I throw the door open, and breathe a sigh of relief. It’s Detective Inspector Beynon. I remember her from when Lark vanished. ‘Thank God you’re here,’ I cry, beckoning her and DS McKay inside.

DI Beynon looks exactly as she had a year ago, strength oozing from her five-foot frame. ‘Amelia,’ she says.

She remembers me: The young woman with the red hair who traipsed the woods in tears on the Drummondale House estate a year ago, searching for her lost sister until her legs went from under her with exhaustion.

I’d found an inner strength back then, and I thought I’d found it again as I’d set out earlier, but now I’m beaten once more – anxious, frightened.

‘What’s happened?’ she asks. ‘You’re covered in blood.’

‘Oh. Yes. It’s Finn’s blood.’ I’m aware my voice is shaky – that I’m avoiding eye contact. ‘We just helped him into the house. He’s been attacked.’ I’m lying. I hate lying.

As Beynon turns to close the door, she looks into the distance, where two police cars are slowly moving across the snow. ‘Backup,’ she says, and smiles, before pulling the door ajar.

I lead Beynon and McKay across the hall. ‘Finn killed Ruth and Maddie,’ I say, before heading into the lounge where Julia is kneeling in front of him.

‘He’s been stabbed. I think he’s dead,’ Julia cries, tears in her eyes.

‘An air ambulance will be here soon,’ Beynon says moving closer. She places her fingertips on his neck for several seconds. ‘There’s a pulse. Just keep pressure on that wound. Do we know who stabbed him?’ Her eyes flick over his body.

Julia shakes her head.

‘Maybe someone who knew he was the killer,’ I say, looking at Beynon. ‘He’s got the weird mask, see.’ I point to his pocket.

Beynon pulls it out with gloved hands. ‘That’s fucking freaky,’ she says, and I shudder at the sight of it. ‘It’s the same as the ones in the trees when Lark disappeared. Finn was about then too.’

‘But I’ve known Finn a long time,’ Julia says. ‘He’d never hurt anyone.’

Four uniformed officers enter the room, and Beynon looks up. ‘It seems we may have our killer,’ she says. ‘We may even have our connection to Lark’s disappearance.’

‘No! Didn’t you hear me? Finn isn’t a killer,’ Julia says through tears. She’s holding his hand, squeezing. ‘He wouldn’t hurt anyone. You’ve got it wrong.’

‘We need to do a search of the property for the missing girl, Elise Green.’ Beynon looks around her, glancing out through the French doors. ‘Let’s get that summerhouse checked out too.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘She’s not here,’ Julia says. ‘You’re wasting your time. You need to be out there finding out who did this to Finn.’