She opened the door to see her mum in her dressing gown and beanie, a look of panic etched on her face. ‘Amelia—’
‘Whatever’s wrong?’ Amelia said, ushering her inside. ‘Are you feeling OK?’
‘Robert,’ her mum said, looking up at him on the stairs in his pyjamas, his hair standing on end.
‘What’s wrong, Caroline?’ He dashed down towards her, took her arm, and lowered her onto the sofa.
‘It’s Jackson and Lark,’ she said, grabbing a tissue from the box on the table, and pressing it to her nose. ‘They’ve gone. Disappeared.’
He lowered himself onto the edge of the armchair. ‘What do you mean gone?’
‘Jackson wasn’t in bed this morning when I woke.’ Her eyes avoid his, the words clearly difficult to say. ‘And Lark’s bed hasn’t been slept in. I’ve tried calling them both, but their phones go to voicemail.’
Amelia’s forehead furrowed. ‘Should we call the police?’
‘Bit of an overreaction, sis.’ It was Thomas, wearing his boxers and a Marvel T-shirt, holding a copy of Lord of the Flies, Maddie pushing him from the downstairs bedroom. ‘They’ve probably gone for an early morning walk. Why the panic, Mum?’
She shook her head, shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, her eyes filling with tears once more. ‘You’re probably right, Thomas. I guess I felt so alone when I woke up to find them not there, and had a bit of a meltdown. I’m being foolish.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ Maddie said. She was already dressed in an emerald green jumper and black jeans, her hair in a sleek, high ponytail. She made her way into the kitchen, always so helpful – so practical.
‘Don’t worry, Mum,’ Amelia said, trying to force down the events in the night. ‘I’m sure they won’t be long.’ She stroked her mum’s back, watching her dad rise and head towards the window.
‘Breakfast is at eight,’ he announced. ‘They’ll be back for that – you’ll see.’
Chapter 33
Present Day
Amelia
I wake at 5 a.m. pretty sure five hours’ sleep isn’t the recommended amount needed to track down Ruth’s killer. My mouth is dry, and although the wood burner is flickering once more, I’m cold. I pull the blanket up around my neck, shivering.
Dad and Finn are no longer in the room, and I hear the clink of mugs and spoons in the kitchen, the kettle bubbling before reaching a crescendo. The light is on. The power is back.
‘Dad?’ I call towards the open kitchen door.
Finn appears, hair standing on end, eyes bloodshot. ‘Tea? Coffee?’ he says with a sad smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
‘Coffee please – three sugars.’
‘Three?’
‘It’s a one-off; I need the sugar rush.’
He sticks his thumb up, and disappears.
Soon he’s back with two mugs of steaming coffee.
‘You OK?’ I ask. Stupid question.
‘Feel a bit numb, if I’m honest.’
‘I’m so sor—’
‘Yeah. Thanks. I get that. You don’t have to keep saying it.’
‘Been up long?’ I ask after a beat, as he puts the mugs on the table, and sits on the sofa.
‘About twenty minutes.’ He rubs his temples. ‘Your dad’s upstairs getting a shower while there’s power.’
‘Ah … right.’ I nod, pick up the coffee, take a sip.
‘We need to call the police as early as possible,’ he says. ‘We’ll try and get a signal when it’s light. It’s stopped snowing, at least.’
‘Sounds like a good plan.’
‘Morning, Amelia.’ It’s Dad heading down the stairs two at a time. He looks fresh, his damp hair combed back from his face. ‘How did you sleep?’
‘Not great,’ I say. ‘You?’
‘Same.’
‘Do you want some tea or coffee, Robert?’ Finn offers, half-rising.
Dad lowers himself down into an armchair. ‘I’m fine, son.’
There’s a noise at the top of the stairs and Rosamund appears. She’s dressed in a black polo-neck jumper and black jeans that show off her baby bump, her hair swept up in a high ponytail.
‘How are you this morning, Rosamund?’ Finn asks, as she stretches her arms above her head, before making her way down.
She shakes her head. ‘Awful,’ she says. ‘I’ve barely slept. Is there any news?’
We all shake our heads. ‘We’re planning to call the police as soon as it’s light,’ Finn says.
‘A few of us can head towards the gate,’ I add. ‘Hopefully we’ll get a signal.’
‘I’m coming this time,’ she says, her voice rising.
‘Is that a good idea?’
‘I don’t care if it’s a ruddy good idea or not, Amelia. My stepdaughter is missing, and I’ll go mad if I don’t do something.’ She covers her face with her hands, and I get up and put my arm around her. ‘This is torture,’ she cries. ‘I need to call Neil. He needs to know.’ She turns from my embrace, and heads into the kitchen.
I glance at my watch, and up at my dad. ‘What time is sunrise?’
‘About seven.’
‘Well I need to pop back to our cottage and grab a change of clothes.’
‘You really shouldn’t go wandering off alone.’
I know he’s right. ‘But I need clean underwear,’ I say, and when Finn’s cheeks flush, I instantly wish I hadn’t shared my intentions with the room.
Dad looks deep into my eyes. ‘Don’t go alone, Amelia,’ he says. ‘I mean it. We have to be sensible – there’s a killer out there. I’ll come with you.’
*
It’s just after 7 a.m., and the sun rises in the pale sky. The wind has dropped, and it doesn’t feel as cold out as yesterday. The snow is keeping off.
Maddie and Rosamund still have power on their phones, and Dad’s and mine are being charged. We’ve agreed to divide into groups of three, without actually admitting we don’t trust each other. Dad and Maddie will stay at the cottage with Thomas. Rosamund, Finn and I will head off towards the main gate.
We exchange phone numbers, just in case we lose each other, and make our way across the snow. I’m glad not to be freezing to death. Dad and I picked up my holdall from our cottage earlier, and I’m now wearing an extra pair of socks and
