‘Hey, I found this little guy in your bag when I was looking for your MediCare papers.’ He reached down and handed me the little yarn gatita that I’d bought for Tenoch. ‘Do you want it?’

I did a grabby hand for it and held it against my chest. It smelled like Tenoch’s deep heat spray.

‘I better make a call. Everyone’s worried about you.’ He stroked my hair and left.

I have no explanation for the mute thing – I swear I wasn’t putting it on. I guess I was reverting to type. I’d been mute for ages after Priory Gardens and I wonder if my brain had gone into some area of regressive trauma.

After Raf had gone, in came Celestina. She was wearing a hospital gown like I was and there were sore red rings around her wrists and ankles but she was clean of all blood, her hair pinned back in a neat bun.

‘Hey, how are you?’ she whispered, checking behind her at the door and creeping in. ‘I wanted to see you without your boyfriend. To thank you.’

I nodded. I wanted to ask how the children were.

‘The children are fine. David has a sore head but there is no problem inside him, gracias a dios. The other two won’t leave his side.’

I nodded again.

‘My mother is here. We are going to stay at my aunt’s house. The children will be happy there. I just want to thank you again.’ She touched my withered, dead hand in the sling.

You are such a good mother, I wanted to say but my mouth wouldn’t say it. Couldn’t say a word.

‘I have spoken to the police,’ she continued. ‘I told them everything. What I did to Stuzzy. And Paco. And what Paco did to me. Detective Beltran is a good man – he listened to me. He says the law is on our side but they will still want to talk to you. I cannot tell him where Tenoch or the doctor went, though. Do you know?’

I shook my head.

She located the clipboard at the base of my bed and removed the pen, tearing off a small strip of paper from the bottom.

‘I give you my number and address at my aunt’s. If I can help you in any way, you will find us there.’ She scribbled it down, enfolding me in a hug which I could only partially reciprocate. I wanted to thank her too for saving my life but my voice wouldn’t come, no matter how much I willed it. I gripped her hand properly with my good one and hoped she understood. If it wasn’t for her… my eyes welled up.

‘I go now,’ she said, releasing herself. ‘Thank you, Sweetpea.’