A small shake of the head. ‘Well, you know, I’ve had a gutful of it. Imagine if this happened to you? Imagine being beaten half to death, being traumatised and taunted in your own home then you come out the other side of it and have to deal with the crazies online that want to turn this into some fantasy, or some sort of political issue. We see it online everywhere, grist for the journalists’ mill, the different takes from talking heads.’ He pauses now, brings his voice down a notch. ‘I’m just looking forward to the next big story. Something else to focus on because we’re not the story. The cameras are the story, the footage is the story. Daniel Moore is the story. Not us.’

‘Yes, but you can see why this story attracts particular interest from the public? In fact the international media has been following it closely with CNN, the BBC, Fox News, Al Jazeera all running follow-up stories this week alone.’

‘With all due respect, Lisa, you are the media. They’re only responding to your interview last week with the guests who stayed at our home. You made headlines.’ He gives a small laugh. ‘You paid us to come here now to keep the story going. If people want the truth of the matter it’s already out there.’ He shrugs. He’s gone off script now.

‘It’s of public interest, Cain. People want to know they are safe when they stay in other people’s properties. That’s the role of a journalist, to seek out the truth and present it to the public.’

‘That’s a fair point to make but keep in mind this is one WeStay.’

‘Two,’ Lisa says. I see Cain’s surprise, his dark eyebrows rising.

‘Two?’

‘Police have now confirmed cameras were once installed in a second property in New Zealand. A WeStay in Auckland.’

He nods, realising now it’s the Hillview property. He knows I was right. ‘Well, maybe there is something to fear then. I don’t have any answer for that.’

‘And you, Lina. I hate to bring this up, but it’s something that I’d be loath to overlook, given the way stress and trauma can affect addiction.’ The snakes all squirm inside, sliding up toward my throat. I try not to react. If I speak now, could I stop it? ‘But do you have any comment to make about the fact you were recently stood down from your work with the ambulance service?’ There it is. The gut punch. Cain’s head turns sharply. All the oxygen leaves the room. It’s obvious to anyone this is news to him. Turning my head, I see the question in his eyes, Is it true?

‘No,’ I say. ‘I don’t have anything to say about that.’ I’m shaking my head.

‘Nothing? Because your mother had her own issues with alcoholism, didn’t she?’