‘Extraordinarily, we hadn’t got to that yet,’ Olivia says, frowning at Thomas. ‘Suffice to say, investigations are our most important focal point outside of covering the news developments per se. Of course, Dominic will be the face of these as home affairs editor, given this is an investigation led by the Metropolitan Police commissioner herself.’ She flicks her hair at Thomas again. ‘But I want you, Jemima, to liaise with Thomas in the first instance on leads. 129You’ve both got plenty of them, as I understand it, and I will ensure researchers and producers are freed up to help whenever you need them. There are too many angles for one team to handle alone, and every news network in the country, no matter how big or small, is chasing all of them.’

I crumple my empty can into my hand as nods and murmurs ripple through the room.

‘And let me be absolutely clear,’ she continues, hands on hips as she surveys the crowd in front of her. ‘I want no stone unturned in this investigation. I want every leak to come to us. If someone so much as farts about what really happened in Warchester, I want it on tape, and on Nine News. It is all hands to the pump on Andromeda from here on in. There is no other story in town for the foreseeable future. We are to swarm all over this. I want buzz worthy of a wasps’ nest. I want an all-out, full-on, swarm.’

She pauses as heads nod and grunt at her, as if referring to them as insects is exactly what they’d expected her to say.

‘Now, are there any other questions?’

No one even nods this time. I’m pretty sure the room would be totally silent if it wasn’t for the endless looping commentary humming from the screens behind her.

‘Let’s get to it, then. Thanks everyone. We’ll meet again as a newsroom later this afternoon. Watch your emails please. Gabe will send out details.’

I jump as my phone buzzes against my leg, swept into the crowd as it turns and funnels through the door in a jabbering mass. At least wasps swarm when they’re angry, I think.

130

Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997

I twist curls of phone cord round my finger, pulling them tighter and tighter until the tip goes white as the tone blares into my ear. I know Jase won’t answer himself but surely someone else will at some point? This is the army, after all. Forewarned is forearmed. And it’s not like I’ve got any other family to call. How else will I get us both out of here? Ma doesn’t count, even halfway to sober. This lot wouldn’t let us leave with her even if she was clean. Not after what they saw.