‘I’m not really in a great place right now – and I certainly was not in a partying mood when this was sprung on me. Tiff had the best intentions – she and my husband arranged it – but those she invited weren’t exactly “friends”. As I said to her, how many real friends are on your Facebook? I rarely see anyone other than Tiff, DS Farley. To me, most of those at my party were relative strangers.’

‘Whoever they are, we’re going to need the invitation list from you. It seems your party might be the last place Melissa was seen so we’d like to chat to your friends … sorry, guests. Can you put us in touch with your friend Tiff?’

Louisa gave them Tiff’s details. Before they left, DS Farley told Louisa they’d need to speak with her again at some point. She may need to be interviewed at the station as the investigation was escalating now that it’d been five days since Melissa was last seen, and they’d been unable to find proof of life. The thought that this was going to go further horrified Louisa.

After she’d closed the door on the police, and with Noah still quiet, Louisa took the rare opportunity to have a nap on the sofa. Her eyelids were just dropping when the doorbell rang again.

‘For God’s sake, now what?’ She swung her legs off the sofa and stormed to the door. The dark figure visible through the glass was unmistakable this time.

‘Why were they here?’ Oliver asked before Louisa had even opened the door fully. ‘What were they saying, Lou? Did they ask about me?’ Oliver’s voice rasped. His face was drained of colour and he looked as though he’d had even less sleep than Louisa.

‘Calm down, Oliver.’ Louisa stepped forwards, putting her hand on his shoulder. ‘How long have you been outside?’

‘I was just walking up your path when I caught sight of a police car turning into your road, so I nipped around the side entrance of your house—’

‘God, really?’ Louisa hissed as she pulled Oliver inside. ‘You were hiding around the back of my house the whole time the police were here?’

‘I didn’t have much choice.’ His face took on a panicked expression. ‘I didn’t want them to catch me on your doorstep.’

‘Why bloody not? You’re not doing anything wrong.’

‘It would look bad, wouldn’t it – my wife missing and me visiting someone else’s wife. An old girlfriend at that.’

‘Have you told them that?’ Louisa was suddenly worried. She hadn’t mentioned to the police officers that she and Oliver had been going out at college. If they already knew, they’d have found it odd that Louisa didn’t also tell them.

‘No, I don’t think so.’

‘Good. So, I assume by their visit that Melissa is still missing?’