Mark needed to find the father, but something told him that might be difficult. Nothing suggested it was a case of a teenage girl deciding to find an estranged family member. Especially not with the blood. The images of her disappearing round that corner and never being seen again. At three in the morning.

‘She was doing so well recently,’ Julie continued, now seemingly lost in her thoughts as she stared at the photographs on the wall. ‘She’s always been withdrawn, a bit different from the other two. Less outgoing. Lately, she seemed to be happier. Like she had something to look forward to for once.’

‘Has she struggled before now then?’

‘Probably no more than any other teenage girl,’ Julie replied, lifting a hand and then moving the frame on one of the photographs a fraction one way. Correcting a crookedness only she could see. ‘Maybe it was more pronounced because of Stephanie – she flew through high school. Always had friends to go out with, did well in her exams. Emily seemed to struggle in her shadow a little. They separated them, but only because Emily wasn’t as good in school as Stephanie was. She started eating more. Always in secret and that. Which only made things worse with the other kids at school. You know how cruel kids can be. I never treat them differently though. Or Charlie. They all get the same attention and discipline. It isn’t easy – just me being here for them. And living round here doesn’t help.’

I can imagine, Mark thought. They were on the outskirts of it, but the notoriety of nearby Norris Green overshadowed them still, he guessed. ‘I’m sure you did your absolute best for them all.’

‘I tried. That’s the best you can do. And now… and now she’s gone.’ Julie turned to him, tears forming in already reddened eyes. She blinked them away, swiping a hand across her cheeks. ‘I feel like I should be out there. Looking for her. That’s what I should be doing, right?’

Mark shook his head. ‘You’re better here, waiting in case she calls or comes back. There’s nothing more you could do out there, other than driving around aimlessly. There’s people searching for her right now.’

‘I just don’t understand what could have happened to her,’ Julie said, blinking rapidly as a few tears escaped down her cheeks. She made no effort now to brush them away. ‘She seemed so much happier recently. She had made friends. Over the internet, but still. And she was meeting some of them over the last few months. She’d really turned a corner.’

Mark hesitated before he spoke. He hated this part. Choosing the words carefully, not putting himself in a position where he promised something he could never deliver. ‘Everyone is working hard to bring her home, Julie. I promise you that much.’