I get straight into another round of searching, going back over everything. But it’s so hot inside I feel like my skin is going to melt off. In the end I’m forced to admit defeat and temporarily retreat. I’ll try again when the heat has backed off.

I have another shower, change my clothes to something breathable and go out to the back to sit where the shade makes things a few degrees cooler. This time I avoid the steps, choosing a chair by the fire instead. I’m there for a while, staring into my tea, wondering what else I can do.

Rhi comes whizzing along in Aunty Mel’s car, roaring up the driveway to where she can see me. She hops out and joins me on the chairs.

‘Fuck it’s hot!’

‘Why you got the car?’

‘Mum let me have it, she’s drivin with Aunty Al.’

‘After ya told her what we did?’ I’m shocked.

‘She’s more pissed at Mick, Dan and Eric. Had to do some fast talkin to stop her from stormin up ta the hospital.’

‘Gee you’re good. What a con job.’

She smirks at me. ‘Don’t be jealous, cuzzie, we can’t all be smooth.’

I laugh and go back to staring into my mug like it holds the answers to all my problems.

‘Let’s go for a swim out the river,’ I declare.

She looks at me strangely. ‘Didn’t Aunt say ya had to stay put? Or are ya just in the mood for more punishment?’

‘Shut up, it’s hot and I need to cool down. I can’t think!’

She snorts. ‘Your problem is you need to think less.’

But she hops up and we both get into the car. Rhi is a pretty reliable taxi service when she’s in town. I’ve never been able to get my driver’s licence. Laney has hers but getting my opens seems to be the one test I was born to fail.

‘Should you leave a note at least?’

I send her a dirty look and she raises both hands. ‘Fine, it’s your funeral.’

‘Is Aunty Mel really not pissed at you?’

Rhi scrunches up her face. ‘I didn’t say that. We are most definitely in the shit.’

‘Well, I guess they can only kill us once.’

‘Now you’re startin to sound like me.’ Rhi laughs. Still, we both know whatever those evil women come up with we’ll be hurting for a while.

‘What about the Sam thing?’ I ask.

‘What about it?’ She raises her eyebrows but keeps her eyes on the road.

‘Didja tell her that it wasn’t true?’

‘No, why would I?’

My mouth drops open.