"And what was his reaction?"
"He said it was a pity her mother hadn't done the same thing ten years ago."
"He was not worried as to what had become of her?"
"No. I was, a bit, until he told me her home was only over at Aylesbury. She could quite easily cadge a lift that distance."
"So he took it for granted that she had gone home?"
"Yes. I said, hadn't he better make sure. After all, she was a kid."
"And what did he say in answer to that?"
"He said: 'Frankie, my girl, that «kid» knows more about self-preservation than a chameleon. "
"So you dismissed the affair from your mind."
"Yes."