Aaron seemed stunned. He didn’t nod. He didn’t even blink. For once he was perfectly still.

‘I always liked your mum. I don’t blame her for what she did, even if it was against the law. The two of you were better off in the long run.’ I glanced back at Joe, but he was well out of earshot. ‘She had a tough time. So did you. I just want you to know I’m not going to make things tougher. You don’t have to warn her, okay? Your secret’s safe with me.’

Still Aaron said nothing. His expression was unreadable. ‘It’s going to be fine.’ I held out my hand. ‘Come on. I’ll tell Mr Steiger this wasn’t your fault. I know you’ve been worried. I know you didn’t break into my bedroom.’ After my little run-in with Jake, I no longer had any doubts. ‘Let’s just go back and have a rest. You can’t row this tinny to Cleveland—you’re too tired.’

Aaron looked at my hand. Then he looked at my face. Then he opened his mouth as if he was about to say something. But after a moment’s thought, he changed his mind and started climbing out of the boat.

2009

2009

PHOEBE WAS SCREAMING. ‘Ew, yuk! Ew, yuk!’ On the floor near her, three large cockroaches were scurrying around Aaron’s lunchbox.

Oscar darted forward and stamped on one of them.

‘Shh,’ I said. ‘Everyone calm down.’

‘Yuk, Aaron!’ George couldn’t keep his big mouth shut. ‘Is that a bug sandwich?’

‘Shut up!’ Aaron shoved him hard, then rushed at Phoebe. ‘Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!’ Suddenly she was flat on her back.

‘Aaron!’ I tried to grab him, but he dodged me. He was out the door before I could stop him. ‘Mrs Olsen!’ I cried.

Deb stuck her head into the hallway.

‘Could you finish up here?’ I asked her. ‘Aaron’s a bit upset.’

She smiled and nodded. I hurried into the playground, which was already ringing with children’s voices. Everywhere I looked, kids were crouched on the concrete or rolling around in the grass. They all wore identical blue sunhats. It was hard to tell one from the other.

‘Aaron!’ I couldn’t see him. But I spotted Prue Wilmott, who was on recess duty. She was making a senior girl pick up an empty chip packet. ‘Mrs Wilmott!’ I waved at her. ‘Have you seen Aaron Rooney?’

‘Aaron?’ Prue looked around. ‘No.’

‘I have,’ said the senior girl, who bore a striking resemblance to Phoebe Canning. She pointed. ‘He went that way. He was crying.’

Prue flicked me a sharp look but all she said was, ‘Thank you, Sarah.’

Sarah Canning. Phoebe had told me about her elder sister, who was in year five and seemed to know everything. ‘Did he go into the office?’ I asked.