‘Yardley always thought Alex killed her,’ Bowman says matter-of-factly. ‘I figured she shot through so she could start over. I assumed she woke up during the attack, witnessed the death of her friend, or the aftermath, realised how messed up her life had become, and ran. I suspect she was terrified of having to drag her family through a trial that would not have painted her in a very complimentary light. From what we’ve pieced together so far, it seems she made her way interstate, lived rough for a few years. Changed her name. We’re not sure about the child who’s evidently in her care, but for several reasons we don’t believe she was pregnant at the time of her disappearance. She clearly never wanted to return to her former life.’ He shakes his head slightly, as if to reiterate how crazy the whole scenario is. ‘I’m aware of all the rumours,’ he continues, sounding weary. ‘But unfortunately for your mob, this is no Joanne Lees situation. There’s no evidence anyone else was there that night, no random killer. And I didn’t think Alex killed Nicole, or we would have gone after her for it. But with no body we had Buckley’s in any case.’ He flicks the end of his nose with his finger. ‘I think this was a crime of passion, fuelled by drugs. Something Alex Riboni should have served a lot more gaol time for.’

Oli baulks at his harsh tone. Thinks about the photo Cooper took. ‘I would say she paid her dues.’

‘You didn’t have to deal with Evelyn Stanley’s mother after she lost her daughter,’ Bowman says softly. ‘I’m not sure Alex paid nearly enough.’

Oli changes the subject. ‘Evelyn lent her father thousands of dollars before she died. If she was pulling in that much money, she must have been dealing.’

Bowman’s eyes flicker upwards. ‘Mitchell Stanley certainly was. That man wasted so much of our time, I had to tell him we’d serve him with a warrant if he didn’t stop coming into the station. His story changed every five minutes, and I got the feeling he was just trying to earn a dime out of the whole thing. He’s not someone I have a lot of time for, and I suggest you don’t waste yours on him either.’

‘What about the rabbit?’ Oli says, frustrated.

‘The rabbit?’ Bowman’s expression is blank. ‘You mean the pet? No idea. Someone let it out. The cage was empty by the time we got there, and it was long gone.’

‘We’ve linked it to what happened to Evelyn.’

‘Linked what?’

‘It died.’

‘Really?’ He makes an amused grunt. ‘How so?’ He turns his hands into a teepee and peers at her. ‘We never found a rabbit, dead or otherwise.’

Heat rises in her cheeks. ‘What about their computers?’