‘Hang on, it’s all right, we’re just trying to get some answers, we all want to find out what happened to Mary,’ Kate said, holding up her hand. She saw that Rob leant on a wall, keeping an eye on her and watching the dynamic unfold. He had her back. She clocked the two males he was watching: the one with the guitar and another who’d moved behind her. She didn’t think they were in danger, but in a situation like this, with emotions running high, tension could escalate quickly.

She turned around and addressed the whole group. ‘I know you’ve told DI Porter what you remember about him, but it’s vital that we find him. Did he ever mention a property that he owned or rented? Did he use different names? Even a nickname would be helpful. Did he say where he was going? Did you see him drive a Fiat campervan?’

The members of the group looked at one another and shook their heads. The laughter of the children from the tree house ricocheted around the small walled garden. Sandra came out and sat next to Jock, taking his hand in hers. The nervousness of a few moments ago dissipated.

‘We came to the group after he left,’ one said. Kate recognised her from taking her statement.

‘We didn’t like him, we stopped coming until he’d gone,’ said another.

‘Before Edna died, she told me that she thought Kirk was responsible for William going missing. She fancied he took him.’ It was Jock that spoke. Sandra squeezed his hand.

‘Why would she think that?’ Kate asked. The whole group tensed and Kate thought they wouldn’t breathe again. They watched Jock and no one moved. Even Rob was transfixed from his vantage point, and he stood upright, away from the wall.

‘He disappeared during the festival of Walpurgis. The thirtieth of April 2003. I will never forget the date. Edna’s world ended that night. It’s May Eve, the day before May Day: the beginning of summer. You Pagans know it as the night before May Day, it’s usually a bank holiday but no one really knows why.’

‘I thought you were the Pagans?’ Kate asked. The group laughed, and Kate and Rob looked around: the joke was on them.

‘That’s what the Christian Church would have you believe: they just hijacked all of our festivals and called them their own. Christmas? That’s Yule, and we’ve celebrated it for centuries. Easter? That’s Beltane, and your Easter eggs come from our fertility celebrations. You’re the Pagans.’

‘I’m actually an atheist,’ Kate said.

‘Good. There’s hope for you yet!’ The group laughed again.

Kate found herself smiling. ‘Tell me about William going missing on May Eve. What did you call it?’

‘Walpurgis Night. It’s a Christian term but stolen from ancient Germanic culture.’

‘Did you say Germanic?’

‘Yes, why?’