‘Oli, hi. Hang on.’ A scuffling sound. ‘I’ve just put you on speaker. Hello, can you hear me? Shit, Oli, driving this car is incredible, by the way. I think we understand each other now.’

She smiles in spite of herself. ‘I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Just be mindful you’re not on my insurance policy. I spoke to Cara Horrowitz, Nicole’s sister.’

‘You did? That’s great! How did you manage that?’

‘She still has the same phone number. I called her, and she agreed to meet.’

‘Oh.’

‘Mm,’ Cooper says after she has relayed her meeting with Cara. ‘I’m obviously no expert, being an only child, but couldn’t her vibe just be good old-fashioned sibling jealousy? With Cara being adopted, that must have created a strange dynamic.’

Oli stuffs the last of the doughnut into her mouth, vaguely annoyed by his assessment. ‘I think a few things she said are worth pursuing, especially if Nicole wasn’t as perfect as everyone made her out to be.’

‘I guess.’

‘Anyway, it’s the comment she made about the computer that really has me interested. I don’t remember that coming up before, and if Cara’s right about the argument she overheard, it might mean something.’

‘Yeah, that part doesn’t sound like something she would make up.’

‘Hopefully we can get on to Miles and see what he knows.’

‘Do you think Cara would go on the podcast?’

‘She said she hates journalists, although she did end up being happy to talk. It’s like she’s still trying to figure Nicole out.’

‘I’ll speak to her. Send me her number?’

Oli ignores him. ‘We need to look into a possible link between Alex’s job and Crystalbrook.’ She explains the article Brent and Pia found. ‘What about you? Any luck out there?’

‘I think so.’ Controlled excitement creeps into Cooper’s voice. ‘There were cops everywhere, so I was, like, trying to be discreet, but I found a guy who was happy to talk to me. He works at the petrol station. Benny. He says he knows Nicole, but he said she looks really different now, which fits with what the supermarket lady told us. And Benny told me he’s always known Nicole as Nat.’

‘Any idea how she was supporting herself?’

‘He wasn’t sure. Said she seemed arty, like a hippy.’

‘Helpful.’

‘He actually was,’ Cooper says earnestly. ‘Nicole filled up her car on Monday night.’

‘Model?’ Oli barks.

‘A 2011 Subaru Forester. Teal.’ He doesn’t hide the pride in his voice, and Oli navigates a strange cocktail of anticipation and irritation that he has such a good lead.

‘What about a kid?’

‘Yes,’ Cooper breathes. ‘He said she pretty much always has Evie with her. The kid was with her on Monday. Apparently, Nicole told Benny she’d broken up with her boyfriend and was planning on leaving Crystalbrook.’

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN