‘I swear on Jamie’s life I don’t have him,’ he says, ‘I’m as worried as you are.’

‘How can you even say that?’ Alison crosses her arms.

‘Shall we all sit down?’ PC Blunt indicates the sitting room.

They follow Alison, who is helped by Jamie.

‘Why haven’t you answered your phone or called me?’ She grinds her teeth.

‘I lost my phone.’

‘I hear you’ve been staying all over the place. How lovely for you.’

‘Where’s Poppy?’

‘He’s gone,’ Jamie says.

‘What happened?’ His voice is low and calm.

‘I can’t believe you’re worried about the bloody dog when our baby is missing. What is wrong with you?’ Every inch of her is shaking.

‘Of course I’m worried about the baby, but don’t you understand, if Poppy had been here when this person came into the house, he would have barked and woken you up.’

‘He ran away.’ Jamie wipes his eyes. ‘We tried to find him.’

‘How did that happen?’

‘Someone left the gate open.’

‘Christ Ali, he was a lovely boy.’

‘Have you been sending a cleaner round?’ She feels the heat of tears building behind her eyes, but she won’t give him the satisfaction.

‘Do I look like I can afford that?’ Adam opens the patio door, stands outside and lights a cigarette. ‘Where’s the tree?’ Smoke trails back into the room.

‘I told you I’d have the bloody thing chopped down. You wouldn’t listen.’

‘Okay, let’s all calm down and try not to apportion any more blame.’ PC Blunt indicates that he should come and sit down. Adam drags the cigarette stub down the brick wall and comes in.

‘Why the hell did you go off in the first place?’ Alison takes the glass of water from Jamie and whispers to him to go upstairs. He shakes his head and stands near his dad.

‘I couldn’t take it anymore.’ Adam sits at one end of the sofa, nearest the policewoman.

‘Take what?’ Alison’s voice rises.

‘You deciding to have a baby without telling me. You spending all my money like it comes out of a tap. Do you want me to go on?’ Adam grips his hands together in front of him, turning them over, twisting the broken skin.

‘I didn’t get pregnant on my own.’ Alison moves along the sofa closer to him. His hair is matted and his skin and beard could do with a good scrub. He smells like he’s not washed properly for a while. Even the soles are peeling away from his trainers. She’s never seen him in such a state.

‘Take your time.’ PC Blunt nods to him.

‘I had to think…’ he stops and swallows hard, ‘…about why we were having another child.’

‘But I thought you were happy with growing our little family. You said we were good together, remember?’