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Chapters (62)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. Contents
  4. About the Author
  5. About the Book
  6. Dedication
  7. Your Worst Nightmare
  8. ONE
  9. TWO
  10. THREE
  11. FOUR
  12. FIVE
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. EIGHT
  16. NINE
  17. The Answer to All Your Prayers
  18. TEN
  19. ELEVEN
  20. TWELVE
  21. THIRTEEN
  22. FOURTEEN
  23. FIFTEEN
  24. SIXTEEN
  25. SEVENTEEN
  26. EIGHTEEN
  27. NINETEEN
  28. TWENTY
  29. TWENTY-ONE
  30. TWENTY-TWO
  31. TWENTY-THREE
  32. TWENTY-FOUR
  33. TWENTY-FIVE
  34. TWENTY-SIX
  35. TWENTY-SEVEN
  36. TWENTY-EIGHT
  37. TWENTY-NINE
  38. THIRTY
  39. THIRTY-ONE
  40. Somebody Else’s Child
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. THIRTY-FIVE
  45. THIRTY-SIX
  46. THIRTY-SEVEN
  47. THIRTY-EIGHT
  48. THIRTY-NINE
  49. FORTY
  50. FORTY-ONE
  51. FORTY-TWO
  52. FORTY-THREE
  53. FORTY-FOUR
  54. FORTY-FIVE
  55. FORTY-SIX
  56. FORTY-SEVEN
  57. FORTY-EIGHT
  58. FORTY-NINE
  59. Sunlight on Water
  60. July
  61. September
  62. Acknowledgements

Evan isn’t really watching; Jack can tell because he isn’t laughing at the gags. Twenty minutes later, Evan reaches for the controller and mutes the sound.

There’s silence between them. Then Evan says, ‘I will help Liam.’

Briefly Jack closes his eyes, picturing all the drama to come, more disturbance in an already too-disturbed young life.

‘That’s my boy,’ he says. ‘My brave boy. You’re doing the right thing.’

Evan says nothing else but stands and leaves him, and Jack hears him padding up the stairs in his Star Wars socks, and the creaking as he reaches the second step from the top.

That night, in the small hours, Jack hears Evan shout, in the torment of his first nightmare in several weeks. Maybe they should leave him be, let him put it all behind him. But there’s another boy out there, another Evan, and how could they live with themselves if they did nothing to help?

In the panic of his dream, Evan shouts again. Jack climbs from his bed and puts on his dressing gown and slippers. Opening Evan’s door as quietly as he can, he finds Biggles Delivers the Goods on the nightstand and, by the light seeping in from the landing, begins to read.

THIRTY-SIX

THIRTY-SIX

10 December

From the third floor, the view from Campbell’s office window is of a typical British December: wet roads in cold rain, sky a persistent, drab grey, bright, twinkling lights forcing a mood of manic festivity and panic shopping. Campbell’s got all his official Christmas cards arranged on his desk, tasteful snowy scenes with generic greetings from various organisations – the Prison Officers’ Association, branches of the Courts and Tribunals Service, Victim Support – and scrawled signatures with no messages. As far as Naylor can see, there isn’t a personal card among them.

Campbell must be expecting a long meeting, since he’s asked her and Hagen to sit down, but Naylor sees no reason it shouldn’t be quick. Campbell’s got a short ‘to do’ list by his left arm. Naylor can’t read his handwriting upside down, but the items he’s completed have been crossed out using a ruler.

Campbell sits back in his chair.

‘So, give me some good news.’

‘Liam’s abduction has prompted the Ferrers family to encourage Evan to talk to us,’ says Naylor. ‘Of course we’re hoping something will come out of that.’

‘I hope so too,’ says Campbell. ‘How are you going to proceed?’

‘We’ve requested a room at Harrogate station as being the nearest place to where Evan’s staying with viable facilities. We might have interviewed him at home but he doesn’t want that. We’re thinking Rose should go with me rather than relying on North Yorks to provide someone. Women only, of course, and Evan’s met me and Rose before. The fewer new faces he sees, the better.’