‘Is that it?’ I say, watching as she walks to the door. ‘My husband is missing. You need to try and find him.’

‘As I said, Maggie, the results of our investigation point to your husband leaving of his own free will,’ she says, with the same strange expression on her face. ‘There’s not much more we can do. But if you do remember anything, however small, that you think might be important, get in touch, yeah? I’ll leave my details with Dr Elms.’

She opens the door then, letting in a scent of overcooked food from the corridor. When she closes it I lie there for a moment, trying to take it all in. Sure, things were fraught between us, but Sean would never leave me, knowing that I would wake up and have to face the horror of Elspeth’s death alone.

And then I remember that last conversation, the thinly veiled anger in his voice. I can’t take much more of this, Maggie.

I lie back on the pillow and as I close my eyes a deep sense of unease ripples down my spine.

8