She becomes aware of a white ute indicating and overtaking her; the tradesman gives her a curious look as he passes. After scanning the stretch of road one more time, she sets her jaw and drives toward the office, refusing to look in the rear-view mirror.

Cooper is at her desk again. Oli tenses, expecting to feel annoyed but instead feels relieved. She’s sick of her own thoughts anyway, and Cooper is nothing if not a distraction.

‘Morning!’ he trills, removing his purple headphones as she approaches.

‘You’re in early.’

He looks around as if he’s just realised no one else is in. ‘I’ve always been an early bird, actually, even when I was a teenager. Some mornings I’d get up to edit videos at, like, five, and I would—’

She holds up her hand to stop him. ‘Any news on Nicole?’

‘Zilch. I just texted the cop I met yesterday—he’s a really cool guy. The divers worked into the night but turned up nothing. They’ll go again today, but my guy doesn’t think they’re going to find anything. Apparently they’re checking CCTV for footage of the car but, again, nothing has turned up so far.’

‘Impressive that you have such a solid source already.’

Cooper shrugs. ‘I told him we might interview him for the podcast sometime—you know, get the perspective of a millennial cop.’

‘Well played,’ she says begrudgingly.

Cooper glows with pride. ‘Anyway, no Nicole.’

‘Christ, this woman is like Houdini.’ Oli thinks about what Lily said. ‘Maybe she lied to Benny at the servo and she has a partner who is helping her and Evie hide.’

‘Could be,’ he says. ‘Hey, so I’ve been thinking about the first episode. Your suggestion makes sense, and if we’re going to focus on the house party and the fallout the day after, there’s nothing stopping us from getting started.’

‘Okay.’ Her nerves flare at the thought of recording.

‘The fridge down here is still dodgy, but I checked level three and it’s sweet up there if you need milk for your coffee.’

She drops her bag on the floor near his shoe, a ridiculous rainbow slab of leather and rubber with velcro instead of laces. ‘I have an idea.’ She has quickly reached her early-morning Cooper quota. ‘Why don’t you go and get us some nice takeaway coffee from next door while I map out my notes for the podcast?’

‘Can do.’ He stands up, pulling on his backpack, then bites his lip and looks around the desk. ‘Where’s your KeepCup? Mine’s in here.’ He pats his bag.

Oli glares at him, but he just holds her gaze, blinking like Bambi. She plucks her wallet from her bag and hands him her credit card. ‘I left it at home, so how about you buy me one with our coffee?’