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“It’s possible Ashleigh might have been assaulted before the accident.”
    â€œYou mean she was mugged or something?” Lauren’s mother said, the note in her voice indicating it was almost too terrible a thing to contemplate.
    â€œWe’re not sure of the details yet, but her bag is missing.”
    â€œIt’s that bloody estate,” Mr Booth said. “I won’t let Laurie go across it. They’re all like wild dogs –  ’specially the boys. You can see them, always hanging around on the corners.” He gestured off towards the window. “
I
wouldn’t walk across there in the dark,” he said for emphasis.
    DS Woods nodded. “Well, like I said, we’re not sure what happened, but it would be helpful to know who Ashleigh’s other friends are – anyone she might have seen or talked to on the way home.” He looked at Lauren. “Could you tell Holly do you think?”
    â€œI suppose,” Lauren said.
    â€œGreat.” Woods looked to her parents. “I’d like to get a few more details from you, so would it be all right if they used the kitchen to talk?”
    â€œIt’s a bit of a mess,” Mrs Booth said apologetically.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Holly said, taking her cue from the DS. “Can’t be any worse than ours.”
    She stood up and waited for Lauren to do the same – which she did, but without any enthusiasm.
    Holly followed Lauren to the kitchen and closed the door behind them. As she did so Lauren turned to her directly, her face troubled and confused. “How badly hurt is she – really?” she asked.
    â€œIt is pretty serious,” Holly said, being careful not to say any more than DS Woods had already. She took out her pocketbook – the red one – and sat down at the small kitchen table.
    â€œFrom the accident or…or from being mugged?”
    â€œMostly from the accident,” Holly said.
    â€œWill I be able to see her? If I go to the hospital?”
    â€œI think it’d be better to wait till tomorrow and call to find out. Her mum’s with her though.”
    Lauren shook her head as if it was all too hard to take in. She sat down on a chair. “I can’t believe she’s…that it’s happened, you know? Just like that. She was here, we were watching TV and then…”
    Holly nodded to show she understood. “Does Ashleigh come round here a lot after school?”
    â€œYeah, I suppose. Sometimes I go to hers. Dad doesn’t like that as much though. He always comes to pick me up.”
    â€œBecause of the estate?”
    Lauren nodded.
    â€œBut Ashleigh’s mum’s all right about her going home on her own?”
    Lauren shook her head. “She doesn’t like it either. But she can’t do anything about it – they don’t have a car.” She glanced towards the sitting room. “Dad should’ve taken her. I wanted him to, before he went out.”
    Holly frowned. “Why? I mean, was there a reason why you wanted him to give her a lift today?”
    â€œNo,” Lauren said. “He just could’ve, that’s all.”
    Abruptly she stood up again and went over to the sink to run water into a mug.
    â€œI hate it. I hate living round here,” Lauren said, turning back with the mug in her hand. “Crappy school, crappy shops, crappy everything.”
    And then Holly knew for certain that Lauren was covering something. Changing the conversation like that was the sort of tactic she might have used to dodge questions from her mum.
    â€œListen, Lauren, this is important,” Holly said. “Was Ashleigh all right when she left here? Was there anything wrong?”
    â€œNo, I just said, didn’t I?” Lauren’s mouth set firm against giving anything else. “She was fine. I don’t— No. She was fine.”
    Holly took a beat. “Okay,” she said in the