‘I can take six with me and Sal, of course,’ Donna says in a low voice. I wasn’t aware she’d been updated with the plan but Marie rang her while we were discussing it. She wanted to get Donna’s opinion and Donna said she’d be around in two minutes with her husband’s big fancy SUV. And that’s not all.

Chapter Forty-Six

The gun is heavy, black and scary. ‘What the…’ I’m lost for words. Donna leans her back against the kitchen door holding it out in front of us. No one’s mouth is closed.

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ she says, ‘and you’re right… fabulous, isn’t it?’

‘Donna?’

‘Oh, don’t worry, I don’t have actual bullets for it, he’s not that stupid but she won’t know that.’ By she, I presume she means the mad woman, by he, I presume she means her husband.

‘When did you get that?’

‘We’ll talk on the way.’

I call Tom, tell him I have to leave and ask him to come back to the house in case Amber arrives while I’m gone. I convince myself that telling the cops could take them on a wild goose chase, take their attention off the search. I’m better off going and seeing if Elsie is right before involving them. If there’s a chance this takes us to Amber, I’m ringing Burke straight away.

Burke isn’t happy when I tell her I’m going to join the search party. She doesn’t want me to leave the house, telling me how important it is for me to be here when Amber returns. I explain Tom will be back shortly and so will I.

My thoughts are twisted: what will I do? I really should tell Burke what Elsie said. She should know what we know. My mouth opens, but Sienna pulls me by the arm, stares into my eyes. ‘Are you ready?’ Deep breaths, in out, in out, what will I do?

‘I have my phone, I’ll come straight back if you hear anything.’

Burke says nothing, nods her head at me without losing eye contact. She still has her eyes on me when I look back at the house.

Louise and Amy squash into the small seat at the rear. Anna, Sienna, Marie and myself push into the middle. Elsie’s up front with Donna. My mouth fills with water, bile, something; I’m going to be sick. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’ve been dragged along with this plan without fully comprehending what could happen. Am I making the right decision? Following a lead without the police. Anna sees doubt in my eyes.

‘Ten minutes in the kitchen and we have the lead, Sal. Ten hours in the house, the station, the best technicians working for them and the cops have nothing.’