It could have been Zoe. The thought replayed itself over and over. Tara tried to control the fear coursing through her body, that feeling of devastation earlier when she’d assumed Bella was dead. She’d never been afraid before. Not properly. And it made her furious. How dare someone make her—Tara—feel vulnerable like this?

Two hours later, Daisy had been awake again. Josh snored as Tara clambered out of bed, stubbing her toe against his boots by the door. With Daisy clamped on her breast, Tara had pictured Bella. Alone in the blackness, hiding in a shed. The baby must have felt her mother’s distress. Daisy gnawed on her nipple and the little fingernails clawed at her breast.

Tara hadn’t told Josh about the Tim Tams; she was the one who had encouraged Lexie to go to the shop. Tara was the reason that Lexie had left Bella alone at the playgroup. Had anyone mentioned that to the police?

‘Mummy, are you awake?’

Zoe crawled into bed next to her, wrapping an arm tight around Tara’s belly. She moved it up higher. Tara hated people touching her bulging tummy—that was the part she needed to get rid of before going back to work. Rolling over, she enveloped her daughter in a cuddle and peppered kisses across her cheeks.

Giggling, Zoe tried to kiss her back, the smell of breakfast cereal on her breath.

‘Now, Zoe, I need to do some quick computer work before Daisy wakes up,’ Tara said. ‘What’s on TV now? Is it Peppa Pig time? Or do you want the iPad?’

‘Peppa Pig, Peppa Pig, Peppa Pig,’ Zoe chanted.

‘Shhh—Daisy’s asleep.’

This was Tara’s constant refrain. Shhh—don’t wake Daisy. Don’t wake the baby. Not after I’ve spent two hours getting her to sleep.

Tara sat at the computer in her pyjamas and brought up the online news. Bella’s face stared out at her. No update. Almost twenty-four hours since she’d gone missing. Where the fuck was she?

Taking a deep breath, she began typing.

BLOGSPOTCRAZY HAZY DAYZ

Terrifying times—our little Bella is missing

A little girl disappeared yesterday, a little girl that we know and love.

The police have searched all night and there is no sign of her.

Our hearts are breaking.

Beautiful Bella is my daughter’s best friend. My little one doesn’t understand what’s happening.

And us adults don’t understand how Bella disappeared in an instant. She was being watched over by caring, loving mums in a safe community.

Please help us find her. Please help us bring Bella back for her birthday next week.

Hug your kids and hold them extra tight today!