He was in the past, but not any more, Sasha said hurriedly, clearly not wanting to portray Leon in a bad light. After everything that happened with his dad, he found it hard to deal with his emotions. He would lash out, but we’ve done a lot of work over the last three years and he’s like a different boy. I would have told you straight away if I’d thought Leon could have gone back to his old ways.

‘Did you find out what the fight was about?’

Sasha sighed. They wouldn’t talk about it. Once Mike got them separated he had a word with them both, but he said neither of them would say why they were fighting. But I have a feeling it had something to do with the fact that Leon is gay.

‘And you think Bradley had a problem with Leon’s sexuality?’ Singh asked.

I don’t know for certain, but it was around the same time that Leon told me he was gay. It’s possible he’d come out to his friends at the same time.

‘And Mike Lowther spoke to both of the boys after the incident?’

Sasha nodded.

‘We’ll see if he remembers anything else about it and can tell us what he knows,’ Singh said, making another note. ‘You said this was about two weeks ago?’

Something like that, Sasha replied. The issues between them rumbled on for a couple of weeks beforehand, then the fight was maybe ten days ago.

‘Did these problems continue?’

Things were a lot better in the couple of days before the trip, she explained, an earnest look on her face. They weren’t suddenly friends again, but they were at least being civil to each other, and sitting in the same room together. The other night, Leon and Kian were playing on the Xbox together, and I thought Bradley was going to start on Leon, but he just sat down and watched them. That was progress, she added.

‘And there was nothing that happened on Friday at the cabin, no reprise of the issues, no more fights?’ Forest asked.

Sasha shook her head again. No, they were getting on pretty well. The two of them were sharing a room, along with Kian, and they both seemed fine with the arrangement, so I assumed Bradley had got over whatever was bothering him.

Forest cocked her head on one side, looking thoughtful. ‘How has Bradley been behaving since Leon went missing?’

Sasha frowned. What do you mean?

The DI paused for a moment before elaborating. ‘Does he seem to be worried about Leon? Upset at all?’

Sasha’s frown deepened. I know what you’re suggesting. You think Bradley had something to do with Leon disappearing. I honestly can’t see it.