Ron hid his alarm as he sat her down on the stairs and took her cold hands in his. ‘Who’s we, and where have you looked?’ he asked firmly.

‘Andy and Ivy have taken a small van from the fire station, and John Hicks has gone out in the other. Her motorbike isn’t at home or the fire station, so they’ve been to the cinder track, up to the farmhouse ruin, and asked all the people manning the clifftop guns if they’ve seen her, but no luck. Andy and Ivy have been all over town, back to where she used to live, knocking on her friends’ doors and looking in the recreation ground, the allotments and the parks – but there’s no sign of her.’

She paused to take a breath through chattering teeth. ‘I’ve been to the hospital, but Fran hasn’t seen her, she’s not listed as a patient, and she’s not in any of the pubs either.’

Ron’s mind whirled with all the possibilities. Rita was a lively little thing, mischievous too, but she was also a solitary soul, preferring her own company when things worried or upset her. And a lot had happened to the girl over these past few weeks – culminating in her father’s unexpected visit, which must have further increased her anguish when she’d had to watch him leave again so soon.

He looked up as Flo handed him a glass of brandy which he cupped in Peggy’s trembling hands, encouraging her to drink. ‘Thanks, Flo. Can you and Beryl manage without me for the rest of the evening? Only there’s something I have to do.’

‘Yeah, of course. But what about Peggy?’

‘I’m taking her home,’ he replied.

He grabbed his hat and coat, waited until the glass was empty and then helped Peggy to her feet, almost relieved to have someone else to worry about instead of Rosie. ‘I have a feeling I know where she might be,’ he said as he steered her through the side door and into Camden Road.

‘Then I’m coming with you,’ she said.

‘No, Peggy, girl. You’re going home to thaw out before you die of the cold. And I’ll have no arguments about it.’

‘But—’

He maintained his grip on her waist and hurried her outside and along the pavement, towards Beach View, his mind working out how to get where he needed to be in the quickest time possible. ‘Is Harvey out with the others?’

‘No, he’s at home sulking because they left without him.’

As they reached home at last Ron hustled Peggy indoors and gave her a nudge up the concrete steps. ‘Go and get warm while I organise meself,’ he muttered as Harvey flew down the steps to greet them both and almost knocked Peggy off her feet.