Shaun and Will would tell the story again, again and again over the next few hours.

First to his mum. He walked into the living room and asked, in his kindest, gentlest tone, if they could talk to her.

‘But no interruptions,’ he said. ‘Just listen.’

She was skeptical.

‘Seriously,’ Will said. ‘You’re going to want to hear this all the way through.’

So she sat down at the kitchen table, and Will and Shaun joined her. Shaun let the story unfurl, calmly talking through each of the facts. He didn’t want to be emotional for fear that she would take him straight back to the psych ward.

When he got to the bit about the IGA, he saw her eyes widen with recognition. He knew he had her then. She believed him.

They called Charlie after that. And they told the story again. And then Charlie split the three of them up and interviewed each one for what seemed like hours. He spoke to Shaun the longest.

They thought they were free at that point, but a while later Charlie came back to the house with an older cop from the coast. He was introduced as an inspector, and Shaun told the story again.

By the end of it all, he was exhausted. But he didn’t mind telling them. Ever since Luke had stopped to actually listen to him the day before, he’d enjoyed repeating it, which seemed kind of sick or weird when he thought about it. It was just that it felt so rare to be listened to and believed.

His mum prepared him a simple dinner: boiled eggs on toast. It was one of his favourites from when he was a kid.

She watched him as he ate. When he finished, he sighed, and mumbled a thank you.

Suddenly she knelt down next to him, her face serious and deliberate. ‘Sweetie,’ she said, ‘I’m really sorry. Okay?’

‘I know, Mum,’ he said. ‘Me too. I was a dick.’

She hugged him and held him tight for a long while.

He didn’t mind.

The next day, Shaun sat in his bedroom and messaged Megan.

He began and deleted the message a bunch of times.

He wasn’t sure how much she knew. Word was starting to get out, though. The inspector was still in town, and he was planning on making a ‘statement’. Surely Charlie would have thought to fill in Tyson’s family?

Hey, the message began. This is all crazy and I don’t know what to say. But I wanted to let you know I never meant to hurt you. I really never wanted to hurt you. And I’m sorry if I did. I only ever wanted to try and make things better for you. I hope you’re okay.

His thumb hovered over the screen for a second and then pressed send.

He stared at the phone, reading the message back to himself, wondering if he should add more. But in a few seconds, he saw that she had read it.

He waited for a reply. He stood, staring at his phone, for long minutes. But the reply never came.

If you want, Shaun typed, I’ll be at the pool all afternoon. Just come by if you want to talk. I’d love to see you.

He pressed send and felt his stomach drop.

He put his phone down and looked around the room. In the corner were his father’s CDs and player. The box they’d come in was empty; Shaun had spread the CDs out on the floor. He started sorting through them. Without thinking, he systematically began putting them right. Each disc found its home. It took him only a few minutes, but he was pleased with his work.

It was only after he finished that he wondered if his dad would be mad at him for tidying up. He’d left the box in chaos. Maybe that was how he liked it. But the order and cleanliness were reassuring. They made him feel like the box was no longer his father’s. It was his now. And he hoped his father would be satisfied with that.

Shaun’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. His mother answered it, and he recognised the voice.

‘G’day,’ he heard Tenner say. ‘I wanted to bring something over.’

He’d bought a bunch of flowers wrapped in plastic from the IGA.

‘Thanks,’ said his mum, ‘that’s very kind.’

Tenner saw Shaun. ‘Hi, Shaun,’ he said. ‘You up for a chat?’

If Shaun hadn’t been so exhausted, he might have felt awkward having Tenner in his home. But nothing was normal anymore, and he was eager to hear if Tenner had any further information on his brother-in-law.

They settled at the table. Tenner cleared his throat. ‘So,’ he said, ‘you had quite the adventure, I hear.’

Shaun nodded. ‘Yeah, but I haven’t heard anything since the inspector’s been round.’

‘Yes,’ Tenner said, ‘I thought you might want updates. You deserve them, after all, for uncovering everything.’

‘Don’t feel like you have to tell us anything,’ Shaun’s mum said. ‘It must be difficult. I understand Mr Simms is your—’

‘Brother-in-law,’ Tenner muttered. ‘Yeah. Although I don’t know for how much longer. I just got off the phone with Sharon and she’s—’ He didn’t finish the sentence. ‘Anyway,’ he continued, ‘the bastard’s been arrested. And Baker too, I believe.’

Shaun felt sick. He knew that arresting Simms and Baker was bound to happen. He’d been dreaming about it. Except in the dreams, he felt enormous. He felt proud, felt the weighty satisfaction of justice. But he’d forgotten about Sharon, and Tenner. They’d have to go on living, knowing that Simms had lied to them and done something awful. Nothing could make that pain go away.

‘Sharon said cops showed up at their place and took a bunch of his stuff with them,’ Tenner said. ‘She’d had a short chat with him. He apologised, she said. Said it was to keep his job. Keep the company happy. Keep the money coming. These places,’ Tenner sighed, ‘these places just care about profit, in the end. It stuffs people up in the head.’

Shaun’s mum reached across the table and touched his hand, and Tenner replied with a thin-lipped, feeble smile. Then he cleared his throat again and turned to Shaun.

‘This isn’t over, mate,’ he said. ‘Not by a long stretch. You and, well, both of you, are going to have to testify in court. And if Scotts decides to keep Henry employed, he’ll have their lawyers.’

‘No,’ scoffed Shaun’s mum, ‘surely they won’t keep him on, will they?’

Tenner shrugged. ‘Early days. But they’d be having a good hard think. And of course, Sergeant Baker’s made friends through town and through the force. I guess I’m saying,’ he was struggling to find the right sentiment, ‘I’m saying there’ll be plenty of people who will make you think you did the wrong thing. Who’ll try to blame you for everything.’

Shaun felt the last strands of his fantasy slip away. No parade, no celebration. Maybe even no Megan. He’d have to check his phone.

‘But you did the right thing, Shaun,’ Tenner said, his voice firm. ‘Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.’

‘Thanks, Mr Tenner,’ he said. ‘I know.’