‘She didn’t strike me as fragile when we met,’ Dee said. ‘When did you meet my daughter?’

‘She was with me this weekend,’ Dee said.

‘Put her on to me right away. She’s my daughter and I need to speak to her.’

‘I can’t do that,’ Dee said.

‘Why not?’

‘Because I don’t know where she is. The last time I saw her was in London this morning. She was on her way to meet a friend.’

‘Nikki. I knew it. That’s the real reason Emer’s there. To try persuade that odious woman to take her back.’

‘I don’t know who she’s with,’ Dee said. ‘Sorry.’

She hoped she was doing the right thing. The logical part of her mind knew that Ursula deserved to know where her daughter was. But Dee couldn’t forget the way Emer had looked when she spoke about her mother. A closing down behind her eyes, like she was blocking out things she didn’t want to think about.

‘Sorry? Is that all you’ve got to say? This is your fault, Delilah. You had no right – absolutely no right – calling my house and speaking to Emer without consulting me first.’

‘Emer’s an adult,’ Dee said. ‘If she wants to speak to me, or come and visit me, that’s her business. I don’t mean to be rude, Ursula, but I think it’s probably better if I hang up now.’

‘Wait. Please. Don’t hang up just yet. I apologise if I seem rude. I’m worried, that’s all. I’ve already lost one daughter. I can’t bear to think of something happening to Emer was well. Surely you can understand that?’

‘Of course,’ Dee said, relenting slightly. ‘All of this must be very difficult for you.’

‘This isn’t the first time, you see. There have been other times before this, too many to count, when Emer has seen someone she thinks is Kitty. Each time, she becomes obsessed. It’s taken its toll over the years.’

‘Would it help if I told you I think this time she may be right?’

‘I think what would help,’ Ursula said, ‘is if you could tell me how you got involved in all of this in the first place? So far, all I’ve had is a garbled, second-hand account from my husband. Maybe if I hear it from you I’ll be able to make some sense of it.’

As quickly as she could, Dee updated her on everything that had happened since her first meeting with the woman pretending to be Emer in Gordon’s Wine Bar. She figured she might as well tell Ursula the truth. If she had been involved in her daughter’s disappearance, then she already knew Kitty was still alive. If, on the other hand, she’d had nothing to do with it, she certainly deserved to know the truth.