The Coles lived in one of the larger houses on the outer circle of Meadowbank. The houses were so big that ‘just down’ really meant at least half a mile further on, but Bella was happy for the exercise. Last night’s pizza had been delicious and very filling, and she could wander back through Meadowbank wood and the fields to get to her mum and dad’s house with enough appetite built up for her Sunday roast. All along the outer road, the houses were set back down gravel drives that you normally entered through large wooden or cast-iron gates.

She had no idea how Mr Cole was going to react to her request or what the consequences of it might be, but she knew she had to try. She’d run through a number of terrifying scenarios but whenever she thought of Nick’s face and his horror when the police had arrived, she knew it was worth the risk.

On the other side of the door, the clopping of shoes on the floor hastened towards her and she readied herself for Mrs Cole only to find it was Seymour in a pair of shiny Cuban heels designed to add an inch to his below-average height. When she lifted her eyes, she saw his shirt buttons had been done up wrong, but not wanting to dwell on what he might have been up to, she said, ‘Hello, Mr Cole.’

‘Miss Moore,’ he barked in surprise. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I was hoping to speak to you. May I come in?’

Mr Cole checked over his shoulder. ‘Oh, well, umm—’ He half closed the door again. ‘My wife isn’t here I’m afraid. She’s visiting her mother with Amias.’

‘That’s no problem. It was actually you I wanted to see.’

‘Right. Can’t you come back later? Or my wife could talk to you at school tomorrow?’

‘It is rather urgent, and I really was hoping to speak outside of school. I’m not trying to be difficult, but if you could spare me a few minutes, I don’t think it’ll take long.’

She felt like a dodgy door-to-door salesman as she waited in silence for him to open up. After another glance behind, Mr Cole reluctantly opened the door and let her in.

‘This way, Miss Moore.’ He led her through a large pristine hallway into an enormous living room with two sofas placed opposite each other in the centre.

The Coles employed one of the local ladies as a cleaner and clearly worked her to the bone. There wasn’t an area in the room that didn’t glisten or gleam in the winter sun bursting through the large windows. He sat on one sofa and motioned for her to sit on the other. ‘What can I do for you?’