The staff at the counter break into hysterical laughter, and Oli folds herself into the corner of the booth, shielding her phone from the noise. ‘Can you tell me a bit more about why you’re so angry at the police?’

‘They’re just a pack of useless morons. Raked me over the coals, accusing me of all kinds of things, but I would never have hurt my little girl. The whole thing was just a total waste of time. I told them what was going on! But they did nothing about it. And what happens? They build a bullshit case against Alex Riboni, and she sails out of gaol a few years later. What a joke.’

Oli stops taking notes, trying to follow his logic. ‘Mitchell, help me understand. You said you think Alex Riboni murdered your daughter, is that right?’

‘Yes.’

‘Right. So does Alex being dead bring some closure for you?’

‘Not in the slightest. I think she was paid to kill my daughter, and I want to know why.’

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

OLI’S BRAIN BUZZES. DID SHE HEAR MITCHELL CORRECTLY? HE thinks Alex was paid to kill Evelyn? She chews her lip, remembering his erratic behaviour a decade ago. ‘Let me make sure I’m clear,’ she says slowly. ‘You believe that someone paid Alex to kill your daughter?’

‘Yep.’ Mitchell sniffs loudly. ‘You saw her in court, pretending she didn’t remember what happened. What a load of shit—she knew exactly what happened. She killed Evelyn and pocketed a whole lot of money.’

‘Do you have any proof of this?’ Oli keeps her voice free of judgement, measured and even. ‘For starters, she was in gaol for several years.’

‘Well, they gave it to her when she got out, then. Probably they paid to get her out of gaol, so you should look into that too.’

Oli’s excitement drops a notch. ‘Mr Stanley, perhaps we can talk in person? I’d prefer it, and what you have to say is obviously very important.’

‘Can’t,’ he says. ‘I’m in the hospital for a few days.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,’ she says, while her doubt intensifies.

‘Yeah. My whole bloody system is packing it in. Doctors reckon I can’t drink anymore, which is not going to work too well.’ His laugh comes out as a snort. ‘I’m in and out of hospital like a bloody jack-in-a-box.’

Oli murmurs sympathetically, trying to quell her attitude toward him; she knows it’s mainly because he reminds her of her father. She takes a deep breath. ‘Well, I’m listening now, and I want to know what you think happened.’

‘It was Evelyn who told me.’

‘What?’

‘She did,’ he says defiantly.

‘Your daughter told you Alex was paid to kill her?’ Oli’s forehead rumples as she tries to keep up. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand.’

‘I borrowed a lot of money off her.’

‘From Evelyn?’