I hadn’t searched for Bella yesterday because I’d been expecting the police to find her. Today, I wouldn’t let the fear and the panic immobilise me; I would use it.

Julia started crying as soon as she opened the door. She pulled me into a fierce hug, her belly a hard ball between us.

‘I’m so sorry.’ Julia stepped back and held her palms up in an expression of bewilderment.

Was she sorry that Bella had gone missing on her watch or sorry that she’d lied on national TV and potentially stopped people from searching? I watched her face as she set about making cups of tea. Puffiness under her eyes. Tiny pimples around her nose. Moving slowly and rubbing her swollen tummy. The bossy organiser from playgroup had been replaced by an exhausted mother-to-be.

‘The police asked me about Brendan’s photo shoot,’ she said. ‘Why was that?’

‘He was at the shops when Bella went missing. I think he lied about being up there and then Marty … well, I guess you heard …’

‘You know Brendan is Chloe’s teacher.’

My face flushed red. I must have known this but I hadn’t remembered. ‘I can’t believe he’d take Bella.’

‘No, me either. Apparently, he’s on sick leave for the week. We had an email from the principal this morning.’

So, all the parents of his class knew that Marty had broken into Brendan’s house and accused him of being a paedophile and abducting our daughter. Was Marty’s focus on the teacher a smokescreen to turn suspicion away from himself? Had anyone spotted Marty at playgroup that morning? I’d have to phrase my questions carefully; I didn’t want anyone to know that I no longer trusted my husband.

‘Julia, where were you when Bella went missing? Did you see her water bottle?’

‘Oh, Lexie, I’ve been through this already,’ she sighed. ‘Twice with the police. There’s nothing more I can tell you. We were just doing the usual playgroup things. All the water bottles were on the little table.’

My anger flared for a moment. Did she know that Bella’s water bottle had been found? Her kids were safe—one at school, one in the playroom and one inside her. Was it really too much for her to talk about it once more?

‘Okay, can I speak to Morgan then?’ I asked.

Julia called her daughter over to the dining table and gave her a biscuit.

‘Ith Bella back?’ she lisped between mouthfuls.

‘No, not yet, darling.’ I patted her freckly arm. ‘Morgan, did you see anyone in the playground when Bella disappeared?’

‘Nah.’

‘Did you see Bella go out the gate? Did you see any strange cars?’

‘Nah.’

I’d forgotten that children didn’t explain.

‘What game were you playing?’

‘Thmathing blockth,’ Morgan lisped. A wide gap between her front baby teeth. ‘Thmathhed them down. Thammy ith naughty. He thmathed hith milk.’