‘We’re hearing that the Sun is going to run a poll on whether Alex was the killer. Can you believe it? God, they’re tacky.’

Oli makes a sympathetic sound as she reaches the end of the road, wondering where Cooper is with her car.

‘I haven’t seen anything come through confirming the cause of death,’ Dawn says. ‘Did they say anything at the scene?’

‘She definitely hung herself.’

‘Okay, good. We’ll stick with speculation for the time being, but lay it on thick. You can allude to the child too, I checked with legal—but no details, not even gender, okay?’

‘No problem,’ Oli says, before adding, ‘Bowman and another cop were near the house when it went up in flames. They weren’t injured. I spoke to Bowman afterwards, and he didn’t deny that Horrowitz has a child.’

Dawn emits a controlled scream. ‘Christ, this is too good. We might run a few different pieces, see what grabs.’

The Audi appears just as Dawn starts reeling off plans for tomorrow’s edition. Oli shifts Cooper’s backpack from the passenger seat onto the floor and awkwardly arranges her long legs around it. ‘Let’s go,’ she mouths, and Cooper nods, tearing off down the road.

Dawn chews on something as she talks, and the sporadic swallowing sounds make Oli feel nauseous. Or perhaps it’s Cooper’s driving; he flips between the stop-start style of her nervous mother and the speeding of her overconfident sister.

‘Now about the feature,’ Dawn says, ‘what are you thinking?’

Oli pictures Nicole’s body hanging from the tree. ‘Well, until we know whether the kid is alive or dead it’s hard to say, but I think I’ll start with today and work backwards. Focus on the tragedy of two young women ending up dead, a decade apart. I obviously want to find out what Nicole Horrowitz has been doing these past ten years, speak to anyone who knew her, and identify the kid’s father.’ Oli watches the trees whip past. ‘I’m also thinking we profile the Paradise Street house. How it was the epicentre of the friendship group, and the social hub for the girls the summer before Evelyn died.’

‘And you’ll speak to the other party-goers, right? The old boyfriend?’

‘Yep, we’ll start working on quotes. See if they’ll agree to interviews.’

‘Okay, good. I think this will come together well, Oli. I’ll want your roughs by Sunday. I assume that’s doable?’

Anxiety settles across her chest. ‘Should be fine.’

‘Great, Sunday morning. Gotta go, Joosten’s right up my arse today. Hey, tell the digi kid that his photo’s up on the site. It looks good.’ Dawn hangs up.

Oli glances across at Cooper, who looks ridiculous driving her car.

‘Evie wasn’t in the house?’ he asks.

‘I don’t think so.’

‘That’s good.’