‘I know how much you still miss him,’ Marion said, putting her tea on the table with a trembling hand.

With a sigh and a nod, Barbara leant forward.

‘Why didn’t you tell me about Kim?’

‘I don’t know.’ Marion shrugged. ‘I thought it wasn’t my business. I didn’t want to be accused of gossiping.’

‘It is odd, I must admit.’ Barbara was looking down at the currant bun that sat in front of her, and she turned it around on the plate while she thought. ‘She wouldn’t leave her babies without saying anything.’

‘Exactly. That’s exactly what I keep thinking, which is why …’ Marion didn’t finish her sentence.

‘You’re jumping to conclusions, love. No good adding two and two and coming up with five.’

‘Well, some poor woman is lying dead on the common. What am I supposed to think?’

‘Have you spoken to Toni?’

‘No. Not since book club.’ Barbara watched as Marion stiffened.

‘Maybe you should give her a call.’

‘After the nasty things she said to Kim? I don’t have any desire to speak to that woman again.’

‘You’ve not been online much since the meeting.’

‘No, I haven’t. Because, in all honesty, I’m fuming. I can’t believe them all, behaving like that when they were guests in my house. But now, what with Kim missing, well it just don’t bear thinking about.’

‘When was the last time you spoke to Pete?’ Barbara picked at her bun and put a morsel in her mouth.

‘This time yesterday, and then when I saw the news, I wanted to call him, I really did, but I just couldn’t.’

‘She might be back by now. If you call at least you’ll know, one way or the other.’

‘I’m not sure my nerves can hack it, Babs.’ Marion shook her head and pushed her cup of tea away. To Barbara, she appeared five years older and tired.

‘But even if she isn’t at home, it doesn’t mean the person in the woods is her.’

‘No, agreed. But it doesn’t look good. I’ve been on this planet too long to believe in coincidences, pet.’

Forty minutes later they were back at Barbara’s house. She’d insisted that Marion came home with her since Alfred was out for the day playing golf, and she didn’t want Marion at home, alone, worrying about Kim.

While Marion sat in the living room, Barbara excused herself and went to make a phone call. She felt silly interfering, but she needed to speak to Pete for herself. The call lasted approximately ninety seconds.

‘She’s home!’ Babs burst into her living room clapping her hands together. ‘She’s back!’

‘Who? Kim? Oh, thank goodness.’ Marion’s shoulders dropped and she slumped into the sofa, suddenly overcome by exhaustion.