Eliza nodded. ‘Her and Georgia weren’t as stunning as the twins, but they still drew the boys. They were more down to earth. Or maybe less . . . untouchable.’

‘So did Jasmine have a boyfriend?’ said Con, looking between the two of them.

Tom spoke first. ‘She told all the boys at school that she did, but she wouldn’t say who it was,’ he said. ‘It drove them wild. I’m telling you, if you think girls are gossips, just come along to the locker room before footy training.’ He chuckled. ‘Or not. It gets pretty dirty sometimes. Jasmine has this temper – the boys go wild for it. Like her dad, in that way.’

‘You know Jordan Murphy?’

‘Sure,’ said Tom. Monica appeared and pushed a shirt into Tom’s hands, which he hastily pulled on, prompting a quiet sigh of disappointment from Gabriella. ‘We were in the same year, growing up here. We didn’t mix in the same circles, though, if you know what I mean.’

‘Let’s pretend that I don’t,’ said Con, with a smile.

‘Ah. Well. Murphy . . . he didn’t show up at school much. And when he did, he spent half the day smoking by the basketball courts and the other half in the principal’s office. His dad was our dealer. Best bush bud around. Then he dropped out and followed in Daddy’s footsteps . . .’

Eliza hit him on the side.

‘What?’ said Tom. ‘As if they don’t already know.’ He leaned towards Con. ‘He’s the one you should be interrogating.’

‘Didn’t realise this was an interrogation,’ said Con.

‘Just having a joke, mate,’ said Tom.

‘Tell us about Cierra Mason,’ said Gabriella.

Monica had lingered in the kitchen, washing dishes, and at this question Con heard her pause, just for a second.

‘I don’t have too much to do with her,’ said Tom. ‘Whenever she shows up to PE, she doesn’t do much. I called home about it a few times but nothing ever happened: you’d think the sun shone out of those two girls’ backsides, the way their parents talk about them.’ He shrugged. ‘Eliza would know more.’

‘Cierra isn’t much into Literacy or History or Indigenous Studies or . . . anything, really,’ said Eliza, a small catch in her voice, a half-glance in Tom’s direction. ‘To be honest, she’s a pain in the classroom: whenever she finally opens up her books, which usually takes half the lesson, she just complains it’s too hard. You have to be helping her one-on-one all the time. Polar opposite of her sister.’

‘Was Cierra seeing anyone?’ said Gabriella.

‘Oh yeah. She had someone on the go all the time,’ interjected Tom. ‘Tyler Cabot? Or is it Jye Calloway now?’ Tom stood up, long legs unfolding. ‘I better dry some of these dishes for Monica. I’m afraid I don’t know much more about the other two girls, either.’