‘Um, sort of.’

‘Come with me if you like?’

‘No, that’s okay.’

‘Alright then, well, see you later.’ He starts to walk off.

Oli blurts out, ‘Nathan, did you ask Dean to come back? From Lakes Entrance?’

Nathan stops and turns around, giving her a funny look. ‘No, but once he heard what was going on I think he wanted to handle things himself, and I certainly didn’t oppose him being here in person. Ken’s good, but he’s not Dean.’ Nathan smiles. ‘Why, is everything okay?’

‘When did he come back?’

Nathan swallows. ‘I’m not sure. We spoke yesterday, so last night? This morning?’ He pulls his head back, eyes sliding left then right. ‘Ah, why do I feel like I’m saying the wrong thing?’

She bites her lip and tries to stop the tears coming. On the phone last night, Dean didn’t say a word about coming back.

Nathan holds up his hands. ‘I’m not sure what is going on, but I do know you can trust Dean. He’s one of the most reliable people I’ve ever met.’

She inhales sharply. Nods. It’s not like she can tell Nathan what she’s thinking.

‘I’ve got to go,’ he says. ‘Will you be okay?’

‘Yes, of course.’ She smiles weakly. ‘Bye, Nathan.’

As she walks across the campus, she pushes thoughts of Dean aside and digs in her bag for her notebook. Locates the Post-it Pia gave her with the McCraes’ phone number.

A woman answers. Diana.

‘Hi, I have a courier delivery for a Professor McCrae.’ Oli keeps her voice clipped, her tone slightly bored. ‘It’s from the university. I have East Melbourne as the postcode, but the number and street I have listed aren’t showing up on Google. Is it 45 Orchid Road?’

‘No, that’s completely wrong,’ Diana says. ‘It’s 68 George Street.’

‘Typical,’ Oli says. ‘Okay, thanks. The courier will be around shortly.’

‘You’re welcome.’

Oli shoves her phone in her pocket, walks out to the street and hails another cab.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

DIANA AND JULIAN McCRAE LIVE IN A STUNNING DOUBLE-STOREY terrace just a few streets from the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Rich green ivy weaves between cast-iron railings on both balconies, and rows of iris fill the neat front garden. A small pond to the left of the brick path brims with lily pads, and Oli catches a flash of orange scales in the water. She steps onto the front porch and peers into the side window. Sees a large indoor palm. A pair of leather boots.

She presses the doorbell, and a low note sounds inside.