There was a muffled sob as Beth clamped a hand over her mouth. ‘I was scared she was losing her mind. She’d wake up in a cold sweat after dreaming about digging someone out. Karin still has the scars from the damage to her hands. We always assumed it was Declan she was trying to reach, and I’ve been telling her that her fixation on Amelia is unhealthy. I’ve let her down so badly.’

‘You’ll only be letting her down if you walk away from this.’

‘It wouldn’t be the first time,’ Beth suggested. She swallowed hard. ‘I could have gone back for her. I know I said it was Mrs Brody who stopped me, but the truth is, she didn’t have to try very hard. I convinced myself that Karin must have found another way out, but it was only so I could give myself permission to do nothing instead of doing something. Karin chose differently. She might not know it, but she’s stronger than I could ever be. She risked her life for a complete stranger.’

‘I promise I’m going to make this right, Beth. If we can put Karin and Amelia in the same room, they’ll see things more clearly. Claudia might present us with a problem, however,’ Leanne warned. ‘There are still questions about her that need to be answered. Will you help me?’

‘I’m in work at the moment, in Chester,’ Beth explained. ‘I can’t talk for long, but I could meet you later today. Karin’s not answering her phone, but I’ll keep trying and hopefully convince her to come along.’

The previous night’s fears for Karin’s safety resurfaced. ‘Have you heard from her at all? It was two thirty when she phoned me. She was pretty drunk, and very upset.’

‘And now she’s hungover,’ Beth said, not sharing Leanne’s concern. ‘She texted me before to let me know that she was still alive, and that she was going out for a walk along the canal to clear her head. She’s not ready to talk yet, or at least not to me.’

‘You have to keep trying,’ Leanne said. ‘I’ve spoken to Claudia, and she knows I’m writing a new piece on Amelia, so if you do speak to Karin, please warn her to keep away from her.’

‘I’ve already said as much. Karin’s in a dark place at the moment, she keeps saying I’d be better off without her and I think it was Claudia who put the idea in her head. What kind of monster is she?’

‘The kind who knows she’s trapped and is trying to claw her way out.’