Is it irrelevant? Something supposedly made Iona leave – or at least made the islanders think she did – but the fact remains she was here again only two days later. And after what I saw and who I saw her with, my mind is going into overdrive, spilling out conclusions I can only pray aren’t right.

‘I mean, your timing couldn’t be more perfect,’ she goes on. ‘It’s going to look suspicious.’

‘Alright, Bonnie, I told you I’m coming back. Will you just tell me what I’m asking for? Was there anything you remember about what happened when she was called away?’

‘No,’ she says after a beat. ‘Nothing at all.’

I clutch the phone hard against my ear until my knuckles turn white, glancing around, but the customers are fewer now and those left are chattering among themselves. ‘You’re sure about that?’ I hiss.

‘Totally sure,’ she replies sharply.

I grit my teeth, shaking my head. What are you holding out on me, Bonnie? ‘And she definitely left the island? You didn’t see her again?’

‘No, I never saw her again.’ Bonnie’s voice is smoother now, which lets me know at least this is the truth.

‘Did she have any other family?’ I ask.

‘No,’ Bonnie says. ‘She hadn’t seen her mum in three years and had no idea who her dad was. She told me she used to pretend he was a rock star when she was a kid, that he made loads of money and one day he’d come back for her.’

‘That’s kind of sad,’ I say, despite the other thoughts racing through my head.

‘I don’t know. She laughed about it when she told me. God, I can’t believe she was killed.’

‘But she had this sick relative,’ I go on blindly. ‘I mean, whoever that was must have realised she was missing.’

‘Why are you interrogating me? Do you think I killed her?’ Bonnie snaps.

‘No,’ I say. ‘Of course I don’t.’ I squeeze my eyes tight, pressing my fingers against them. ‘But you tell me you saw her leave the island and—’

‘I never told you I saw her leave,’ Bonnie interjects. ‘I didn’t. I was supposed to, but—’ She pauses. ‘I never turned up. We’d had an argument. The last time I was supposed to see her I never went and now she’s dead.’

I hear a cry escape her and wish I could be with Bonnie right now so I could wrap my arms around her. But I also need to get some answers. ‘How do you know she left, then?’ I ask, fearing I already know.

‘Because Dad told me she did,’ she retorts. ‘Are you more interested in playing detective than my feelings? And you’re the counsellor …’