Elizabeth Is Missing (Healey)
Short summary
Contemporary England. Maud was convinced her friend Elizabeth was missing.
She repeatedly called Elizabeth's house and visited, finding no one home. Her daughter Helen and the police dismissed her concerns, insisting Elizabeth was fine. Maud's confusion deepened as she struggled to remember basic information and often got lost.
“Elizabeth is missing!” I shout. I shout so the part of my brain that forgets will stop forgetting. “Elizabeth is missing!” I shout it again and again.
Maud's obsession with Elizabeth intertwined with memories of her sister Sukey, who disappeared in 1946. As a teenager, Maud had searched desperately for Sukey after she vanished following a visit to their home. Sukey's husband Frank was involved in black market activities and had been arrested. Maud discovered a letter suggesting Sukey had feelings for Douglas, their lodger.
Maud learned that Douglas's mother was the "mad woman" who had frightened Sukey and later died after being hit by a car. Frank had helped Sukey hide at a hotel from this woman, but Sukey disappeared from there, leaving her belongings behind.
In the present, Helen eventually took Maud seriously and began digging in Elizabeth's garden, where they discovered human remains. The police identified the body as Sukey's. A manuscript from Judge Wargrave was found, but Maud's notes revealed the truth: Frank had killed Sukey in a rage at his house, burying her body with broken glass birds she feared, then transported the remains to the new houses he was helping to build, planting summer squash over the grave.
Detailed summary by chapters
Chapter titles are editorial.
Prologue. A compact lid discovered in the snow
A woman called out from a warm, cluttered dining room to someone standing outside in the dark snow. She urged the person, addressing her as Maud, to come in from the freezing cold, jokingly promising not to discuss boring topics. In Maud's hand was a broken compact lid, still caked with mud—a small item with tarnished silver and scratched navy-blue enamel. The mildewed mirror within evoked uncomfortable memories. The woman stepped onto the patio, offering to help search. Maud observed snow collected in a shoeprint and clutched the compact lid, reflecting that she had missed this item for nearly seventy years. The earth, softened by melting snow, had presented her with this relic. A faint, ancient sound surfaced, prompting her to ask about summer squash.
Chapter 1. Mauds daily routines and growing concern for Elizabeth
Maud conversed with her carer about a disturbing mugging story, which left her uneasy. The carer inquired about Maud's egg supply and picked up the carers' folder. Maud's thoughts drifted as she tried to recall a story about an old woman in a forest. From the kitchen, the carer admonished Maud for buying too many tins of peaches. Maud reflected that one can never have enough food, as much went missing. She lamented her dwindling treats, recalling her late husband's disapproval of her sweet consumption but finding comfort in eating sweets freely now.
The carer left, locking the door. Maud found a cheese-and-tomato sandwich with a note. After lunch, she watched television, anticipating her daughter and her friend Elizabeth, who collected charity shop items. Maud tried to recall something important about Elizabeth. At a shop, Maud struggled to remember what she came for, eventually picking up tins of peach slices, despite the shopkeeper noting she had bought them yesterday. She found her shopping list and bought a chocolate bar. Returning home, Maud heard an alarm clock. Her daughter Helen arrived, questioning Maud about numerous peach cans and an estate agent. Maud denied going shopping. Helen expressed frustration about Maud's habits. Maud prepared tea, noting labeled items. She applied lipstick, a habit she previously avoided, then descended the stairs. Helen emerged from vacuuming and asked why Maud was all dolled up. Maud, confused, frantically scrubbed off the lipstick. Maud searched her handbag and found a note about peach slices. She noted it was Thursday, the day she usually visited Elizabeth. Maud expressed concern about Elizabeth, fearing something bad had happened. Helen reminded Maud that she sometimes forgot things. Maud admitted to having blanks in her memory. Helen left, and Maud found a note she had written: 'Haven't heard from Elizabeth.' She tried calling Elizabeth but got no answer.
Chapter 2. Restaurant outing and Elizabeths empty house
Maud dined in a restaurant with Helen. Maud repeatedly stated that Elizabeth was missing, but Helen dismissed her. Maud struggled to recognize the restaurant. She read the menu aloud, annoying Helen. A menu item sparked a memory of meeting Elizabeth for the first time because of summer squash and a distinctive garden wall. Helen tried to guide Maud's order. Maud expressed concern about Elizabeth, stating she never went away. Helen ordered for them both. Maud vocalized frustration about friends not being informed about disappearances. Helen attempted to jog Maud's memory about the restaurant, but Maud could not recall. Maud's insistence continued. She felt her heartbeat quicken, frustrated by being dismissed. She kicked the table leg. Feeling a destructive urge, Maud stabbed her side plate, breaking it.
The broken plate triggered a vivid childhood memory of finding broken records in her family's vegetable patch. She recalled trying to piece them together and identified the labels as her sister Sukey's favorite records. She remembered seeing Douglas at his window and a woman scurrying away. Back in the present, Helen rushed Maud, needing to pick up Katy. Maud ate ice cream. She needed the restroom but couldn't locate it. Helen asked if she needed the loo again. Maud became agitated, reading road signs aloud, then insisted on being dropped off immediately. She scrambled out of the car. She hurried to her house, struggling with bladder control and fumbling for her key. She reached the bathroom too late. Sitting in the dark, she began to cry. She resolved to be systematic, writing down that Elizabeth was missing and she must investigate. She prepared pens for her handbag. She left her house, walking past Carrow's. She followed a route bringing back memories of Elizabeth. Arriving at Elizabeth's house, she noticed the net curtains and unchanged pebbled garden wall. She rang the bell. After waiting, she recorded 'No sign of Elizabeth.' She peered through the window, noting the tidy interior and collection of majolica pots. She wrote down her findings. She walked home through the park. At the park steps, she slipped and fell, landing heavily. As she lay there, she reflected on a traumatic memory from her youth: being chased and hit by a mad woman with an umbrella.
Chapter 3. Doctors visit and shopping disaster
Maud called the doctor for a sore arm. Helen arrived, frustrated by Maud's frequent calls. The doctor expressed impatience, revealing Maud had called twelve times in the last fortnight. During the examination, Maud mentioned Elizabeth was missing, which Helen dismissed as an obsession. The doctor suggested a faculties assessment. After the doctor departed, Helen discovered severe bruises on Maud's arm and apologized for not believing her. Maud vaguely attributed the bruises to an umbrella. This led Maud to reflect on her mother's death and her fear of dying without knowing what happened to Sukey. She expressed her desire to find Elizabeth, believing it was connected to her sister.
Maud recalled a shopping trip with Helen and her granddaughter Katy, looking for a sweater. The experience was disorienting due to the overwhelming modern shop environment. Maud's thoughts drifted to a memory: Sukey visiting their home. Sukey, seven years older and more sophisticated, arrived unexpectedly, seeming troubled and anxious. She mentioned her husband Frank was going away. Douglas, their lodger, was present. The family ate fish and chips. Douglas later suggested going to the movies. Maud offered Sukey fake tortoiseshell combs, and Sukey genuinely smiled before leaving abruptly. The scene shifted to Maud at a make-up counter, trying to buy Victory Red lipstick. The sales assistant didn't recognize the shade, offering Seductive Scarlet instead. Maud felt overwhelmed. Disoriented, she accidentally broke a Waterford Crystal vase. A shop assistant confronted her, asking for her address, which Maud could not remember. Helen eventually found her. They found Katy trying on nail polish testers. As they left, Maud mentioned she might have broken something, but Helen attributed it to her bruised arm.
Chapter 4. Investigating Elizabeths house; memories of searching for Sukey
Maud recalled visiting Elizabeth's house, finding no one home. She discussed this with Carla, her carer. Carla suggested unlikely scenarios involving crack addicts. Maud considered revisiting Elizabeth's house. She visited again, found no answer, and made a note. A neighbor woman approached, recognizing Maud. The neighbor informed Maud that Elizabeth's son Peter had been clearing out boxes. Maud was surprised. The neighbor confirmed she hadn't seen Elizabeth, only Peter, but believed he was looking after her properly. Later, Maud received a phone call she made to Peter in the middle of the night. He was rude and angry. He stated Elizabeth was fine and that he had already spoken to Helen. Maud noted his assertion. Maud made tea, thinking about the tea cozy Elizabeth gave her. She recalled Elizabeth mentioning Peter's neglect. Maud's thoughts drifted to Sukey, who disappeared many years ago. The narrative shifted to the past, when Maud, as a child, searched for Sukey with her father after Sukey's sudden disappearance. They visited neighbors, who offered little information. One neighbor described Frank as helpful. Another suggested women often left their husbands. Maud insisted on trying one more house. She explained Sukey's disappearance to a woman, who revealed Sukey had trouble and was seen screaming one night. The woman mentioned seeing Frank carrying a case and implied Sukey didn't like what was going on regarding Frank's business dealings.
The narrative returned to the present with Helen in the dining room. Helen mentioned Maud having spoken to Peter, confirming Elizabeth wasn't missing. Maud asserted Peter said Elizabeth was alright but noted his anger. Helen, dismissive, suggested Peter's anger was understandable. Maud maintained Peter was hiding something. Helen asked Maud to set the table, but Maud struggled, unable to remember where the cutlery went. Helen discreetly corrected the placement, leaving Maud to feel she had failed an important test.
Chapter 5. Phone call to Peter; past encounters with neighbors
Maud attended an Anglican church service with Carla. Inside the old church, Maud felt drab. During the service, she instinctively crushed a flower head, connecting it to a past memory. After the service, a woman approached her with biscuits. Maud experienced confusion, unable to recall where she was. The woman told her they were at St Andrew's. Maud confessed her forgetfulness. The woman introduced her to the vicar. The group discussed Elizabeth, who was missing from their congregation. Maud interjected, stating Elizabeth was missing. She explained she had been looking for her and that Elizabeth wasn't at home. The woman and a man dismissed her concerns. Maud became increasingly frustrated and angry. In a fit of anger, Maud threw her teacup, which shattered. The woman offered to take her home. As they drove, Maud gave incorrect directions. She wrote a note: 'Elizabeth not at church.' The woman reassured her that God looks after his flock and that she should look after herself.
Chapter 6. Police station and Sergeant Needhams visit
Maud visited the police station. She searched her pockets for a note about why she came. A voice addressed her. A man behind the desk seemed to know her, asking if it was the same as usual and confirming her reason, mentioning Elizabeth. Maud felt relief. The officer then implied Elizabeth's missing status was due to her no-good son and noted Maud had been in four times before. Maud realized the police were not taking her seriously. Overwhelmed, she left. The narrative shifted to a past memory. Maud's father and mother frequently visited the police about Sukey's disappearance. A policeman, Sergeant Needham, visited their home about Sukey and Frank, who had also gone missing. He dismissed the initial screaming business and suggested people went missing because they couldn't adjust to post-war life. The sergeant revealed Frank was wanted for coupon fraud. Maud's father expressed disbelief that Sukey would be involved. The sergeant suggested Frank might have done something to Sukey and fled. Ma defended Frank. Douglas entered and was introduced. Douglas stated Frank was a jealous man with a temper. The sergeant questioned Douglas about his relationship with Sukey. Douglas claimed Sukey told him Frank could be jealous. Maud was surprised. The sergeant pressed Douglas for details. Douglas said Sukey told him lots of times over the summer. Ma expressed skepticism. The sergeant finished his tea and left.
Back in the present, Maud discarded her notes about Elizabeth, feeling terrible but helpless. She decided to create a notice: 'Elizabeth is not missing.' Carla arrived and approved. Maud recalled how Sukey suggested Douglas as a lodger. Helen arrived, shouting about Maud leaving the gas on. Maud was disoriented. Helen emphasized Maud must not cook. Maud complied, and Helen helped her write on the sign.
Chapter 7. Charity shop dismissal and Sukeys suitcase
Maud was in a restless mood. She tried to focus by tidying her house. Carla arrived and observed Maud buffing the table with what Carla identified as one of Sukey's skirts, now ruined. Carla also pointed out Maud had piled books into the fireplace. Maud felt she needed to be somewhere and decided to go out. She found brightly colored scraps of paper from her pockets. One scrap reminded her of a 2 p.m. commitment at the Charity Shop. Upon entering, Maud encountered Peggy, a colleague. Peggy informed Maud she was not needed, stating she and Mavis had decided Maud wasn't up to working there due to difficulty with the till. Maud, feigning interest in a basket, found a picture frame identical to one Elizabeth owned. She believed it was Elizabeth's. Maud offered to make Peggy coffee and used the opportunity to search for old photos. She found a photo of herself and Elizabeth from the day they met. The discovery led Maud to a strong feeling that Elizabeth might be dead. Maud put the photo in her pocket. After giving Peggy tea instead of coffee, she left. She rested in the park, pondering her discovery. This triggered a memory of her father bringing home Sukey's suitcase, nearly three months after Sukey's disappearance. The suitcase held Sukey's belongings, imbued with a sour smell. Her mother and father were visibly distressed. Douglas entered, and it was revealed the police found the suitcase at the Station Hotel. Douglas questioned whether Sukey actually stayed at the hotel. Maud washed Sukey's clothes, realizing this was all that remained of her sister.
Chapter 8. Family meal and breaking into Elizabeths house
Maud was with her son Tom, his wife Britta, and their children at a cafe. She struggled to follow their conversation. Helen suggested taking her home. Tom intervened, suggesting she stay longer, leading to a tense exchange with Helen. Tom offered to take their mother home. Maud observed her grandchildren. She commented on Anna's socks. This led her to reminisce about wearing skirts and socks in her youth, and a memory of walking with her parents near cliffs. Her father was arguing with her mother about Sukey and Frank. Maud recalled finding shells on the beach and being drawn to a disused dancing shack. She investigated a flapping sound and discovered a human eye looking out from within. A voice inside whispered about glass breaking, birds flying, a van, soil, and summer squash, before shouting, 'I'm watching you.' Terrified, Maud ran, looking back to see a figure with an umbrella, identified as the mad woman, emerge from the shack. Later, tipsy from wine, Maud was being driven home by Tom and Britta. As they passed Elizabeth's house, Maud noticed the side gate was open and insisted on walking the rest of the way alone. Outside Elizabeth's house, Maud wandered into the garden through the open gate. She found raw earth and felt compelled to dig by an apple tree. Peering through the French windows, she saw Elizabeth's chair was empty, and the kitchen door was unlocked. Inside, the kitchen was largely empty. The dining room carpet was shabby, and many of Elizabeth's usual items were missing. Maud's breath quickened. She found a letter addressed to Elizabeth in the hall. Suddenly, Elizabeth's son Peter arrived. Maud hid in the larder, remembering hiding there as a child after Sukey went missing. She recalled Douglas rummaging through Sukey's suitcase. Hearing Peter's voice and sounds of him moving things, Maud remained hidden. She realized Elizabeth was not home and saw the stairlift. Going upstairs, she found all doors open. Elizabeth's room smelled of rose talcum powder, but there were no personal items. Maud recalled Elizabeth being burgled years ago. She wrote a note: 'Elizabeth's house searched—DEFINITELY not there.' She then heard the stairlift activate. Panic set in. She hid, then discovered the stairlift was empty; she had inadvertently sat on the remote control. After composing herself, she used the remote to bring the stairlift back and rode it down.
Chapter 9. Hospital visit and memories of past illness
Maud anxiously awaited Helen. She peered out the window, hoping to see Helen's car, but was startled by shadows in the garden. In her haste, she fell, injuring her thumb. This brought back memories of Helen holding her thumb as a baby. A passing car was not Helen's. Maud realized it was late and Helen might not come. Maud's injured thumb triggered a flashback to a period of illness in her youth, specifically the summer after Sukey disappeared. She recounted a time when she was extremely tired and disoriented. Mrs. Winners found her collapsed and helped her back home, where Maud remained bedridden for weeks. During this time, her parents were very worried. Maud recalled vivid hallucinations from her illness: Sukey, snails on the ceiling, Douglas, the mad woman, and auditory hallucinations. The narrative shifted back to the present, with Helen bringing Maud home from the hospital. Maud insisted she was there for weeks, while Helen maintained it was only a few hours. Maud's hand was bandaged. Helen offered to make tea and reminded Maud of the nurse's advice to cut down on food. Maud found a note from the nurse regarding hunger and a list of care homes. Maud attempted to call Helen but the papers fell, and she unwound her bandage. Helen rushed in, exasperated, and re-bandaged her hand. Helen spotted the list of care homes. Maud expressed her fear of going into one. Helen reassured Maud she wasn't going into a home, but clarified the list was old, used for 'No Elizabeth.' Maud refused to let Helen throw the list away. Helen left to make tea.
Chapter 10. Library visit and following Douglas to the van
Maud expressed her dislike for a library. Helen asked her to keep her voice down. Maud approached the desk, realizing she had a library slip addressed to Elizabeth. She told the librarian she was looking for something but couldn't recall what. When asked, she stated it was a true story about Elizabeth. The librarian directed her to the crime section. Maud found shelves filled with books about bones and blood, which she found oppressive. Helen joined her, and Maud recalled pressing flowers in books with Sukey. She recounted a memory of giving Elizabeth a comb, which Elizabeth deliberately crushed in a hardback book. Helen disputed this memory. As they left, Maud picked up 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' from a trolley and shook it. The librarian admonished her. She dropped it and left with Helen. Maud's vision was distorted by the sun. Helen called out to her, and Maud, surprised, struggled to identify her. Helen asked who she was following, and Maud replied, 'Douglas.' She then recalled a past memory: following Douglas after seeing his shadow. She had been ill for weeks but was determined to discover what he was doing. Douglas paused at the wreck of his old house, and Maud realized they were heading towards Sukey's street. She followed him up a lane by Frank's house. She stopped at a yard entrance, exhausted, and crept forward, finding Douglas emerging from an old van. She confronted him. Douglas tried to block her view, but she saw broken furniture, tea chests, and dust sheets. She deduced someone lived there and pressed Douglas about Sukey. Douglas denied it was Sukey, stating it was the mad woman who had been living in the van. Maud shivered. She crawled into the van, spotting a cracked mirror and Douglas's hand holding a crinkled newspaper package. She accused him of feeding the mad woman. Douglas admitted she had been living there for a while. He thought the woman might have seen something related to Sukey's disappearance. Maud, disgusted, questioned his sanity. He defended the woman. Douglas then pointed to a deformed comb in the van, which Maud recognized. She demanded to know how the woman got it and what happened to Sukey.
Chapter 11. Getting lost and Frank at the pub
Maud experienced disorientation and an urgent need to find Sukey. She dressed haphazardly and left her house. Outside, the cold air momentarily distracted her, but she soon realized she was lost in an unfamiliar area. Exhausted, she dropped Polo mints to mark her path. A man approached her, inquiring about her destination and home. Maud, unable to remember her address, eventually told him her mother was waiting. A memory then surfaced, transporting Maud to a past encounter with Frank after school. She found him looking disheveled, leaning against Mrs. Winners's hedge. He asked about her parents and Sukey, expressing surprise that Sukey hadn't contacted her husband. Frank pressed Maud, asking if Sukey confided in her. Maud denied knowing anything. Frank spoke of missing Sukey and her belongings. He invited Maud for a drink at The Fiveways pub. Despite her apprehension, Maud agreed, driven by a desire to talk about Sukey. She left a button from her cardigan at the cellar door. Inside the smoky pub, Frank directed Maud to a table. A thin, sweating man approached Maud, making her uncomfortable. She felt a profound sense of unease. Frank returned with drinks, offering Maud ginger ale. The pub filled with more people. Frank touched Maud's chin, remarking that she looked just like Sukey. He revealed he had been in jail for two weeks. Another man, Ron, teased Frank about Maud's youth. Maud noted that others seemed to mistake her for Sukey. Annoyed, Maud tried to leave, but Frank insisted on continuing their conversation. He accused her of sounding like Sukey and revealed that her parents believed he killed Sukey. He showed Maud a letter from her father. Frank blamed Douglas for influencing her father. Maud left after Frank used foul language, finding her lost button on the way out.
The narrative shifted back to Maud's present disoriented state, likely at a police station. She attempted to block out the noise of a shouting woman and a singing man. She observed the familiar yet unsettling environment. A bleeding man was brought in. Maud tried to share details about Sukey's perfume and earrings, but no one seemed to hear her. Overwhelmed, she shut her eyes. She heard a familiar voice, and Helen was there. Helen comforted Maud and pulled her up, guiding her through a crowd. As they left, Maud picked up a Polo mint and later a striped earring from the pavement, mistaking it for Sukey's. Helen, concerned, told her to put it down. Maud reflected on her past habit of collecting items she believed might belong to Sukey after her disappearance. She used to fill her pockets with small objects found on the streets. Douglas would occasionally inquire about her finds. This obsessive searching consumed her after school. She would retrace Sukey's usual routes. She spent hours examining their matching combs. This relentless search led to Maud becoming ill. Ma, frustrated by Maud's collection of rubbish, confronted her, waving an old lipstick lid and asking why Maud kept bringing these things home, to which Maud replied, 'I thought they might have been Sukey's.'
Chapter 12. Cognitive assessment and Sukeys apple-stewed letter
Maud was at a doctor's office with Helen. Maud exhibited signs of memory loss and confusion. She observed a child playing with plastic bricks. The child eventually placed items in her handbag. Her name appeared on the computer screen. In the consultation room, the doctor began to assess her cognitive state. He asked her basic questions about the date, season, year, and location. Maud answered with varying degrees of accuracy and frustration. She recalled a similar quiz at a day center she visited with Elizabeth. Maud became agitated, expressing her dislike for the bloody stupid questions. The doctor continued, asking her to repeat three items: 'Train, pineapple, hammer.' Maud could only recall 'hammer,' her mind fixated on notes in her handbag about Elizabeth being missing. The doctor proceeded to ask her to count backwards from a hundred by sevens. He then asked her to identify a telephone and a wooden object, which she misidentified. Maud struggled to follow instructions. She also misinterpreted a card with 'CLOSE YOUR EYES' written on it. The doctor then asked Maud to write a full sentence. She wrote, 'My friend Elizabeth is missing,' prompting a sigh from Helen. Next, she was asked to draw a clock face, but her hand shook, and she ended up drawing a frog-like creature. The narrative then shifted to a scene with Katy, who brought a computer to play music for Maud. Katy tried to play Vera Lynn, but Maud disliked it intensely. Katy was surprised. Maud then requested to hear Ezio Pinza's 'Champagne Aria,' recalling her past with Douglas. She vividly remembered listening to the record on his gramophone and described sneaking into his room to listen to records after her illness and Sukey's disappearance. She also recalled searching his belongings but finding nothing peculiar except for an umbrella. The memory of the umbrella triggered a flashback to the mad woman who chased her. Returning to the present, Maud and Katy were interrupted by two strangers. Helen appeared. Katy then loudly offered to find any music Maud desired. Maud asked for Ezio Pinza again, and Katy found the 'Champagne Aria,' playing it repeatedly. As Maud ate, she found a stiff booklet in the newspaper she was using as a plate. This was the apple-stewed letter, addressed to D. Weston, with Sukey's blurred handwriting. Maud had previously dismissed the letter due to its illegibility, but now, due to months of drying, the words were clear: a message from Sukey to Doug, apologizing, expressing happiness about his letter, and stating her intention to tell Frank. Ma and Dad then entered, having seen Frank, who was out of jail and apparently drunk. Dad mentioned Frank's surprise that Sukey wasn't staying with them. As Douglas came downstairs for dinner, Maud reflected on the letter and the possibility of a secret relationship between Sukey and Douglas. Ma complained about Frank's disheveled appearance. Maud, observing Douglas, dismissed the idea of Sukey loving him as too fantastic yet felt the crinkling letter was an answer.
Chapter 13. Garden collecting and the Station Hotel
Maud was in her garden with Helen, who expressed concern about Maud's behavior. Maud was agitated, searching for a thing that would lead her to someone missing, although she could not recall who. Helen eventually named Elizabeth, which brought a moment of clarity. Maud then engaged in gardening, putting leaves into her pocket and pulling roots, until Helen stopped her from damaging a shrub. Maud found a box of jars and bottles by the gate. She selected one labeled 'BRANSTON PICKLE,' which triggered a vivid memory of Elizabeth's dining room. Maud placed a wet hair tie, a broken Polo mint, and a plastic frog into the jar. A woman with a long black ponytail, identified as a carer, emerged from Maud's house. The carer expressed concern for Helen before leaving. Maud continued to collect various objects from neighbors' gardens, placing them into the pickle jar, constantly thinking of Elizabeth. She observed a neighbor cementing over their garden. Maud walked towards the Station Hotel, now the Cotlands Care Home. She recalled a past visit there, prompted by Sukey's suitcase being found at the station. The memory of finding a letter mentioning Sukey's lover and Douglas's name made Maud suspect the hotel was a meeting place for affairs. Inside the hotel, Maud climbed a winding staircase. She observed railway passengers. She searched for Sukey. Along a corridor, she peeked into a room, mistaking a woman for Sukey, only to be confronted by the woman and a man. The woman, Nancy, asked if Maud was hurt, offering brandy. Frank appeared, recognizing Maud. Maud felt a pang of empathy for Frank. Overwhelmed, she fled up the stairs. Frank called out to her. He explained he was there for a drink and confirmed Maud was referring to Sukey. Maud told him Sukey's suitcase was found there. Nancy reappeared, offering Maud a drink, which Maud declined. Maud learned Nancy worked at the hotel. Maud teased Frank about his generosity, then asked if Nancy was the one who wrote Sukey's name in the register. Frank's behavior changed; he approached her, demanding to know what she had discovered. Maud, disturbed, crumbled Sukey's letter in her pocket. Frank demanded the letter, and Maud, while struggling against his grip, asked if Sukey had told him anything. As Frank twisted her arm, Maud dropped the letter over the banister. Frank lunged for it, accidentally pulling Maud further over the edge, causing her to lose her footing. He then pulled her back onto the landing, visibly shaken. Maud tried to reassure him she wasn't a ghost. Frank descended the stairs, telling Maud he could not be trusted. Maud contemplated the potential fatal fall. Frank then asked Maud to share a memory of Sukey. Maud recounted a childhood memory of burying Sukey in sand at the beach. Frank, picking up the crumpled letter, told Maud to go home.
Chapter 14. Moving houses and Franks tea chest
The chapter opened with Maud in a state of confusion, being packed by Helen. Maud frequently forgot where she was or what she was doing, believing she was going on holiday when in fact she was moving in with Helen. Her memory lapses were evident. She insisted on keeping seemingly worthless items for Elizabeth. Maud expressed persistent worry about Elizabeth, asking how Elizabeth would know where she was if she moved. Helen dismissed her concerns, promising to tell Peter, who would then pass the message to Elizabeth. Maud suspected Peter had harmed Elizabeth. The narrative shifted abruptly. Maud perceived Katy as a stranger and mistook Helen for a missing woman from a newspaper. She believed she was in a strange room. Maud discovered notes with Elizabeth's name in her pyjama pockets, confirming her fear that Elizabeth was missing. As Maud wandered through the house, searching for the loo, she noticed a sign pointing the way. She saw herself in a mirror, wearing someone else's shirt. In the bathroom, more notes with Elizabeth's name fell from her pockets. Maud attempted to write down her plan using a newspaper, which Helen then revealed was being used to wrap apples. This triggered a flashback to Maud's youth, packing apples with her mother, Ma, and Douglas. During this memory, Douglas was seen reading old newspapers. Maud recalled a conversation about Frank, a man who helped move a family into newly built houses and worked on their gardens, bringing soil and planting vegetables. Ma seemed wary of mentioning Frank in front of her father. The flashback continued with Maud and Douglas discussing newspaper articles. Douglas was reading advertisements, and Maud spotted a headline about the Grosvenor Hotel murder. The article detailed how police were inundated with reports of missing wives. Maud reflected on the possibility that Sukey might have run away. However, the fear conveyed in the article infected Maud, leading her to consider the terrifying alternative that Sukey might be a victim. Another profound flashback sequence detailed Maud's clandestine meeting with Frank after a previous unsettling encounter. Frank waited for her after school, looking cleaner. He confessed he could not invite her in and instead asked her to come to his house. Maud, wary but intrigued, followed Frank to his sparsely furnished, sawdust- and stale smoke-filled house. He secured the front door. He revealed that his furniture was sold to pay debts. He lit a candle. Frank opened a tea chest, revealing Sukey's clothes, explaining she only took one suitcase to the hotel. His gaze made Maud uncomfortable. Maud, deeply disturbed, finally asked if Sukey was dead. Frank winced and recounted how the mad woman scared Sukey from their house twice. The second time, after a row with Frank about Douglas, Sukey took a room at the Station Hotel. When Sukey didn't meet him in London as planned, Frank assumed she had returned home. However, she had left the hotel, leaving her clothes, and vanished. Maud, devastated, found a broken, painted fingernail amidst the dust at the bottom of the chest. She slipped it into her matchbox. Frank questioned her, but she denied having anything. Maud tried on a large striped shirt, then observed a blue dress, Sukey's favorite, which Frank didn't recognize. The room, her furniture, and even her mother's appearance seemed wrong to her.
Chapter 15. Disorientation at Helens house and placing the newspaper advertisement
Maud, disoriented, navigated what she believed to be her kitchen, guided by written notes. She encountered Helen, whom she initially mistook for an employee. Maud expressed confusion about a woman who worked there and her granddaughter Katy. Helen gently corrected Maud. Maud struggled with these revelations. She fiddles with strange orange objects in a drawer, which Helen explained were reusable shopping bags. Katy then entered, greeted Maud as Grandma, and Maud, for a brief moment, recognized her. Katy exclaimed, 'She's cured!' Maud, however, quickly became confused again. Maud followed Katy into a corridor but immediately felt lost. She consulted her notes for directions back to the kitchen and found Helen, asking where she was. Helen reassured her. Maud, suspicious, ordered coffee cake. While Helen was away, Maud observed an umbrella and a newspaper. She then saw a girl she believed was stealing from the hall shelves, whom she followed outside. Maud pretended to look at sunflowers, gathered seeds, and then pursued the girl onto the main road. The girl boarded a bus, and Maud lost her. Maud walked home, noticing rubbish in the street. She then saw a miniature whisky bottle, which reminded her of Frank. She recalled a past encounter with Frank in his car, where she recounted memories of Sukey. Frank, emotionally moved, mistook Maud for Sukey upon her approach to the car. He held her wrist, then drank whisky. Maud, feeling uncomfortable, describes Frank pressing his face into her neck, and her fear of what might happen next. She whispered his name, and he sat up. Maud then clumsily exited the car. Upon returning home, Douglas confronted Maud about being with Frank in the car, revealing he had seen them. Maud, seeing a newspaper in his hands, deflected. Douglas, hurt, looked down. He then confronted Maud about wearing Sukey's clothes and being with Frank, accusing her of playing at being her. Douglas physically blocked Maud, grabbed her chin, and rubbed her mouth, trying to remove Sukey's lipstick, telling her she can't ever replace her. The scene shifted abruptly, and Maud was now on a bus, struggling to find her pass. The driver and other passengers grew impatient. Maud, feeling hot and flustered, started reciting a Bible verse. A passenger suggested letting her on because she's old. The driver allowed her to sit. Through the window, Maud observed a man biting on cigarettes. The bus passed Elizabeth's house and an acacia tree. Maud misses her stop, having to walk back to the Echo office. Inside, she met a woman with fat cheeks who initially mistook Maud's inquiry for a lost cat advertisement. Maud corrected her, clarifying she was looking for Elizabeth. The woman initially suggested Elizabeth might be a cat. Maud, confused by the suggestion, proceeded to fill out a form, but struggled with the details. The woman helped her. Maud eventually stated that she wanted to place an advert for 'Elizabeth Markham,' clarifying that Elizabeth was a person, not a cat. The woman, realizing her mistake, started a new form. She quoted prices for the advert and counted Maud's money from her purse. Maud found herself outside again, drenched in rain. She saw cars and a lorry, feeling disoriented. A car swerved, and she stumbled. She recalled the mad woman shouting at her, words she now remembered clearly: 'Saw you... In the car with Frank. Playing at being her. Wearing her lipstick... You can't replace her.' Maud started to take off her wet clothes, and her umbrella rolled into the road, hit by a car. She was too frightened to retrieve it, but remembered the mad woman's words and the bang on her shoulder. She tried to reconcile these memories. She found a green, checked ribbon on the ground. At the end of the road, she found Katy, who called her Grandma and noted she was soaked. Maud expressed her profound disorientation, telling Katy she was lost and didn't know where she lived. Katy comforted Maud, giving her her jacket, and they headed towards a cafe. Maud was hesitant to enter the noisy, modern cafe but Katy seemed at home. Maud ordered tea, but Katy suggested a latte. As Katy ordered, Maud contemplated whether she would forget Katy if she looked away. Katy brought the drinks, and Maud, mistaking her latte for a milkshake, was relieved when Katy clarified it was milky coffee. Katy pats Maud's head with napkins to dry her, and Maud realized they were on Bath Road. She lamented the changes to the street. Katy tried to call her mother, but the line was busy. Maud, mistaking Katy's phone for a shell, recalled Douglas with a shell. Katy reassured Maud that they would go home soon. Maud mused that coffee is good for the memory. Katy noticed Maud's tightly curled fingers. Maud spilled her large coffee, and Katy, laughing, replaced it with a smaller espresso cup. Maud used the restroom, where she saw her reflection in the mirror, initially mistaking herself for another old woman. She scrubbed at her smudged lipstick. Inside the cubicle, she had a flashback to hiding in her mother's larder from her children, and later being found there by Patrick, who kissed her. Katy's voice called 'Grandma?' from outside. Maud emerged to find a younger version of Helen, whom she recognized as Katy. Katy put a jacket around Maud's shoulders and led her to a bus shelter. Maud asked about planting summer squash. They took another bus, and Maud asked repeatedly where they were going. They got off near a new house that Maud disliked. Katy explained that Maud lived with them now. Maud then remembered she needed to go to the Echo office for Elizabeth. Katy, walking beside her, suggested an advert. Maud agreed. Maud asked Katy if she wasn't her mother, and Katy gently reminded her she was her granddaughter. Maud recognized Katy. They returned to the new house. Katy offered her coffee cake, then a banana sandwich, which Maud recalled fondly from her youth. The narrative shifted to a memory of Maud in a greengrocer's queue. She encountered Nancy from the Station Hotel, who recognized her and asked about Sukey. Maud questioned Nancy about signing Sukey's name on the hotel register. Nancy admitted Frank asked her to, explaining Sukey was distressed outside in the van, and Frank wanted to get her into a room quickly to avoid the mad woman seeing her. Nancy initially claimed to the police she hadn't seen Sukey. Nancy explained she missed Sukey and Frank going up to the room because she had to cover for a telephonist. She reiterates that Frank wanted to sneak Sukey in to avoid the mad woman. Nancy confirmed seeing Frank come back down later, describing him as in a state. He told her he had to go to London. Nancy offered to check on Sukey, but Frank said she had gone straight to bed. Nancy added that the bed certainly looked slept in the next day.
Chapter 16. Peters anger and visiting the cemetery
Maud was sifting through a drawer filled with new items and clipped pictures of a German family. She found tiny lampposts, which she identified as pencil leads, and broke one intentionally. Her reverie was interrupted by the doorbell. As she rushed to answer, Maud banged into a bookcase, collected two dirty teacups, and then drank the cold tea from one. She struggled to navigate the staircase. The doorbell rang insistently, and she opened it to a man who burst in, accusing her of going too far with a bloody advert. Maud, disoriented, focused on the stairs, asking the man how they could have moved. He was frustrated by her question, and she recognized him as Peter, Elizabeth's son. She wrongly accused him of moving the stairs out of spite. Helen arrived, interrupting the heated exchange. Peter explained to Helen that her mother placed an advertisement in the newspaper asking for information about his mother. Katy also appeared, collecting cups and later her mother's shopping bags. Helen, after Peter left abruptly, read the advertisement, which used an old house number. Maud denied placing it, claiming she was inspired by old newspaper cuttings she kept about people leaving home. These cuttings offered her hope that Sukey might have simply run away. Maud reflected on her growing suspicion of Douglas. She recalls showing the newspaper cuttings to Frank at the pub, where he expressed a preference for Sukey to have run away. Frank recounted how Sukey first declared she would marry him. Walking home with Frank, Maud was met by Mrs. Winners, who warned her about the mad woman prowling. Douglas then appeared in the garden, having watched Frank leave, and spoke cryptically about the new houses and the unknown things beneath the ground. Later, Helen brought Maud tea, which had a distinct fennel smell that Maud disliked. Maud was trying to write a letter, but it was only scribbles. She struggled with her memory, realizing Elizabeth was missing, and Helen took her hand in comfort. Maud asked to visit Patrick's grave, and Helen agreed. In the car, Maud experienced further confusion. At the cemetery, Maud struggled with the reality of death, particularly when confronting the grave of the mad woman, Violet. She recounted an altered memory of Violet chasing her and stealing her sister's comb. Helen assured her that Violet was dead and could not be watching her. Maud discovered a crumpled piece of paper in her pocket with the name Kenneth Lloyd Holmes, the man arrested for the Grosvenor Hotel murder. Maud remembered writing to Kenneth Lloyd Holmes, describing Sukey and asking if he had killed her. Frank reacted with anger to her letter. Maud continued her search for Sukey, going to the Pavilion Ballrooms wearing Sukey's green dress. At the Pavilion, she sat, observing people, and later saw Douglas. He revealed he came there every evening there was dancing, also hoping to find Sukey. They shared a moment of understanding and shared grief. Maud later tried to go with him again but missed him. Walking home after the dance, Maud encountered the mad woman again. The woman was peering into a parked car, and a man was shouting about someone trying to dig up his summer squash, mistakenly believing it was old Mr. Murphy, due to gleaming white hair. Maud realized it was the mad woman and fled.
Chapter 17. Return to the old house and the mad womans death
Maud arrived at her house to find it dark. She could not find her keys, leading to panic. As she searched, her front door opened to reveal a youngish man named Sean, who seemed startled by her presence. He told her to stay outside, but Maud followed him into a strangely altered hallway. Sean, who was on the phone, offered her fish and chips, and then a small child, Poppy, appeared. Sean introduced Maud as the lady who used to live here. Maud felt disoriented. In her panic, Maud discovered a small blue square of paper in her ripped coat lining with her writing: 'Where is Elizabeth?' She began shouting, 'Elizabeth is missing!' repeatedly. Poppy watched her from the banister before running upstairs. Helen then appeared, comforting Maud and trying to reassure her. Helen gently reminded Maud that she no longer lived there and that Elizabeth was not missing. Maud continued to insist Elizabeth was missing, asking Helen if she believed it too. Hearing Helen's conversation with a man who helped her gather strewn items, Maud gradually recalled that she moved in with Helen. As Helen drove her, Maud believed Helen nearly hit a man on a bicycle, which triggered a fragmented memory of a past event. Maud accused Helen of having knocked someone down previously, specifically an old woman in front of their house. Helen denied this, but Maud insisted, recalling the woman standing over her bed before Helen allegedly knocked her down so she wouldn't come back. Maud then remembered being in Douglas's room, listening to the 'Champagne Aria,' when she heard the screech of car brakes and her mother's voice. This memory transitioned into a flashback where Maud, as a younger girl, described the mad woman being hit by a car. She rushed out to find the woman huddled in the road, bleeding and disfigured. Her mother, Ma, was already there, and Mrs. Winners called an ambulance. Maud helped Ma by holding the woman's hand, noticing plants scattered around her. The mad woman made a harsh noise and pressed something into Maud's hand—a small, delicate object. Ma tried to understand the woman's whispered words, hearing 'Birds?' and something about 'whose head.' The ambulance arrived after the mad woman had stopped whispering and seemed to die in Ma's arms. Mrs. Winners comforted Ma, remarking on the woman's dangerous habits. Ma corrected her, stating it was a Morris car, not a bus, that hit her. Mrs. Winners poured tea, and Maud observed her shivering mother. When asked what was in her closed fist, Maud revealed the mad woman's gift: a dry, faded squash flower. Mrs. Winners dismissed it as worthless, but Maud explained the woman's connection to a man's garden where she might have dug up squash. Ma then recounted the mad woman's last words, where she spoke of little birds flying round her head and mentioned her daughter, telling Ma they had both lost our girls. Mrs. Winners dismissed this as raving, but Ma insisted the woman knew her. The narrative shifted back to Maud in what appeared to be an old folks' home. Helen told her she would be back on Monday, but Maud believed she was being left there permanently. Helen tried to persuade her to garden before eventually leaving. Maud was alone in the room, seeing a 'WELCOME TO KEEBLE HOUSE' notice. She found the name and address in her notes. A caregiver escorted her to a lounge where other elderly residents were gathered. Maud, disoriented, told the caregiver she had been waiting hours and hours but could not recall for what. She observed an old woman dipping her nose into her tea. A man, possibly Spanish, served tea. Maud felt it was late and she must wait for Sukey. She picked at tape on her chair, quoting a poem about weary dancers. A woman with white hair barked about someone being in her seat. The woman criticized Maud for picking at the tape. Maud, unable to remember the next line of the poem, sang the beginning instead. The woman complained about Maud to another man. Maud stated she was waiting for a matador with a great cloak who had her sister. A dark woman gave Maud a fake flower, and Maud clutched it. This led to another flashback about Douglas and his shabby bouquet of flowers after his mother's death. Douglas arrived at Maud's house with wilting flowers, announcing his mother's death. Ma, confused, reminded him his mother was already dead from a bomb. Douglas clarified that his mother survived the bomb and was the mad woman who chased Maud. Maud covered her surprise by rattling the kettle. Douglas explained his mother's delicate health after his sister Dora died before the war, and her decline after his father didn't return from France in 1940. She became troublesome, leading to police involvement and their eventual moonlight flit to a new town. Douglas tried to protect her, even after she survived the bombing by living in their wrecked house. Douglas recounted how his mother was difficult and obsessed with Dora's belongings in the bombed house. He provided tea, and Maud brought his food. He told them his mother later lived in a shack on the beach and then at Frank's stables, seeking proximity to Sukey because Sukey resembled his sister. He added that Maud also resembled his sister. Maud remembered seeing the mad woman's umbrella in Douglas's room. Douglas explained he took it from her when she entered Maud's room while Maud was ill. He admitted his mother also stole food. Maud speculated the mad woman smashed the records in the garden. Douglas confessed he smashed the records himself in anger after Sukey, frightened by his mother at Frank's house, ran to him and said cruel things about his mother. He put the broken records at the end of the garden. Maud quoted Sukey's letter, 'Please let us be friends again.' Douglas confirmed Sukey wanted to tell Frank about his mother, but he asked her not to, fearing Frank would use it against him. Ma asked what Sukey said that angered Douglas. He revealed Sukey suggested sending his mother to an institution, but he couldn't, wanting his mother to remain connected to the family and Dora's memory.
Chapter 18. Digging in the garden and discovering Sukeys remains
Maud, disoriented and holding a small shovel, found herself in an unfamiliar garden and expressed a strong desire to go home. She tried to get attention. She encountered a woman with short blond curls and freckles, who identified herself as Mum's daughter, Helen. Helen stated she had come to take her home and asked what she was doing. Maud, confused by the unfamiliar surroundings and the new houses, recalled a traumatic childhood memory of being buried in sand by Sukey. Helen then mentioned visiting Elizabeth, but Maud insisted Elizabeth was missing. Helen tried to correct her, explaining Elizabeth was in a rehabilitation unit after a stroke, and recounted past visits. Maud, still confused, questioned Helen's physical presence and asked about the small shovel, which Helen identified as a trowel. Helen suggested Peter said they could visit Elizabeth, warning it might be a shock due to Elizabeth's altered appearance. Maud thought about the word 'trowel,' feeling it was important. Helen proposed going to see Elizabeth that day and apologized for leaving Maud. Once Helen was visible behind a gate, Maud struggled to recognize her. A drive ensued, during which Maud saw a bird and other street scenes, but focused on the word 'trowel' and blurting out 'Helen...'.
“Elizabeth is missing,” I say, feeling a twist of something inside me, the memory of a smile. “Did I tell you?” I catch at the woman’s sleeve before she’s out of reach.
They arrived at a hospital, a long, white corridor. Maud, disoriented, made confused remarks about the patients. Helen led her to a bed, where Elizabeth, described as tiny with a crumpled, withered face, lay with closed eyes. A man explained Elizabeth had a rough night but would wake up, instructing them to be quiet. Maud sat quietly, whispering to Elizabeth about tea and chocolate. The man, later identified as Peter, questioned the starvation comment and then blamed Maud for Elizabeth's condition, stating she was digging in the garden. He revealed that Elizabeth's fall, which caused the stroke, happened while she was looking for something in the garden, and implied that something valuable was found but not reported. Maud's mind drifted to past memories of blackberry picking with Ma and Douglas. A flashback detailed blackberry picking with her mother and Douglas after the mad woman died. Frank arrived and observed their juice-stained faces. Ma mentioned making jam, and Frank lit a cigarette nervously. Maud avoided Frank previously due to his relationship with Sukey and Douglas waiting for Sukey. Frank made an unsettling comment about lipstick and then smeared blackberry juice on his lip. Ma then announced Douglas's mother was killed by a car, which deeply affected Frank. Douglas, however, expressed anger. Frank then recounted first seeing Douglas's mother, before assisting Ma with making jam, still appearing on the verge of tears. The scene shifted back to the present in the car with Helen. Helen expressed anger at Peter, blaming him for Elizabeth's situation. Maud repeatedly stated 'Elizabeth is missing' and blamed herself, believing she looked in the wrong places. She then revealed a memory of someone being buried in the garden, at the new houses, and that Frank brought soil and planted things there. Helen clarified she meant Elizabeth's garden, but Maud corrected her, saying it was not Elizabeth, but Sukey, who was buried for years. Helen, realizing the significance, stopped the car and eventually broke open a side gate with a shovel. She started digging frantically in the garden, expressing frustration with missing people, sick people, and dead people. Maud, still disoriented, asked about planting summer squash. Helen eventually found a bit of shoe buckle and then a smoothly, frighteningly, round yellowish object with rows of teeth, a skull. She handed Maud crumbling wood fragments and a navy blue and silver compact. As Maud pieced together the compact, remembering Sukey sweeping powder, she also recognized the wood as part of a tea chest where Frank stored Sukey's clothes. She recalled Frank, connecting him to Audrey and gin. Helen then laid out more findings: broken glass, a rusted shoe buckle, and the skeletons of two birds with glass eyes. Police arrived, identifiable by their POLICE labels. The policewoman confirmed human remains had been found. Helen admitted to taking items from the burial scene and was warned not to touch anything further. The policeman recognized Maud as the one who repeatedly reports Elizabeth missing. He praised Helen for her lead in uncovering a potential centuries-old murder. Helen stated she was looking for the body, though she wasn't sure it was there. She confirmed she brought digging tools as a gardener. The police prepared to take the tools for investigation and Helen to the station. In an interrogation room, Maud, disoriented, struggled with the seat and asked for her sister, then corrected to daughter, who was being interviewed separately. The officer asked about the body found in Elizabeth Markham's garden. Maud insisted 'Elizabeth is missing' and then clarified that her sister, Susan Gerrard, went missing in autumn of 1946, nearly seventy years ago. She described Sukey's sitting room in vivid detail. The officer asked about damage to the skull and the birds. Maud mentioned the mad woman who said 'the glass smashed and the birds flew about her head.' She described Frank's house as a death trap with birds Sukey hated. Frank Gerrard was identified as a possible suspect with a criminal record. Maud admitted Frank was jealous but claimed she didn't remember who told her that. She denied knowing his whereabouts. She remembered Frank's love for Sukey and a fantasy where Frank did something violent to Sukey, leading to her death involving the glass dome and birds. She held back this information. Helen joined her in the car, and they discussed the police verifying their stories and searching for Frank. The policeman winked at Maud, suggesting she found what she was looking for. Helen asked about the release of Sukey's body, which the police said could take months. Driving slowly, Helen asked about Douglas, who went to America, wanting to start afresh and selling everything except the 'Champagne Aria.' Helen then asked about Frank. Maud recounted Frank proposing to her years later, after being in prison. She had declined, being engaged to Patrick, and wondered if she resented Patrick for being in the way. Helen speculated Frank killed Sukey. Maud stated she buried Sukey there, then corrected herself, recalling a childhood game of being buried in sand by Sukey, and later burying Sukey in turn.
Epilogue. Elizabeths funeral
The epilogue opened with hushed, stifled laughter and low voices discussing someone's hope of finding fortune in gathered junk, specifically majolica ware, implying it was a final joke from Aunt Elizabeth directed at Poor Peter. The atmosphere was thick with dust and the smell of cheap new clothes, suggesting a gathering, likely a funeral given the black attire. Maud felt trapped and suffocated, struggling to find a place to rest amidst the crowd. She leaned against a partition, causing a woman to frown at her, and then glimpsed a gap leading to a creamy wall with food. Pushing through the downturned smiles and gulping people, she reached the wall where the air was cooler. She pulled up a sitting thing and contemplated what she must do, feeling a sense of importance but unable to recall the task. Her stomach growled at the sight of filled breads cut into squares, but she was unsure how to eat them. After observing a man, she mimicked his sloppy eating, finding the food cold, sharp, and foetid. A smiling person approached, and Maud retreated into the kitchen, where an oven hummed like laughing comments. A red-faced housewifely person asked for a knife, but Maud, confused, wandered through a glass door onto a patio. The patio was filled with flower-laden containers, but she found a bench to sit on. A tall woman brought her a slice of fruit cake, confirming its type, and asked how she felt, leading Maud to question if she had been ill. The tall woman then stated, 'At least you got to say goodbye.' Maud, confused, responded as if it were a wedding, asking if they had gone and if she missed catching the bouquet. The woman clarified it was a funeral, not a wedding. The woman smiled and covered her mouth, looking back at the house, while Maud stared at the flowers, realizing the garden was not hers. She asked where she was, and the woman replied, 'Peter's house.' Maud nodded as if she recognized the name and picked currants from her cake. A girl with blondish curls appeared on the patio, and Maud threw the currants at her feet. She asked the woman if the girl was her daughter. The woman corrected her, stating the girl was her granddaughter. The girl laughed, pointing out that Maud was too old to be her mother, and revealed Maud was eighty-two. Maud dismissed this as a lie, believing the girl was mad. A man stepped out and gathered the scattered currants, attracting blackbirds. The sight of the birds piercing the currants triggered a memory in Maud, and she declared, 'Elizabeth is missing.' She tried to tell the woman that she kept trying Elizabeth's house but got no answer. The woman, putting a hand on the man's shoulder, apologetically stated, 'I have told her.' Maud continued to lament 'Poor Elizabeth,' recalling seeing her last in her kitchen collecting currants for the mad woman, whom she bizarrely associated with a bird and her sister and Douglas digging a tunnel to America, suggesting Elizabeth might have gone with them. The woman did not accept this explanation, and the man attempted to explain something, but Maud could not concentrate. She felt they wouldn't listen or take her seriously, reinforcing her conviction that she must do something because Elizabeth was still missing.
I can see they won’t listen, won’t take me seriously. So I must do something. I must, because Elizabeth is missing.