The sound dragged her up inch by inch, her exhausted body resisting, her mind half a step ahead and shouting that it could be a breakthrough, wake up, wake up! She fumbled with the buttons, then with getting the thing to her ear. ‘Yep.’ ‘Um, hi.’ A woman’s voice, anxious and unsure. ‘Is this Detective Marconi?’ Ella struggled into a sitting position and turned on the bedside light, then flinched at the glare. ‘Who is this?’ ‘My name’s Holly Garland, I’m a paramedic. We met yesterday.’ ‘I remember,’ Ella said. ‘How are you?’ ‘Not so good actually. I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I wondered if you’ve taken my brother Seth in for an interview.’ ‘Not that I know of,’ Ella said. ‘Why?’ ‘He was with my fiancé, Norris, today while I was at work. I came home and they weren’t here, and they still haven’t turned up and I can’t find them. I hoped – I thought – if Seth was at the police station for an interview, Norris might be with him.’ Ella was fully awake now.
