Tara

Tara is a friend and confidante in Megan Hipwell’s life, and her home becomes an important point of reference when Megan cannot be found. Though the novel presents her mainly through other people’s accounts, her brief appearances connect Scott Hipwell’s search for Megan with Megan’s private movements and communications.

Connection to Megan

Scott knows where Tara lives because her address is on a business card on Megan’s desk. His account also suggests he imagines Megan turning to Tara after an argument with him, expecting her to talk about how badly he has behaved. Tara’s home is thus part of the refuge Scott thinks Megan might seek, as well as a place he can go looking for her.

Role in the Search

The morning after Megan disappears, Scott finds no messages on his phone and initially assumes she is still angry or asleep. He calls her, reaches voicemail, and then drives to Tara’s address. When Tara takes some time to answer, her surprise at seeing him makes him realize Megan is not there; she tells him that the last time she saw Megan was at their Pilates class on Friday night. Scott says this is when he begins to panic. The account makes Tara’s unexpectedness at the door a turning point in his search: until then, he can still explain Megan’s silence as a consequence of their quarrel.

Contact After Megan’s Disappearance

In a later call to Megan, Tara says Scott has rung her four times. She has told him that Megan went out to buy wine, but doubts he believes the explanation, and urges Megan to call him. Her message shows that Scott is actively seeking contact and that Tara has become an intermediary between the estranged couple. Tara sounds irritated, while Megan ends the call before Tara can say more. The exchange leaves Tara’s knowledge of Megan’s whereabouts and her reason for giving Scott that explanation unstated; what is clear is that she is in contact with both of them as the search intensifies.