughing.

Aaron looked at Wally in the rear-view mirror. Wally was starting to come out of his shell.

Mackenzie came up to the driver’s side. “This is the right area, Aaron. Joshua and I agree we’ve been here before. We witnessed an accident. But we’re unsure which direction we came from. 

“I agree, Aaron. I remember driving past here,” Wally said.

“Well, where to from here?” Aaron asked.

“Let’s get something to eat at the winery. I’m sure they would have a snack bar or something like that,” Mackenzie said.

There was all-round agreement.

<°)))><

Aaron turned the Prada into the Sirromet driveway and headed towards some buildings at the top of a hill, looking for a place to eat.

Grapevines lined both sides of the road. Wallabies stood feeding among the grass patches between the vines, oblivious to the passing of the four-wheel drive. Aaron parked the vehicle, and they made their way over to where they could order some food. While in the queue, Aaron looked up at some posters on the wall. They were posters of past events—music concerts. This place attracted good bands, good singers—a future date with Mackenzie, maybe.

After ordering some snacks and drinks, they found their way over to an area that gave great views of the valley. A number of vacant benches and tables greeted them. As the winery advertising material suggested, the sky was impossibly blue. Aaron looked down to a large grassy area, probably where they had their concerts.

Mackenzie sat down next to Aaron. “Do you think the Rev’s okay, Aaron?”

“Should be, Mackenzie. Don’t know why he’d come to any harm.”

“I feel a bit guilty. You know sitting around eating . . . relaxing . . . when he may be in trouble.”

“I know what you mean. But we need to eat and I’m sure he wouldn’t want us moping around. We will find him.”

Churchie looked at Wally. “Hey, Wally, my angel’s telling me that you should go around the side of the building there.”

“Why?”

“There’s someone there you need to see.”

Aaron sensed Wally was unsure about this. “Come on, Wally, I’ll go with you.”

Aaron looked at the plate of potato wedges. He grabbed a couple before he stood up. They were hot. He juggled them as he walked with Wally around the side of the building. They stopped and stared at an extension ladder with a man three-quarters of the way up it. The man sensed their presence, looked down at them and gave them a smile.

Wally looked at him. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

He came down the ladder and walked over and started topping up his paint tray. He looked hard at Wally. “Not sure if I know you.”

“You dropped me off at a bus stop not too long ago.”

“My . . . you scrub up well.”

<°)))><

The painter was a friendly man. Aaron asked if he could tell them where he had picked Wally up from. The painter took his smartphone out of his pocket and brought up a map of the area.

“It’s not far from here. I’d just picked up a ladder from this property here and then started driving down West Mount Cotton Road. It was about here that you jumped out and scared the living daylights out of me.”

“Sorry . . . these phones are amazing,” Wally remarked, moving his head on an angle to get a better view.

Aaron thought that he would expand on things to see if the painter may have an idea of the property they were looking for. “Have you been hearing the news items . . . sorry, what was your name?”

The painter grabbed the ladder, looked up and moved the ladder a few paces to the right. “I’m known as BT. I’m not a real ‘news’ person, but catch the news in the van every now and then.”

“Nice to meet you BT. I’m Aaron and he’s Wally, just in case you didn’t exchange names at your last meeting. Have you heard about people going missing, dead bodies being raised . . .”

“Pretty hard not to. Every time I put the radio on there seems to be some discussion about that—pretty weird stuff, hey?”

Aaron nodded and watched as the painter went over to a large paint bucket. “Wondering, would you have any idea of any well-concealed properties out where you found Wally.”

BT stopped and looked at Aaron. A look of enthusiasm came over him. “Of course . . . why didn’t I think of this sooner? The place I picked the ladder up from, we did a paint job there . . . and the more I think about it, it must be the place. Let me call my boss and see if I can get an early mark. I’ll take you there.”

Aaron watched as BT made the call. He was wondering should they go there or should they contact the police. Maybe make sure it was the right property first, and then call the police.

BT was off the phone now. “Boss not keen on me leaving the job. If you can grab some paper and a pen, I’ll draw you a map.”

Chapter 28

THEY BOTH HEARD IT the same time. They got up from their seats.

“Was that a car door closing?”

The Rev nodded. “I think so.” Another door closed.

“Sounds like a couple of doors closed . . . looks like we’re going to be out of here soon.” The Rev prayed a quiet thank you. His ears pricked up as a door opened up just outside the room. He could hear muffled voices, then sensed movement above his head. He looked up and saw a video camera scanning the room. He pointed it out to Windsor, who gave a wave.

They heard a crackle and then a voice boomed into the room. “Hello, Minister. Didn’t expect to see you here. Didn’t think you had the guts to do a transfer. And I’m annoyed that I left that transfer box there. Maybe I should have at least password-protected it. Must return and get it, but then again, how often do they go and check a dead body?”

The Rev saw the look on the minister’s face. “Who is this?” he asked Windsor.

“One of my assistants,” Windsor said.

“One of his assistants,” Lucas repeated. They heard laughter.

“You’re a puppet, Windsor. Starkey just used you to get funding for the technology. Now that things have gone off the rails he’s probably bolted. And it looks that way, if you could see what’s happened in this room. All the filing cabinet's drawers are open and there are no papers to be seen. He’s either taken the secrets of his technology with him or burnt them.”