‘She used to have more good days than bad, but now it’s goin the other way. Since she heard about Laney she’s been … better. I thought if I helped you and Laney …’ He finally looks at me again and I see concern. ‘But I don’t want ya ta get into trouble.’

‘Thanks. But what I do is my problem.’ I try to be stubborn but gentle.

‘Come on, Tace. Your mum’s already freaked about Laney.’

I try to push past him. He can stick his emotional blackmail. He grabs my shoulder and holds on till I’m forced to face him.

That stubborn jaw gives you away every time, granddaughter. Nan always sighed it, like she wasn’t the one who had passed down that jaw.

‘Shit,’ he explodes. ‘Well, if you’re goin then I have ta.’

I open my mouth to argue but he gets in first. ‘You heard what she said – you can’t go alone and I’m the one that’s got ta take you.’

We stare each other down, but truthfully, I don’t want to go alone either.

Sam grins, seeing me weaken.

I give him my best stare-down. ‘It’s my choice. You do what I say or you can piss off. I don’t play that macho bullshit.’

His grin widens. ‘Go to the reservoir after school tomorrow.’

‘What about today? We’ve got them free periods, memba.’ I try not to sound desperate, ready to chuck my plans. I am failing.

Sam pulls a face. ‘I can’t. It’s first training of the year, old Krantz won’t let us go till dark.’

My face goes pale. Sam is a sports star like Laney, if she were here they’d be training together.

‘Yeah, okay.’ I can’t look at him.

For a brief second his hand squeezes my shoulder. I look up to watch him walk away. There is no point glancing around – we’ve been seen and the news is going to rip through town. A Thomson and a Miller talked without swear words being exchanged, had even touched. I picture Kelly’s tear-shiny face as her parents shipped her off to Rocky. We are in so much trouble. And still my heart lifts. I’ll do my research today, tomorrow we’ll go out looking.

School is nothing. I’m pretty sure I take in nothing, too. I sleep-walk through the classes, keep my head down and am ignored. Cassie and her crew have spread the word – I’m not to be spoken to or even acknowledged by the other girls in high school, all twelve of them. Bobbie is one of the main ones giving me evil glares. Even the teachers barely look at me. Either they can’t handle what I’m going through or they think a missing sibling is contagious.