We go back to the interview room. As I sit down opposite Roberto, I get a look at his shoes. They’re lace-ups, black, though the toes are a bit worn. I almost like Roberto for that. Maybe he’s only got one pair of good shoes and he has to wear them so much they’ve got old.

Roberto and Elena the custody officer smile at each other.

“Take you away from something, Bob?” she asks Roberto.

“Dinner with the future in-laws.” Roberto laughs. “You rescued me!”

Elena laughs too. “Need a coffee?” she asks.

“Please,” Roberto replies.

Elena doesn’t ask me if I need anything this time.

Elena leaves the room and Roberto turns to Vera.

“Will you be leaving?” he says to her.

Leaving? Why is Vera leaving? She’s only just got here.

“Sorry, Charlene,” Vera says. “This is your private time with Roberto.”

“I don’t want private time with Roberto,” I say.

Roberto looks annoyed. “Everything you say to me is confidential. Do you know what that means?”

Seriously? Sometimes I think my name is really Confidential instead of Charlene, because I hear that word so much. Everything I say is supposed to be confidential, but somehow everyone still seems to know my business.

I nod and say, “I’m familiar with the word.”

“Er, good,” Roberto says. “Vera isn’t allowed to keep what you say confidential. If she stays, the law says that she can be asked about what you say to me. She might even be called to court to answer questions about what we talked about here.”

I look from Roberto to Vera.

“So I’m supposed to trust you and not her?” I say.

Roberto looks like he’s trying not to grit his teeth together.

He says, “I just want to reassure you that everything we say in here stays in here.”

You sure, BobBob? You and Elena look like you have a few cosy chats. She doesn’t even need to ask you how you like your coffee.

Roberto gives me a smile. I don’t smile back. I’m sure as hell not feeling happy right now. He takes a pen and notepad out of a posh-looking satchel.

“I want Vera to stay,” I say.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Roberto says.

“I do,” I say. I smile at Vera. “I understand that you can’t keep what you hear now a secret, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll be telling Roberto nothing but the truth.”

Roberto looks like he wants to say something else but stops himself. Vera sits down again.

“Would you like to tell me what happened, Charlene?” Roberto says.

“What happened when?” I ask.

Roberto gives me a long look. It’s the one teachers give you when they’re trying to work out if you don’t understand what they’re saying or just don’t care.