It’s still pitch-dark as I go outside and get into my car. Starting the engine, I let it idle while the layer of ice on the windscreen clears before setting off down the drive. When I turn onto the lane, frost sparkles in the beam from my headlights as they pick up an otherworldly landscape, one in which each branch of every tree is dusted white where freezing fog has touched it, the grass verges glinting silver.

Reaching the main road, I glance at the road sign. The airport is clearly marked, ten miles away, to the left. But this morning, there’s something else I need to do. Slowing down and pulling over, I pick up my phone and make a call. Then flicking on my indicator and pulling out, I turn right.

*

With the disruption caused by ice and snow, my schedule changes at short notice and on Thursday, my flight is cancelled. That I am at home that evening, instead of conveniently out of his way, means the tension between me and Andrew escalates.

‘I thought you were in Zurich tonight.’ When he comes in, he doesn’t attempt to hide his irritation. As always, he gives no thought to Niamh. Home early, he’d clearly planned to shower and change before going out again, leaving her here alone.

‘My flight was cancelled because of the weather. Does it make any difference to anything?’ It’s an innocent enough question but he chooses not to answer, instead storming upstairs and reappearing ten minutes later wearing different clothes. Grabbing his jacket, he walks out without speaking to me. When I hear a car pull up outside minutes later, my heart sinks as I imagine Andrew coming back for some reason, preparing myself for another verbal onslaught, but instead, there’s a knock at the door.

To my surprise, James is there when I open it. ‘Hello.’

‘Sorry to bother you like this.’ His face is pale in the outside light, his eyes flitting about nervously.

I frown slightly. ‘Is something wrong? Would you like to come in?’

‘I won’t stop, Elise. I just wanted to ask if you’ve seen Hollie.’

‘Not since …’ I think back, remembering seeing Hollie run across the garden from an upstairs window. ‘Well, she was here one evening last week, but I didn’t talk to her. I have a feeling she was avoiding me.’

His face wrinkles into a frown. ‘Why would you say that?’

‘Oh …’ I try to remember our conversation. ‘To be honest, I think she’d skipped school that day. I think she was embarrassed that I’d seen her and caught her out – I made some comment about it being important that she didn’t get behind.’

James nods. ‘The school called me a while ago. Seems she’s skipped a few days recently.’ He hesitates. ‘Do you know if Niamh’s seen her over the last couple of days?’