I called into the crack. ‘Jack? Can you hear me? I’ve brought some clothes and your GameBoy and your CD player. Is there anything else you need before you come home tomorrow?’

There was no answer.

‘Open the door please, Audrey, so I can hand you the bag.’

‘Leave it on the step. I’ll pick it up when you’ve gone.’

As I reached the gate the door flew open, the bag disappeared and the door slammed shut again.

I drove home through the dark-blue August twilight. I was angry and shaking from my confrontation with Audrey. I had been made to feel powerless in relation to my own child and I vowed that wouldn’t continue. If I was going to have to fight to bring Jack back, then so be it.

When I pulled up I saw that most of the lights in our house were on although Lola had warned me it was one of her bar-job nights. I let myself in and the smell of soy and ginger wafted to meet me, with the sound of voices. In the kitchen I found Caz sitting at the table with a glass of wine. Graham and Jasper were leaning against the counter also holding glasses of wine, and Mel was stirring the contents of a frying pan.

I blinked. ‘It’s not my birthday, is it? I wasn’t expecting a surprise party.’

‘It wouldn’t really be a surprise party, would it, if you were expecting it?’ Graham remarked reasonably. Caz shushed him and came round to me with a drink. I swallowed a gulp and Mel blew me a kiss.

‘Penny called me. She said you’re worried about Jack and from the sound of it I don’t blame you. I rang Caz, and we thought we’d all come round and cook some food for you and have a case conference. Lola let us in before she went to work. Penny wanted to be here too, but she’s got some stuff to deal with herself tonight.’

‘She has.’ I sat down. My legs felt shaky and the wine hitting the lining of my stomach made me remember that I hadn’t bothered to eat for a day or so. ‘Thank you,’ I said. Caz patted my shoulder.

I looked round the circle of faces in the candlelight. The door to the garden stood open and moths fluttered at the night’s edge. I was glad to see everyone and I was touched by this demonstration of friendship, but I also felt that what was happening was between my son and me, and I should be able to sort it out for myself.

At the same time it occurred to me that the person I really wanted to talk to about it all was Paul Rainbird. I put this startling realisation to the back of my mind for proper consideration later.