41. Now

‘Right, then.' Croft downs a glass of water, getting ready to leave. Bevan's phone rings again. She takes it into the hall.

Tristan is uncharacteristically helping Mina dry the dishes. Father stands by the window, hands behind his back. Mother sits at the table. Theo is on his phone at the other end. I feel bad that he's been caught up in this. This family is just his job.

God – where is Jenna now? Is she hurt? My heart thuds and I cover my face.

Bevan comes back in. Eyes on her notepad, she tells us she'll be our point of contact and that we mustn't disturb areas of the house where Jenna spends most of her time.

I can't stop looking at Ava, sitting opposite me in the armchair with the high green back, clasping her hands and looking into the fire. Ash perches next to her, watching the top of her head.

They knew Jenna was being bullied and didn't say. Not just a few hours ago when questioned by the police. Not earlier today when I asked about Jenna's friends. Not any time in the past year when they knew their cousin was suffering.

They had lied about Rose bullying her, hadn't they? And how hard had they objected to Father not allowing them to hand over their phones? Were they bullying Jenna too?

I message Dan:

Where are you?

‘Mrs Beaufort-Bradley?' says Croft.

My mother, Mina and I look up. I didn't change my name after marrying Dan.

‘I know it's tempting to go into Jenna's room, but please don't.'

And then I remember Ava's necklace. I put it in my pocket after I found it earlier, to return to her. I take it out. ‘I forgot, when I was in there earlier I found this.' I feel foolish even as I say it. How could I forget? But everything has happened so quickly. So terribly slowly but so quickly at the same time.

I turn to Ava, and her eyes widen for a second before her face hardens and she snatches the glinting chain.

Bevan strides over and holds out her hand. ‘As Croft was saying, nothing is to be removed from the room.'

Father tuts and I blush. Theo cranes to see it and Tristan clears his throat as Ava hands it over.

‘Where did you find this?' Bevan holds it up.

‘I think Jenna must've knocked it off her desk – I found it on the floor, after I kicked over the bin.'

‘Was it on the floor, or did it fall out of the bin?' asks Bevan.

‘I think it was in the bin,' I whisper. Had Jenna thrown it away as punishment for Ava bullying her? ‘It was kind of you to lend it to her – I'm sure she intended to give it back.'

‘I didn't lend it to her. It's my favourite – my birthday necklace,' says Ava, setting her jaw.

DI Bevan nods. ‘She took it?'

Ava looks back at the fire, shrugging.

Ash sighs behind her. ‘They're always borrowing each other's things then getting riled up about it. It's nothing.'

‘That's not true,' I say quietly. There's not much cross-over in terms of style and I can't remember the last time Ava came into the extension. But would Jenna really take something without Ava's permission?

‘Is it a birthstone?' asks Bevan, examining the flashing red gem.

Ava nods. ‘Dad got it for my birthday. January. A red garnet.'

I remember Jenna picking up the box from the gift table to take a look while Ava was out driving her new Range Rover.

‘Is there anything else you might have forgotten?' Bevan asks, looking over at me.

I bite my lip and curse myself. ‘I took down her spider and put it in her cupboard. But then I put it back.'

Bevan nods. ‘Okay. So, that was my office on the phone. There's no Glastonbury ticket in her name, or Rose's, but?—'

‘There's more than one way into Glasto,' says Theo.

Bevan smiles grimly. ‘Indeed. Security have her photo and have started looking.'

‘She isn't at Glastonbury,' I say for what feels like the hundredth time. Does anyone else really think she's there? She's not the kind to lie, rebel, make me worry… but the hair, the art, the stolen necklace…

‘It's an angle we'll have to explore. In the meantime, my team will continue to search – the head is getting volunteers to help – and I'll continue with interviews.' She smiles at me and I know she means Georgia.

‘We'll be in touch with warrants for the phones, and formal interview requests,' Croft says as I follow them to the door. I hear the helicopter again, searching, searching, finding nothing. My heart twists. I feel too light.

In the porch I say, ‘What do you think, Detective? Has someone taken my daughter?'

Bevan frowns. ‘I don't know enough yet to speculate with you.'

‘Please,' I say.

She sighs. ‘Knowing what we know now, all I can say is I'm concerned enough about your daughter's mental state to issue an Amber Alert. I won't be sleeping tonight. If she doesn't turn up at Glastonbury or around the school in the next hour or so, I'll call for a dog team.'

I press on my chest. ‘I wonder…' I start, then shake my head.

‘What?'

‘It's just, Trevethan House, where Georgia used to live. It's not far from the school.'

Bevan nods slowly. ‘The one with the harp sculpture?'

I nod, remembering the twisting metal artwork I once knew so well.

‘Does she live there now?'

I shake my head. ‘It was sold after they left, thirty years ago. It's changed hands two, three times. Some Londoners have it now.'

Bevan purses her lips. ‘I'll talk to Georgia first, but it's good to know these details.'

She's being kind, I can hear it. The house belongs to someone else. There's nothing more than a mother's suspicion to link her daughter's disappearance to the reappearance of an old enemy. I'm grasping at straws.

She gives me a nod and Croft pats my shoulder as they leave.

I'm concerned enough about your daughter's mental state… She doesn't believe Jenna's in danger from Georgia. She thinks Jenna is a danger to herself.

And whose fault is that?

I blame the mother.