‘I don’t think so,’ Emer said. ‘Unless it had something to do with my mother and Robert got involved by accident.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘He’s crazy about her,’ Emer said. ‘If she was involved in anything dodgy, maybe she asked him to help her.’

‘What’s she like?’ Dee asked.

‘Ursula?’ Emer’s stomach tightened, the way it always did when she thought about her mother. ‘She’s not a very nice person. I know it sounds terrible to say that about my own mother, but it’s the truth. She’s a narcissist. Completely self-obsessed. Selfish.’ She paused, smiling. ‘Sorry. You did ask.’

‘And your stepfather puts up with that?’

‘He adores her,’ Emer said. ‘She’s very beautiful, you see. He told me he fell in love with her the first time he saw her. She was already married, and Robert never thought he was in with a chance. But then my parents split up, so I guess he saw his opportunity and took it. Why?’

‘I’m just interested,’ Dee said. ‘How did they meet? Robert and your mother, I mean.’

‘Ballincarraig’s a small town,’ Emer said. ‘They probably knew each other for years. But they grew close when Ursula started working as Robert’s PA. There’ve been a few rumours over the years. You know, that they got together before Dad left. I have no idea how true that is. I wouldn’t put it past my mother, but I’m not sure Robert would have risked his reputation, even back then.’

‘I’ve been reading up about your stepfather,’ Dee said. ‘He’s an interesting man. He’s also got a reputation for decency and honesty. What if the girls saw something that could damage Robert’s reputation? He’d want to make sure the girls never told anyone what they’d seen, right?.’

‘You think he killed Lucy?’ For a moment, Emer thought she might throw up. ‘Absolutely not. He’s… Robert’s not like that. He’s not a violent person. Besides, if Robert knew what happened to Kitty, why would he get you involved in trying to find her? He’d already know Kitty was still alive.’

‘Kitty was eleven when she disappeared,’ Dee said. ‘If she didn’t drown, then she didn’t disappear by herself. The most logical explanation is that at least one of your parents helped get her out of the country.’

Emer’s brain was exhausted from trying to rethink every aspect of her life until this moment. She didn’t know what was true, or who she could trust. For all she knew, Dee was lying to her too. Maybe Robert had paid Dee to call the house the other night. Or maybe her mother had, or… Emer felt her mind spinning, knew how dangerous that could be. Because one moment you felt in control, and the next you started doing all sorts of crazy shit.