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‘Go and get me some tracks and I’ll help you build a circle for the train to go around. Okay?’ Ellie smiled down at Andrew.

While Andrew was engrossed in pulling out the blue plastic sections of track from the toy box, Ellie stood up and followed Heather over to the window. ‘What’s wrong? Are you all right? Is your dad still okay?’

Heather nodded but still her eyes wouldn’t meet Ellie’s. ‘Yeah, he’s fine. I’m fine. It’s all good. I’m just waiting for them to . . . to be collected and then I’m going home.’ Her voice was fast and her words ran together. ‘I have to go home.’

‘I came over to see if you want to have dinner with Amanda and me.’

‘No. No, I have to go. Dad’s . . . he’s left his car for me.’ Heather shook her head and her voice was shaky. ‘I’m really tired.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes.’ Heather wouldn’t meet her eyes.

‘I can watch the kids till Gina gets here if you want?’

‘That’d be good.’

‘Where is she?’

‘Don’t know, she didn’t say where she was going.’ Heather’s eyes were darting around and her breath was catching as she spoke. ‘Just dropped the kids off.’

Ellie put a hand on her arm. ‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

‘Yes. I told you I’m fine.’ Heather hissed the answer at her and Ellie took a step back with her hands up.

‘All right. All right. No need to get pissy with me again. I thought we’d sorted that.’

‘Sorry, I’m cross because she’s late. It’s been a long day.’ Heather’s lips trembled. ‘You know I’d rather work in the office than in the crèche.’

‘I want Mummy.’ Ellie moved her gaze over to the little girl. Binny had her thumb in her mouth and her little eyes were huge.

‘Yes, sweetheart.’ Ellie crouched down beside her and smoothed her hand over the little girl’s hair, conscious of Heather’s gaze. ‘She shouldn’t be too long now.’

‘I’ll just get my keys.’ Heather hurried to the desk, pulled out her keys and closed the drawer with a snap. Ellie rose and followed her across the room.

‘Do you think she might have gone on the sunset cruise?’ Ellie glanced at the two children. Binny was leaning against her brother and as Ellie watched he put his little arm around her and she snuggled in.

Heather shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’

‘The kids look tired. What time did Gina drop them off?’

‘They’ve been here since I opened up.’

Ellie put her hands on her hips. No way. ‘All day? Have you tried to call her?’

Heather dropped her eyes. ‘Yeah. Not answering.’

Ellie pulled out her phone. ‘I’ll try.’

Heather quickly grabbed her hand. ‘No point. I just called her.’

‘Are you sure you’ve got the right number?’ Ellie pulled up Gina’s details, and read the number as Heather double-checked it on the sheet in front of her.

‘Yep, that’s right. I’ve just tried it, twice. It went to voicemail.’ Heather stared at her as her words ran together. ‘Maybe her phone’s flat. Or maybe she did go on the sunset cruise. There’s no service up on the billabongs anyway. I have to go. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.’

Something wasn’t right. Heather was acting strangely. A shaft of unease lodged in Ellie’s throat. This all felt wrong.

‘Okay, you go then. She must have gone on the sunset cruise and didn’t realise how late it came in. That’s the only place she could be.’