‘Around Merrigang shops a few times. Bella recognised him and called out. She gets attached to people quickly. She seemed to like him.’

Funny Brendan—he’d made Bella laugh and she’d given him a hug. Brendan had pulled away quickly and I remembered that all teachers—particularly the males—had to be so careful these days. After the photo shoot, some of the mums had been discussing Brendan and saying how young kids, especially boys, would love having him as a ‘cool dude’ teacher. He looked like a surfer with his ruffled blond hair.

‘Did he recognise her?’

‘Well, he always waved back.’

‘Tell me again who you saw up at the shops yesterday.’

Was it only yesterday that I had walked up to the shops?

‘Mr Whitlaw, he had the clothes for the op shop. Our gardener, Deirdre. Our neighbour, Janice. The woman from Tuesday’s playgroup—Fiona somebody. The guy working at the supermarket.’

A memory niggled into my thoughts. Was there someone else I’d spotted up there? I couldn’t hold on to the blurry images and my thoughts reverted to the same question: Why, oh, why had I stopped to help Mr Whitlaw?

Because he had helped me.

‘Right, we’ve spoken to all of those people and to the women who were having coffee in the bakery.’ Caruso was business-like. ‘One more thing, Mrs Parker. Can you tell me why you changed your surname?’

My body crumpled in half, my head on my knees. Would they blame me now and stop searching? I couldn’t look at him. A sobbing, hiccupping sound came from my mouth. Where was Marty when I needed him? I hadn’t seen him for hours.

‘I’m sure it’s in the police report.’ I could barely get the words out. ‘Just read that. Or search the internet.’

After the detective moved away, I asked Imogen to call Marty for me. By the time Marty finally returned, Julia and Mel had gone. Back to their warm houses to read bedtime stories, to kiss soft cheeks goodnight. Bella had a night-light that glowed pink; she believed it welcomed the fairies and scared away the monsters. She’d been wrong. A monster had come regardless.

When Marty flopped into the seat next to me, I could see bits of leaves and twigs stuck to his coat. I couldn’t understand why he was spending so much time up on the ridge. Was it simply to avoid me?

‘What’s the update?’ he asked, his jaw tight.

‘Two things. So, you know that schoolteacher, Brendan Parrish …’

Marty punched his fist into his other palm. He’d never met the teacher but Bella had told him about the photo shoot and each time she’d seen Brendan at the shops.