‘I had to go,’ Emily said, her voice so low now, Clara had to strain to hear her. ‘I had no choice.’

Clara nodded, desperate for an explanation but knowing better than to push for it again and, her gaze falling to the photos in her hand, asked, ‘Don’t you have one of Tom?’

‘No,’ she replied. ‘No, I don’t have a picture of Tom.’ And there was something in her tone that made Clara stare at her in surprise, but before she could speak Emily asked quietly. ‘Do you see him ever?’

‘No – that is, only now and then. He lives in Norwich, so … but, um, he’s well, I think. I mean he seems quite well. Desperately worried for Luke too, of course, but …’

The barman came over at that moment and wiped down their table, and they waited until he’d finished. ‘Tell me about Luke,’ Emily asked when he’d gone. ‘Have the police any idea what happened to him? Is there any news at all?’

Slowly, while the bar filled up around them, Clara told her everything that had happened since Luke’s disappearance: the threatening emails she’d found, the break-ins, the police enquiry that had so far come to nothing. ‘Mac – that’s Luke’s friend – and I have decided to try and find out who it might be who hates Luke enough to do all these things,’ Clara said, describing their visit to Amy and the list of women they had yet to see.

Emily listened to her with rapt attention and when she’d finished, gave Clara a sad smile. ‘I could tell, when I saw you on the news, how much you love my brother. And I bet he loves you too. I bet he loves you so much.’

An unwelcome picture of Sadie’s face flashed before Clara’s eyes but she pushed it away. ‘I just wish I knew what had happened to him,’ she said. ‘To vanish into thin air … it’s …’ she shook her head.

‘It must be so hard for you.’

They were silent for a moment, then Emily asked, ‘You were talking about my parents. Be honest with me: are they coping, do you think?’

Clara considered this. ‘They’re strong people, and they’re trying to stay positive, but yes, they’re deeply upset. I don’t think they’re sleeping or eating properly, and I have to admit I’m worried for them.’

Emily nodded, and after a moment Clara said cautiously, ‘I’m sorry, but I have to ask because it might help us find Luke. I can’t help thinking … it’s such a coincidence that first you disappeared, and now Luke, too … I thought maybe the two might be linked. They’re not, though, are they? I mean, they can’t possibly be …?’

Emily’s gaze held Clara’s for a beat or two, her expression unreadable. ‘Is that what my parents think too?’