I’d leave Molly at daycare. She’d be safe there. Distracted. Keeping things as normal as possible for her was key. I’d hung her washed sheets out on the line first thing, tried to reassure myself that her accident was just one of those things and didn’t mean she was being damaged by the atmosphere that hung all around us.

Paul had agreed to cut his hours in Belfast. Only be there when necessary. I’d have preferred it if he’d worked at home, but he said he couldn’t let his clients down. He wouldn’t be drawn further on it.

But at least if he was away for a few hours I might get a chance to see Michael. I hadn’t been able to get him out of my head since we’d last seen each other. His plea for me to run away with him. Maybe if he wanted the girls to come too, we could?

My head hurt. I took a couple of paracetamol. I knew this was a flight of fancy – even to think I could run away to be with him – but it provided some comfort.

I was making the breakfast, plastering on my biggest, fakest smile, when my phone rang. The number was listed as private and my heart hammered as I answered. What if it was Clare’s killer? They knew where I lived, who was to say they wouldn’t get my phone number?

I was relieved, at first, to hear Constable King’s voice on the line. The familiarity of it soothed me.

‘Rachel,’ she said, ‘we were wondering if you could call into the station, maybe this morning?’

‘What’s happened?’ I asked, immediately suspicious.

I saw Beth look at me, saw the fear in her eyes.

‘Don’t worry. There have just been some developments on the case overnight and we’d like to talk to you, and to Julie, about them.’

‘What developments?’ I asked, wanting to ask why Julie and I needed to come in.

‘I’d rather not talk about it over the phone. Look, I know you have things to do first thing. So maybe you could call in after ten? We can send a car to get you, if you’d prefer?’

I tried to keep my voice light, aware that Molly and Beth were both within earshot.

‘I’m fine to drive, honest. But you’re making me a little nervous here,’ I said with a false laugh.

‘Look, we’ll talk about it when we see you. If you ask for me when you arrive, I’ll come down and get you.’

With that she was gone and I looked to see Beth staring at me wide-eyed.

‘What is it now, Mum? Where do you have to drive to?’

‘The police just want to update me on what’s happening. Routine, don’t worry.’