He looked around it, pained by all the hopes and dreams that had been invested in the place, which were now going to come to nothing. Then he left the trailer and went and banged at the Milo family door.

No police here now, thank God. Pally Milo opened the door to him, and silently ushered him inside. Eva, Claire’s mother, was sitting on one of the couches cradling a huge white crystal-covered dress in her arms. Her face was wet with tears. Her daughter Trace sat there beside her, silent.

‘Claire’s wedding dress,’ said Pally as he and Josh stood over the two women.

‘The muskras didn’t find her then?’ asked Josh. He didn’t want to look at the dress. It hurt too much.

‘Nah, we . . .’ Pally looked uncomfortable.

‘He phoned them, told them she’d come back home and not to worry,’ burst out Eva, giving her husband an evil look.

‘We can’t have the fucking muskras swarming over the place,’ said Pally. ‘Be reasonable.’

‘Claire’s missing,’ said Trace.

‘I thought she might be with you,’ said Eva, looking at Josh with such hope that he felt pity for her.

‘I wish she was,’ he said. ‘She isn’t.’

‘Is that the truth?’ demanded Pally.

‘The Everetts are saying their girl Shauna’s gone off on one of her benders again,’ said Trace, looking at Josh. ‘But that’s nothing new.’

Josh kept quiet. If he let on Shauna was with him, there’d be blood on the carpet. Accusations would fly. Everyone would think that was the reason Claire had vanished, because he’d been playing around with Shauna. And that wasn’t true. So it was best to say nothing.

‘You’ve been out looking for her? Checking round the area?’ he asked instead.

‘Every able-bodied man on this site’s been looking for her – in the woods, all up and down the lanes, down the dell, everywhere. She ain’t here. She’s gone,’ said Pally, eyeing Josh with hostility. ‘And where the fuck have you been? If I find you had anything to do with this . . .’

I had everything to do with it, thought Josh, disgusted with himself. Making her attend the fight. Asking her to ditch her big wedding plans and go for a hole-in-the-corner affair instead. He’d upset her too much, and now she’d fled.

‘She must have intended to go,’ said Trace. ‘Her suitcase has gone. And some of her clothes. It’s not like she . . .’ Her voice trailed away.

Not like she’s been abducted, taken by force, raped or murdered.

No. If she’d taken some possessions, Josh thought, that must be a good sign. She’d packed up and gone of her own free will. But where?