As she thinks that, her phone buzzes. She looks over at the screen, which displays five missed calls from the hospital and even more from Jasper.

But this number is different.

The police?

She lets it go to voicemail, then puts her phone to her ear, listening to the message that’s been left.

‘Miss Caulfield, this is Detective King here. Can you call me back immediately? I have a feeling you know this already, but Lumin has gone missing and so, it seems, have you.’ He sounds stern, angry. Amber looks over at Lumin, her heart thumping. ‘Your mother and aunt told me a frankly unconvincing story about you driving out to get supplies. Please call me back before I have to escalate this, Miss Caulfield.’

Amber puts the phone down with her trembling hand. It rings again and she nearly jumps right out of her skin. But this time it’s Jasper. She picks the phone up, wanting to hear his friendly voice. ‘Hello. I’m guessing you’ve heard?’

‘Yep,’ he replies with a sigh. ‘Your mum paid me a visit earlier.’

‘Yeah, I asked her to. I didn’t want you to worry. I bet she loved seeing you again?’

He laughs. ‘She brought me twelve muffins. I’ve never seen so many A&E staff so happy.’ His voice grows serious. ‘Are you sure you’re doing the right thing? I don’t know whether to think you’re mad or a genius.’

Amber laughs. ‘Oh, come on, you know I’m both.’ Then she pauses. ‘Are you angry?’

‘I’m not calling to have a go. I actually think it’s pretty amazing what you’re doing. Though I’m sure Detective King wouldn’t agree …’ There’s a smile in his voice and it makes Amber smile in return. ‘So are you in Scotland now?’

The smile drops from her face as she stares at the lake. ‘There’s been a … hitch. We’re currently languishing in the Lake District.’

Lumin looks up from her drawing with a sympathetic smile.

‘There are worse places to be stranded,’ Jasper says. ‘What happened?’ Amber tells him about the car breaking down. ‘Just what you need,’ he says when she’s finished. ‘Look, I have some days off. Why don’t I drive up and take you guys to Scotland?’

‘No, Jasper. It’s snowing pretty heavily now, I wouldn’t want you to be as foolish as I was.’

‘Even more reason! I have a Range Rover, remember? If I leave now, I’ll miss the worst of the snow anyway. They say tomorrow afternoon is when it’ll be getting really bad.’

Amber thinks about it. It would be nice, taking all the hassle out of somehow trying to get to Scotland without her car if it isn’t fixed … or breaking the news to Lumin that their road trip to find her identity was over.