They walk down to the parade of shops in the precinct and are stopped at least three times by neighbours and people they know.

‘Five pounds nine ounces when he was born,’ Maddy tells Mrs Jordan outside her flower shop. ‘Tiny like my girls.’

‘Still, as long as he’s healthy.’ Mrs Jordan has known Maddy since she was a baby.

‘That’s what I said to the midwife. They do flap about these days,’ Maddy says.

Emily rocks the pram, humming ‘Rock-a-bye Baby’.

Mrs Jordan leans closer to Maddy. ‘She’s taken to him then,’ she whispers.

‘She adores him,’ Maddy says. How happy Emily looks. Her hair has thinned so much around the crown, but hopefully it’ll grow back.

‘Good for her, isn’t it?’

Maddy nods. ‘She loves having a little brother to look after.’

‘He’s got his dad’s chin and hair, bless him.’ Mrs Jordan plucks a sprig of gypsophila from a vase in the shop window.

‘Yes, he’s Max’s son all right,’ Maddy strokes the downy quiff with her fingertips, ‘and Mum thinks he’s the most beautiful baby she’s ever seen.’

‘Does she now? Well I never.’ Mrs Jordan’s eyes widen and Maddy smiles at her.

‘Don’t forget to look after yourself, dear. You look wacked out.’ She places the posy of tiny white flowers at the bottom of the pram. ‘Baby’s breath, for pure of heart. You be good for your mummy, little one.’

Maddy thanks Mrs Jordan for her kindness and heads up George Street. A tunnel of cold wind rattles crisp leaves along the pavement. Just look at your baby, Madeleine, isn’t he perfect?

‘I’m your mummy, and I love you very much,’ Maddy leans down and whispers to baby Sam. Every part of her is fit to burst with love.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Alison: December 2019

Alison can’t sleep. Charlie has been missing for over twenty-four hours. The empty crib and the soft scent of baby powder lingers in the air, making her weep. Her breasts are engorged with milk so she sits on the bed and expresses as much as she can, filling a small bottle. After, she folds all Charlie’s clothes into neat piles. She can’t believe she doesn’t have a photo of him. At least if they find him with Adam she’ll get them both back, although she’s not sure she can forgive him. She spent half the night trying to come up with a sensible reason why he would have done this to her. Any alternative leaves her cold.

They’re hoping this cleaner might make an appearance so they can rule her out, but there’s been no sign of her for the past two days. Natty and Sandra have told them all they can about what she looks like, and the police have released an artist’s impression. But it’s no one she recognises.