She opened her mouth to tell them about Janet Friars’ Facebook message – then stopped. Suddenly her decision was made. She was going to tell no-one. She was going to reply to Janet Friars herself. It was almost certainly a hoax, but if that was the case, there would be no harm in not telling Sean. And she could feel that she was doing something practical herself, even if it was just ruling out the woman, without causing any more stress to anybody else.

It made her feel a tiny, tiny bit better. As soon as Lennon had gone, she was going to reply.

Lennon began to say something else when the drill of the doorbell sounded, long and loud, and they all jumped.

‘What fresh hell is this?’ Sean grumbled. ‘If it’s another fucking journalist, I’ll—’

‘I’ll go,’ Lennon said, pushing back his chair, and Helen felt grateful to him. The family liaison officer had made herself scarce for a couple of hours, presumably taking some time off while the DI was on the premises instead. It was so intrusive, having non-family members in the house, but Helen supposed that it did have a few advantages – like having an on-site bouncer.

‘Oh my God,’ said Alice, ‘could they, like, ease off the doorbell?’ But the bell went on and on, one continuous sharp sound like an alarm, right up to the point that Lennon opened the door.

‘Who the ’ell are you, and where’s my son?’ came a querulous female voice with a thick Essex accent, almost as high-pitched with fury as the doorbell had been.

The three of them still at the kitchen table put their heads in their hands as one. ‘Oh no – not bloody Eileen,’ said Helen and Sean in tandem. Helen couldn’t help herself and started to cry.

Alice spoke in a flat monotone. ‘Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse . . .’ They all listened with dread to the footsteps approaching down the hall. Seconds later Sean’s mother, puce with sorrow and fury, burst into the room.

‘How could you let this happen and why did you not think to let me know? I had to see it on the bloody telly! Do you have ANY idea how traumatic that was for me?’

‘Hi, Granny.’ Alice got up and left the room, going around the other side of the table to her grandmother so as to avoid embracing her. ‘Haven’t seen you for, like two years. That’s probably why Dad didn’t tell you.’ She turned back to Helen and Sean. ‘I’ve changed my mind. I’m going into Kingston to meet Georgia. See you later.’

Eileen took her coat off and started to sob. ‘Frankie, my poor little mite. Oh darling, where is she?’ She grabbed Sean around the neck and kissed his head, but he moved away. ‘As if you care, Mum,’ he said, and slid his hand into Helen’s.