Before I know what’s happening my arm shoots up, pushing through the hot prickling and the buzzing. I look up at it in surprise, as if it’s not attached to my body. Celeste looks relieved to take my question instead of answering Petra’s.

The words tumble out hard and fast like marbles.

‘Firstly, is it true that most kidnap victims are dead within the first twenty-four hours of being taken?’

The room gasps and grows restless. Petra turns in her seat with her mouth hanging open. I realise that what I really, really want is to smash everything in here: the mood, the hope, the furniture.

‘Secondly, why are you saying “the person” and “the perpetrator” when really what you mean is “the man”? It’s a guy we’re looking for, everyone knows that it’s men that do this sort of thing, and they’re likely to keep going until they’re caught. You only have to look at the statistics.’

My voice is loud and powerful. Everyone turns to look at me.

Mr Wright looks plenty red in the face. He actually gets a hankie out of his pocket and wipes his forehead. I’ve probably offended him in his sensitive man parts.

Petra speaks again. ‘There are a few cases where married couples have killed together…’ Her voice trails off when she sees the way I look at her.

I realise that sometime in the last minute I’ve stood up. ‘Just tell us, is she still alive, or not?’

Celeste looks genuinely stricken. ‘I’m so sorry, I know how difficult this is, but we don’t know. We’re trying to remain hopeful.’ She walks around the room, handing out her business card to each of us, along with an understanding look. ‘You can contact me about anything. I realise it’s a lot to ask, but if you could keep what we’ve discussed today within your school friends and family, that would help us a lot.’

Mr Wright claps his hands, probably keen to put a stop to all the emotion. ‘Thank you, officer.’ He escorts her to the door.

The class erupts, and for once Mr Wright doesn’t try to contain it. When the sound dies down slightly he raises his hands.

‘Girls, can I remind you that Miss Starcke and Mr O’Connor are available to speak to if you’re worried about this.’

No one listens to him.

While everyone is deep in conversation I zip over to Petra’s desk and grab her sheet of paper. Audrey is telling her how amazing her questions were and Petra is lapping it up as she always does.

‘I need to go to the bathroom,’ I tell Mr Wright and he can’t stop me.

Celeste the policewoman is still visible at the end of the corridor but I’m only interested in Petra’s piece of paper. I slump against the lockers to read it.