‘Well, I’m sorry to have brought back bad memories. I won’t take up any more of your time. Don’t want to get you in trouble.’

‘Oh God no, I am now in fact actually a weird little loner. Both my parents passed away a few years ago.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

‘On the upside, it does mean I’m my own boss. I spend most of my days smoking weed and playing PlayStation in the back room. No one’s going to come in here today. We could go for a walk and talk more about this, if you want?’

I look over at him for a moment, that sweet underused smile on his face. ‘I’d like that.’

‘Give me five minutes to lock up.’

I feel like I’m cheating on Chris even though all I’ve done is ask a few questions. But Jason is undeniably attractive and he has a way about him, a confidence. I remember it a little from the way he didn’t succumb to any kind of peer pressure back then. If only we were all that wise.

He locks up the shop and comes outside. We walk back down the road towards the centre and Jason lights up a cigarette before offering me one, which I decline.

‘I can’t believe it’s happened again. When I saw on the news that a girl had gone missing I was half expecting to be arrested immediately.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Did you think I did it? Back then I mean.’

‘No. I never thought you did it.’

‘That’s something, I suppose. Took me a long time to get over it. Felt like everyone was looking at me all the time, judging me and stuff. The police questioned me relentlessly for twenty-four hours, it was horrible.’

‘Must have been hard.’

‘Not as hard as whatever happened to Hannah,’ he says, and I hear his voice crack a little. I guess it never occurred to me how hard that year might have been for him, for anyone really. I have always been so wrapped up in my own drama, it’s something I truly hate about myself.

‘Did they ever find her?’ I ask, knowing the answer already, unsure why I am asking.

‘No. They never did.’

Chapter Eighteen

Then