TJ lifts his hand in a half-hearted wave as she exits the car park. What the hell is going on? First Dawn, now TJ. Tears of frustration well in her eyes. She’ll be devastated if the paper is sold. It’s her touchstone, important in a way that’s hard to define. No matter what is happening in the world or in her life, the paper ticks along.

She turns onto Flinders Street, blinking the tears away. Breathes. She calls the number Pia tracked down for McCrae.

A woman answers on the second ring. ‘Hello, Diana speaking.’

‘Diana McCrae?’

‘Yes, who is this?’ Her tone is light, friendly.

‘My name is Oli Groves. I would like to speak to your husband if he’s available, please.’

A long beat of silence. ‘In relation to what?’

‘I’m a journalist working on a story about the recent suicide of Alexandra Riboni. I know Professor McCrae taught her many years ago, and there are a few things I want to run by him. I think there’s more to Evelyn Stanley’s death than was revealed in Alex’s trial. I’d like his point of view.’

‘How dare you.’ The warmth evaporates from Diana’s voice.

‘I’m sorry,’ Oli says patiently. ‘I don’t mean to upset you, I just want to speak with Professor McCrae. Can you please ask him if he will speak with me?’

‘No, he will not!’ Diana sounds furious. ‘He doesn’t want anything to do with those girls.’

The phone slams down hard in Oli’s ear—the benefit of having a landline.

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY

OLI NOSES THE CAR IN FRONT OF A MERCEDES, GIVING THE DRIVER a half-hearted wave. This is what she hates about being a journalist, the feeling that permeates after a run-in like the one she just had with Diana McCrae. She hates people assuming the worst of her, speaking to her as if she has no empathy. Her desperate need for a narrative pound of flesh makes her seem like an enemy. What TJ said is right: journalism has become blurry, far less heroic, and even people like Oli are seen as shameless, willing to destroy lives and invade privacy for the sake of a by-line.

It’s not like she hasn’t been hung up on before, verbally abused and even shoved out of the way, but for some reason she’s deeply unsettled. Hopefully Miles will be more receptive than Diana, even though he’s expecting Cooper.

A horn blares as Oli veers across two lanes, spotting the sign for Stawell & Finch Accountants. She parks in a visitor bay and makes a dash for the reception. ‘Hi, hi,’ she announces on arrival, trying not to puff.

A bored man in a headset keeps typing. ‘Yes?’

‘I’m here from Melbourne Today to see Miles Wu. He’s expecting me.’

His eyes flit to the screen, then to Oli. ‘You’re Cooper Ng?’