‘I need to speak to your daughter,’ Geraldine interrupted him impatiently. ‘We can do this at the police station, if necessary, but it would be easier and quicker to talk here and now, and we don’t want to waste time. I’m sure Jessica would feel more comfortable talking to me here, in familiar surroundings. We are all keen to find your granddaughter as quickly as we can and reunite her with her mother. So shall we stop wasting time in pointless argument?’

David sniffed, and seemed about to retort. Thinking better of it, he withdrew and stomped away along the hall, grumbling irascibly. Anne took Geraldine into the living room where Jessica was staring fixedly at a game show on the television.

‘I’d like to ask you a few questions,’ Geraldine said.

David followed Anne and Geraldine into the room. ‘Don’t let her hector you, Jessica,’ he barked.

Jessica seemed calmer than she had been on the previous occasions when Geraldine had seen her. As she sat down, Geraldine asked Anne and David to leave her and Jessica alone.

‘I’m staying right here,’ David retorted.

‘You might as well do what she wants, or she’ll never go away,’ Jessica said. ‘Go on, please.’

Anne shooed her protesting husband out of the room.

‘Jessica,’ Geraldine began as soon as the Armstrongs had gone, ‘how long have you and Jason been married?’

‘Just over three years.’

Geraldine stared directly at Jessica, studying her reaction, as she posed her next question. ‘And who is Daisy’s father?’

Jessica gave a credible appearance of being surprised. ‘What do you mean? I don’t understand the question. Jason is, of course.’

‘I need you to tell me the identity of Daisy’s biological father.’ Geraldine leaned forward. ‘It’s possible he abducted her. That kind of reaction isn’t unprecedented in situations like yours.’

‘What are you talking about? What situations? I don’t know what you mean. Jason’s her father –’

‘Jessica, we know that’s not true. DNA found in Daisy’s cot establishes that you are her mother, and someone other than Jason is her father. The longer you continue lying about it, the less chance there is that we will find her. Your husband needn’t necessarily find out the truth, unless that turns out to be unavoidable, but the priority now is to find your daughter and return her safely to you. So, let’s go through this again. Who is Daisy’s father?’

Jessica shook her head. ‘I don’t know,’ she whispered, looking terrified. ‘I had no idea… I always thought Jason was her father… I’m telling you the truth.’

Geraldine was inclined to believe her. ‘Very well, but there must have been another man in your life around fifteen months ago, because there’s no question that Jason isn’t Daisy’s father.’