‘Stop it, the both of you,’ she told them. ‘Or you’ll do detention!’

But neither of the boys listened, they were too busy staring each other out. Charlie scowled, trying to look menacing, and Lucas stood grimly calm as they locked eyes. The other kids cheered and hollered.

Karin reached into her pocket and took out her phone, hoping it was another teacher offering assistance, and saw the message on the screen:

i miss U ♥ ♥

BeXxx

Shock nearly knocked her off her feet.

Another message. Another message from… it just wasn’t possible. Someone was playing a sick joke.

Charlie shoved Lucas in the chest, Lucas shoved him back harder. Karin stared at the message again, the phone shook in her hands – she couldn’t think about it, not now – and slammed it down on the desk.

She stepped forward as the bell rang and pulled the two boys apart. ‘That’s enough! Both of you!’

‘I’m going to leave you two weirdos here.’ Charlie stepped towards the classroom door. ‘You deserve each other.’

When he and the other kids had gone, Lucas stuffed his exercise book into his backpack.

‘Thank you for trying to help,’ she told him.

‘It was my pleasure, miss,’ he said, ‘because Charlie is a total prat.’

Karin liked Lucas, he was a popular kid, well-mannered and a good student, and she didn’t want him to get into trouble. ‘But please stay out of it.’

The door was open and she saw pupils streaming along the corridor, some of them taking the opportunity to gawp in at her. What she had told her class would be spreading around the school already. Maybe she should make a statement in assembly.

Lucas was just about to leave when she asked, ‘Is everyone talking about it?’

‘Pretty much.’ He shrugged. ‘But there aren’t many who think you have anything to do with that girl getting kidnapped, just the usual thickies.’

She sighed. ‘Well, that’s a relief.’

‘Don’t worry, miss,’ Lucas said with a smile. ‘I don’t believe it.’

She was gathering up her things, intending to study the message as soon as he had gone, when her phone rang. She picked it up, turning away so Lucas didn’t see her hands tremble. She didn’t recognize the number on the phone and her immediate reaction – her desperate hope – was that it was Becky calling.

Because she was alive.

But it couldn’t be, she knew that. It just wasn’t possible.

Was it?

She held the phone in her fingers.

‘Miss?’ asked Lucas. ‘Aren’t you going to answer it?’

She looked up sharply. ‘See you tomorrow, Lucas.’

He saw the tension on her face and reluctantly left the classroom. When he had gone, her thumb hovered over the screen.

She was afraid to hope that it could be her. There was so much she wanted to say to Becky, that she needed to explain…