‘No, she couldna’ve. Listen, I’ve got to get away and talk to the police.’ Diane has half her body turned to the gate. Now the day is getting lighter, Lauren can see how pale she looks.

‘How – how’s she not in Edinburgh?’

Diane sighs impatiently. ‘I’d know. She said she’d meet me.’

‘Well. Girls will be girls. She’s maybe got some fella down there.’

Diane takes a few steps to the gate. ‘No. Well, maybe, but no. I do know.’ She pushes back her clammy hair and looks at Vairi straight on. ‘I do know. I mean – she couldna’ve. Also, we’ve been friends since we were six years old. It doesn’t make sense. Now, if you don’t mind …’

‘OK, look, keep your hair on. I know we’re all worried here. Are you not coming inside?’

Diane tips her head back and gives the lead a tug. ‘No, I’ve got to tell the police and other people and I’ve got Lola.’ The dog looks tired.

‘Right, yes. OK. And you’ve got school and all. Well, I can take care of this one. Thank you, my dear. Get yourself warm. You’ve done a good thing. If you need to come back, come back.’

‘OK.’ Diane begins to walk away, but before she reaches the garden gate, Lauren runs to give her a hug. She knows Diane won’t be leaving for school.

‘C’mon, now. They’ll find him.’ Vairi leads Lauren up the musty staircase to a spare bedroom with flowery brown wallpaper.

‘Who?’

‘Your dad. Who else?’

Lauren sits down on a flouncy bed and dips her fingers in a pink bowl of dried petals on the bedside cabinet. The smell of the basement comes swirling back to her.

‘Where is he?’ she asks.

Vairi shakes her head. ‘I’m telling you, I’m about to try and find out, if you’re patient. Leave that. You’re freezing,’ she says. ‘Take off your socks and give your feet a rub, so you don’t get chilblains, eh? Get under the covers too.’ She finds Lauren a towel and runs her a hot bath in the kelp-green bathroom. ‘Look there,’ Vairi jokes, trying to raise a smile. ‘You’re using all my hot water!’

19

When Niall wakes up he can barely open his eyes. His head is rusty with pain. It takes him a moment to realize he is still strapped into the frozen pickup. Someone is battering his window. He stays where he is. There is a muffled, female voice on the other side of the glass. ‘Niall. Niall.’ Groggily, he opens the truck door and staggers out into the sharp morning sun.