At least she wasn’t on stage, the first in line to face the residents’ anger. The local secondary school was packed and things were well underway. Given the town hall was undergoing renovations, the school theatre was deemed the best place to hold the meeting. Whispering apologies, Sarah shuffled through the crowds to find an empty chair. Schools had their own unique smell and Slayton Academy was no exception as it emitted a mixture of old books and gym kit bags. As Sarah took a seat, she felt a pang of sadness as her gaze fell on the stage. She hadn’t attended this school for very long, but this was where her parents should have sat as they watched her, and Robin after her, perform in the school play. But her little brother remained forever four years old, the boy who never got to grow up. The thought came from nowhere, and she blinked it away. She needed to keep her wits about her. A lot was riding on tonight.

Gabby spoke with confidence, dressed smartly in a charcoal suit, black heels and a white shirt, flanked by a cast of middle-aged white men. She was the only woman on the stage, and the only person there that Sarah trusted. Simon Irving wasn’t on stage. After his loss, it was hardly surprising. Nobody expected him to attend. After going through the preliminaries, Gabby updated the crowd before her. By now, the chairs had been filled, and people were standing at the back. The mood was sombre, their faces grim. Sarah glanced around the room for Maggie before realising that she wouldn’t have been able to get a babysitter to watch Elliott. But what about every other child whose parents were here? Who was minding them?

Bryony and her husband were sitting with their baby in the front row, their eldest son no doubt babysitting Jahmelia. Libby’s parents were there, but no Libby. Then again, she had a big brother too. Due to the nature of the meeting, Sarah understood why children weren’t allowed, but they could have made some provisions in one of the classrooms. She continued to scan the room. Father Aloysius, Slayton’s only Catholic priest sat stiffly, his face gaunt. Next to him was Doctor Hamilton, a no-nonsense woman who Sarah admired because of her straight-talking approach. Jimmy Morrissey was there too, the owner of Morrissey’s newsagents, and Slayton’s high school teachers took up the whole of the front row. It felt like they were fighting a war, and the assembled townsfolk had gathered as a show of strength.