‘Talk about bad timing.’ Dougie crouched down next to the couch. ‘How do you feel about that?’

‘God knows. I can’t take it in.’

The television report broke into my thoughts.

‘All I can think about is Ali and where he slept after running off, poor kid. I dreamt about that awful squat too . . . and a young girl—’

‘Hold on. One thing at a time.’ Dougie’s voice was soft. ‘First, Jackie’s on the war-path.’

‘I knew she would be.’

‘And the media are all over the squat story.’ He turned the volume up on the plasma screen on the wall.

The reporter continued:

‘. . . where distressing details are emerging from Duckett House on Stepney’s infamous Ocean Estate.’ Behind him, a dingy housing block looked like a wall of miniature flats. Scaffolding clung to part of the outside, and windows were covered with metal plates. ‘The place has been derelict for three years and no residents have been registered to live here for that time. There’s a demolition order on part of it. The squat has been cleared overnight. We understand that four minors were living here with two men, thought to be in their late teens or early twenties, and a number of casual sleepers.’ The reporter turned away from the scene. His words were factual, but anguish leaked into his tone. ‘At the moment, we have no information on how long they’ve been living at the squat, and residents and councillors are demanding answers from the Mayor of Tower Hamlets. Local MP, Cherry Smith, is demanding to know how this situation has been allowed to happen.’ He took a breath. ‘Two of the minors escaped from the police last night and their whereabouts are unknown. The other minors are receiving emergency medical treatment and will be going into foster care while their circumstances are investigated, and family contacted. Two of them are thought to be aged ten and . . . ’ The reporter’s voice wobbled with emotion. He swallowed. Covered his mouth with his hand and cleared his throat. ‘Excuse me, I’m . . .’ He coughed into his fist. ‘The other is aged twelve. One of the boys told the police that they originate from Syria and entered the country as asylum-seekers in a lorry at Dover, after several months travelling through Europe. The boy says he cannot remember when they arrived or how long their passage was. The police would like to hear from anyone with information on the squat or on any of the boys who were staying there.’ A graphic flashed up contact details for Limehouse Police Station. ‘The flats in this block have been vacant while developers tried to agree the details of the regeneration work with the council.’

The screen displayed a photograph of Duckett House’s current state of decay, alongside an artist’s impression of what it could look like.