Maisie dressed herself and sat with Valerie at the kitchen table, while Lynn settled Bridie down for her sleep. The radio was on, and as a song ended, the news came on. Maisie reached over and turned up the volume. ‘In local news, two boys, Jeremy Bean and John Rave Murphy, both sixteen, have been missing since Sunday night. Jeremy is five foot seven, with curly sandy hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a long-sleeved black shirt, denim jeans, a blue rain jacket and white runners. John is six foot one, with black hair and grey eyes. He was wearing black jeans, a black jumper, a khaki military-style jacket and black hobnail boots. They were last seen on New Year’s Day on the Bohernabreena Road on a black Dynatech 405ti bike at approximately ten fifteen p.m. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of the boys, please contact the Tallaght garda station. Any information gathered will be treated as confidential. The gardaí have decided to search the areas around Bohernabreena, including the graveyard, the mountain area around Kilbride and the reservoir. All volunteers are welcome. The search begins at Bridget Burke’s pub at two o’clock, and the gardaí advise all volunteers to bring their wet gear. The rain may have stopped but the search areas are considered treacherous.’

‘At least they didn’t say they were fruits,’ Valerie said.

‘That’s because they’re not,’ Maisie said sternly. ‘And don’t call your brother a fruit. People deserve respect, no matter what they are. I have nothing against the gays and neither should you. But my son is not gay. That’s it, end of discussion.’

‘OK, Ma’sie.’

They heard Lynn going into the bathroom.

‘Are we just gonna sit here, Ma’sie?’

‘No. We bloody well are not.’ She stood up and grabbed her keys. ‘Come on.’

‘I have to go, Lynn,’ Maisie shouted, through the closed bathroom door.

‘Where?’

‘To look for Jeremy. Take care of my mother, will you?’ She grabbed her and Valerie’s coats from the rack and two pairs of wellies.

‘Ah, wait!’

‘We won’t be long, Lynn.’

The journalists waiting by the door gathered around them as soon as they left the sanctuary of the porch. Maisie pushed through, saying, ‘No comment,’ just as Fred had told her to. The neighbours were still watching from their gardens. She made her way to her car, Valerie close behind.

‘Did you know your son was gay, Mrs Bean? Do you think it’s a factor in his disappearance?’

Just keep calm and say nothing.

‘Is Jeremy’s father aware of his disappearance?’