‘I’m afraid when it comes to that there’s not a lot we can do,’ says Grayling.

‘But he’s missing,’ I say. ‘He left my bedside that evening and just disappeared. Surely your officers could put out a search for him?’

‘Maggie, we looked into it,’ she says, raising her eyebrows. ‘And everything pointed to the fact that your husband left of his own accord.’

‘But he was just going home to get changed,’ I say. ‘That’s what he told the nurses. Why would he disappear? It doesn’t make sense.’

‘That’s just it, Maggie,’ says Grayling. ‘He didn’t disappear. He gave notice to your landlord, he tendered his resignation at work, withdrew money from his bank account. These are all considered actions. The horrible fact is that he left you when you were seriously ill and that is just unimaginable but it’s not a crime. And as for searching for him, as he has done this of his own free will there’s not much we can do. I’m really sorry.’

My chest is tightening as the anxiety I have been keeping at bay spreads through me like a virus. ‘But you must be able to do something. Check the ports, the airlines. I have a list of people you could contact. I would be out there looking for him myself but my stupid body won’t let me.’

‘Maggie, we would only be able to do those things if your husband had committed a crime and we had a warrant for his arrest,’ says Grayling, a hint of impatience threaded through her words. ‘As it stands he is simply a man who has left his wife and we don’t have the resources to undertake a manhunt for every person who walks out of their marriage.’