Page 50 of Good Girl, Bad Blood

HaveThe Conversationwith Mum and Dad

Wearing a collarless burgundy shirt, jeans and white Puma trainers.

Last seenonFriday 27thAprilaround8:00 p.m.at the memorial onLittle Kilton Common.

URGENT APPEAL:If you have seen Jamie since the memorial or have any information as to his whereabouts, please call07700900382or [email protected]

Please send all photos and videos taken at the memorial on Friday to the above email address, to assist the investigation.

Nine

Pip waited on the high street, the sun a pale and lazy yellow. Birds dawdled in the morning sky; even passing cars sounded half-asleep, their tires shushing against the road. There was no urgency in any of it. None. No trace that anything was wrong or amiss. Everything too quiet, too subdued, until Ravi turned the corner from Gravelly Way, waving and jogging over to her.

He hugged her and Pip tucked her nose in under his chin. His neck was always warm, even when it had no business being so.

‘You look pale,’ Ravi said, pulling back. ‘Did you manage to get any sleep last night?’

‘Some,’ she said. And though she must have been tired, she didn’t feel it at all. In fact, she felt sharp for the first time in months, aligned inside her own skin. Head thrumming in that way she’d been missing. What was wrong with her? Her stomach tightened uncomfortably. ‘But every hour that passes makes it statistically less likely Jamie will ever be found. The first seventy-two hours are crucial –’

‘Hey, listen to me.’ Ravi tilted her chin so she looked up at him. ‘You have to take care of yourself too. You can’t think properly without sleep, and you’re no good to Jamie like that. Have you had breakfast?’

‘Coffee.’

‘Food?’

‘No.’ There was no point lying to him, he could always tell.

‘Right, well, I thought that would be the case,’ he said, pulling something out of his back pocket. A Coco Pops cereal bar that he pushed into her hand. ‘Eat that please, madam. Now.’

Pip shot him a look of surrender and unpeeled the crackling wrapper.

‘Breakfast of kings, that is,’ said Ravi. ‘Nice and softened by my arse-heat.’

‘Mmm, delicious,’ Pip said, taking a bite.

‘So what’s the plan?’

‘Connor will be here soon,’ she said, between bites. ‘And Cara. You three will head out with the missing posters, and I’m going to theKilton Mailoffice. Hopefully someone is in.’

‘How many posters did you print?’ he asked.

‘Two hundred and fifty. Took forever, and Dad’s gonna be pissed when he sees I used up all the ink.’

Ravi sighed. ‘I could have helped you with those. You don’t have to do everything yourself, remember. We’re a team.’

‘I know. And I trust you with everything,exceptmaking the poster. Remember that email you almost sent to a law firm with the line “I appreciate that you are very busty” instead of busy?’

He smirked despite himself. ‘Well, that’s what I have a girlfriend for.’

‘For proofreading?’

‘Yep, just that, nothing else.’

Connor arrived a few minutes later, his hurried footsteps slapping against the pavement, cheeks redder than normal. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Was helping Mum call the hospitals again. Nothing . . . Hi, Ravi.’

‘Hey,’ Ravi said, clapping one hand on Connor’s shoulder, leaving it there for a few seconds as a look of silent understanding passed between them. ‘We’ll find him,’ he said gently, indicating Pip with his head. ‘This one’s too stubborn not to.’

Connor attempted a smile.