The next hour and a half was a frustrating blur of interviews, which took place in a stuffy classroom. When parents arrived to collect their children, most of them were rushed straight out but a couple of parents wanted to speak to the police, which then delayed the interviews. One deaf parent kicked off because she wanted to speak to Liz Marcek, but the deputy head had gone off to escort one of the younger children to the car park. Forest managed to calm the parent down, with me to interpret, but that took at least twenty minutes.

Half of the staff couldn’t remember when they last saw Saul, while several had seen him during the morning but couldn’t say exactly what time. When all the children had gone, some of the PCs were dismissed while a couple of others went over to the residence with Bradley, Kian, Courtney and Cassie.

I was taking a break while they interviewed hearing staff when my phone beeped with a text from Max.

Can I pop over tonight?

I smiled. A night with Max would be a very welcome distraction. Sure, but I don’t know when I’ll be home. I’ll text you when I’m leaving Lincoln.

Okay :) xx

I had a smile on my face when I got his reply, but it slipped when I heard a door open beside me and found Mike standing there.

‘Used to be me who put that smile on your face,’ he said with a grin that looked more like a leer. ‘Who’s the new man?’

I didn’t answer, put my phone away in my bag and started walking away from him down the corridor.

‘Don’t just walk away from me, Paige.’ I heard the anger in his voice but I didn’t care. We were in a building full of police officers, even he wasn’t stupid enough to do anything to me.

‘Where the fuck do you think you’re going?’ Behind me, I heard his footsteps pick up pace as he chased after me, and he caught up to me right outside the door where the staff were being interviewed.

‘I know it was you,’ he hissed at me.

This caught me off guard, because I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.

‘What was me?’

‘You told Jess to keep away from me. Is that how it’s going to be, Paige? Because you can’t have me, nobody can?’ He was shouting now, anger making a vein stand out on his neck. ‘You’re just a bitter, jealous bitch and you need to get your own life sorted out before you come messing with mine.’

‘Messing with your life? You’re the one who’s been following me!’ I snapped.

‘What?’ For a moment he looked genuinely confused. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’ve seen your car, Mike. Don’t you have anything better to do than stalk me?’