But Sasha Dawson must have sensed the change in atmosphere in the room because she turned in her seat to look closely at them. At Karin, and Michelle clutching her glass of wine; at Simon, beside the door; and Paul, his small hands folded in front of him. Karin saw the policewoman trying to work out why they were all so familiar. She had seen that same look many times.

‘I imagine it must have been a shock when Lydia turned up and told you what she saw,’ Sasha said to nobody in particular. ‘Were you having a party?’

‘Just a meal,’ Karin said. ‘We get together occasionally.’

‘And has one of you gone home?’ Sasha nodded at the dining table. ‘There are five of you, but six places set for dinner.’

Michelle sipped her wine, said, ‘I can see why you’re a detective.’

‘We always leave an empty place,’ admitted Karin. ‘One of us… can’t make it.’

Sasha Dawson’s smile drifted. ‘So you’re all friends?’

Michelle snorted. ‘Oh, we all love each other to bits.’

Breath caught in the detective’s throat. ‘You’re those children who were taken to the Bad…’

‘Oh, you might as well say it,’ said Michelle. ‘We were the kids from the Bad Place.’

‘I was there,’ said Sasha. ‘The night you escaped. I was at the station when you were brought in.’

Michelle snorted. ‘What, were you on work experience?’

‘I’d been on the force all of a week. I was there when Becky Haskell was…’ There was an awkward silence. ‘I’ve often thought about you all.’

‘Can we go now?’ Michelle drained her glass. ‘I have to get home.’

Sasha cleared her throat, getting back to business. ‘The incident Lydia saw was around the corner, so if the rest of you were here and didn’t see anything, there’s no reason for you to stay.’

Michelle didn’t need telling twice. She pulled on an expensive cashmere coat. ‘Well, I’d like to say it’s been fun, but I can’t.’

Paul took Lydia’s hands in his. ‘I’ll pray for you.’

‘Pray for that poor girl instead, yeah?’

‘And for her, too. Take care, all.’

‘Yeah.’ Michelle rolled her eyes. ‘Can’t wait.’

‘Thanks,’ said Simon, avoiding everybody’s eye as he left.

In the hallway, Karin opened the front door and her guests stepped out into the warm evening.

‘I’m happy to stay.’ Paul looked with compassion at the others. ‘If you need me.’

‘I think DI Dawson is nearly finished.’

‘Take care of yourself.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘Same time next year, I suppose.’

Karin smiled at the inevitability of it. They would all meet up again, because these people were the closest thing to a family she had, and because some people could never escape each other’s orbit.

‘Bye,’ she called to Simon, but he was already striding down the path.