I did remember vividly the stand-up arguments that would reverberate from his study over Electra’s appalling school reports and other elements of her life as she grew up. Electra only ever saw rules as things to be broken and she was the only one of us who’d stand toe to toe with Pa and fight it out. Yet at the same time, I’d seen the glint of admiration in Pa’s eyes when he talked of his fiery youngest daughter.

‘She’s certainly spirited,’ he’d said to me on more than one occasion, ‘and that will always mark her out from the crowd.’

‘Electra, he adored you,’ I comforted her. ‘And yes, perhaps he did want you to use your brain, but then, what father doesn’t? And let’s face it, you’ve become more successful and famous than any of us. Look at your life compared to mine. You have everything.’

‘No I don’t,’ she sighed suddenly. ‘It’s all smoke and mirrors, no substance to it really, but there we are. I’m tired, Maia; would you mind if I slept here in the Pavilion with you tonight?’

‘Of course not. The spare bed is made up. Sleep as late as you want tomorrow, because until we’ve got hold of Ally, there’s nothing any of us can do except wait.’

‘Thank you. And I’m sorry I got so emotional. Mitch has put me in touch with a therapist who’s trying to help me with my mood swings,’ she confessed. ‘Can I have a hug?’ she asked as she stood up.

‘Of course you can.’

I took her into my arms and held her to me. Then she picked up her overnight case and walked towards the sitting room door, halting in front of it. ‘I have a terrible headache,’ she said. ‘Do you have some codeine by any chance?’

‘No, sorry, but I think I’ve got a couple of paracetamol.’

‘Don’t worry.’ Electra gave me a weary smile. ‘See you tomorrow.’

As I switched off the lights in the Pavilion and walked towards my bedroom, I reflected that, just as I’d been surprised by Tiggy’s muted reaction, so Electra had given me food for thought. There seemed to be an underlying air of desperation about her tonight that concerned me.

As I settled under the bedclothes – perfectly restructured by Claudia after my restless night – I thought how Pa Salt’s death might well prove a seminal moment for us all.

None of my sisters were up the following morning when I went to see Marina to enquire if she’d heard anything from Ally.

‘No,’ she said helplessly.

‘Pa would have known what to do. He always did.’

‘Yes,’ Marina agreed. ‘How was Electra?’

‘Shocked, devastated and very angry about not being able to say goodbye to Pa properly, but she managed to keep her emotions under control. Just.’

‘Good. Georg Hoffman called me again to see if we’d found Ally yet and I had to say no. What can we do?’