Ryan pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up. ‘I didn’t think she’d go through with it. But Angelica has this rebellious streak and … ah man, Dad’s going to go mad.’

Leaning forward, Sarah kept her voice even and low. ‘Then best you tell me now, before we hear it from anybody else. At least that way, you’ll be the one helping us with our enquiries.’

‘What’s this?’ Claudia said, glass of iced water in hand. She thrust it towards Sarah while looking at her son. ‘You look worried. What’s going on?’

‘Ryan’s remembered something that might help,’ Sarah said, taking the glass from Claudia’s extended hand. ‘He was just about to tell me.’

‘You have?’ Claudia stood over him. ‘Out with it then, before your dad gets home. Where is she?’

As she sipped the filtered water, Sarah sensed that Mr Irving was not an easy man to live with. From what she’d heard, there was an unsavoury side to him kept firmly from view.

‘If I knew where she was I would have told you straight away, Mum.’ Ryan exhaled. ‘It might be nothing, but—’

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ Claudia interjected. ‘What is it?’

The uncomfortable teenager straightened in his seat. ‘She was talking about some Halloween game that kids here play every year. I told her not to be so stupid, but she said it was all planned.’

‘What sort of game?’ Sarah said, another layer of dread rising. She already knew the answer.

‘The Midnight Game,’ Ryan continued, confirming her worst fears. ‘Some weird pagan thing where you walk around in the dark with a candle and invite “the Midnight Man” in.’ He looked from Claudia to Sarah. ‘I told you it was dumb.’

Sarah’s fingers had tightened around her laptop, and her heart was beating as if the devil had asked her out on a date. She forced herself to blink. Rule five: Act normal. ‘I take it she was playing with friends.’

‘She wouldn’t have done it on her own. She’s stupid sometimes but not that stupid.’ Ryan shook his head.

‘Your sister is not stupid!’ Claudia snapped.

‘Then where is she?’ Ryan countered, jumping up from his chair. His cheeks were burning. He stood several inches over his mother. This was a boy who didn’t like to be contradicted. Perhaps lessons had been learned from his father. It wouldn’t surprise her.

‘Did she say where she was playing the game?’ Sarah said, in an effort to break the tension.