‘What?’

‘Her necklace. They said I must’ve taken it as a trophy.’

Chapter Eighty-One

1989

Fisher residence

Wednesday 19th July – the day of, 7 p.m.

‘Is Bella home with you?’

‘Yes, Tina. She’s been home for a while,’ Muriel said. Would Tina note the shake in her voice over the phone?

‘And Jonie isn’t with her? Was she with her? Can you ask her?’

‘Calm down, love,’ Muriel said lightly. ‘Yes, she was with her earlier – they were playing that stupid game over at Blackstone again. But Bella said she got fed up and convinced Jonie to go into the village park instead.’

‘So, she left Jonie at the park? Is that the last place she saw her?’

‘I’m not sure, Tina. I’m sorry. She was upset when she got back – I think Jonie went off on her own. Bella hasn’t said much since.’

‘For God’s sake. Where the hell is she?’

‘Maybe she went to another friend’s house – have you tried everyone?’

‘Not yet. I rang you first because I assumed she’d be with Bella.’

Muriel could hear the tears thickening Tina’s voice. Her heart stuttered; her mind went blank. She couldn’t think of the right thing to say.

‘I’m going to ring off now then,’ Tina said. ‘Try others. Can you speak to Bella again please? She might have forgotten something. Maybe Jonie told her where she was going.’

‘Will do. Keep me posted.’ Muriel hung up and turned to Bella. ‘It’s okay,’ she said. Bella’s red-rimmed eyes were stark against her milky-white face. Muriel put her arms around her. ‘Don’t worry. It’ll be all right.’

Bella’s sobs were muffled in Muriel’s shirt. Muriel squeezed her eyes tight, willing her own tears not to come. She had to be strong.

Everyone would need her to be strong.

After a few minutes, Bella pulled away from Muriel’s chest. ‘Where’s Dad?’

‘He went to look for Jonie.’

‘Oh.’ Bella looked thoughtful. ‘Did he go to where I said?’

‘Yes, love. He left as soon as you told us where you’d last been.’

‘When will he be back?’

‘I don’t know, Bella. I expect he’ll call on the others to help too. He’ll be as long as he needs to be.’

‘Until he gets Jonie back? I want her to come home now, Mum.’

Muriel looked down at Bella, cupping her face in her hands. She couldn’t head off her own tears any longer.

‘Whatever it takes, my darling girl.’

Chapter Eighty-Two

2019

Anna

Friday 19th July

‘Confess to what? What the hell did I do?’ Anna slumped into the chair. ‘Mum? Why did you say you were sorry? Because I’m getting the bloody blame for something you did?’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said again. Muriel had her head bowed.

‘Why can’t you even look at me? What did you do, Mum?’

‘I did what I felt I had to do.’ Muriel’s voice was void of emotion. Dead. Anna could feel her anger rising and tightening in her chest – sticking there like a hot lava ball. It was typical that Anna would now have to suffer for her mother’s high-drama antics from thirty years ago.