‘Eliza, I’m so sorry. You don’t have to take me there, I’ve rented a car – you can just tell me where it is.’

‘No, it’s okay. I take flowers there for Denni sometimes,’ said Eliza. ‘And before you ask, that symbol was there before these girls were even born. Legend says it was on the tree even before Ted Barclay.’

She pulled open a drawer in the desk and took out Denni’s phone. She plugged it into the charger still attached to the wall and they waited for it to turn on. ‘What do you want to see?’

‘Her messages with Madison. If Denni was getting better . . . Madison came out with this new rhyme about a Hungry Man ritual and she was the first person to find Denni’s body . . . maybe she really wanted to cement this new part of the Hungry Man legend.’

‘You think Madison talked Denni into killing herself?’

‘I just want to see her messages . . .’

Eliza sat down on the bed, feeling faint. ‘When Denni died, Madison was desperate to come into this room. She begged me, but it just didn’t seem right. It was all still so raw. I found her in here, the morning of the funeral. I chased her out.’ Sudden anger came into her voice, and her hands clenched into claws. ‘Do you think she was looking for Denni’s phone?’

‘It’s possible,’ said Gabriella. The phone had charged up enough to turn on, and she opened Denni’s Facebook Messenger app. There were dozens of unread messages to scroll through. ‘Ah . . .’ She showed Eliza the screen. ‘See this message thread? It only says “Facebook User”. I think that means the other person has blocked her. That has to be Madison.’ She kept scrolling and gave a sad grunt. ‘Oh no.’

Eliza took the phone from Gabriella and read the messages:

Facebook User: I’ll be right behind you. I’ll make sure we find your body before it gets gross xx

Denni King: I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. I’m starting to feel a bit sad now.

Facebook User: I’ll meet you out the front of your house and we’ll talk about it. Bring the stuff, I’ll help you carry it up there. xx

Denni King: Alright. See u soon xxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxox

There was a bizarre sound in Eliza’s ears. She didn’t realise she was crying until she could taste the tears on her lips. And that sound was coming from her, a high keening like a dying bird.

Pitiful.

She would never be pitiful again.

I have permission to be the strongest woman there ever was.

‘Eliza . . . I’m so sorry . . .’

I have permission to kill.

‘I’m gonna kill her.’ Eliza stood and walked to the door.

‘No, Eliza – we can get Madison for this. This is proof. These messages can be —’

‘That won’t bring Denni back!’ shouted Eliza.