When she gets to the visitors’ lounge, he’s there, and Laura has just arrived, too. Probably just as well, Avril thinks, because Laura’s being her usual calm, generous self, which may encourage her to be calm, too. Which is not how she is feeling.

Hello, Ben. Edgy.

Avril!

He envelops her in a bear hug and she’s almost undone. It’s like being held by Coop—wrapped up, safe. The rasp of his chin on her forehead, the warmth of his sweatshirt, the soft, worn fleece; oh god, and he smells like Coop, coffee and toast and that paint-stripper shampoo he buys cheap from Priceways. But it’s Ben, who hasn’t been in for weeks and hasn’t phoned and could have told her what he knows and hasn’t. Avoiding her, abandoning Coop.

She pushes away from him and sits on the armchair, upright, tense.

He flops down opposite. Look, I know, I’m sorry.

Avril puts her head in her hands.

You don’t know, Ben. Laura’s voice is soft. She’s been waiting, we’ve both been waiting, and no-one’s telling us a thing.

Avril looks up at him. Where have you been, Ben? You, his mates. Where have you all been?

He’s silent for a moment, and when he speaks she doesn’t understand.

I had to tell them at the debrief. It was my fault, but I’ve only made it worse for Coop.

What are you talking about?

He took the call on the way back to the station from Training. He was first on scene because of me.

Avril stares at him, confused.

Before the call came, he’d dropped me off at the garage. To pick up my car.

The words settle in silence. He shouldn’t have done that, should he, Laura says, eventually.

Ben looks down. My fault he did. He shakes his head. Shit, it was five minutes. I got back, he wasn’t there.

Do you know what happened, Ben? Laura’s still calm, still gentle.

The neighbour says they could see the woman through the window. She was unconscious and it was a snatch-and-grab, clear entry, clear exit. Low risk. Anyone would’ve done it. But then the guy tells him there’s a daughter, doesn’t know whether she’s at home or with her father. Means doing a search.

Avril closes her eyes. Standard Operating Procedures. Never do a search without backup. Never go in without breathing equipment. Never go in alone. Oh god, Coop.

The neighbour was at the top of the driveway, waiting for the ambulance. He didn’t see Coop go in again. I don’t know why he did it. He knows it’s … Ben’s hands rake at his hair. This is why they can’t complete the investigation. Until he can tell them.

Avril is intent. None of this explains why you’ve all been staying away.