‘Yeah, okay. I mean, as far as I can tell about these things.’ Louisa didn’t want to sound too positive. They were sitting in Oliver’s car in the police car park, each facing forwards, as if looking directly at each other would somehow cause their individual façades to crumble. DS Mack had seemed pleased with the appeal and hoped they would get people coming forward from Friday night saying they’d seen or spoken to Melissa there, or, more hopefully, afterwards. Sightings of her since the party was the outcome Louisa was pinning all her hopes on too. That way, not only would Oliver be in the clear, she’d be off the hook as well.

Grass, cold and tickly under my feet.

A body, bloody and broken lying on the ground.

Eyes staring.

Dead eyes.

Melissa’s face.

‘Hey, what’s wrong? Are you okay, Lou-Lou?’ A hand was on her arm, gently shaking her. She took a sharp intake of breath as she came back to the moment.

‘Sorry, yes. Yes. I’m okay,’ she said, her words breathy. ‘Can you take me home now, please?’

The journey back passed in relative silence. She wasn’t in the mood for talking. Especially not about Melissa. Seeing the photo at the appeal had unsettled her for some reason. Louisa supposed it was because she must have seen Melissa’s face when she’d been standing next to Oliver on the stairs, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she looked more familiar than that, that she’d seen her somewhere before.

‘Can I come in for a bit? I could really do with a debriefing session,’ Oliver said. They’d come to a stop outside Louisa’s house without her even realising they’d driven that far. She hesitated.

‘Tiff has got Noah for me … so I can rest. I thought I’d sleep …’ She hoped she didn’t come across as insensitive – he’d just been through a harrowing few hours. But Louisa wasn’t sure she could bear more time talking about this situation. More time alone with the man she’d once thought of as the love of her life.

‘Oh.’ He lowered his head. ‘I understand. It must be hard being a new mum. You don’t need some ex turning up with a missing wife creating even more stress, asking even more of you. I’m not being fair on you, am I?’

Louisa felt herself shrink a little in the seat. ‘It’s not that at all. I’m so tired, Oliver – and of course the added stress hasn’t helped. I didn’t even want a bloody party, let alone all this.’ The irritation oozed through her words.

‘I suppose I thought that one good turn deserved another, that’s all.’