Marty balled his hands into fists. Fucking hell, he was so sure that Brendan Parrish was responsible for Bella’s disappearance, but why had Mel come to this remote farm and why had she lied to him? Was she somehow involved with Parrish?

No-one had rushed out of the house at the sound of his car, so Marty decided he could still try for a stealthy approach. Sneak around the back, check if there’s any sign of Bella. As he stepped out from behind the van, the front door opened: Mel in a bright orange dress and knee-high boots. Dressed for an afternoon barbecue with friends.

‘Marty?’ Her eyes widened in surprise. Or was it fear? ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I’m looking for Bella.’

‘Why would Bella be out here? This is a friend’s place. You’d better get back into town and keep searching for her.’

The words came out in a rush, tumbling over each other, high-pitched and shaky. Nothing like the Elissa he knew at the hospital whose comforting manner calmed the kids. As she talked, Marty moved towards the door. But he couldn’t see past her into the house; nor could he hear the sounds of children.

‘Elissa—or should I call you Mel—what are you playing at? Befriending me at the hospital, Lexie at playgroup.’

‘I’m sorry, Marty. I should have told you.’

Mel had shut the door behind her and stood in front of it, a guard on duty.

‘Told me what?’

He peered over her shoulder, trying to see through the door’s stained-glass panels.

‘My name’s Melissa but I use Mel and Elissa because of my ex. He’s violent and he’s looking for me.’

An obsessive ex. Marty could understand that. Men could easily be attracted to this woman and not want to let her go.

‘But you could trust me. Why didn’t you tell me about him? About going to playgroup with Lexie?’

‘Marty, my ex is devious. I wanted to protect you all. It was safer for Sammy and everyone around us if I had two different identities. That way, if he found my name at the hospital, it wouldn’t endanger the playgroup. He couldn’t link us up.’

Marty felt like he’d been punched in the gut.

‘But what if he found the playgroup first? Does he know Sammy? What if he mistook Bella for Sammy?’

‘My ex wouldn’t take Bella,’ she said it slowly, as though trying out the idea for the first time.

‘Have you told the police about him?’ Marty whipped his mobile out of his pocket. ‘Let’s call that detective now.’

‘I’ve given them his name. They checked on him.’ She waved at his mobile. ‘Put your phone away, Marty, there’s no coverage here. You followed me. Did anyone follow you?’