Certain details in this story, including names, places and dates, have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.
HarperElement
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First published by HarperElement 2015
FIRST EDITION
© Cathy Glass 2015
A catalogue record of this book is
available from the British Library
Cover photograph © Deborah Pendell/Arcangel Images (posed by model)
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2015
Cathy Glass asserts the moral right to
be identified as the author of this work
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Source ISBN: 9780008138257
Ebook Edition © September 2015 ISBN: 9780008138295
Version: 2015-07-11
Contents
Chapter Twenty-One: Waiting for News
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Endless Wait
Chapter Twenty-Four: Unbelievable
Chapter Twenty-Five: And She Wept
Chapter Twenty-Six: Bittersweet
Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
Chapter Eighteen
The clock on the mantelpiece showed it was 4 a.m. I quickly switched off the television and went down the hall to open the front door. Joss and her mother stood side by side, pale and drawn.
‘Come in,’ I said, opening the door wider.
‘I’m going to bed,’ Joss said as they stepped in. She was wearing the change of clothes we’d taken with us.
‘Do you need anything?’ Linda asked her.
‘No,’ Joss returned. I closed the front door.
‘I’ll see you, then,’ Linda called as Joss began upstairs.
‘Yes. Goodnight.’
‘Night, love,’ I said.
Linda and I watched Joss go upstairs until she’d turned the corner on the landing to go to her bedroom.
‘Do you want to come and sit for a while?’ I asked Linda.
‘I wouldn’t mind,’ she sighed. ‘I’m tired, but I’m not ready to go home yet and explain all of this to Eric.’
We went through to the living room. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ I asked.
‘No, thanks. I had one at the police station. They were very kind.’
We sat down. Linda took the sofa, and I one of the chairs. She looked shattered, and I too felt the weight of all that had happened that evening.
‘I don’t know, Cathy,’ she sighed, shaking her head in despair. ‘Joss made a statement, but I’m not sure if it’s strong enough to have them convicted. She was very confused and kept changing her mind. Ann and her colleague were very patient, but they had to keep stopping Joss to clarify points. I hope I’m wrong, but I felt it didn’t look good on Joss.’
‘Did she tell them all they needed to know?’ I asked.
‘In the end, but she was reluctant to say how she first met Zach and Carl, which they wanted to know. Apparently it was at Chelsea’s flat. I think Joss was trying to protect them all. As if they’ve done her any favours! I gather that flat is a right mess and has been raided by the police for drink and drug offences. The police seemed to know it.’
‘I wasn’t aware of that, but when I first went there I reported my concerns to the social services. I’m sorry I didn’t do more to stop Joss from going there.’ I felt even guiltier now.
‘It’s not your fault,’ Linda said quietly. ‘Joss can be very strong-willed when she wants to be. I wish she hadn’t changed her story, though. First she told the police she’d been at the flat all