‘Of course, Wills. You go and start and I’ll be there in a minute.’

He trotted off across the landing.

Mel was silent, staring after our son as he disappeared back downstairs.

‘Well?’ I said.

‘I don’t know. It just seems like . . . an overreaction.’

‘He’s not been seen for more than thirty-six hours, Mel.’

‘London’s an easy place to disappear in.’

‘Is it? But why would he want to?’

‘He’s always done exactly as he pleases, and bugger everyone else.’ She crossed her arms. ‘Always.’

‘I know that, but why now? And why was he so angry on Thursday? He was really wound up, like something was going on. After what Beth said about him taking a gun from the house, I just think we need to do the right thing.’

‘The right thing?’

‘Yes.’

‘But what if . . .’ she trailed off.

‘What?’ I said gently.

In a small voice, she said: ‘What if we don’t know what the right thing is?’

That made me pause.

‘What do you mean, love?’

She was about to reply, then looked away.

‘Mel?’ I said. ‘Tell me.’

She sat down on the bed, shaking her head.

‘Mel?’ I said again.

‘You’re always so sure of what the right thing is, aren’t you? Good old Joe. How come everything is so black and white for you?’

‘We need to help Beth. Help both of them.’

‘I’m just not sure that us going to the police is the kind of help Ben would want.’

‘The police are already involved. So are we, whether we like it or not.’

‘Not involved. Not really.’

There was a strange, forced tone in her voice.

‘What’s up, Mel?’

‘Nothing. Nothing’s up.’

‘You sure?’

She nodded. I waited, thinking she was going to say something else, but then she seemed to decide against it.

‘OK,’ I said. ‘Let’s give that PC whatshisname a call. Have you got the card that Beth left?’

She fished the business card out of her sweatshirt pocket.

I took my phone out and dialled the number. The call connected and began to ring in my ear. It rang once. Twice.

Mel stood up abruptly and put a hand on my arm.

‘Joe. Wait.’

‘What is it?’

‘Hang up,’ she said.

‘Why?’

‘Just hang up,’ she repeated. ‘Please.’

I hit end and cut the call off.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Something I need to tell you first. Before we do this.’

‘OK.’ There was a strange tingling feeling at the back of my neck, as if someone had crept up behind me. I turned quickly, but there was no one. Of course there wasn’t.

She took a deep breath.

‘There’s something you need to know. Sit down on the bed a minute.’

‘Are you OK?’

‘Yes. Maybe.’

I sat down on the bed next to her.

‘So tell me.’

‘The thing is . . . I think I might know what’s going on with Ben.’

16

The silence lay heavy between us.