At half-six a.m., Michaela slipped out and bought a paper in the local shop.

Meanwhile, a dog walker at the viewpoint noticed the coat drifting around the tree-root, and one of the shoes, and rang the police.

Ten minutes later, the Audi pulled up in the car park, and the driver got out to walk along the path. The police arrived as he was heading back to the Audi, and he was forced to spend an awkward few minutes pretending that he had been caught short driving along and had been using the trees, and no, he hadn't see anyone else, and it looked like that car had been there all night.

~

Michaela was very glad to see that there was nothing about Victoria at all in the paper.

Victoria herself emerged not long after, sleepily settling on the sofa in her dressing gown, and pulling a blanket over herself. Michaela made her tea, then they sat together with their mugs and watched the news.

'How long will it take, do you think?' Victoria asked. 'I'll be offended if no-one notices I've disappeared.'

Michaela laughed and patted her knee though the blanket they were sharing. 'They will. It might take a day or two to make the news.'

Victoria crossed her legs and Michaela felt the dressing gown slide away from her thighs under the blanket. She shifted slightly to cross her own leg over her knee at the ankle; their knees touched lightly but carefully. They rearranged the blanket over them, and Michaela felt Victoria's hand run along the length of her thigh and come to rest between their knees; she felt Victoria's fingers warm though her jeans. Michaela leant against her slightly, and was pleased when Victoria didn't move.

When Victoria stretched up to brush hair from her face, Michaela liked the way her dressing gown parted to reveal part of the curve of her breasts; as far as she could tell, Victoria was naked underneath. Unthinkingly, she moved her leg so that it rubbed Victoria's; Victoria's hand cupped her knee.

Victoria cleared her throat. 'This sofa's OK, but it can't have been very comfortable for you last night.' Her hand slid gently onto Michaela's thigh.

'It was OK.' Michaela held her breath. Their heads were quite close, leaning on the back of the sofa. Michaela turned hers to look at Victoria. A strand of her newly-dyed hair was out of place across her cheek and Michaela reached up to brush it back gently. 'How was the bed?'

'Much nicer.' Victoria smiled and shifted slightly so that their bodies were closer. She allowed Michaela to stroke her cheek and comb her hair. 'You should try it.' She tilted her head, rubbing her cheek against Michaela's.

'With you?'

'If you like.'

'Now?'

'Good idea.'

Michaela brushed her full, parted lips with her own. 'We shouldn't do this.' She traced the line of Victoria's neck with her fingers, sliding them under the collar of the dressing gown.

Victoria moved her head and kissed Michaela gently. 'Probably not.' She reached up and guided Michaela's hand inside her dressing gown, to touch her breast. 'Oh well.'

~

By early afternoon, when they got up and turned the tv on again, Victoria's disappearance was a short news item. They went shopping for supplies, and tested Victoria's new look: no-one paid them any attention.

Sarah texted Michaela about the news that Victoria may have disappeared, and how it was weird because they'd seen her earlier the day before. Michaela suggested the police  might be interested to know about where she'd been last seen.

By the early evening, the disappearance was a full story, and the police said they were keen to trace the driver of a black Audi. 'Boom,' said Michaela. 'This is where it starts to unravel for them.'