Under the house she finds the books. At first glance, long, dusty shelves filled with notepads with cheap, flimsy bindings. A studious accountant or diligent chronicler, perhaps? But the books are filled with names, going back to 1976. Names, numbers, addresses, ages. Names upon names upon names. Who are they? Why has he collected them? Then she sees a name she recognises. Olivia Coolidge. The girl who went missing two months ago. Below Olivia, the latest entry in the books, she sees her own name.
Paddy Dobson
26th March 2024