Contents
Tuesday, 16 July
Overview
Josie’s presence becomes more invasive and unsettling as Alix and Nathan agree she must leave before the weekend, yet Josie continues to occupy the house and cross personal boundaries. Alix investigates Josie’s claim about Brooke and confirms that Brooke Ripley was a real missing girl connected to Roxy’s past.
The discovery of a blood-streaked key hidden under Josie’s mattress sharply raises the stakes, suggesting Josie may be concealing evidence or a connection to recent violence. A documentary interview with Brooke’s aunt confirms Brooke’s disappearance and ties Josie’s family story to a larger unresolved mystery.
Summary
The next morning, Nathan privately asks Alix when Josie will leave. Alix says Josie knows Zoe is coming to stay on Saturday, so Josie must be gone by then. Alix also asks Nathan to come home at a reasonable time during the planned gathering with her sisters because she does not want them judging his behavior.
Josie enters the kitchen with soiled bedding and apologizes because Fred has had diarrhoea in the night, possibly from the baba ghanoush. As Fred messes on the kitchen floor, Alix takes over the cleaning while Josie carries the dog outside. The incident deepens Alix’s longing for Saturday, when she hopes Josie will be gone and her family evening can restore normality.
After the school run, Alix speaks to her neighbour’s son Harry about Roxy Fair’s friend Brooke. Harry remembers Brooke as socially mature and says Brooke later went missing, possibly after a toxic falling-out with Roxy that included a physical fight. Harry supplies Brooke’s surname, Ripley, giving Alix a lead to investigate Josie’s story.
Back inside, Alix searches online for Brooke Ripley. After finding no useful Instagram or Facebook people results, Alix discovers Facebook posts about a missing girl named Brooke Ripley. Before Alix can read much, Josie appears with Fred, startling Alix, and reports that she has cleaned the upstairs floor.
Alix goes upstairs with fresh bedding and notices signs that Josie has been using Alix’s foundation and mascara. While remaking the bed, Alix finds a blood-streaked key with a fob marked number 6 hidden under the mattress. Shocked, Alix quickly pushes the key back under the mattress and returns downstairs, where Josie is waiting to continue recording.
A later documentary segment introduces Ffion Roberts, Brooke Ripley’s aunt, who reads the original missing-person Facebook post. The post explains that Brooke vanished after her school prom, was last tracked by CCTV on a bus from Cricklewood toward Maida Vale, and had told friends she was going to meet an unnamed friend. Ffion becomes emotional while recounting the appeal.
Who Appears
- Alix SummerInvestigates Brooke Ripley, cleans up after Fred, and finds Josie’s hidden blood-streaked key.
- Josie FairOverstays in Alix’s home, apologizes for Fred, and appears to hide troubling evidence.
- NathanPresses Alix about Josie leaving and promises better behavior for the weekend gathering.
- HarryNeighbour’s son who remembers Brooke Ripley, her fallout with Roxy, and her disappearance.
- Brooke RipleyRoxy’s former friend whose disappearance after prom becomes central to Alix’s investigation.
- Ffion RobertsBrooke’s aunt, shown in documentary footage reading the missing-person appeal.
- FredJosie’s dog, whose illness creates chaos in Alix’s kitchen and spare room.
- Roxy FairJosie’s daughter, recalled through her toxic falling-out with Brooke before Brooke vanished.