‘Can you remember where you were the day Hollie died?’

I gasp. Am I a suspect? Suddenly my mind is racing.

‘The date was Wednesday the 4th of February.’

‘OK.’ The date’s engrained in my mind. ‘I think I was at work – on a flight. I’ll have to check where I went.’

‘If you wouldn’t mind?’

My feeling of uncertainty grows stronger as I get my phone, logging into the crew portal before bringing up my flight schedule. ‘I went to Athens.’

Making a note, she nods before going on. ‘I wondered if you knew Niamh was with Hollie the day before she disappeared?’

Shaking my head, I frown at her. ‘You must be mistaken. It isn’t possible. She would have been at school.’ But I was flying that day, too, and can’t be certain. ‘I’ve always trusted that she goes to school – I’ve no reason not to. There’s a portal parents can access that records attendance, but I haven’t checked it recently. I didn’t have any reason to, though it’s possible I missed a call from the school – I switch my phone off while I’m working.’

The expression on DS May’s face is grave. ‘We have reason to believe that Niamh took the day off. We’ve checked with the school. According to them, you emailed the office to tell them she had a dental appointment.’

As I stare at her, I feel my grip on reality loosen.

‘Did you email the school, Mrs Buckley?’

In that moment, I’m paralysed, torn between needing to protect Niamh from whatever Hollie might have been involved in and telling the truth. Except that the truth is I don’t know where Niamh was that day. My voice is hoarse. ‘I can’t be sure. I’d have to check the calendar … Maybe the school made a mistake. Did they say if she’d missed any other days?’

To my relief, she says, ‘To the best of our knowledge, this was the only one, which makes it all the more important. Did Hollie have some kind of hold over your daughter? Enough to make her take a day off school, for whatever reason?’

‘I wouldn’t have put it like that. I think it’s best if I talk to Niamh.’

DS May and Sergeant Collins glance at each other. ‘She’s usually home around four, isn’t she? Would you mind if we wait?’

Niamh

When I get off the bus, I look for the cat as always, but I haven’t seen him since the day Hollie disappeared. Back home, I think about turning around and going somewhere else – anywhere else – when I see the police car parked on the drive outside my house and my mother standing at the kitchen window. Seeing me, she raises a hand.