‘Wait – this house? They lived here together?’ That’s how she knew where I lived – it never crossed my mind until I went to bed last night, and I wondered how she knew where to find me.

‘Well, yes. Of course, they lived here. Anyway,’ Fran rattles on, the words clear and concise as if she is performing a monologue on stage. ‘Not long after they split, Dominic and I met and ended up having this wonderful whirlwind romance. Only, then I found out I was pregnant with Laurel. For whatever reason, Dominic decided to do the right thing and marry me, so that’s what we did. Pamela turned up here three days after we got home from our honeymoon in tears, telling Dominic that she didn’t care if they didn’t get married, she just wanted him back. Obviously, Dominic had to tell her that we were married. She was a bit deranged, if you ask me.’

Jesus. I have no idea what to think. Poor Pamela. Knowing Fran as I do, knowing how Fran always gets what she wants, I can’t help but feel a tiny bit sorry for Pamela/Ella. Until I remember how she lied to me.

‘I think Pamela is in contact with Dominic,’ Fran says, quietly. ‘What if she had something to do with Laurel going missing? Remember someone saw a blonde woman lurking around by the gates that night? What if that was Pamela and she took Laurel for revenge? To get back at Dominic and me?’ She looks at me in horror. ‘What if they’ve planned this together? What if Dominic planned to take Laurel and start again with Pamela?’ She presses her hand to her mouth, as a low moan seeps out from between her lips.

‘We have to tell Kelly.’ I get to my feet, reaching for my mobile with shaking hands.

‘Wait.’ Fran lays out a hand to stop me from dialling. ‘What about Dominic? Shouldn’t we speak to him first? Maybe I can get him to tell me the truth, if I have something to back it up.’

‘OK,’ I say slowly, ‘but do you really think he’ll be truthful with you? I mean, to be honest, Fran, you don’t even know that he and Pamela are in contact . . . and there’s nothing to suggest that Pamela had anything to do with Laurel’s disappearance.’ I want to say there’s nothing to suggest Dominic did either, but there is still that heavy, dark suspicion that makes my stomach turn over when I let myself think of how Dominic has proved himself to not be who I thought he was these past few weeks.

‘His phone,’ Fran says.

‘What – you think you . . .’ I stop, seeing the frown settle in on Fran’s forehead. ‘We should check his phone?’