Juliet woke with a headache. She could hear voices coming from just beyond her door and guessed immediately that she’d overslept. She squinted at the clock on her bedside table and groaned. It was almost 8am.
She rubbed her eyes and sprang from the bed, throwing on Katrin’s borrowed dressing gown as she headed out to the bathroom. Thankfully, it was free. She showered quickly, doing her best to keep her hair dry. She would have no time to tame the frizz if she got it wet.
Normally, she would have found it distasteful to have to dress in the previous day’s clothes, but today she was in too much of a hurry to bother. Returning to her room, she flung them on as rapidly as she could and was still dragging her comb through her hair when she entered Katrin and Tim’s kitchen.
Sophia was sitting at the table. Katrin stood beside her, pouring milk on to a bowl of cereal. She turned to smile at Juliet.
‘Good morning! Cup of tea? It’s only just been made.’
‘Where’s Tim?’ Juliet asked, without ceremony.
‘He woke up early and went to the station. He said we should leave you to sleep.’
‘Fuck!’ said Juliet, and immediately covered her mouth with her hand. Sophia regarded her with large, solemn eyes.
‘Sorry!’ Juliet said to Katrin, who shrugged. ‘Tim hasn’t gone to Silverdale Farm by himself, has he?’
‘I don’t think so. I made him promise he wouldn’t. He must have intended to go to the station to get a team together because he said visiting the farm was his first priority.’
‘I’d better go now. I want to be there, too, if they haven’t left without me.’
‘At least have a cup of tea first.’
‘Sorry, Katrin, there’s no time. Thank you for the hospitality: you know I appreciate it. I’ll come back later or call you to let you know what’s happening if I’m delayed.’
‘All right,’ said Katrin. ‘Sophia has a party later. I’ll get on with the research while she’s out.’
As soon as she was in her car, Juliet called Ricky. ‘Where are you?’ she asked abruptly.
‘At the station. Where do you think?’ he replied, equally testily. He’d been up most of the night and was in no mood to humour her.
‘Have you seen Tim?’
‘Tim? No. I thought he was doing something with you. He’s not been back here today.’
Juliet cut the call and speed-dialled Andy’s number.
‘Hello, Andy, are you at the showground?’
‘Yes, I’ve been here for half an hour or so. Fovargue’s here, too. Tim told me not to let him out of my sight.’
‘What about Susie?’
‘She went home last night. According to Fovargue, one of the kids was ill and she had to leave the guest house. Didn’t Tim tell you?’
‘I haven’t seen Tim this morning,’ said Juliet shortly. Then, in a strained voice, ‘But thanks, Andy. And good luck.’
She cut this call, too. She deliberated for less than a minute on what she should do next. There was no time to wait for anyone else. But she would ask for backup. Starting the engine of her car, she called Ricky again.