When she gets downstairs, the two detectives are sitting on the sofa underneath the window with her dad opposite them. Milla drops down next to him. ‘Hi, I’m Milla,’ she says, as breezily as she can manage. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Good morning, Milla,’ the woman says pleasantly. ‘I’m DC Bzowski and this is my colleague, DI Finnemore. We’ve stopped by for a chat with your dad.’
‘You don’t have to be here, Milla,’ her dad interjects. ‘I’m fine. And you’ve got lots of studying to do.’ He throws Milla a glance – she knows it’s conveying a message but can’t figure out what it is. Either way, Milla’s not going anywhere.
‘I could really do with a break to be honest,’ she says, smiling brightly at the detectives. ‘If it’s just a chat, I guess I can join you?’
DC Bzowski looks at her dad. When he turns away from her glance, she shrugs. ‘So, Mr Rose,’ she says. ‘Your wife told us that you returned from Thailand last Friday 3rd May at around 8 p.m.?’
‘That’s right. I’d been there all week with work.’
‘And how did you spend your evening when you got home?’
Milla smiles to hide her discomfort.
‘Rachel was out for a curry with some girlfriends,’ Matt starts. ‘And Milla was at a party.’
‘Ava Ainsworth’s party?’ DC Bzowski asks.
‘Yep,’ Milla says, then seals her lips back together.
The detective nods and turns back to Matt. ‘And Lucy?’ she asks.
‘Um, she was at home with me,’ Matt says. ‘We chatted for a while, then she went up to her room around nine. I put a film on, but I think I was asleep in seconds. Jet lag, you know.’ He produces a wide smile, but neither of the detectives react.
‘And did you wake up at any point?’
‘Um, yes.’ Matt screws up his face as though trying to remember. Like he hasn’t been going over it a zillion times a day since Amber’s body was discovered. ‘A while later though. Lucy and Rachel were in the kitchen together, having a hot chocolate.’
‘They’d been out for a walk I believe?’
‘That’s right. But I slept right through that.’
‘And you didn’t go out yourself?’
Milla’s mind races. She remembers climbing into her dad’s car, him rolling it out of the drive quietly, heading towards the railway station to drop her off, then going looking himself. It was late; traffic was sparse. Could a camera have picked up his car as they drove past? ‘You came to get me, remember?’ she spurts out. She’s been focused on Lucy, but she needs to protect her dad too. After all, he’s the one with a black mark against him.
‘What?’
‘From Ava’s party. I had a blister, and you took pity on me.’ A moment of silence. Milla’s heart punches her ribcage.
‘Yes, of course,’ he finally offers. ‘I’d forgotten about that.’ He smiles at the detectives.
‘And what time was this?’ DC Bzowski asks.
‘I’m not sure exactly.’ Matt tilts his head. ‘Maybe twelvish? Or a bit later?’
‘And did you see anyone at the party?’ the detective asks.
‘Yes,’ Matt says. ‘Ava’s mother.’
Milla shifts in her chair. This is news to her, actual human contact, but at least her dad remembered in time to cover himself.
‘Milla and I had our wires crossed,’ he goes on. ‘I thought she was still at the house, but she was waiting for me further up the road.’
‘And you didn’t go anywhere else? Just to the Ainsworths’ house and back?’
‘I … um, yes, that’s right … I took the long way home though, so I did a full loop of the village.’
‘Thank you, Mr Rose, for clearing that up,’ DI Finnemore says. But her dad doesn’t look relieved, and Milla understands why. Those timings relate to when she was missing. He must have remembered speaking to Ava’s mum and so prioritised covering up for that. But he was out earlier too, searching for Lucy, so how is he going to explain that if they ask?
‘There is another thing we’d like to discuss with you,’ the detective goes on.
Milla shuffles against the sofa cushion.
‘I believe you’re aware that Jessica Scott has gone missing?’
Milla concentrates on her breathing. She’s never had a panic attack before, but one feels dangerously close now. Colour is draining from her dad’s face too. Can the detectives see it?
‘Yes,’ her dad whispers. ‘I heard that she’s run away.’
‘Maybe.’ DC Bzowski purses her lips. ‘How well do you know her?’
‘I don’t know her at all. Well, not personally. She was bullying Lucy with her sister, so I know of her.’
‘Are you aware that Jessica was a student at Oxford Comprehensive before moving to Chinnor?’
Matt doesn’t answer. He’s so still, Milla isn’t even sure he’s breathing. She wonders if she should nudge him.
