I reached for the carton of milk and added some to my tea. I studied the interior of the house, as much of it as I could see. There was a chores chart on the fridge, ruled up fairly neatly with coloured glitter pens. Crystal’s, I thought. Feed BB was entered every day at the top of the list. Other things Crystal was expected to do were dishes, washing and hanging out clothes. Typical teen stuff. I noted Russell’s neatly pressed checked shirt and figured that since ironing wasn’t on the list, he must be the ironer. Wozza asked where the toilet was. Russell pointed down the passageway off the front entrance. I knew it was curiosity rather than nature that called; Wozza would have a look around the rest of the house while I kept Russell talking. Russell didn’t react to the retreating cop. Good sign. If he had anything to hide, he’d look nervous.

I opened strong. ‘She said her parents died in a car crash.’

Russell met my gaze with a troubled look. ‘Shit.’

I raised my eyebrows in a question.

‘You coppers’ll check, won’t you?’ His agitation was palpable. I nodded, although the idea hadn’t occurred to me. I leaned forward. ‘Something you need to tell me?’

Russell let out a deep breath. Through the window, we could see Crystal at the paddock fence with a big bucket of hay, feeding Black Beauty, laughing with delight.

‘I always told Crystal it was a car crash because … because the truth …’ He stopped and his face crumpled.

‘The truth … ?’ I prompted, curious now.

‘Is too awful.’ Russell wrapped his hands around his coffee cup and took a sip.

‘What happened?’

‘They reckon Crystal’s dad went crazy and killed my sister then himself.’

I picked up something in his voice. ‘You don’t believe that?’

Russell shrugged. ‘Brett was a good bloke. He and Shayna seemed to get along well. Then suddenly …’ Russell looked down into his coffee. ‘Brett didn’t turn up for work, and when they rang the house, she answered.’ He nodded towards Crystal, who was now brushing her pony in long firm strokes.

‘And?’

‘They asked for her daddy and she told them that he was asleep on the floor and that her mummy …’ Russell blew out a long breath.

‘Bloody hell,’ I murmured.

‘You got that right,’ said Russell. ‘Turned out they’d been dead for a couple of days. She’d been in the house with them. Cops found biscuits and cereal scattered around. Said she’d been scavenging.’ His voice cracked and he took a sip of coffee to mask it.

I said nothing.