The moment they hit the city, they’re greeted by gridlock. She gives her copy one more cursory check before tethering to her phone and sending it to Dawn. Oli’s mind flashes to the image of Nicole’s body hanging from the tree, and she wonders where the little girl is. She remembers the creek running along the rear of the property and thinks grim thoughts.

‘So we’re going back to the office, yeah?’ Cooper says, flicking the windscreen-wipers on instead of the indicator. ‘I need to get a few things sorted for the podcast. Plus, my bike’s there. Do you ride? It’s the best. Really good for fitness—and the environment, obviously.’

‘No, I don’t. I’m going to work offsite for a few hours and get a jump on my feature, but I’m happy to swing past the office first to drop you off.’ She’s itching to get away from him and have some time to herself.

‘Sure,’ he says amiably. ‘Hey, so if Alex gets back to me, I’ll let you know straight away.’

‘Yes.’ Oli puts her phone down. ‘Day or night, if you hear from her, you call me.’

‘I really hope she does.’ His brow furrows as he turns into the car park. He stops too far from the security checkpoint, and Oli pretends not to notice as he unbuckles his seatbelt and hangs halfway out the window to wave her pass against the scanner. At least he doesn’t have trouble parking. ‘Here we are.’ He turns off the car and rolls his shoulders.

She hands him his backpack and gets out, then goes around to the driver’s side with her hands on her hips.

A text from Dawn arrives. We’re running your piece now. Good work. Keep me across the Alex interview.

Despite her exhaustion, Oli feels the rush. It never gets old, her words in print.

Cooper springs out of the driver’s seat. ‘So unless I call you in the middle of the night to conduct a covert interview with Alex, should we meet here first thing? Your desk?’

Oli is already a million miles away, deciding where to go for food. She’s starving.

‘Oli?’

‘Sorry, what?’

‘Tomorrow morning. Should we meet at eight? You’re usually in pretty early and, like you said, we need to go over my interview questions.’

‘I’m sorry, Cooper, but I’m more of a solo worker. Why don’t you just send them to me to look over?’

‘Deal.’ He sticks out his hand; she looks at it, then shakes it. ‘Thanks, Oli, this was great. A real memory-bank day. I’d better get filing!’ He scampers off, clutching the camera, the tails of several cords hanging out the top of his half-open backpack.

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER TEN