CHAPTER 18

I remember Pamela/Ella, whatever she wants to call herself, telling me she worked in the library, that first day we met, so I hurry over there but she isn’t anywhere to be seen, and when I ask someone they tell me it’s her day off. I ask for a telephone number, kicking myself at not thinking to jot down the number from Dominic’s phone, but understandably they refuse to give it to me.

Outside the library I pause for a moment, thinking what to do. I am still stunned by the revelation that Ella is Dominic’s Pamela, and my gut twists as I think of all the things I confided in her about Laurel’s disappearance, things that I never would have mentioned if I had known who she really was. What does she want? Is she here for Dominic – are they having an affair? Or is she hanging around for more sinister reasons?

I start to walk back along the road, taking the turning that will lead me down the narrow country lane that ends up at the community centre. There’s no point in going home quite yet, and although I may not have found Pamela at the library, I can at least make myself useful by seeing if there is anything I can do to help the search team – and there’s every chance she might pop up there, as she has so many times before.

As I pass the school gates, I can’t help but peer into the playground, wishing Laurel would come running out of the hall to meet me, lunchbox in one hand, big, beaming smile on her face, eager to tell me all about her day. Instead, I look round to see Mr Abbott walking towards the gate.

‘Anna, hello.’ He stands on the other side of the palisade fencing, making no move to let me in, or to come out to my side of the metal barrier. ‘How are you?’

‘I, err . . . I’m just on my way to the community centre to see if the search needed any help with anything. You know, looking for Laurel?’

‘Ahhh, yes.’ He looks a little uncomfortable, avoiding my gaze and staring intently at the tips of his shoes. ‘I’m sorry we had to move the volunteer centre from the hall. I wish we could have kept it here but . . .’ Finally, he raises his eyes to mine, an ugly red flush starting to creep up his neck. ‘I’m really am sorry, Anna, we had to get things back into a normal routine for the rest of the children.’