‘Okay… Erm… I’ll just tell my friend to move on.’ I step forward, then backwards and look completely flustered. The detective nods and walks back to her car.

‘Amy, you’ll have to go, they want to speak to me inside.’

‘Is Lucas in there?’

‘No, he’s going straight to the pub after work.’

‘I’m coming with you, so.’ Amy rolls up the window and opens the door.

‘No, Amy, you better not. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’

‘But you’re on your own, Tara, and I’m not leaving you on your own. I don’t have to listen. I can wait in the bedroom if you want, but I’m not leaving you.’

A part of me is relieved when Amy says this. I’m not sure I would have told her what was going on but she knows now that something is and I could do with some support.

‘Okay, but what about the car? You can’t leave it here, it might get a ticket.’

‘Are they leaving their car here?’ she says, nodding at the police car.

‘Yes, but they’re cops, Amy, they can park where they like.’

‘Fuck it.’ Amy steps out of the car and slams the door closed. Then she links her arm through mine and walks towards the detectives with me. She must be able to feel my body trembling beneath my coat. She squeezes my arm tighter.

My hand shakes as I try to fit the key into the keyhole. After what feels like forever the door eventually opens. Amy and I walk through first, followed by the two detectives. When we step into the living area, Amy asks if I want her to stay. I don’t know if I do. I feel stronger with her by my side but what if the detective says something I don’t want Amy to hear? No. I’d better not take any chances.

‘You can wait inside,’ I say. ‘I’ll be okay.’

‘Call me if you need me.’ She looks at the female detective before leaving the room.

‘I wasn’t expecting to see you again,’ I say to the detective when she asks me to sit down.

‘Well, here we are.’ She sits on the chair opposite me. Detective Mullins remains standing with his notebook in his hand.

‘Okay, Tara, I’ll get straight to the point. You’ll have heard by now the body discovered at Huntley Lodge is Avril Ryan’s.’ As she sits forward in her chair, I nod my head. ‘And you probably know Avril went missing while you and your friends were living at Huntley Lodge.’

Again I nod.

‘Did you know Avril Ryan, Tara?’

‘Did I know Avril Ryan?’ I say in a surprised voice, while pointing at myself. ‘No, I never heard of her until last week.’

The detective is staring at me, saying nothing, waiting for me to continue.