‘They say he’s going to be sleeping it off for hours yet,’ Jake told her. ‘They wouldn’t let you in at this time, anyway.’

‘I need to be with him. He’ll want me beside him.’

‘Olivia,’ Anna insisted gently, ‘he’s unconscious.’

Olivia stood in the middle of the long room, her face set in lines like stone. She was very composed, as though all her energy was concentrated in one burning point in her mind, consuming any other thought or feeling.

‘What did he take?’

‘They didn’t say,’ Jake said. ‘They only gave the barest details.’

She fired out the questions relentlessly, as if forcing herself to face the worst. ‘Where was he?’

Jake drew in an uneven breath. Anna could see he was feeling terrible. ‘Kings Heath Park.’

‘Where in Kings Heath Park?’ Impatient, as if Jake was an idiot.

‘They didn’t tell me. Sorry,’ he added helplessly.

‘He was lying there all alone in the park,’ Olivia said. ‘Anyone could have found him.’ She turned her head fiercely. ‘Who found him? Who touched him?’

Jake took a step back. ‘I don’t . . . They only said he was in the park. We’ll be able to ask tomorrow.’

‘Sit down both of you,’ Anna said firmly. ‘I’ll make us a drink, and then sooner or later we’re going to have to get some sleep.’

‘Sleep!’ Olivia dismissed her scornfully.

‘We need to sleep.’

‘I’ve been asleep all day. I shall sit up for him.’

Anna’s eyes met Jake’s. With his he motioned her into the kitchen. As she prepared coffee she heard their voices in the other room, Jake’s soft, reassuring, and Olivia’s monosyllabic replies.

‘I’ve told her we’ll stay,’ Jake said, when Anna appeared again.

‘Of course. That’s no problem.’

‘We could take it in turns to sleep,’ Jake suggested. There was no protest from Olivia. ‘D’you want to go and get some first, Anna?’

‘I’ll take this up with me.’ She picked up her mug. ‘Wake me at three or so?’

‘OK. I’ll see how we’re doing.’

She went to kiss Olivia’s cheek, but she moved away, sitting very straight on the edge of her chair. ‘No, don’t touch me.’

Anna shot Jake a look which said ‘good luck’ and left them.

She settled down in her clothes, having nothing else, and knowing she would be up again soon. Climbing on to the high, unyielding bed, she dreaded being unable to sleep and left most of the coffee undrunk on the table. She thought of Krish unconscious on a hospital bed, nurses coming to check him through the night.

The next thing she was aware of was Jake sitting on the side of the bed. She shot up, heartbeat speeding in panic.

‘What time is it? What’s happened?’

‘It’s all right. Don’t worry. It’s nearly four.’ His eyes were red. ‘I was falling asleep downstairs, so I thought I’d better come and get a bit of proper kip before tomorrow.’

‘You should have woken me earlier.’ Anna looked fearfully at him. ‘How’s it been? What’s she doing?’