OLI WATCHES CARA SAUNTER OFF DOWN THE STREET, HER HEADSCARF glinting in the sun. Her assessment of her sister rings true, her conflicting emotions seem authentic, and the argument she claims to have overheard feels important. There are a few witness reports of disagreements between the housemates in the lead-up to Evelyn’s death, but there has never been an explanation, only speculation. And no particular mention of a computer that Oli can recall from the trial, although the girls’ devices were all removed from the house. During the trial, Alex admitted to arguments with both housemates but remained vague, attributing the tension to stress about their study.

Oli stands on the wet footpath, thinking it over. Alex’s recorded voice keeps echoing through her mind. I’ve started to remember things about the night my friend died.

Digging around in her bag for her sunglasses, Oli makes her way toward a bench adjacent to a tiny square of parkland. A little girl pedals past slowly on a tricycle, her helmet so low it almost covers her eyes.

‘This way, sweetheart, this way.’ An older woman in jeans and a hoodie jogs awkwardly behind the trike, holding out her hands as if this will prevent the girl from pedalling into danger.

Had Alex really started to remember things, or had she simply grown tired of hiding the truth? Apart from her emotional confession hours after the murder, Alex had never spoken publicly about Evelyn’s death, claiming there was a gap in her memory. Until the interview.

Oli suddenly feels very alone. She tries to call Dean; no answer. Lily never called back, and Oli considers calling her now but decides she doesn’t have the energy for that conversation.

In the end, she calls Dawn.

‘Oli, holy shit, we’ve got it!’

‘What?’

‘TJ struck gold with the O’Briens’ neighbour. She’s gone on the record with a whole load of stuff that Julie O’Brien confided in her about. It sounds like that bastard was worse than anyone knew—drugs, hookers, possibly underage.’

‘What?’ Oli’s stomach clenches involuntarily as she steels herself against old memories threatening to invade her thoughts. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Apparently that was the last straw for Julie,’ Dawn says excitedly. ‘One of the prostitutes is allegedly threatening to publish photos from back when she was seventeen.’

‘Jesus,’ murmurs Oli. ‘That’s awful.’

‘I know. Thank fuck we landed it, though. We’re going live with it shortly, and it’s going to shit all over whatever the Sun has.’

Oli feels a twinge of jealousy. ‘That’s great.’

‘It is. Now, tell me, where are you on the Housemate story? I still can’t believe the cops fucked up like that.’

Oli fills her in on the conversation with Cara.

‘What does she think was on the computer?’ Dawn asks. ‘Nudes?’

‘Or maybe evidence of a motive. I’ll dig around and see if anyone else knows anything about it.’