‘Claire Sanders, yes, that’s right. She said that she’s been trying to get Mrs Hudson into a care home for some time but there’s been some resistance . . . from yourself, would that be?’

‘Well, yes, but it’s only because, well, we can manage, you see? Nan doesn’t need to be in a care home, she’s got me, and . . . and I’ve got her and—’

‘Yes . . . although with the greatest respect, Mrs Hudson is currently missing – we’ve got officers searching for her now. You’re not really managing, are you? Perhaps if she had been in a care home, this wouldn’t—’

Chloe’s phone rings in her pocket, finishing the sentence for him. She scrabbles through her coat to reach it. Even PC Dunn sits forward in his chair.

A name flashes up: Hollie. Her best friend. Chloe shows the policeman.

‘It’s just my . . . er . . . hang on, hello?’

‘Oh my God, Chloe, I just picked up your text. Are you OK? Have they found her?’

She quickly tells Hollie she’s at the police station, there’s been no news. The two arrange to meet at a local coffee shop. She puts the phone down and PC Dunn closes his notepad.

‘Chloe,’ he says, ‘I know you’re worried, but I can assure you we’re doing everything we can. Seventy-nine per cent of missing people are found within twenty-four hours.’

She thinks of the girl in the cuttings. ‘And the rest?’

‘Let’s be positive, eh?’

He leads her out of the station. There’s nothing she can do but follow.

In the coffee shop, Hollie wraps her in a big winter-coat hug.

‘Oh hun, I can’t believe this is happening.’

‘Me neither,’ Chloe says as she pulls out a chair and sits down. She looks over the menu, but she’s not hungry. Instead they order coffees to help them thaw while Chloe quickly fills her in. Hollie reaches her hand across the table towards Chloe, and she stares at it lying limp on top of her own. Chloe feels the gratitude swell inside her for Hollie’s unswerving loyalty.

‘Listen, it’s not your fault, you know that, don’t you?’ Hollie says.

Chloe shrugs.

‘They’ll find her, just you wait and see. I bet loads of people go missing like this and, well . . . I’m sure it’s all going to be fine.’

Chloe stirs her coffee.

‘I know, it’s just . . . she’s all I’ve got.’

Hollie pushes her long blonde hair back behind her shoulders and stirs more sugar into her coffee. Chloe sees how she glances up at her every now and then as she turns the teaspoon round and round inside her mug. Chloe shuffles in her seat.

‘Your nails are nice,’ Chloe says.