‘It took DC Ribbons a while to confirm that all of the girls were even being blackmailed by the same person. She said it was only the fact that the language was so similar that let her connect them all. Who knows how many accounts he has in total. Callie encouraged them to be friends with him, and she shared some information directly with him too, some stuff about the other girls, so he would know enough to be convincing, enough that he could pretend they had stuff in common. He even pretended to know gossip about boys they all knew and talked about. That came from Callie. But you have to believe me when I say that she didn’t know he was going to do what he did … It all sounds so ridiculous now!’

‘It doesn’t. Not at all. I know this sort of thing goes on. These men, they’re very clever with what they do and they’ll go to any length to get what they want. If it hadn’t been Callie it would have been someone else.’

‘But it wasn’t, was it?’ Sharon spun back to face into the room. ‘It was Callie, she was targeted because of who she is, because she’s popular, because of who we are. I’ve been ignoring it, trying to get on with my life, but I should have talked to you earlier. Someone knows, don’t they? That’s what this is all about. Danny was talking about a private investigator, he said someone else hired him. I thought he was lying, but he wasn’t, was he? Someone found out what Callie did, that’s what this is all about. She didn’t have a choice, inspector. He was blackmailing her too, right from the start. And it was me telling her not to talk about it and now I’m being punished. That photo –’ she took a moment, fighting to keep herself together ‘– it’s everything I love crossed out, Inspector!’

‘Is there anything else, Sharon? We need to find your son, we need to keep you and Callie safe. Is there anything else you haven’t told us?’

‘No!’ The tears fell thicker and faster now. ‘Do you think I would keep something to myself now? After all that’s happened? You need to find him, please find my Jamie!’ Her voice was back to a wail now, similar to how she had sounded on the phone.

Joel got to his feet. ‘We’ll do everything we can,’ he said, as Sharon continued to fall apart in front of him.

‘Please … please don’t tell people what Callie did. They won’t understand!’

‘I think we’re at that point now, Sharon. You’re not going to be able to keep that secret anymore.’