Her first port of call had been her neighbour Cath, who lived two doors down and often minded the kids, but she wasn’t in. So Julia was forced to call Siobhan, whose son Callum was Dylan’s best friend. The mums weren’t anywhere near as close as the boys and Julia knew it was a big ask, but luckily for her Siobhan had decided to work at home for the day because the school was shut and she agreed to take Dylan. Julia hadn’t explained on the phone why she needed the favour, just that there was a family emergency she needed to sort out, and Siobhan’s shock was therefore palpable when Dylan was dropped off at her house in a marked police car.

‘Why have the police brought you?’ she asked suspiciously, standing on the doorstep and eyeing the vehicle over Julia’s shoulder. Dylan had already vanished inside the house with Callum.

‘They’re taking me up to the school,’ said Julia falteringly.

Siobhan went pale. ‘I got a text from Sam’s mum to say that a kid had been hurt. It’s not Poppy, is it?’

Julia matched her horrified expression.

‘It can’t be, they’d have told me, wouldn’t they? They just said I’m needed at the school.’

Siobhan peered at the police car again. The two officers in the front stared impassively back at her.

‘You’re right, they would’ve told you before you left home if it was that bad.’ Her gaze reverted to Julia. ‘But it must mean Poppy’s involved. Why else would they be taking you up there when the rest of us have been told to stay away? If she’s not with you, where is she? Do you even know?’

‘I should go,’ said Julia tearfully, unable to stand a moment more questioning. ‘Thanks for having Dylan. I’ll text you as soon as I know how long I’ll be.’

‘Sure. I hope you get it sorted,’ Siobhan called after her as Julia shot down the path.

‘So do I.’

By the time they reached the lane leading up to the school Julia was stricken with anxiety. She tried to engage the officers in a conversation about what was going on but they kept insisting a more senior colleague, someone from CID, would explain everything.

She tried calling Ewan again, shifting sideways in her seat and turning her face to the window so the officer driving couldn’t see her expression as he spied on her in the rear-view mirror. Her call diverted straight to voicemail again. She sent another text asking him to call her immediately, uppercasing the words for effect.

On arriving at Rushbrooke was struck by how quiet it was, the usual flow of parents in and out of the playground at that time eerily absent.

As the car pulled to a halt, panic overwhelmed her.

‘Where’s Poppy? I want to see her now.’