‘Officers are patrolling the area,’ Sarah said. ‘I’m sure we’ll find her soon. In the meantime, we’ll speak to her friends in person, see if they know more than they’re letting on. We’re putting some feelers out in the local community to see if any meetups were arranged last night.’ Sometimes kids in the community hung out in abandoned buildings, smoking weed and playing music, and such gatherings were pre-arranged. But they were usually reserved for Lower Slayton’s older teens, not Upper Slayton’s young Catholic schoolgirls.

Claudia nodded in acknowledgement. ‘I’ve telephoned the hospital, spoken to the local parish priest. Simon’s out looking for her too.’

Of course, Sarah thought. Not all husbands are only out for what they can get. She hated that her view of men had been tainted in this way. After uploading the completed questionnaire to the system, Sarah updated control. A search was underway, dog units were being called in and police community support officers were checking the playgrounds, school bike sheds, all the local kids’ haunts. Weather permitting, the force helicopter would scout the area too.

Angelica’s brother, Ryan, wandered in and sat in the corner chair. He was a stocky kid, late teens by the look of it. Folding his arms, he slumped back in his chair and began to examine his phone. Claudia turned to him.

‘Any updates on social media?’

He replied with a taut shake of the head. Sarah watched him closely. Concern was etched on his face. But there was something else there too. His eyes met hers before returning to his phone. Another loud rumble of her stomach. Sarah flushed.

‘I couldn’t trouble you for a glass of water, could I?’ She directed the question at Claudia. ‘I’ve been going from job to job.’ It wasn’t unusual not to be offered refreshments in homes such as these. Usually, the people with the least offered the most. Not that she expected anything. They had more to worry about than her caffeine withdrawal today.

Claudia drifted from the room, leaving Sarah alone with Ryan. The water was as good an excuse as any to garner some alone time. He rose from the chair to follow his mother, but Sarah raised her hand. ‘Ryan, have you got a minute?’ she said.

Reluctantly, he sat back down.

Sarah tilted her head to one side. ‘There’s more, isn’t there? You need to tell me what you know.’

He drove a hand through his hair, dragging his fringe over his forehead. He seemed barely able to meet her gaze. ‘Mum will go ape when she hears about this.’ His gaze fell on the door. ‘As for Dad … he’ll kill me.’ Rain tapped on the window as Sarah waited for answers. The angel is dead.

‘Nobody’s going to kill anyone,’ Sarah said. ‘Where’s your sister?’ she pressed. ‘Who’s she with?’