Paladin

Jordan knew better than to try and reason with her while she was intent on having her say and throwing everything she thought she knew at him. He knew she would eventually run out of things to say. Meanwhile he would listen and take notes. She ran out of steam after about five minutes when she vehemently finished with, "I know Uncle Phil and he wouldn't do anything like Josh's saying. Uncle Phil's a respectable businessman and a kind man. He helped Sean and me when we got married and he wa

I can't see it as a coincidence that the murders are happening almost immediately after Rick takes on this detective role. It's not his first appointment as a police officer, and there weren't any similar murders while he was in those other roles. The Commissioner hand picks him for this detective role and the murders start. Hmmm.

I agree @centexhairysub. I had the same thought about who saw Rick and Jimmy Tan together. Even though Rick hasn't committed the murders, it looks like he is being set up as the murderer. Only young gay guys that he has met have been murdered. No one he hasn't met. If he is being set up, then why? And why the long time between Martin's murder and Alexis' murder. No murders or murders with a different modus operandi. The year book photo that Martin revealed is interesting. Joshua Bell and Mr Corcoran with Martin and both looking at him rather than the sculpture. Could Joshua Bell be involved? He was in one of the cars that passed Rick and he was sexually suggestive. He is about the same age as Rick. Older than in the photo. Could he be the slightly familiar person in the crowd? In the dream, the red bike was locked to a railing in the schoolyard before the murder. It's not mentioned in Rick's memory of looking for Martin on the day of the murder. I wonder what happened to it? I'm looking forward to more being revealed.

I can accept a lover who died tragically later communicating significantly with their still living lover. Martin can provide clues to his murderer. Leaving aside The Interpretation of Dreams by Freud, we know little about dreams. One theory that I like is that dreams are our brain's method of sorting through all our recent thoughts and experiences to make sense of and save the relevant. I can see the nightmare as Rick's brain putting all he knows about Martin's murder together. Hopefully it will provide Rick with leads to follow up.

I like that Rick is going back over the circumstances of Martin's murder. This time he isn't seeing it as a teenager, shocked and grieving for his lover but as a detective looking for clues. I think that Adam will provide more than emotional and loving support. It's possible that the boys know more about Alexis (and Martin's) murderer than they realise. It might just need the right question or situation for them to reveal what they know.

I understand. I also have a cat that likes to spread herself out over whatever I'm reading or writing and especially my laptop keyboard. Her typing is atrocious!

I have noticed that traditional media outlets are almost overusing 'allegation' and alleged when reporting on someone's criminal behaviour, all the way up to a guilty verdict in court. Obviously this is to avoid possibly being sued if the court verdict is 'not guilty'.

Joshua called Madison and it's had to forgive her for not believing what he was telling her. Maybe solicitors need some relief from the formality of court and all that dreadful legalese they keep speaking and writing. 😆 I can understand your need for 'colourful language'.

@Davide you are right about some aspects of Madison and I agree she should have spent more time listening to Joshua.

Oh I see. Kevin still has to sit his exams, but when they are finished I think he'll want to be in Sydney.

Thank you @Davide ❤️ Like other readers @Davide you're picking up on some of Madison's background. Don't forget that Joshua did manage to contact her and tried to tell her.

You could be onto something @chris191070. If she doesn't know about Daniel, what else doesn't she know?

Thanks @Lynx003. Horse had no contact with Madison and she isn't involved with the porn. (Hmm, maybe I should have thought to have her husband one of the porn subscribers). Are they your exam results ?

As above @Summerabbacat, the money is involved. Not all solicitors are bad, some are just naive. 🤣

You're on track @CincyKris but not quite in the way you think.

Despite what happened to him and what he was expected to do, Joshua is straight. More on the money soon.

Let's go with her getting married in Ireland @Summerabbacat. Remember that Joshua said he called her and she didn't believe him.

Sorry @Ticklishboy30 😹, you won't get to tickle the crap outta me because none of those four are going to die if I can stop it. Although other things could happen. 😉

More on Madison soon @CincyKris. Daniel and Joshua had a chance to bond again as brothers over surfing.

Sure @Summerabbacat, Madison has got it all wrong and the question is where will having it all wrong take her in her campaign to help uncle Phil. You are right to ask how it is that she suddenly becomes involved. There is more to that.

@Mark Ponyboy Peters, we all have a collection of spanners to throw in the works when necessary. It beats having a collection of writers' blocks. 😆

More in the pipeline @Flip-Flop including more on what has happened between Madison and Uncle Phil while she has been living in Ireland.

Five Forty Five Saturday morning the Lexus sat in the driveway's dim pre-dawn light. Three surfboards, including Joshua's birthday present, were fastened to the roof racks. A backpack with Joshua's essentials along and a couple of changes of clothes sat in the boot next to a larger bag containing all his surf related birthday presents. Jordan and Cameron added their bags of surf gear. Last was Daniels's small backpack of personal items and medication. Cameron closed the boot with a satisfying th