Niamh’s gaze drifts towards the window before she looks back at the policewoman. ‘She used to go into everyone’s gardens. She liked to find her own way in. She never did anything bad. It was more like she was doing it because she could.’

DS May looks interested. ‘You think she got a kick out of it?’

‘Kind of.’ Niamh pauses, thinking. ‘Part of it was she didn’t like being told what to do. But mostly, I think she just wanted to feel free.’

DS May looks at her closely. ‘Did you ever go with her?’

The hint of pink in her cheeks and Niamh’s look of alarm give her away.

DS May tries to reassure her. ‘Niamh … you’re not in any trouble, I promise you. All we’re trying to establish is what Hollie was like, what she did, who she saw …’

Niamh hesitates, then speaks quickly. ‘The other day, when I was with her, she climbed a gate up Furze Lane into a field. But that’s all we did. I did try to stop her,’ Niamh adds. ‘The gate said “private” on it. She said we weren’t doing any harm. And we weren’t.’ Glancing at me, she folds her arms.

‘Can you tell us when that was?’

Niamh frowns. ‘About ten days ago? I’m not sure.’

DS May turns to me. ‘Mrs Buckley, you said earlier you sometimes saw Hollie when you were out running … Where was that, usually?’

‘I don’t always run along the same route, Detective Sergeant.’ I pause. ‘But quite often, I’d see her in the churchyard.’

DS May pushes a strand of her long hair behind her ear. ‘Didn’t that strike you as a macabre place for a teenager to hang out?’

‘Yes …’ I hesitate. ‘I suppose it was. But Hollie had a vivid imagination. She lost her birth mother eight years ago and though she isn’t buried there, I think there was something comforting to Hollie about the idea of being among ghosts.’

It’s the same reason any of us go there. To remind ourselves of loved ones who have gone before us. ‘It isn’t as strange as it may sound,’ I add, then falter as she looks at me oddly. ‘I’m not sure what else I can tell you.’

It seems as though we’ve reached an impasse; DS May stands up. ‘Just to warn you, the press are hanging around. Unfortunately it’s what happens when a story gets out. I strongly advise against talking to them.’

‘They’ve already been here,’ I tell her. ‘I told them they were trespassing and asked them to leave.’

DS May nods. ‘Good. I’ll leave you my card. Should you think of anything about Hollie, however small, I’d appreciate you calling me.’