She felt for the newspaper article in her pocket, and switched on the overhead light. She stared at the photo of Jonny, wondering how much he knew of Adam, and if this amiable-looking man had ever tried to make contact with his son.

Something told her that she was close to uncovering the truth. Everything she had discovered had proved that her suspicions were well founded. So if Jonny didn’t hold the answer, who did?

Finally, she saw the glow of headlights on the horizon, gradually becoming brighter. She kept concentrating on the newspaper article, and her memories and discoveries of the past few weeks spun and whirled. As Ben’s Land Rover drew nearer, an idea flitted across her mind, so rapidly that it was almost gone before she caught it and reeled it in. It danced in front of her so vividly that for a moment she was spellbound. At first it seemed absurd, but as she twisted this strange notion over in her mind, it began to make perfect, awful sense.

By the time Ben got close enough to see her, she had jumped out of her car and was racing across to him. She flung open the passenger door, breathless and agitated.

Ben stared at her. ‘Grace, are you okay? I’m sorry but you’re going to have to spend another night here – there’s no point in attempting to get your car out until morning. It’s too treacherous to drive in the dark anyway.’

Bess was there, trying to scramble across Ben to greet her, but Grace wasn’t paying attention to either of them. Instead she was looking frantically through all the windows. ‘Where’s Millie?’ Panic filled her throat.

‘Claire’s got her, at the schoolhouse – I didn’t dare drive up the hill in this weather without her strapped into a car seat. We’ll pick her up on the way back.’

‘Oh god, Ben,’ Grace screamed at him. ‘What have you done? We need to go and get her NOW.’

‘Grace, I don’t understand.’ Ben was frowning, while the snow sprayed up against either side of the Land Rover as it ploughed down the hill. Bess leaned between the seats, her nose pressed onto Ben’s shoulder. ‘Why are you so upset? What’s going on?’

Grace gripped the front dashboard, steadying herself while willing him to go faster. ‘Do you remember Adam having a fling with Jenny while he lived here? Back when you were teenagers?’

Ben shook his head. ‘No, I don’t – he was always with Claire, if anyone.’

Grace could see the lights of the schoolhouse getting closer. She concentrated on them, collecting all her energy together so she could use it to spring out of the Land Rover and run as fast as she could to get Millie.

‘Grace, talk to me,’ Ben insisted, alarm plain on his face. ‘I don’t understand – why are you so worried about Millie? She’ll be fine, I promise – I know my family can be difficult, but I wouldn’t have left her there if she was in danger.’

‘I know you wouldn’t,’ Grace said hastily as the car pulled onto the gravel drive. ‘I have to get Millie back first, and then I’ll explain.’ She opened the door before he’d even stopped, leapt out and ran towards the house.

As she neared the front door, she saw there weren’t many lights on. She nearly barged right in, but at the last minute something told her to play it a little cooler, at least until she had Millie in her arms.

Ben came up behind her as she knocked. ‘Grace, what the hell –’

The door opened and Claire stood there. She looked worried. ‘Grace – are you all right? Ben told us you got stuck.’

‘Yes, thanks, I’ve come for Millie.’ Grace was trying to act normally but she could tell it wasn’t working. Her voice was strange – high-pitched and too rushed.

‘Right,’ Claire said. ‘She’s in the dining room, with Jenny.’

Headlights illuminated them all as another car roared onto the gravel. Grace looked to see Meredith climbing out of her four-wheel drive, and for once her face was a true picture of uncertainty. ‘Grace – I saw your car up there. Has something happened?’

‘I’m here for Millie,’ Grace said. She turned back to Claire. ‘I’ll just go and get her.’ She headed inside without waiting for Claire’s answer, aware of worried voices close behind her. Footsteps followed, but all she wanted was to find Millie.

The corridor was dim, only a halo of light shining through the crack of the closed dining-room door. She flung the door open, rushing into the brightness of the room, praying that her fears were unfounded, and that she was only being foolish.

The room was empty.

Claire came in behind her, her curiosity edging towards concern as she took in the empty space. ‘They were just here … I’ll go and find them.’

As Claire went back into the corridor, Ben and Meredith appeared. Ben looked confused, but Meredith regarded the room evenly.

‘Where are they?’ Ben asked Grace.

She went across and gripped his arm. ‘We have to find Jenny,’ she said, her panic increasing with every word. ‘I think she’s taken Millie.’

Claire rejoined them. ‘They’re not in the kitchen …’ She registered what Grace was saying. ‘Why on earth would she take Millie?’

‘We need to find them quickly,’ Grace shouted. ‘I can explain later. Where the hell have they gone?’

‘They can’t have gone far.’ Claire looked frightened now. ‘She hasn’t got a car.’

‘Ben,’ Meredith’s voice was controlled and low, ‘I think you should take the monks’ trod to the Leap, now, check she hasn’t gone there.’

‘Why would she go to the Leap?’ Claire asked, sounding totally confused. ‘It’s pitch-black and snowing outside.’

But Ben took one look at his mother’s face and sprinted into the hallway, with Grace right behind him. He raced through the front door, heading for his car. Grace rushed around to the passenger side, but he said, ‘No, Grace, I’m just getting a torch. I have to go on foot.’ As he spoke, Bess bounded out of the car and began springing at his heels.

‘I’m coming with you,’ she insisted.

Ben slammed the door shut and came around to her, pulling her to face him. ‘Listen to me. I know the trod well. I’ll be faster on my own.’

‘You don’t have to wait for me,’ she panted. ‘I’ll keep up.’

‘Let’s go then.’ He was already dashing towards the path.

It was impossible to sprint through snow, but Grace was running as hard as she could, thankful that the outlines of the uneven flat stones were still just about visible. Ben jogged beside her, shining the torch to light their way. Bess was yapping, disappearing into the night and occasionally reappearing around them again, enjoying the unexpected exercise.

‘How much further?’ she gasped.

‘We’re nearly there,’ Ben urged. ‘Come on.’ And he quickened his pace, haring off into the darkness with Bess at his heels, the dog’s barking becoming increasingly frenzied. Then Grace heard something ahead – a whimper that rapidly grew into a full-blown wail. ‘Millie,’ she screamed as she fought past a thick bush of sharp, deadened twigs that scratched and tore at her hands and face.

She slammed into something solid that almost knocked her off her feet. She staggered backwards, recovering her balance, and saw that Ben was ahead of her, standing stock-still, his back to her.

She walked closer. ‘Ben?’ She put a hand on his arm. He didn’t move. Then the noise came again, and she looked past him.

In the silvery moonlight, she could make out a figure sitting in front of them, legs dangling over the edge of the drop ahead. In her arms, something was moving, and Grace knew straight away that it was Millie.

Without a second thought, she began to creep forward. Ben tried to pull her back, but she shook him off and kept going towards the ledge. She saw Bess had gone over to Jenny and was nudging her, but Jenny seemed mesmerised, staring out into the night, swaying gently back and forth.