When the cab dropped her off she paused outside, staring up at the windows. Her heart jolted when she saw that there was a very faint light on in the top floor flat. Alison. She swallowed hard and let herself in. Once she was on her own floor she stopped and listened, but all was silent. Inside her flat she hastily switched on all the lights as well as the television, knowing that she might go slowly mad if she sat in silence, jumping at every sound and creak from above. As she passed her door again she noticed a piece of paper she’d not seen before, lying on the floor. It was a note from Tom. She stared down at it. Even the sight of his handwriting chilled her. How had he got into her building to post it through her door? Perhaps one of the downstairs neighbours had found it in the entrance hall and brought it up for her. Still, unease shifted inside her. ‘Clara,’ she read, ‘I must talk to you, it’s very important. I called round but have to return to Norwich now. I could drive back to London tomorrow. Can I see you then? Please call me to let me know. Tom.’

Relieved that he had left town she sank on to the sofa, the enormity of what had happened hitting her afresh. She saw again Mac lying unconscious on the floor. Could Tom possibly have been responsible? But why on earth would he want to harm Mac? Tiredness rolled over her in heavy waves yet she felt too wired, too on edge to sleep. Turning down the TV’s volume, she listened hard, but heard nothing.

She went to the kitchen and found a bottle of wine, pouring herself a large glass, and then another and another. When she felt sufficiently drunk she went to bed, her tired mind full of thoughts of Tom. Had he been involved in Luke’s disappearance? Was that why Luke had got into the blue van, because his own brother had been driving it? And what part had he played in Emily’s disappearance? Had he caused the horrific scars she’d seen on her back? But why would Tom want to hurt his brother or sister – or Mac? On and on her thoughts raced until finally, exhaustion and drunkenness getting the better of her at last, she fell into a deep sleep.