‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ she said to Jahmelia’s mother, Bryony, as she left her ankle boots outside the living-room door. ‘It’s just a quick visit to see if anything has jogged Jahmelia’s memory, or if she’s heard anything in school.’

‘Jahmelia wasn’t friends with Angelica,’ Bryony instantly replied. But the look on Jahmelia’s face said otherwise. It was a look Sarah knew well. Her shoulders hunched, the young girl was brooding, burdened by a secret she was too scared to share.

‘Your husband works for Irving Industries, is that right?’ Sarah said.

‘For now,’ Bryony nodded. ‘But we didn’t encourage any kind of friendship. From the moment we met Angelica we knew she was a bad influence.’ She looked to her daughter then back to Sarah. ‘Sometimes I wish we’d never come to Slayton, but it’s convenient for work.’

Sarah returned her attention to Jahmelia. ‘Is there anything you’d like to share with me, Jahmelia, anything at all? You’re not in any trouble.’ Jahmelia shook her head.

‘Has anyone asked you to keep a secret? Threatened you?’

‘No,’ she uttered quietly.

‘And you didn’t know anything about the Midnight Game?’

‘She’s already been through all this,’ Bryony butted in. ‘She was in the tent at the bottom of the garden with Libby. They didn’t leave it all night.’ She appeared annoyed as Sarah pushed the subject. This was obviously sore ground. ‘Besides …’ Bryony continued. ‘If Jahmelia did know anything, her grandmother would have got it out of her by now. That woman is like the Spanish Inquisition.’ The words were not spoken fondly, and Sarah sensed tension there.

She was interrupted by the delicate chime of a doorbell. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, pointedly checking her watch. ‘That’s her.’

At least it bought Sarah a few seconds alone with the child. ‘You’re Elliott’s babysitter, aren’t you?’ she continued. ‘He’s a nice boy, isn’t he?’

Jahmelia brightened. ‘He’s the best. I like babysitting him.’

Sarah’s smile faded. ‘He’s been having nightmares about the Midnight Man. It’s making him really upset. Could he have overheard you talking about it with Libby? Did you mention the game at all?’

Voices rose from the hall as Jahmelia’s mother welcomed her visitor inside. Jahmelia stared, unblinking, at the door.

‘Because if you’re scared, you can talk to me. Elliott did. He feels much better now.’

Jahmelia’s eyes glistened with tears as Sarah spoke of keeping her safe. ‘It’s not your fault. None of this is. You don’t need to be afraid.’

The young girl took a breath to speak before her gaze returned to the door. She knew something, Sarah could feel it. She was on the cusp of confiding in her. The door swung open, putting paid to any disclosure. Jumping from the sofa, Jahmelia ran from the room.