‘We’ll need to do a Photofit of this woman. I’ll have the hospital check out their CCTV. And you think she could have your key?’

Alison shivers. ‘I can’t see how, it was a bit odd that’s all, probably nothing.’

Julie puts her arm around her.

‘Any grandparents nearby?’

‘Dad died four years ago; Mum buggered off with another man when we were kids. Not seen her since; Adam’s parents are both living in Canada. They left when he was a child and haven’t been in touch since as far as I know.’

‘Can we look through your address book? It might jog your memory. Someone with a possible grudge.’ Inspector Downy stands up. ‘I need a description of Adam so I can radio it through and his contact number so we can search for him straight away. And I think we ought to speak to this Sandra. Is she likely to be at home now?’

‘I expect so. She’s at number twenty-five. Straight across.’

Julie finds the battered address book the size of a paperback held together with an elastic band. Alison gives her a description of Adam and a photo.

A few minutes later, the policewoman leaves to speak to Sandra.

‘Why don’t you go and play?’ Alison says, kissing Jamie’s cheek. He shakes his head.

‘Dad won’t come home because you’re always mean to him,’ Jamie shouts.

‘Sweetheart, why are you saying that?’ Alison tries to take his hand but he steps away. ‘I think it’s because he’s seen us arguing quite a bit,’ she explains to the inspector.

‘Can I ask what you’ve been arguing about?’

‘Money, getting married. He’s not keen and I am.’ She opens the address book. Scraps of paper fall out. It is a multipurpose folder: telephone numbers kept from when she was at school, a list of birthdays, beauty tips she’s ripped out of magazines and random sketches she’s drawn when she’s had an idea for a bigger piece. ‘Everyone’s addresses are dotted around,’ she says, flicking through. She turns a page at a time, and then stops at one address scrawled in green ink.

‘What is it?’

‘My brother, Ray. I’ve not seen him for years. He wouldn’t take my baby.’ She shakes her head.

‘Don’t you get on with him?’

‘We’ve not fallen out as such.’ She flicks through some blank pages.

‘But he doesn’t visit?’

‘No.’

‘You said it wasn’t entirely Adam’s choice to leave last time.’

‘My dad threatened him. He was angry that he’d got me pregnant. Told him to leave or else.’

‘Do you think someone could have forced Adam to leave this time and possibly harmed him?’

‘He had a fight with an ex-boyfriend, but he’s in prison for stabbing his hand.’

‘What’s his name?’ The inspector purses her lips.