Very serious and official, Dr Robb agreed. ‘Test subjects can think about matters other than the question they’re asked. They can trick our machines during control questions by recalling emotional events. Or concentrate on maths problems while we’re learning personal information.’

‘Is there a chance Caleb Wharton faked the test?’

Dr Robb nodded gravely. ‘Anything is possible.’

‘Faking the test is possible.’ The camera forgot Dr Robb, but Sadie continued. ‘Earlier, we approached Caleb’s father – a noted QC who is not actively involved in his own son’s defence – who didn’t want Caleb doing the test because they’re easy to sabotage. It seems Caleb’s own father has doubts.’

Other images. Faces and names, a flickering rollcall of the dead. I recognised more names than I’d ever known while they were alive. The story ended. I closed my eyes.

Not Caleb.

The TV crew packed up and left. Sadie stayed behind but Caleb, finally, refused to speak. ‘You need to leave,’ I said. ‘You’ve done enough damage.’

She picked up her voice recorder and stood. ‘I can help you. Both of you. We want the same thing. The truth.’

She walked outside into a firestorm of camera flashes. I returned to the sitting room. Caleb hadn’t moved. ‘You watched it,’ he guessed. ‘Did you come to say I told you so?’

‘Oh, Caleb. I’m sorry. I tried to…’

His eyes flashed. ‘They’re a current affairs show. I thought they wanted the truth.’ The innocence of him. ‘They asked about Sean of course. Rosie’s so angry with me,’ he said.

‘She misjudges you.’

‘Maybe she’s right.’ Of course, he panicked. Next thing I heard was him thumping out the front door. He ran away. He had his driving licence, now. He took my car. I couldn’t let him be alone after this, in this mood. I had to find him. I called Jack, who drove over in his ute so I could borrow it. I dropped him back home, and headed for the city.

12

12

JULIA AGRIPPINA | Empress of Rome

Rumoured to have ruthlessly murdered her husband Claudius so her son Nero could inherit the throne. In a later grab for power, Nero ordered Julia Agrippina’s own assassination.