‘I don’t know anything about that.’ Karin moved towards the door. ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing more I can say that I haven’t already told you. I have to go.’

‘I can drive her,’ Lolly said.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll take Karin myself.’

Sasha had been expecting to visit Lucas’s parents, a task she wasn’t looking forward to, but Ajay and Craig said they would go in her place so that she could continue to coordinate the search. But Sasha wanted to talk more to Karin about the abduction and she’d be able to do that on the way to the hospital.

When they walked into the corridor, groups of school kids were heading to the hall, some of them energized and laughing, delighted at getting an unexpected afternoon off; others were in tears.

Outside, tempers frayed as a group of parents confronted school staff. Sasha and Karin saw Jim Haskell in the thick of it, despite the fact that he had no kids at the school. He was angrily berating a teacher, but when Karin walked past, he nudged some of the parents, and they all glared at her.

Sasha spotted Denny with his mates, a pair of white earbuds draped over his shoulders. Sasha had already phoned Angel, who told her in a faint voice – to emphasize the indisputable fact of her illness – that she was in bed watching Netflix.

When Sasha called, Denny came over. ‘They’re sending us home, some kid got snatched outside. What are you doing here?’

‘What do you think I’m doing here?’ she said. ‘I’m working.’

Sasha couldn’t help herself, she reached out to tousle his hair. Embarrassed in front of his friends, Denny reared back. ‘Don’t!’

‘Do you know the boy, Lucas White?’

He shrugged. ‘Not really, he’s a couple of years above me.’

‘Denny, make sure you and your friends go home together. Stay in a pack.’

‘We were going to head to the High Street,’ he told her. ‘To hang out.’

‘Stay at home and chill.’ Denny grimaced at her embarrassing uncoolness. ‘Glue your eyeballs to your phone, knock yourself out on some funny YouTube videos, dancing cats, whatever, but do your old mum a solid, watch them in the garden.’

‘Like I need your permission to go on my phone.’ Denny rolled his eyes, playing to the crowd. ‘Anyway, there’s already been one kidnapping today. The chances of there being another one are astronomical.’

His mates laughed.

Denny smiled at Karin. ‘How are you, miss, alright?’

‘I’m good, Denny,’ said Karin. ‘Thanks for asking.’

When he shuffled off, Sasha called after him, just in case he didn’t get the message the first time, ‘Straight home!’

‘I didn’t realize Denny was yours,’ said Karin. ‘He’s a nice kid.’

‘Yeah,’ said Sasha, grateful for the validation. ‘Sometimes.’