‘All right,’ she said, making it sound as if it was as appealing as a colonoscopy. Nicholas lit up like a birthday boy. ‘Come on, Flash.’ The dog didn’t need telling twice. Carol almost wished she could find so uncomplicated a response in her own heart. But those days were long gone. With one last look over her shoulder, she set off down the hill.

Let other people speak for the dead.

33

The call had roused Paula from the glorious depths of sleep. They’d gone to bed before midnight, but Elinor had wanted to revisit her conversation with Bev’s sister Rachel. ‘But after I IM’d with Torin’s dad and he gave us his blessing, I’m still not sure I was right to encourage her to come up,’ she’d said for what Paula reckoned was the eighth or ninth time.

‘Torin’s in limbo,’ Paula said. For only the third time, she thought. ‘He needs the stability he’ll get from his family. He hardly knows us, love.’

‘According to Torin, he hardly knows his aunt either. Be honest with me, Paula. Do you think Bev’s coming home alive?’

Paula sat up and punched her pillow into shape. ‘I honestly don’t know. I think someone took her, but I have no way of knowing if she’s being kept prisoner or… We’re in the dark here. I can’t help thinking that Auntie Rachel arriving like the cavalry is going to feel like a worst-case scenario to Torin. In his shoes, I’d start giving up hope.’

‘Maybe that’s the best thing for him.’ Elinor snuggled into Paula’s side. ‘Facing up to what’s most likely to be the reality. And having his aunt here might help him with that.’

Paula yawned and patted Elinor’s hand. ‘It won’t hurt for them to get to know each other better, that’s for sure. If Bev doesn’t come home, he’s going to end up living with her. Or his gran. At least until his dad gets a home posting.’

Elinor gave a noncommittal grunt and kissed Paula’s shoulder. ‘Let’s see what tomorrow brings.’

That was the last thing Paula was aware of until her phone began ringing. She looked at the time as she answered. Twenty-seven minutes past six. ‘DS McIntyre,’ she moaned.

‘DCI Fielding here. West Yorkshire have got a body. The ID says it’s Beverley McAndrew, your misper. I’ve got a squad car coming, I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes. Be ready.’

‘OK,’ Paula said. But she was talking to no one. Still half asleep, she sat up and ran a hand through her dark blonde hair. She wanted to believe the phone call was a bad dream, but she knew it wasn’t. Bev was dead.

Elinor turned over and murmured sleepily, ‘Did your phone just ring?’