‘She likes Haribo, normally. She’s been really sad about things.’

I found a can of serious-looking mosquito repellent and tucked it under my arm.

‘Uh-huh.’

‘I made that film of her and she was really cross. She’s waiting for her exams and stuff, and her friends at school are being mean and thingamabob Bayley.’ He hesitated. ‘I saw her last night at bedtime and she was really upset.’

‘What thingamabob?’ I said as I found a packet of mosquito repellent candles at the back of the shelf and tucked them under my arm with the can.

‘You know, that boy Alex, who was in hospital – there’s a tribute page on Facebook.’

‘Aren’t you too young to be going on Facebook?’

‘They don’t check, not really. You just tick the box that says you’re old enough.’

‘I thought you had to be thirteen or fourteen to have an account.’

‘Everybody does it.’ Over the top of the shelf, he held up the two packets of sweets. ‘Shall I get her Starmix or Tangfastics?’

I offered to pay for the sweets but he insisted on using the last of his holiday pocket money, carrying them proudly out of the shop in a striped plastic bag.

We bought soft ice creams from the tabac and wound our way slowly back up the hill, Daniel excitedly telling me that Ethan had made friends with him again.

It was early afternoon by the time we got back, the villa’s interior an oasis of cool after the noon heat. Lucy was still nowhere to be seen.

I gave her a door a cautious knock.

‘Lucy?’

Her room was in virtual darkness, shielded by the blackout curtains and chilled to the mid-teens by the air conditioning.

‘Lucy?’ I said softly. ‘Are you OK?’

No response.

Slowly my eyes made out her form on the bed, her back to me, unmoving.

‘It’s gone one o’clock, love. Are you going to get up soon?’

Still there was no response. I was about to give her a gentle shake when Daniel’s voice reached me from the bottom of the stairs.

‘Mum!’ he shouted. ‘I’m going in the pool, are you coming?’

I backed out of Lucy’s room, pulling the door gently shut behind me.

Chapter 62

62

I was aware of someone above me as I dozed in the shade of one of the big poolside umbrellas, a soft cushion behind my head, my phone in my lap. Voices, and footsteps, and activity up on the balcony, and then the presence next to me. A smell. Male.

I opened my eyes to find Ethan looking down at me, standing slightly too close to my lounger.

‘Tea’s ready,’ he said with a smile. ‘Sleepyhead.’

I looked for my watch, but my wrist was bare.

‘What time is it?’

‘Almost five.’