Having let the hot water pound her body, Anna felt refreshed and less achy. With a towel wrapped around her, she headed back to her bedroom. She met Muriel coming the other way. She was still in her nightie.

‘Not getting dressed today, Mum?’ she said, lightly.

‘Oh, I might shortly. Just feel like a lounge day today. Didn’t really sleep well.’

Muriel’s eyes – dull, with dark circles beneath them – backed this up.

‘Oh. I guess that’s to be expected given the circumstances.’ Anna put a hand on Muriel’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. What had she been doing in her bedroom all the time Anna had been in the shower if she hadn’t been getting dressed? ‘But maybe if you grab a shower and get dressed, you’ll feel better. You always used to tell me that, remember?’

Muriel looked blankly at her. ‘Oh, did I?’ She frowned. ‘I used to say such stupid things. Would’ve told you anything if it meant you got ready for school on time.’ She gave a weak laugh.

‘Oh, I see – it’s all coming out now, isn’t it?’ Anna shot Muriel an over-enthusiastic smile before adding: ‘What other lies did you tell me, eh?’ She said it in a joking way, although obviously meant it. Taking in the look on Muriel’s face, Anna could tell she’d also taken her comment seriously.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Muriel’s eyes, which a moment ago were dull, were suddenly wide, her pupils dilated.

‘It was a joke.’

Muriel pushed past and went down the stairs, leaving Anna standing on the landing with a knot in her stomach. It was clear her mother really had lied to her; it was the only explanation for her reaction. She hurriedly dried and dressed and headed downstairs too. She wanted to speak more with Muriel – tease out some of the things that were bothering her.

Anna’s eyes were drawn to the mat by the front door. It was clear. No blood bags or the like. But was anything on the exterior of the front door? Her hand hovered over the lock, but she withdrew it. Finding something now would detract from the conversation she needed to have with Muriel. If there was something hammered to the door, it would still be there after breakfast – she’d deal with it then.

Her mum was sitting in her armchair in the lounge, eyes fixed to the TV screen.

‘Haven’t you got a drink yet?’ Anna asked.

‘Thought I’d watch the news first.’

‘I’ll make it then. What do you want for breakfast?’

‘Toast will do,’ Muriel said impatiently, her attention not wavering from the TV.

‘What’s happening in the world, then?’ Anna wondered what was so captivating it prevented Muriel from looking away.

‘A girl’s body has been found on the moors,’ she said bluntly.

‘What? Really? How terrible. Near here?’

‘Yes. Shush, love. I’m trying to hear.’ Muriel scowled, turning the volume up to thirty-six.

Anna mumbled an apology and walked into the centre of the room so she could see the screen properly. The report was from Spitchwick, an area about five miles from Mapledon and part of the Dartmoor National Park. It had always been a popular place for families to picnic and swim: a large, grassy bank ran alongside a bend in the River Dart. Teenagers also flocked to the area in summer, the cliffs further up the river drawing them like a magnet – they dived from them into the water like lemmings. Had that been what had happened now? A girl had been killed diving into the water? The report was almost over. She’d missed the key points.