I shake my head although she cannot see me. It’s horrible to hear her pain, her anxiety, wishing I could make it better but knowing that I can’t.

‘What if he’s had an accident? Should I call the hospitals? The police. I should call the police, shouldn’t I?’

‘Yes, but I’m sure wherever he is… I’m sure he isn’t hurt.’

Unbidden, my hand reaches out and scoops back the curtain. There’s no white car. I’m not even sure now that it’s them I am frightened of – this unknown person – them that’s causing the pounding feeling in my chest. It’s all become mixed up in my head with the dread that squeezes me tighter and tighter every day.

We talk for a few minutes more and I try to remain calm for Mel’s sake but calm is the last thing I feel.

It’s all too close to home.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Connor

Ryan isn’t at their usual meeting place on Deene Street. Connor has waited for fifteen minutes, his unease growing with each passing second until his whole body is coiled with tension.

Something is wrong.

At a loss to know what to do, he heads to school to see if Ryan is there, planning to leave and go to his house if he isn’t, but as soon as he walks through the doors he knows something is very wrong.

Mrs Webb is waiting by the door, ushering everyone inside.

‘Straight into the hall.’ Her face is serious.

‘Why?’ Through the windows, Connor can see the flash of blue lights, the police car pulling into the car park.

Ryan.

An intense heat scorches his face and he feels he might faint. He reaches out a hand to touch the wall and steady himself but before he can make contact he is swept down the corridor in a tide of kids, all of them speculating what is going on. But Connor knows.

Ryan.

His phone buzzes, a text from Mum, but before he can open it Mr Marshall claps his hands. ‘Everyone settle down.’ He waits for the noise to fall. ‘Now I don’t want to cause any concern but…’ His eyes sweep around the hall. ‘You all know that a week ago Tyler Palin disappeared.’ He pauses. ‘I’m sorry to say that last night Ryan Horner also went out and didn’t make it home. Does anybody have any idea where he might be?’ There’s a silence that Connor hasn’t heard in the hall before. ‘You won’t get in any trouble if you can tell us anything that might help find him.’

The whispering begins, the exchanging of horrified glances.