‘What’s his name?’ The woman is squinting, looking her up and down. The petrol blue smear of a badly drawn tattoo peeps out of her cleavage.

‘Max Saunders.’ Her eyes wander back to the wallpaper. She blinks at the large burgundy flowers which merge into the beige background.

‘Never heard of him, sorry love.’ The woman starts to close the door.

‘When will Mr Hawkins be back, please?’

‘God knows.’ She continues to close the door.

‘Thank you, anyway.’ But Maddy doesn’t think she heard her. She stands there in a trance for several moments.

As she wanders back to her car, the woman comes out, bundles a bulging black bin liner into the Nissan and drives off.

Maddy curls up on the back seat, staring at the folder of bank statements in the footwell. Nausea settles in her throat. The car, the wallpaper, the carpet, the money, all swirl around in her head like litter on a blustery day. What does it all mean? What if that woman does know Max and is something to do with his disappearance?

Chapter Fifteen

Max: March 2011

On Saturday morning, Max hired a van to dispose of all the old furniture. The bed frame was falling apart and the mattress had compacted with years of human debris.

‘I’m off to the dump,’ he called. Maddy was at the bottom of the garden, where she seemed to spend most of her time when she wasn’t working at the cafe. He couldn’t see her face under the floppy hat and sunglasses, but he waved at her all the same.

On the way back, he drove along Uxbridge High Street, pulling up at a pelican crossing to let a group of students cross. He spotted a petite blonde woman strolling past The Crown and Sceptre. Her outline, the sway of her hips looked just like Ali’s. He honked his horn and the woman turned, but her features were all wrong: the lips thinner, the hairline higher. He banged his fist on the horn at a group of kids pushing and shoving each other in the road. No point dwelling on what could have been. Maddy was good for him and everything felt different and exciting with her. She was crazy about him, too, he was certain of that.

When he got back, Maddy answered the door wearing a satin dressing gown. A warm, sweet aroma filled the hallway.

‘I thought I’d have a nice bath while you were out,’ she said, beaming at him.

Her features seemed to have softened in the steam. Her hair was arranged high on her head, clipped back so it looked sexy, with a couple of tresses framing her face.

‘I’ve got something for you,’ she said.

He followed her into a room at the back of the house. It was the only room he’d not been in.