April’s heart clenched when she thought how she had suspected her friends – her real friends. At least now her search was almost over. She would return to the office and check the system one last time, but she already knew what she would find. Bree was as guilty as Jason.

12

There was a hold-up on Queens Drive exacerbated by fading light, heavy rain, and overeager drivers vying for position in the usual end-of-week crush. Cursing the other motorists, Faith debated whether to abandon the ring road and cut through Childwall when her phone rang. April’s name appeared on the dashboard’s hands-free display.

‘Hey, April,’ Faith said. ‘How’s it going?’

‘I’ve been … I tried to phone you …’

Faith winced. This wasn’t April’s first attempt to speak to her that week or even that day. ‘I know, but it’s been hectic at work. There’s a big hoo-ha over this bloody reorganisation. Can you believe they’re asking us to apply for our own jobs? We’re being consulted about the changes, and I’m tempted to tell them to stuff it. I was expecting a promotion, but oh no, they’re offering the same pay for more work, and they expect me to beg for it! I’d love to see them try to manage without me.’

She spoke loudly to disguise the guilt she felt for ignoring her friend’s calls, which surprised Faith because she wasn’t used to her conscience being pricked. Running out of things to say, she waited for April’s response, but only sobs echoed down the line.

‘April? What’s wrong? Where are you?’

More sobs. ‘Pick— Pick–er,’ she tried, her words punctuated with hiccups.

‘Pickering’s Pasture?’ Faith asked. There followed a mixture of garbled sounds that was as close to a confirmation as she was likely to receive. ‘What are you doing there?’

‘I – I don’t know.’

Seeing a rash of brake lights up ahead, Faith nudged the car into the nearside lane and took the next turn-off. She was no longer heading home.

‘OK, I’m on my way, but it’s going to take me fifteen minutes,’ Faith said. She was being optimistic. ‘Can you tell me what’s happened?’

‘I tried to phone …’

‘I know, you said,’ Faith replied sharply.

‘I meant – I tried to phone Tara,’ April explained.

‘Oh,’ Faith said.