Cooper trails after her, carrying his laptop. ‘Kylie suggested that I think about changing the podcast anyway. Turn it into more of a real-time investigation to match your coverage. Do you think that might work? It gives us an out if Alex doesn’t come through.’

Oli shoots him a sharp look while she fills the kettle, scrolling through the search results with her free hand. ‘Later, Cooper,’ she says firmly.

‘It makes sense.’ He looks thoughtful. ‘People can follow along and get up to speed when new info drops. It really could be the next Serial.’

‘Nothing wrong with aiming high,’ Oli mutters, taking screenshots of the contact details for the three medical clinics that service the area around Crystalbrook. The kettle boils, and she pours the steaming water into her mug, dissolving the coffee granules. Adds milk.

‘I was thinking it could work in with your piece, and we could cross promo them. You know, like mutual shout-outs. The sales guys will love it.’ Cooper’s face is flushed with excitement.

‘Always my top priority.’ She sips her coffee. It tastes funny. She looks for a spoon but can’t find one, stirs the brown liquid with a knife.

Cooper kicks the skirting board under the bench. ‘I just figure it might be cool to keep teaming up.’

She sighs. ‘Look, Cooper, I don’t want to be rude, but I really work better solo. If it happens, I’ll help with the interview, and I’m happy to look at a revised structure and share quotes with you, but podcasts really aren’t my thing. I—’ Oli stops short as Dawn approaches.

‘Oh good, you’re both here. Change of plans. Well, actually, there’s just extra plans.’ Dawn turns to Cooper. ‘I just spoke to Joosten about your email, and we agree there might be merit in pairing you up to work on the feature and the podcast together. We’re getting word that the Sun might be launching a podcast series in the wake of O’Brien’s case, “giving a voice to victims”.’ Dawn manages to look both impressed and disgusted. ‘But I think the Housemate story might give us an edge. It will rate better with a younger audience, and that’s what we need right now.’

Oli looks at Cooper. He sweeps up some crumbs on the bench with his fingers, depositing them in the sink, and studiously avoids her stare.

Dawn continues, ‘We’re going to run a promo online this afternoon for both the podcast and the print coverage, and there’s a chance we might do a run of TV ads too. We’ll be promising exclusive interviews, plural, so make sure you get them.’

Cooper emits an excited squeak.

‘Oli,’ Dawn barks.