Jessica mentioned the name of an estate agent in York. Geraldine sent the constable to contact his office to see if anyone there knew where he was, but all they could tell the police was that he had booked that Friday and Saturday off work and was due back early in the week. Meanwhile, Geraldine continued to question Jessica.

‘All I know is that he went away with a group of friends. I think they might have gone to Amsterdam but I’m not sure. He did tell me,’ she added quickly, as though realising her ignorance of her husband’s whereabouts might strike Geraldine as strange. ‘It’s just that, I don’t know, I’m in such a state, I don’t know what’s going on. My father’s David Armstrong, leader of the local council,’ she added, as though she thought that might be important.

Geraldine had heard of David Armstrong, a controversial councillor who was forcing through unpopular cutbacks in local services. He had been the subject of several virulent attacks in the local press for closing libraries and threatening the survival of a local school.

‘A lot of people hate him,’ Jessica said, her eyes wide with fear. ‘You don’t think…’ She broke off, unable to complete her sentence.

‘I doubt if the disappearance of your baby has anything to do with your father’s activities. Most people probably don’t know about your connection with him. The likelihood is that your husband has taken the baby and left her with someone. Does he have family living nearby?’

‘No. He doesn’t see his mother or his brother and his father’s dead.’

Geraldine spoke gently. ‘Jessica, I suggest you go home and wait there while we speak to your husband and your mother. You’re sure no one else had a key to your house?’

Jessica nodded. ‘I’m sure,’ she whispered. ‘No one.’

‘Well, you can go home now and leave this to us, and don’t worry. It’s unlikely anything has happened to your baby if only your husband and your mother could have had access to her. I expect we’ll find her very soon. This is probably all a misunderstanding.’

Geraldine spoke reassuringly, but Jessica’s account troubled her. The obvious explanation for the baby’s disappearance was that her father or grandmother had taken her out, and had not wanted to wake her sleeping mother. But if that was the case, they would surely have had the sense to leave a note, or at least have called Jessica by now. They must have realised she would worry. And Jessica not contacting her husband also struck her as slightly odd. Jason must have a mobile phone with him, even if Jessica wasn’t sure where he was, which in itself seemed strange, given they had a six-month-old baby. It was almost as though Jessica was keen to involve the police before approaching her family.