‘How did the reconstruction go? I watched it,’ Ella says, dragging her eyes away from her phone screen as she tucks the device into her pocket.

‘Great.’ I wince as I say it. ‘You know what I mean. There’s been a few leads from it. Someone said they saw Laurel getting into a car, and another witness said they saw a woman hanging around outside shortly before Laurel disappeared. Shit. I don’t know if I should have said anything.’

Ella’s face is pale, and she pulls out her phone again, checking the screen and fiddling with the ringer the way you do when you want someone to call and you’re terrified you might have missed it. ‘Don’t worry,’ she says, pushing her hand through hair that looks a little greasy. She looks as tired as I feel. ‘I won’t mention it. A woman, you say? Could they describe her?’

‘I don’t know . . . I didn’t get the full details, but you know DI Dove, he’s like a dog with a bone.’ I think of the way his face seemed to come to life every time he discussed the case. ‘I doubt he’ll let it go, not until he finds out who she is and why she was there.’

‘Excellent.’ Ella says, giving me an awkward smile. ‘You know, Anna, I need to get on. Catch up with you later?’

‘Oh. Yes. Of course.’

There is a sudden rush of commotion as someone flies into the school hall, and I hear my name being shouted.

‘Anna? Anna!’

Pushing my way past Ella, who stands frozen in front of me, I see Jess coming running into the hall, Daisy holding tight to one hand as she desperately tries to keep up with her nanny. Jess slides to a halt in front of me, pulling Daisy tight towards her as she tries to get her breath back, her cheeks pink and her hair standing out in a halo around her head.

‘Anna . . .’ Jess gasps, ‘I’ve just seen Mr Snow. He was getting into a police car. Anna, they were taking him away.’

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 11

The buzz of chatter in the hall dies away completely as Jess’s words ring through the air and the world tilts on its axis briefly. There is a rumbling in my ears, as though I am under water and I feel for a minute as though I might faint.

‘Anna? Anna, are you OK?’ I look down to see Jess grasping my elbow tightly. She guides me towards a small, plastic chair, the kind children sit on to eat their school dinners. ‘Here.’ She passes me a cup of water. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shock you.’

I take a tiny sip of water. ‘Are you sure they were arresting him? What did you actually see?’