‘The detective asked me if I was sure you didn’t know her and all I said was I couldn’t answer that for sure. I didn’t know if you knew her or not. I said it was quite possible you knew her from work or something and that’s what I told the detective. I didn’t say you knew her. I said I couldn’t say for definite you didn’t.’

‘Well she seems to think you said I did know her.’

‘Tara, I warned you about that. They’ll twist things. They’ll try to get you to say something you don’t mean to say and then they’ll rearrange the words. It’s all about getting you to admit something. But sure, if you didn’t know her you’ve nothing to worry about.’

There is silence at the end of the phone.

‘Tara, are you still there?’

‘It’s not that simple, Faye.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Avril Ryan called me. She made a bloody phone call to my phone. I didn’t answer it but according to those detectives I’m the last call she made before disappearing.’

Now, I’m silent. Her words send a shiver through my body. This is not good. I take a deep breath and tell Tara not to worry because I need her to relax. I need her to tell me where Andriu is staying.

‘Have they spoken to Andriu yet?’ I say.

‘Not that I know of. I’m meeting him Friday night so I’ll find out then.’

‘Where is he staying?’ I say.

‘Horgan’s on the green.’

I finish the call, apologizing for the detective’s misinterpretation of what I said and telling Tara not to let this ruin her wedding. I asked her how things were going and her voice seemed a bit lighter when she spoke about the wedding. But she’s worried. I’m worried too; Tara was not the only one to be contacted by a stranger.

I think back to the anonymous text that I read on my phone the same day I discovered Andriu was not in love with me. The words in the text message frightened me. They still frighten me because someone out there knew what I had done.

It was three years ago but I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was halfway through my shift at the hospital. A&E wasn’t at full capacity but I’d been kept busy all morning. After telling an older lady in cubicle nine that she would have to stay with us for a couple of days to do some further tests, I left the area and went for a break to the coffee shop.