He stood with the receiver in his hand. If she wasn’t with a friend, then where was she? Images of bodies in ditches or on hospital trolleys came unbidden. He forced them away. That wasn’t it. There was another explanation, a reason she had said she was going to Anne’s and then not shown up, a reason she had not told anyone where she was.

And he thought he might know what it was. Maybe Kevin’s fears were justified.

She had a new boyfriend. Probably older, probably unsuitable – which was why she hadn’t told him and Sandra. And she didn’t want Kevin to find out, which was why she hadn’t told her friends.

Apart from Chrissie. She told Chrissie everything.

He dialled Chrissie’s number again.

‘Sorry to call again, Chrissie,’ he said. ‘There’s one other thing I wanted to ask you.’

‘That’s OK, Mr Cooper. Whatever you want.’

‘I know you said you don’t know where Maggie is, but is there anything I should know? Maybe she told you something and asked you not to tell me and her mum, but if she did, now is a good time to say so.’

‘No,’ Chrissie said. ‘There’s nothing.’

‘Are you sure, Chrissie? Maybe a new boyfriend she wants to keep secret?’

‘I promise, Mr Cooper,’ Chrissie said. ‘I promise there’s nothing.’

She sounded – as far as he could tell – as though she was telling the truth.

‘OK,’ he said. ‘If anything comes to mind, or if you hear from her, call me. Anytime.’

4

She did not call back. No one did. By ten p.m., Sandra was as worried as him.

They sat at the kitchen table. Sandra had a mug of tea; Martin still couldn’t stomach anything. He was sure, now, that something was seriously wrong.

‘Where the fucking hell is she?’ he said. He rarely swore; even now the words felt out of place in his mouth. ‘I don’t understand what she’s playing at.’

‘Me neither,’ Sandra said. ‘But when she does get home she’s going to be in so much trouble she won’t know which way is up for a month. She can’t do this kind of thing.’

‘What if something’s happened to her?’ Martin said. ‘I can’t stop picturing—’

‘She’s fine,’ Sandra said. ‘Don’t think like that. I did this kind of thing when I was her age. It doesn’t make it any better, but this is what teenage girls do. She’ll be in the park, drinking and smoking. Or with another boy. She’s fifteen.’

‘I didn’t do this,’ Martin said. ‘I think there’s a problem, Sandy, I really do.’

‘You were a good boy,’ Sandra replied. ‘That’s why I married you. It looks like she has some of me in her. That’s all it is.’

‘Maybe,’ Martin said. ‘Maybe.’

5