Bradley nodded, but she could tell he didn’t agree. A look passed between the students, and Sasha got the feeling they were keeping something from her.

They sat for another ten minutes before Bradley started pacing again. Sasha’s phone buzzed with a video call from the lead social worker. She glanced at the students, wondering if she could leave them, but there was no way Nina would call her on a Saturday morning if it wasn’t urgent. She slipped out of the room to take the call.

Ten minutes later, she came back into the room. All the students had gone. Fearing they’d left to search for Leon, Sasha grabbed a coat and raced out into the snow, looking for footprints. She didn’t want to stray too far from the cabin, but she couldn’t bear the idea of the other students getting lost – how would it look if Steve and Mike came back and she’d let them leave?

Panic was beginning to set in when she saw the four of them trooping around the edge of the cabin, Bradley with his arm around Kian, Courtney close behind them. Cassie trailed at the back, dragging her feet through the deep snow.

Get back inside! she signed as soon as they were close enough to see. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

We thought we could help, Courtney explained, her face a picture of misery. But it’s too snowy out here.

That’s what I told you. Come on, back in.

I didn’t want to go, Cassie told her.

Shut up, Cassie, Bradley signed, but Sasha could see his heart wasn’t in it.

They had just taken off their coats and boots when Mike stomped through the door. He went over to Sasha and turned his back on the four students so they couldn’t see what he was signing.

I can’t find either of them, Leon or Steve, he told her.

Sasha let out a long breath. Okay. What do you think we should do?

I think we need to call the police.

Chapter 37

Wednesday 5th December

I did my best to forgive Anna for telling Max. I ended up lying awake half the night, forcing myself not to text Max. This was his issue, I kept reminding myself, though there was a voice in the back of my head that continued to nag at me. If I wasn’t ready to share that part of myself, it said, was I ready to commit to this relationship?