I’m about to shout at Davina, tell her this has gone beyond a joke and she needs to give this whole charade up. But then the front door flies open. We both spin around. Davina lets out a squeal and my entire body goes into spasm. My heart feels as though it’s being crushed between two strong hands.

‘I told you!’ Davina says.

I stare, wide-eyed at the doorway. A dark figure fills the frame and my held breath releases in a hiss.

‘Richard!’ I fling myself forwards, running into his arms, relieved it’s him.

But why is he here now? I assumed he was in Kent when I spoke with him less than two hours ago.

‘What the hell is going on?’ he says, pulling away from my hug and staring at me.

‘It’s Davina,’ I say, turning to face her. She’s pale, the bruise stark against its backdrop. ‘She’s behind it all.’

‘No, no, no,’ Davina says, her head shaking vehemently. ‘You’ve got it all wrong, Amber. Tell her, Richard.’

I frown and turn my attention back to Richard. My eyes widen as I look to him for explanation.

‘What’s she talking about, Richard?’

‘I’ve literally no idea. I don’t even know who this is,’ he says, sweeping an arm in Davina’s direction. ‘Amber, love. Are you okay?’ He brushes his hands over me. ‘Did she hurt you?’

‘No, I’m fine. She turned the lights off, made out it was her husband, Wayne, who’s been watching us, coming into the house and … and messing around with my things.’

‘Why? To what end?’ Richard looks perplexed as he walks towards Davina. ‘Why would your husband be doing that, Davina?’

‘Ask him yourself. He’ll be here any second.’

‘Then maybe you should go, Davina. It sounds as though your safety is at stake. Leave, while you can,’ I say.

‘You don’t believe me, do you? Look, I understand how this all might look – but as I said, I was, and am, trying to be a friend to you, Amber. What they’re doing isn’t right. I wanted to stop him, but I’m up against powerful people. If you get in their way … well. Just ask Carl Anderson,’ Davina says.

‘To be honest, I’ve got more pressing things to worry about than Carl,’ I say, turning to Richard. ‘Nick might be in trouble. Before all this kicked off tonight, some bloke was here looking for him and asked me to tell Nick to meet him at eight,’ I say, checking my watch. It’s twenty past. ‘I’m worried, Richard – I think he’s the one.’

‘The one?’

‘The man behind the disappearance of that girl and Tim. That’s why Nick will go alone, as he was told to do, because if it helps him get a step closer to finding out what happened to his brother …’