Julia shrugged. ‘Believe it or don’t, whatever. But Joanne was going out with Chris for a couple of months, before last Christmas. Then he dumped her flat on her arse. She didn’t like that one little bit.’

Conway and I didn’t look at each other, didn’t need to. Motive.

If it was true. This case was jammed with lies, couldn’t grab hold of it without getting a handful.

Conway said, jaw hardening, ‘How come no one said anything about this last year?’

Shrug.

‘Jesus fucking Christ.’ Conway didn’t move, but the line of her spine said she was ready to shoot through the ceiling. ‘This wasn’t about someone smoking in the jacks. This was a murder investigation. Everyone just decided not to mention this? Are yous all morons? What?’

Julia’s eyes and her palms turning up to the ceiling. ‘Hello? Have you noticed where we are? You found out about Joanne’s key, so the first thing she did was turn it around on me. If anyone had told you about her and Chris, she’d have done exactly the same thing: got back at them by dragging them into the shit with her. Who wants that?’

‘So how come you’re telling us now?’

Julia gave Conway the teen slouch-stare. ‘We did civic responsibility this year.’

Conway had her temper back. She was focused on Julia the same way she’d been on that sandwich. ‘How do you know they were together?’

‘I heard it around.’

‘From who?’

‘Oh, God, I don’t remember. It was supposed to be this big secret, but yeah, right.’

‘Rumour,’ Conway said. ‘I thought even first-years knew not to believe everything they hear. Got any proof?’

Julia scraped something off the frame of her Max’s poster. Balancing things inside her head again.

She said, ‘Yeah, actually. Sort of.’

‘Let’s hear it.’

‘I heard Chris gave Joanne a phone. A special phone, so they could text each other without anyone finding out.’

‘Why?’

Another shrug. ‘Ask Joanne. Not my problem. Then when he dumped her, I heard she made Alison buy the phone off her. I’m not swearing on my mother’s life or anything, but Alison got a new phone after last Christmas, all right. And I’m pretty sure she hasn’t changed it since.’

‘Alison got a new phone? That’s your proof?’

‘Alison’s got a phone that Joanne was using to do whatever she and Chris did over the phone, which I don’t even want to think about. Obviously I bet she erased all the texts after Chris died, but can’t you guys do something about that? Get them back?’

‘Sure,’ Conway said. ‘Why not. Just like on CSI. Did civic responsibility class remind you of anything else you should be sharing?’

Julia put a finger to her chin, gazed into space. ‘You know, I honest to God can’t think of anything.’