At seven thirty she left the house, didn’t arrive at the party, which means she’s been gone nearly five hours. Breathe, Sally, breathe. I’m doing my best to control the horror that’s building up inside me.

‘I’m going out to look for her, Tom.’

Burke walks over to me. This time, I take a step back putting my hands in the air.

‘What?’

‘Sally, I don’t think you should leave the house. If Amber arrives back it’s better that you’re here.’

‘I’m very sorry, detective, but I’m not in the humour of taking advice from someone who told me my family was safe. If I want to go and look for my daughter, I will go and look for my daughter.’

She doesn’t say anything. It’s about time that woman knows who she’s dealing with. She should not have presumed my family was safe while that mad woman was still out there.

‘What about the boys?’ Tom says, his sentences an encyclopaedia of problems, never a solution. I look towards Kenny on the sofa and think, well, that’s not going to happen. I’m not trusting him to take care of Cian and Aaron. Taking my phone from my pocket, I dial Donna’s number.

I try Kenny once more. ‘Do you know anything at all about this?’ I say, standing in front of Kenny while I wait for Donna to answer my call.

Kenny shakes his head.

‘Are you sure, Kenny? … Think.’ My voice is loud and I know Tom probably thinks I’m out of order. Which is where I’ll stay until Amber is at my side.

Within five minutes, Donna arrives. Then I’m about to walk out the door, ignoring the advice of Angela Burke, who’d prefer I sit and wait like a helpless fool, when I see two people coming up the driveway. It’s Sarah and that must be her mom. Tom had gone to collect Amber from the party as planned so they know she’s missing.

‘Sally,’ she says, putting her arms out when she reaches the doorway. ‘I can’t imagine what you’re going through.’ The woman hugs me, her body shaking as much as my own. ‘I think you should talk to Sarah.’

Sarah is whiter than an anorexic ghost. Dressed in pyjamas and wrapped in a dressing gown, the party make-up still clinging to her face, she walks through the door, hovering in her mother’s shadow.

‘Do you know where she is?’ I say, leading them both into the living room.

Sarah shakes her head.

Her mother speaks. ‘No, but she does have something to tell you. Go on.’

Sarah looks at me, eyes filled with tears.

‘Tell her,’ her mother repeats.

Tears everywhere. Her mother continues, ‘I asked her why she wasn’t surprised when Amber didn’t show up to her party and—’