building, as everyone tries to trace the woman who may – and it is still only a ‘may’ – have taken her child.
‘Okay, so you think her full name is Theresa.’
‘Yes, but I don’t know for sure. What else is Terri short for?’
‘Don’t know, we’re looking into that now … And you’ve no idea of her surname.’
She shakes her head. ‘Sorry. I only met her a couple of times. She wasn’t very interested in getting to know me. I think she was jealous that Seth and I were so close. Like George. Neither of them understood that we were just friends.’
‘Is there anyone else apart from’ – he looks down at his notes – ‘Seth Williams who would know her surname? Or where she lives or works?’ He puts down his pencil. ‘At the moment, we’ve nothing to go on. Please think.’
‘Seth will be able to tell you all about her. I’ve given you his details.’
Benedict nods. ‘I’m just trying to get ahead of the game. He hasn’t responded to our messages yet. I’ve sent officers to his address and workplace.’ He heaves a frustrated sigh. ‘When did you last see him?’
Amber looks into her lap. Some very uncomfortable thoughts are circulating in her head, spinning faster and faster. She feels dizzy and sick, as if she’s on a fairground ride and can’t get off.
‘I was with him the night Mabel was taken,’ she says finally. ‘At Gaia Hall, on the yoga retreat. I’m not really into that kind of thing, but Seth thought it might help with my depression.’
‘You didn’t mention that before.’
‘I didn’t want George to know, that’s why.’
‘It was Seth’s idea?’
‘Yes. I was in a bit of a state and he suggested I join him.’
‘So he knew you’d be away that night.’
‘Yes, but …’ She screws her face up.
‘Did you share a room?’
‘No. I told you, we’re not lovers, just best friends.’
DI Benedict makes a considering noise in his throat. ‘What time did you last see him?’
Amber has a moment of total recall. She hears her sister’s strangulated voice uttering words she recognises but whose meaning she can’t grasp. Weakness spreads through her limbs. Her fingers start to tingle as the blood rushes away.
‘You okay, Amber?’ DI Benedict leans in. ‘Take your time.’
She coughs, trying to clear the emotion that’s welling in her throat. ‘After Ruby rang to tell me Mabel had been taken, I immediately went to Seth’s room and woke him up. He was really upset and offered to come back to London with me, but I said no. We agreed it would only complicate things if George found out we’d been together.’
‘Did Seth stay on at Gaia Hall after you left?’ She shrugs. ‘Don’t worry if you don’t know, we can check.’ He makes a note.
‘We didn’t text or speak that day – there was so much going on. I tried contacting him the day after, I think … I’m not sure, I can’t remember. It’ll be on my phone. I texted, called, left messages on his voicemail, but he didn’t reply.’
Benedict frowns. ‘Did that seem strange to you?’
‘Yes, very. It’s not like him. I mean, we’re besties, usually we’re in touch most days. I thought maybe he’d backed off because he didn’t want to make trouble for me with George. I was hurt, but so much has happened, I haven’t … you know … dwelt on it too much. I’ve been focused on Mabel.’ She draws in her bottom lip and bites down. ‘But it is strange to ignore me, as if he doesn’t care. After all we’ve done for each other …’
‘What do you mean?’
She feels herself flushing bright pink. ‘He, um … oh God, it’s all so embarrassing … He … um … offered to help me conceive by donating sperm. It was a DIY job – didn’t work. We only tried it once; it was a mistake.’
‘I see.’ Benedict looks thoughtful. ‘Did Terri know about that?’
‘Jesus, no! It was a massive secret between the two of us.’
‘Hmm … So, he tried to help you have a baby. And what did you do for him?’
She puffs out. ‘Oh, loads of things over the years. Seth’s quite fragile. He’s one of four sons; the other three are rugger buggers, full of testosterone. His father’s openly homophobic and his mother’s a drip. She knew about Seth but wouldn’t stand up for him. It’s been hell for him trying to come to terms with his sexual identity. For years he pretended he was straight,