‘Most people are found in the first twenty-four hours.’

‘But this is a baby.’ Tears flood her again. It seems so hopeless.

‘I’m sure we’re going to find him,’ the inspector says.

She wants to believe her, but she has the same sick feeling she had when Jamie fell out of the tree. Her eyes settle on the baby’s hospital nametag sitting on the windowsill. She picks it up. There is a long number followed by ‘Baby Boy of Alison Wood DOB 02/12/19 \@09:05’.

‘He still had one of his nametags on, round his wrist.’ Alison shows the tag to the inspector. ‘I meant to cut it off, but we were both so tired.’

‘We’re already out looking for Adam. The sooner we can establish if Charlie is with him, the better.’

‘I feel useless sitting around here, isn’t there something I can do to help?’ Alison says.

‘You need to sit tight. Adam may try to contact you. I’ll need a photo of Charlie, please.’

‘I don’t have any of him. What if he cuts his tag off?’

‘Did Charlie have any distinguishing marks?’

‘Yes, a small strawberry mark near the bottom of his spine, in a sort of crescent shape.’

‘That’s going to be very helpful.’

The doorbell rings. Julie answers it. PC Blunt walks in, clearly flustered.

‘Sandra, Mrs Walsh, has seen a woman letting herself into this house on more than one occasion,’ she says. ‘Miss Wood, do you have a cleaning lady?’

‘No, I do not. Although someone has been cleaning up. I thought it was Adam. How did they get my key?’

‘We don’t know and unfortunately Sandra assumed you had a cleaner, and never thought to mention it. But your new neighbour next door, Natty, says she spoke to your cleaner the day you went into labour. Apparently she was about to let herself in here.’

‘But I don’t have a cleaner!’

‘Sandra’s description was very sketchy but Natty’s is much clearer. This woman sounds similar to the one you described in the hospital, except she was wearing a baseball cap pulled down her forehead, so it’s difficult to get a clear ID. She was holding a carry case full of cleaning products and wearing a blue tabard. She didn’t appear to speak English.’

‘The woman in the hospital certainly did. How long has this been going on?’

‘Sandra first saw her around two weeks ago. Do you have any idea who this woman might be? Could it be someone you know? A customer who has a grudge against you, perhaps?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘We’ll get an artist’s impression of her from the neighbours and the CCTV, and we’d like you to do a TV appeal as soon as possible to help find Charlie. PC Blunt will accompany you to that. She’ll stay here for now in case Adam contacts you or turns up.’