Sweating and out of breath, Dee stamped her foot on the ground like a petulant child who wasn’t getting their own way. As the wave of anger passed, common sense kicked in. Fiona had already told her Annie was at the gallery. That’s where Dee needed to go, instead of chasing after Annie’s mother like some hair-brained fool without a plan.

It took her ten minutes to remember where she’d parked her car, and another twenty to navigate the thick east London traffic and find a parking space. By the time she arrived at the gallery, Annie was gone.

‘She’s had some sort of family emergency,’ Claire said. ‘She didn’t give me the details, just said she had to go right away.’

‘You don’t know where she’s gone?’ Dee asked.

‘No idea.’ Claire frowned. ‘Is there something I’m missing here, Dee? First Annie’s mother comes running in here, looking as if her world has just come crumbling down around her shoulders. A few minutes later, the two of them leave in a rush, as if someone’s after them. Now you’re here asking where they’ve gone – what’s going on?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Dee said. ‘Can I ask how long you’ve known Annie?’

‘I remember when I introduced you to her,’ Claire said. ‘She was wary of you, said you’d already met. What was that about?’

‘It was nothing. I’d bumped into her a few days earlier and thought she was someone I used to know.’

‘Well, now you know she’s not, why do you care how long I’ve known her? More to the point, what are you doing here now?’

‘I wanted to tell her how much I love the painting she got framed for me.’

Even to Dee’s ears, the explanation sounded weak. Clearly, Claire thought the same.

‘I’ll tell her you dropped in,’ she said. ‘But now I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I’ve already told you Annie’s not here, so there’s no reason for you to be here.’

Dee started to say something else, but Claire held her hand up.

‘Go. If you refuse, I’ll call the police and you can tell them what the hell you’re really up to.’

She didn’t sound like she was messing around.

‘Just tell her I need to speak to her,’ Dee said. ‘I’d be really grateful. Thanks.’

Back at her car, Dee took out her phone and dialled Emer’s number. She’d already called her cousin several times over the last week. Each time, she’d got an automated voice asking her to leave a message. Today, when she dialled the number she got another automated voice. This time, the voice told her the number she’d dialled was no longer in service.