‘Oh, my days, it’s so horrible! I mean, if she was buried, that means she was actually murdered, doesn’t it? They’ll have to re-open the investigation. Do you think the press are going to descend on us again? My mum said before you couldn’t move for reporters going through dustbins and that. That’s all we need, isn’t it? Holiday park closed down, bulldozers and tipper trucks spreading mud everywhere and now a load of bloody journalists snooping about. What if it turns out that it was someone local that killed her? What then, Marnie?’

Marnie went into the kitchen, tucked the phone between her shoulder and her ear and filled Tessy’s water bowl from the tap.

Jenna rarely waited for a response from Marnie. She continued: ‘Your dad worked there, didn’t he, at the holiday park? They would’ve questioned him at the time, wouldn’t they? He must remember everything that happened. You’d better warn him about the journalists. They’ll be after him, Marnie, you mark my words, as she was buried there, and him being the caretaker and all. They’ll be after everyone who might remember something, especially the men. I mean, it’s bound to have been a man, isn’t it? Unless it was a woman. And it’s usually someone the victim knew. Almost always it is. I’ve read about these things. They’ll be trying to find someone to blame. They always need someone to blame.’

There was a silence then, during which Marnie could hear Jenna’s breathing and her footsteps. She deduced from nearby whinnying and distant barking that Jenna was at the rescue centre, crossing from one building to another.

‘Anyway,’ said Jenna, ‘please say “no” if it’s too much, but we had this dog come in today, a little lurcher bitch found in the Catbrain pillbox. She’s in an awful state, Marnie. I’m standing outside her kennel now and she’s sat in one corner pressed up against the wall absolutely trembling, God love her. I can’t take her home because of the cats and Mina’s got the baby. I mean, she could stay here, but it’s breaking my heart to see her like this. You’d love her, Marnie, I know you would, and she’d be absolutely fine in the house with Tessy. She’s such a little sweetheart but I know you’ve already got Mister, and if it’s too much…’

Marnie texted a thumbs up.

‘You’ll take her? Oh, fantastic! Are you free now? No? Later then. Seven?… Eight? Half eight?’

Smiley face.

‘OK. Half past eight. Thanks, Marnie. Thanks so much. You’re a star. I knew you wouldn’t let me down. I’ll see you later. You’ll love her, I promise you will. You’ll want to keep her. You won’t want to give her back.’