I look around the stark, almost clinically clean kitchen, with the stupid boiling water tap, and over-priced teapot, and think how if I left, I wouldn’t miss a single thing. The Jo Malone candles that line the shelves above the dining table, because Fran doesn’t like cooking smells to linger; the flooring that Fran delights in telling people cost over five thousand pounds, because the stone is travertine. The elegant Harvey Nichols chandeliers that hang, one at the bottom and one at the top of the stairs, thousands of pounds worth of extravagance, that no one even seems to notice in this house anymore. All these things, all this expense and decadence and what for? It doesn’t make a difference – it doesn’t stop bad things from happening. It didn’t keep Laurel safe.

‘Are you all right?’ Kelly appears next to me, and I swipe at my eyes with the back of my hand. ‘It’s hard isn’t it? The not knowing.’

It’s like she’s a psychic or something. I nod and let her take the ridiculously expensive teapot from me.

‘So, who was that lady, the one you were speaking to at the lake earlier?’ Kelly asks, her eyes on the counter in front of her as she wipes away the tea leaves I spilt.

‘Ella? I met her at the school. She was one of the volunteers.’ As I say it I realise that’s not strictly true. She might have been at the hall, but I didn’t see her join the search. ‘I think she knows Dominic, from when they were at school.’ I amend.

‘Oh, right.’ Kelly’s voice is bright, and she smiles as she hands me a mug. ‘You two looked quite friendly, that’s all. I thought maybe you knew her from before . . . all of this.’

‘No, I’d never met her,’ I say, frowning as I think hard to myself. I have seen her though, I’m sure of it. There was something familiar about her when she slid into the seat next to me that day. I shake my head, throwing the thought away – I would remember, that striking blonde hair would be difficult to forget.

‘I was just wondering . . . seeing as you’re from not far from here originally. I spoke to your old employers . . .’ Kelly says casually, her eyes watching my face and I think for a moment I might be sick. ‘. . . they said you left to get married, and that you moved back to Surrey, so I thought maybe you knew her from school, or something. You’re not married though, are you?’ She frowns.

‘Oh . . . no.’ I give her a weak smile, trying to let my breath out in a controlled stream rather than a huge whoosh of relief. ‘Things didn’t work out. And I don’t know her.’ This time when my eyes fill with hot tears I don’t blink them back.