Page 44 of You Lied First

I ’ve just finished reading the morning’s colour pieces on Celine when Margot phones. She’s going to tell Flynn that Celine is missing straight after Flynn’s basketball practice. Liv is usually there, watching him, she says, so would I like to come too?

I find my way to the gym where Flynn’s playing a training match and spot Margot and Liv on the shallow bleachers to one side of the court.

Like every secondary school gym, the smell is of disinfectant and stale sweat.

Both Margot and Liv are on their phones.

I’m hopeful that Liv will take the news about Celine relatively well, given she didn’t really like her.

But I’m also aware of the tendency Liv has to make everything about her, so I’m steeled for a bit of drama.

‘Hey,’ I say, touching Liv’s arm as I slip into the seat next to her.

‘Mum! What are you doing here? You don’t usually come to school.’ Suddenly her face clouds. ‘Is Dad okay?’

‘Yes, yes. Nothing like that. Hi, Margot! How are you?’

This is the first time I’ve ever spoken to Margot at school, and some of the glossy mums in the bleachers look over to see who it is that’s friends with Margot Forrest. I can’t say the thought doesn’t give me a little buzz.

‘All right, thanks. How are you?’ she asks.

She looks me up and down as if examining me for signs of psychological damage.

Or maybe I’m just projecting because it’s what I’m doing to her.

She looks okay. Though a little tired and thin, maybe.

But not like someone who’s recently buried a body in the desert.

‘I’m good, thanks. Keeping busy.’ I try to communicate with my eyes that I’m not really looking forward to telling the kids about Celine, but that I’m glad we’re in it together. Margot, on the other hand, seems completely unruffled.

‘That’s good. Me too. Look, they’ll be finished in a minute. I was going to take them both for a coffee and cake after – why don’t you join us?’

‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘I’d love to.’

And so we find ourselves at a sticky table in a nearby coffee shop, the teens with iced lattes, Margot with her sparkling water and me with a cup of tea and a ginger biscuit. I realise it’s the first thing I’ve eaten all day.

‘So, what’s up?’ Liv says when we’re settled. ‘Why are you here? You never come to pick-up.’

I look at Margot and without saying a word we agree that she’s going to speak first.

‘There’s something we want to tell you before you hear it from someone else,’ Margot says.

‘You’re getting divorced?’ Flynn says.

Margot tuts. ‘It’s about Celine.’ She pauses. ‘I’m sorry to say that, since we got back to England, she appears to have gone missing.’

‘Missing?’ Liv asks.

‘She didn’t turn up to work on the first day of term,’ I say.

‘Probably forgot,’ Flynn says. ‘Hungover.’ He snickers.

Margot clucks her tongue. ‘It’s actually quite serious. Her friends can’t find her. She’s not at her villa. They’ve reported her to the police as a missing person.’

‘The police have launched a search,’ I add.

Liv looks at Flynn, her hand over her mouth. ‘Oh my God. Like, properly missing?’

‘Oh, right,’ Flynn says with a slow nod.

There’s a pause while they digest the news. I sip my tea. Liv stirs her latte.

‘So – I mean, does it have anything to do with us?’ Flynn asks.

Margot shrugs. ‘No. It happened after we left. But we just thought you’d like to know, since she’s a friend.’

‘Wow,’ Liv says. ‘Like, we were just with her. I hope she’s okay.’

‘Me too,’ I say, exchanging a quick smile with Liv.

‘Well, we just wanted you to know. Fingers crossed they find her safe and well,’ Margot says.

‘Exactly,’ I say with a nod, and I’m pleased I came. Team Margot and Sara.

We’ve got this.