Sam jerked back as though I’d slapped him. He froze there for a long second, before regaining his composure. ‘Okay, well, I’m sorry for interfering. I was trying to be a good friend. Trying to protect you from a lecherous creep who you’ll be stuck living next door to once you’ve realised he’s nowhere near good enough for you.’

‘Okay, well, apology accepted!’ I said, almost choking on my unshed tears. ‘Maybe next time you want to be my friend, try harder! Try letting me enjoy my first ever party, rather than ruining it!’

At that, I turned and clattered back into the garden just in time to see the Frea-K Three-K’s human pyramid topple into a holly bush. When I glanced back into the kitchen, Sam had gone.

Good. I was fuming with him. If I wanted something casual with my new sexy neighbour on my birthday, that was none of his damn business. It was my party!

Only before I could get back to it, Steph came and grabbed me. ‘Ollie, you need to come with me.’

‘I don’t want to come with you, I want to enjoy my party.’

Acting as though I’d not even spoken, Steph dragged me back into the kitchen. There in the doorway to the hall was a sight that sobered me up instantly.

Leanne clutched at her jacket, her face contorted in fear and panic. ‘Ollie, tell me she’s here!’

‘What?’

‘Joan. She’s run away. Please tell me she’s turned up here for a birthday surprise.’

It took a few minutes for Leanne and Peter, who’d been finding somewhere to park clear of the partygoers’ cars, to explain. Joan was supposed to be at a sleepover with a girl from her school, but when Leanne called round to drop off a forgotten toothbrush, the girl’s parent said that Joan had cancelled.

‘We got straight in the car and came here. I’ve been calling you every ten minutes since we left.’

‘My phone is in here. I’ve been outside.’

‘We tried Pia, a couple of my other old clients, but no one answered. I didn’t want anyone else to know what was happening.’

When we asked Leanne if she’d called the police, she had the same excuse. ‘If I’d called the police, they’d have involved social services, and I can’t bear to relive that nightmare unless I have to. I felt sure she’d be here.’ Leanne’s face fell. ‘Where else would she be?’

And then it clicked.

‘Nesbit went missing. We couldn’t figure out how he’d escaped. When we found him, he was acting strange, like there was something in the undergrowth. I had to carry him away.’

Leanne and Peter stood up. ‘Where?’

‘Wait here, thirty seconds. If we’re going out there, we need to know what we’re looking for.’