In the past few hours, the streets and playgrounds and green spaces had merged into one dark place. My focus had been a ring of light on the ground, around a shed, up a driveway. When I shone the torch upwards into the trees, the branches loomed over me, clawing arms in the sky, an ogre hiding my child from me.

My mobile pinged in my jeans pocket, sending an electric shock through my whole body. A shock of expectation. Stupid. The police wouldn’t text to say they’d found Bella. Digging out the phone, I stared at the glowing words. For a split second, I let myself believe it was Bella. Texting me to collect her. As if she were sixteen years old, like Victoria, asking to be picked up from a party.

But, no, Phoebe was texting across the seas from her hospital bed in London. The anger rose swiftly. Why aren’t you here? I wanted to scream. And then the anger at myself—my sister had just had surgery, she should be able to recuperate in peace.

The other searchers around me had continued up the street. I stood still in the dark, unsure of where I was. Is this how Bella feels? Lost and alone? During the search, I’d been concentrating so hard that I’d managed to banish those thoughts. She would be terrified of the dark, of the shapes like monsters with sharp fangs waiting to gobble her up. Tinker Bell, wherever you are, we’ll find you, darling. Any moment now. Cold and damp. Trembling with fear. Oh God. Drawing in a ragged breath, I turned to my left then right, then left again. Oh God, my chest is tightening. Can’t breathe. The dark was closing in on me, filling my vision. Find the light, stare at the streetlight. I could feel the mobile in my hand near my leg but I couldn’t understand how to tell my arm to bring it upwards. If I could call Phoebe, she’d calm me down. A strong pressure pushing down on my shoulder. The panic attack is moving into a heart attack. I’ll never see Bella again.

‘Breathe, Lexie.’ A deep commanding voice. ‘Take a deep breath in and then let it out slowly. You’re all right. I’m here.’

The pressure on my shoulder was a man’s hand. I spun around to face him. Another shape in the dark. Big. Solid. Built like a fridge. Dark hair, dark eyes, staring down at me.

Help! The scream stuck in my throat.

A whimper, if it came out at all. None of the other searchers would hear. Was this the man who had taken Bella and now he had come for me?

‘Breathe.’