‘Take a look in her bedroom and see if she’s taken any clothes,’ I said. ‘She can’t have many.’
While Paula went into the bedroom, I went into the back room where we had talked. I hunted around, but didn’t find anything that told me why she had disappeared.
Paula came in after a while.
‘As far as I can see, she hasn’t taken anything. There’re no gaps in the cupboards and the drawers aren’t disturbed.’
‘I wish I knew where that boy is. If I could get him to talk—’
‘Vic!’
Paula was looking out of the window. I joined her.
‘What’s that, by the shed? Isn’t it—?’
At the end of the strip of garden was a tool shed. The door was ajar. I could see something white lying on the floor.
‘Wait here. I’ll look.’