Will Tanja ever be found? It might be like Peter Falconio - such a wide area to search and not knowing where to begin. Then again why did husband nut himself - he must have been worried about being caught?
I believe that her body, or artifacts , like what was in her pocket, or even her faded and useless phone will be found. One day.
I can see the possibility that she was murdered anywhere between Adelaide and Oulnina Park... I don't think she made it alive home to Oulnina, but it is possible that her body did.
I have been reluctant to conclude this, but I do think Marlis knows where and how and why Tanja was murdered. She tells a story that Michael said ... ' well.. mum.. she just took off , she is a risktaker etc..'... I believe that was the story she and Michael agreed to and finetuned with each other, those 8 days at Oulnina before the police arrived.
I can't come to the idea that Marlis knew M was going to shoot himself... I think she was aware of the possibility, but it didn't change the story they agreed to. I do think M told his Mum all about it. Possibly , Maris was very understanding... the dynamics between Marlis and Michael would require the entire literature of Freud.
Those 8 days they spent together, with the motherless children... waiting for..what?.. I do not know. . I cant even begin to imagine.,
will Marlis be able to bring herself to an account of everything Michael told her?.. I think she will, one day.. . she will tell someone. I am convinced of that, because Marlis has bucketloads of self justification yet to unload.....
Why did Michael nut himself... and in the most dramatic way available. He, and Marlis must have known the police would turn up one day.. they could put it off by not going to the police themselves, but eventually, it was inevitable, yet they both waited..
I am convinced Michael prepared for that arrival, and had the loaded rifle in readiness, who knows, maybe 2 or 3 in various places for quick access if things went bad. Which they did. The police started off with the idea of a murder having taken place... ... Michael knew.
But there was still a smidgen of power to hold onto. he dies without revealing where body is. . he owns her, up to and beyond the grave. Her parents can't mourn at her grave, her brother cant, her sons cant . Only Michael ( and Marlis, who's outlook would be similar) have that power, either to divulge, or not. Michael has chosen not to. What about Marlis?.. maybe, one day.. .
