‘You’re an idiot, Dad.’ Thomas is angry – upset. ‘There’s a bloody killer out there. What the hell were you thinking?’

‘I wasn’t. All I could think was another young girl wasn’t where we thought she was.’ He pauses and takes a deep breath.

‘Is she going to be all right?’ Thomas says, and I feel his frustration that he can’t get close to her.

‘I don’t know. She’s in a bad way.’ Dad reaches for a blanket, and as he attempts to cover Maddie, he lets out a cry of agony, and grabs his calf. There’s a six-inch rip in his trousers, blood oozing from a deep gash.

‘Jesus! What the hell happened to you?’ I meet his glassy eyes. There’s no doubting his pain.

‘Caught it on a branch when I was searching for Maddie. I’ll be fine.’

But colour drains from his cheeks. ‘You don’t look fine, Dad.’

At that moment, Maddie’s clenched fist falls open, and a Monopoly top hat tumbles to the floor.

I pick up the tiny silver top hat and roll it around in the palm of my hand. It must be the piece Maddie picked up from Rosamund’s cottage.

‘Maddie, can you hear me?’ I whisper, close to her ear, hoping my darkest fear is wrong. That she hasn’t been attacked. She doesn’t stir. ‘Maddie, what happened?’

I see a dark stain on her ski suit. The fabric is torn.

‘Oh my God,’ I cry. I gingerly place my hand on her stomach. Blood coats my fingers.

‘Shit!’ Thomas drags himself onto the floor, and takes her hand. ‘Maddie! Maddie, wake up!’ But she doesn’t stir. She’s far too still. ‘Oh God, she’s dead isn’t she?’ he cries.

As the cold truth sinks in I sob. Crushed. Broken. Scared. I turn to Thomas who sobs too, and we fall into each other’s arms.

‘No! No, she’ll be OK, you’ll see,’ Dad cries.

But I know she won’t be. I know because she looks as Mum did the day we lost her.

After a few moments, Dad accepts Maddie’s no longer with us, and covers her face with the blanket, and I rise, and dash into the kitchen. Who would kill her? Who? Who would do this? My mind races, and suddenly everyone’s a suspect – Finn, Rosamund, Julia – even my dad. I hate how distrusting this has made me, but two people are dead, and Elise is still missing. I breathe deeply, trying to gather my thoughts.

A stranger did this, I tell myself. It’s got to be. I refuse to believe anyone here is capable of murder.