‘Right, thanks, folks,’ Lennon said, once they were all seated with cups of tea in front of them. ‘The main reason I’m here is because I’m asking all three families for a comprehensive list of places you’ve taken the kids in the last six months. Not just nurseries or clubs, but parties, coffee shops, toyshops even, if you can remember. Outings you might have had locally. Trips to the swings. Santa’s grottos, if you can remember that far back.’

‘What’s this for?’ Sean asked. ‘Trying to find somewhere the children might have been . . . spotted by the bastard who took them?’

DI Lennon nodded and they sat for ten minutes or so, compiling a list on the back of an A4 envelope that had contained a travel brochure. It helped, thought Helen, having something concrete to do, and something that united them, even just for a short time. They all called out suggestions, which Alice wrote down in her careful cursive. Helen wished she could write down all the memories of Frankie that each suggestion conjured up.

‘Nursery – it’s Ladybirds Nursery in Church Road. She goes – went – every morning. And the playgroup at the church, All Saints in Fulwell. We sometimes go to their Wednesday afternoon session. She likes it there. Mostly because they have homemade cheese straws.’

‘How about that soft play centre we took her to in March, at Syon House? Remember, she spilt my cappuccino all over herself.’

‘Archie Fuller’s birthday party the other week – Dad, you took her there, didn’t you?’

‘Well remembered, honey. Yeah, I did. And there’s the Dads’ Club in Bushy Park on a Saturday morning – when I was desperate.’

Sean cracked a smile, and Helen put her hand on his knee. ‘He hates Dads’ Club,’ she explained.

‘All those bloody earnest left-wing Teddington dads talking about quinoa and private school fees.’

‘Swimming lessons at the Lensbury.’

Alice scribbled away.

‘Where do you do your grocery shopping?’ Lennon asked.

They all looked at him. ‘Not Sainsbury’s,’ Helen said. ‘We go to the Waitrose in Twickenham, usually . . .’ She paused. ‘Have there been any leads on poor Liam?’

Lennon shook his head. ‘Not yet, but we’re still assimilating all the information.’

Alice started doodling on the envelope, thick cross-hatched shading on the inside of the outline of a church, next to the word ‘Church playgroup’ on her list. She leaned her head slowly onto Sean’s shoulder, and he hugged her tightly. Helen tried not to feel jealous.