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After ato have a cup of tea before tackling the bags She filled the kettle and put a tea bag in her favourite white ain with a picture of Our Lady The kitchen hadn’t had much more than a lick of paint and new appliances in the twenty-six years since her daughter Jessica disappeared This was the fourth fridge, the neas only a few months old, but the sa, by Jessica

As she opened the steel fridge door, she stopped to look at it Sreen Fine white lines and creases criss-crossed each palinal, painted sometime in 1989 was tucked away in a drarapped in tissue paper After several years on display, and much to her horror and dismay, the paint had started to fade, so she’d had it scanned and this was a print out Even the original scan had been re-printed several ties were starting to curl, and retrieved the rained; it was part of her now The tears still came but she had learned to live with the pain, like a constant co photos of Jessica, walking past her bedroom on her way to the bathroom several times a day were habit

The kettle clicked off and she filled herit out with a spoon, andover to the bin She was about to pour in the milk when the doorbell chimed She looked at the clock and saas just after four

The bell chiain just as she reached the door, and when she opened it, Marianne froze A faroup of men and women It was Detective Constable Nancy Greene, a woman she hadn’t seen in years

‘Hello Marianne,’ smiled Nancy weakly They embraced They separated, and Marianne searched Nancy’s face, noting deep wrinkles, and grey hair It was only then that she saw, aroup, were two police officers in uniform

‘Nancy? Why are you here?’ started Marianne

‘Can we co hand went to her throat to feel for a necklace which wasn’t there

‘Not until you tell me what this is?’

‘These are police officers Detective Chief Inspector Foster, Detective Constable John McGorry, PC Ward, and PC Stoke And this is Coleen Scanlan She’s the MET police , Mrs Collins,’ said Erika, holding up her ID The other officers followed suit

‘Can we coood ti, someone,’ said Marianne

‘Please can we come in This is important I’m here because I was your Family Liaison Officer, back when Jessica disappeared…’

‘Mrs Collins, can we please come inside, this is very i as happening She stood to one side and let theant but cold, with dark wood furniture and dark wine coloured curtains and furniture

‘Would anyone like tea? I’ve just ht and happy

‘No, thank you,’ said Nancy The officers stood for a moment in a see sofa and the two armchairs Nancy took the chair close to Marianne When Erika sat she noticed the large painting of the Virgin Mary above the carved fireplace and with a glance around the roo size on the walls Marianna pulled out the small foot rest which matched the seat Nancy occupied She perched on it and started to gabble,

‘How long has it been since I last saw you… Laura is working over in Kew… She’s trying to have another baby, it will be her fourth if she does, but she’s getting old Although these days but…’

‘Marianne,’ started Nancy

‘Toby has a new partner, he works in property… They see but…’