Page 140 of The Examiner

Why does Gela not notice the Lang woman who arrives in the studio on day one isn’t the artist she’s so in awe of? There are pictures of Alyson online. I fear she may have been duped.

Ben Sketcher

Gela is in on whatever scam the Danners are pulling.

Karen Carpenter

I’ve spotted something! When they first meet, Patrick complements Alyson on losing weight. She’s slimmer than the Alyson Lang whose pictures he finds online.

Tilda Ricci

You’re right, Karen. But surely the others google Alyson too? Jem would notice that.

Ben Sketcher

Is Jonathan key to this? Is he so controlling that he makes his wife impersonate her sister, just so he can take the same art course and keep an eye on her all day?

Tilda Ricci

The real Alyson seems party to the deception, at first. According to Jem, she too becomes worried about Suzie’s whereabouts.

Ben Sketcher

For Assignment Five, when the group document lost things, Jonathan submits images that reflect the loss of a partner. By then Jem is convinced Alyson – or Suzie, his wife – is missing.

Karen Carpenter

Yet when Jem asks about Alyson, both Jonathan and Patrick say they’ve seen her. Gela too.

Ben Sketcher

Gela is in denial that her star student has gone. She’s already lost Cameron, who isn’t a burnt-out professional, but a private investigator working on a project called kiss-kiss – a project Gela is well aware of.

Tilda Ricci

He talks about coming from a high-level marketing job.

Ben Sketcher

That was years before.

Karen Carpenter

Young Jem says the trip to Somerset is key. Patrick hints at something similar. Sounds like there was an almighty blow-up and Suzie flounced off. Ditched the hubby and went. For their own reasons, neither Jonathan nor Gela want to admit it.

Karen Carpenter

Ben? Are you still there?

Ben Sketcher

I’ve met Jem. She’s here in the car with me, outside RD8. This is getting more worrying by the minute. I need to ask Hannah something.

WhatsApp chat between Ben Sketcher and Hannah O’Donnell, 30 May 2024:

Ben

That time you overheard the voice. You were outside, about to show Jem’s dad into the studio, am I right?