She pulls out her laptop and starts typing. The motion of the car reminds her of when she first worked in news and wrote on the bus to and from work. ‘Your photo is online,’ she says.

‘Really? That’s cool.’

‘Yeah.’

‘I still haven’t heard from Alex. She hasn’t read my message.’ He combs at his hair with his fingers. ‘Do you think she’s going to get back to me?’

‘It’s not a good sign,’ Oli says.

‘I feel stressed.’

‘Welcome to journalism,’ she replies, typing furiously.

Dean calls when they’re about halfway down the mountain. Oli has so far refrained from making comments about Cooper’s driving, which seems to be getting worse.

‘I’m sorry I never called you back,’ she begins, switching off the car’s Bluetooth. ‘Crazy day.’

‘No worries,’ Dean replies. ‘You’re out on the road?’

‘Um, yes. I’m in the car but I’m not driving.’

‘I’m guessing that means there’s no chance you can pick the girls up tonight? Nina’s sick, and I really need to be in a meeting at four pm.’

‘Um, sorry, I can’t.’ Oli mentally curses Nina the babysitter, who is much more likely to be hungover than sick. ‘We’re on our way back now, but we’re probably still forty-five minutes from town. Plus, I’ve got to file my piece, which I’ve only just started.’

‘Are you with TJ?’

Oli glances at Cooper. ‘No, I’m with another colleague.’

‘Right.’

She wedges the phone against her ear and keeps typing, determined not to be the one to fill the silence.

‘I guess I can ask Toni to pick up the girls,’ Dean says. ‘I’m sure she won’t mind.’

Oli rolls her eyes. ‘I’m sure she won’t.’ Toni is their next-door neighbour and was good friends with Isabelle.

‘Hang on, I’ll text her now.’ There’re a few moments of muffled sounds. ‘Alright, done, cross your fingers.’

‘Crossed.’

‘What are you working on?’ Dean’s voice is light; he’s clearly keen to change the subject.

‘Nicole Horrowitz has turned up dead. A suicide, but there’re some weird circumstances. As you can imagine, it’s been a crazy day.’ He inhales sharply. ‘Jesus, wow. I saw something earlier about a death in the hills, but I didn’t know it was her.’

Oli wonders if he’s thinking back to that time when both she and Isabelle were doggedly obsessed with the housemates. Both of them seeing Dean.

‘So,’ he says, ‘I’m guessing that means you’ll be home pretty late?’

‘I’m really not sure yet. I’ve also got a feature to write.’

‘That’s great, Oli,’ he says sincerely. ‘I know how much you love them.’

‘Yes,’ she says, feeling a ripple of pride. ‘It’s a lot to do in not a lot of time.’