‘Before I came to Sandown,’ I begin, ‘I was doing some research about the island, just for kicks. Eventually Roxy’s name came up. Her music, her disappearance.’ I pause to make sure we’re on the same page. Ellis is considering, it seems, eyes aimed at his feet as we walk. ‘There wasn’t much information online. I guess I got curious about it and thought I’d do a little snooping about the situation once I got here.’

He processes this, the news trickling down into him like a drink. ‘And what do you think? About all of it?’

I know saying this is a chance but his eyes are glinting like they’re full of hunger for the words, so I say it. ‘Well, I don’t think she disappeared.’

‘What do you think happened?’

‘I think she might have been murdered.’

And the words affect him about as much as a breath. ‘I do too.’

I can’t tell if my aura opens or clamps down; spreading open like a Venus flytrap after a meal – or having the meal. ‘Why do you think that?’

‘Did Peyton tell you about – so, I didn’t actually know Roxy was my grandma …’

‘You thought she was your aunt. Yeah, she said.’

‘Right. And my mom’s been really torn up about this whole thing. And knowing what we know now, I … can’t believe Roxy would have done that to my m-mom. There’s no way. But M-mom thinks she just … left her. And I want proof. I want her to kn-know that’s not what happened. What about you?’

‘Because it doesn’t make much sense to me, based on what I read, that she killed herself. That’s the accepted theory, right? That, or she ran away?’

Ellis nods.

‘I think there’s evidence to suggest otherwise. People say so online – there’re rumours about a suspicious note that Roxy allegedly left. Or, at least, I was hoping there would be, but I just broke into a police station to read an empty file.’

Ellis perks up. ‘I have pictures of what was inside. The note was there. Not much else, though.’

I do my best to mask my excitement. ‘Can I see?’

Ellis fishes his phone out of his pocket and pulls up an image.

My eyes flicker over it, the pixels that read Case Number 2041 and Reporting Officer with a space left blank and Incident:

Call received approx. 4 a.m. Sunday morning from resident who discovered property known to belong to Catherine O’Hare [alias Roxy Raines]. Later in day Mary Anne Miller called w/ regards to vehicle left on property, known also to belong to Roxy. Search of vehicle revealed note of intent [attached]. Witness testimony and general knowledge of victim conclusive of runaway. No further investigation required.

‘Roxy Raines wasn’t her real name?’ I ask.

He shakes his head. ‘Oh no. We’re all O’Hares. She made it up.’