‘Coming!’ calls a male voice. Julian McCrae opens the door. ‘Hello.’ He’s balding, the remaining hair a light grey. He wears a Reebok sweatshirt, jeans with socks, and holds a newspaper and a pen, midway through a crossword. ‘Can I help you?’ He smiles, brown eyes kind. He coughs. ‘Sorry, I’m a bit under the weather actually.’

Oli notes that he does look unwell, his nostrils red as if he’s been blowing his nose.

A woman appears behind him. Pearl-grey hair, an apron belted around her slender waist.

‘Professor McCrae. I’ve been trying to talk to you. I’m a journalist. My name is Oli Groves.’

Diana makes eye contact with Oli, understanding straight away. Her mouth forms a little circle, and she looks nervously at her husband.

‘I’m sorry, you’re a journalist?’ He looks Oli up and down.

‘Yes. I’m from Melbourne Today. And I want to speak to you about the night Evelyn Stanley was murdered.’

His face drops. Hardens. ‘No, I’m sorry. I have nothing to say about that. It’s all in the past. And I don’t appreciate you coming to my house.’ He shakes his head. ‘No.’

‘Please!’ Oli steps into the doorway. ‘My colleague was killed last night, and I think it had something to do with what happened back then. Something that someone is trying to cover up.’ Does she really think this, she wonders? She pulls out her wallet and fumbles with her business cards, then thrusts a handful at him, several falling to the ground. ‘I just want your help. Maybe you need some time to think about it, but please talk to me. Please.’

‘I’m sorry. I can’t help you.’ His voice is quiet but firm. He places his hand on the door, starts to close it. It hits her boot, and he pushes harder.

‘Please!’ Her throat constricts as she pulls her throbbing foot out of the gap.

‘You need to leave, or I will call the police,’ Julian hisses in the manner of someone not used to conflict. He looks horrified with himself and annoyed at Oli all over again.

The door clicks shut. She stands on the porch, staring at the pond through her tears. On the other side of the door Julian and Diana start to argue, their polite angry voices fading as they move into the bowels of the house.

After a few minutes Oli walks slowly back down the driveway. She’s unsure what to do next. She wishes she could talk to Cooper, but he’s dead in the morgue, his scrawny body enduring unthinkable examination.