Faith’s momentary show of weakness wasn’t going to be repeated. She ignored all further pleas from April and strode towards her Range Rover. The car unlocked with a clunk and as Faith pulled open the driver’s door, April hurried to the other side and opened the passenger door.

‘What are you doing?’ asked Faith.

‘I’m coming with you.’

‘No, you’re not.’

It was April’s turn to feign deafness as she pulled open the rear passenger door too. She picked up Dexter and was about to bundle him into the back seat when someone cried out his name. The dog fought to wriggle free

‘Dexter!’ the little voice called again.

Molly appeared from behind April’s Corsa and, as she buried her face in the dog’s fur, April heard the driver’s door slam shut. Faith was behind the wheel.

‘What are you doing here, Molly? Is your mum with you?’ April asked as she scanned the car park.

Molly didn’t reply and to April’s growing frustration, Tara didn’t appear.

‘I need to go!’ Faith yelled. ‘April, close the doors!’

April’s attention was fixed on Molly. ‘What’s going on? Shouldn’t you be in school?’

‘I ran away,’ Molly said, head bowed, voice low. When she did glance up, April realised her eyes were red and crusted with tears. ‘Isn’t Mum here?’

‘No. My guess is she’s looking for you.’

‘For Christ’s sake, April! Close the fucking doors!’

They glared at each other. ‘There’s a child present.’

‘I can see that! You said I should stay calm but I can tell you now, this is not helping! Take Molly back to Tara and leave me to deal with my own problems.’

‘You’re right, we need to get her back to her mum,’ April said, her jaw set firm. ‘Tara’s going to be sick with worry. Get in the car, Molly.’

Still holding the squirming dog, April ushered Molly towards the back seat. Molly climbed in, and Dexter bounded onto her knee.

‘I didn’t mean come with me,’ Faith hissed when April climbed into the front seat and closed the door.

‘We can drop Molly off on the way,’ April said as she took out her phone.

Faith was cursing under her breath as she reversed out of the car park space. Keeping her eye on the rear-view mirror, she said, ‘Put your seat belt on.’

There was a click as Molly did as instructed. ‘Sorry,’ she whispered.

‘There’s nothing to be sorry for,’ April said before Faith could respond with something less sympathetic.

April had her phone to her ear as Faith swerved out of the car park. Tara answered on the second ring.

‘Oh, April, I’m so scared. Molly’s missing,’ she said, gasping for breath.

‘No, she’s not,’ April replied. ‘She’s with me.’