‘Yeah, Officer, he wanted to see Troy about Laney and I figured I’d give it to him at the same time. Save me a trip, see.’ Ray is being so respectful, no sarcasm even. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

‘Alright, Ray, say I believe that, why did you throw it under the house?’

‘If I’d kept hold of it you might’ve thought I was threatenin you or somethin bad like that. I didn’t want you to shoot me! So I chucked it fast.’

The constable is suspicious as hell but it’s not like he has anything on them. Right now their biggest worry is Troy, so they finish up with Ray and it’s only another hour before they let Uncle Joe go. Edna and Ray give us all dirty looks as we leave; they’re waiting to see if Troy will get released or thrown in lock-up. Lock-up wouldn’t be a friendly place for him with Clinton and Tyrone already in there. From what the cop said those two are so pissed off they’d dobbed Troy and Laney in for being there that night, too.

Sliding into the car I stay quiet and wait. It doesn’t take long for Mum to start. They just have to get enough space between them and the cops first, then she turns to face Uncle.

‘Well?’

‘Troy says he doesn’t know what happened to her. He said they all split up when they got chased. They were supposed to meet up at the car but she never showed.’

‘He’s lyin!’

My furious shout stops them cold and they both look at me. I could see their worry.

‘I mean, he has ta be, right?’ How can I tell them I’m so sure because of a stupid nightmare?

Mum shakes herself and nods at Uncle. ‘Turn this car around. We’re makin a missin persons report.’

Her voice is hollow. It’s the voice that I’d only heard two times before: when she told us Dad was never coming home, and the last day she took us up to see Nan at the hospital.

I lean forwards and wrap my arms around Mum’s shoulders as tight as our seatbelts will allow.

‘It’s okay, Mum, we’ll find her. We’ll make sure she’s okay.’

Mum’s strong, calloused hands pat my forearm.

‘From your lips, baby girl.’

The constable isn’t any happier to see us the second time, especially when Mum marches up and declares her sixteen-year-old daughter missing. Edna and Ray shoot her a vicious look while the cop sighs. He looks Mum up and down.

‘We’ve got a warrant out for her arrest, Alana,’ he says in a bored voice.