‘What did I tell you then? What did I tell you?’ There is a twinkle in Vairi’s eye. ‘She wanted to protect you. She could tell something bad was on its way.’

The dogs bark from behind the bathroom door.

‘Right, that’ll be Craig, get your things ready. I’ve got to make a phone call.’

As Lauren pulls on her coat, Vairi picks up the phone, gesturing goodbye. Lauren watches Billy’s father’s car pull up in the driveway as she listens in to the phone call. ‘Oh, hello, Vairi Grant here. Well, I’m calling because I have found a small ring. Ah, no. No. Now listen, I’m not calling about lost property. I think this could be a useful piece of evidence. No, I know about all that. But I’m talking about the disappearance of Christine Mackay.’

In the first days of baby Lauren’s arrival, Niall was a blissful fool. People from the village dropped by. Their newborn was a wrinkled thing. He didn’t always like to remember that sleepless time. It was too happy. In fact, he only really remembers when he drinks. It frees him and it traps him. If Lauren is around he will hug her tightly and kiss the top of her head.

The doorbell rings and he staggers up. Two policemen are standing on his doorstep, saying they would like to ask him a few questions. He invites them in. They do not want any tea.

‘We’re here to ask you about Ann-Marie,’ one man says. He is large and nearly bald, with an uncertain expression.

‘Ann-Marie?’ He makes himself sound surprised, then realizes it’s a bad idea.

‘She’s been reported missing.’

‘Yeah. I heard. I’m very sorry to hear that.’ Niall pulls his mouth tight in sympathy. ‘And thank you for finding my kid.’ He is mumbling.

‘We didn’t, sir. She was found by a Diane Armstrong and then brought to Vairi Grant, I believe.’

Of course he knows that. Craig phoned him to say he had taken her to school. He wishes he had had a better sleep and was a better parent.

‘Regarding Ann-Marie, we understand that last night you gave her a lift. Is that right?’

So they know. ‘I did.’

‘Had this been planned in advance?’

‘No … not at all … I bumped into her in the shop.’

‘Which one?’

‘Spar.’ He feels sick.

‘Feeling a bit forgetful this morning?’ the other policeman says, raising a faint eyebrow. He is small and red-haired with freckly skin. Niall wonders if he is the son of someone he has worked for.

‘No,’ says Niall. ‘Yes, I had forgotten actually. When I first woke up, not long ago. But then it came back to me. My memory isn’t what it was, these days. Like a sieve.’ He doesn’t bother to attempt a smile.