He had overreacted to her going out, that was for sure, but it hadn’t only been about that. It was her decision to keep writing about the Crucifix Killer. She was so sure that the cops were right and they were safe that she was prepared to take the risk, but how could she be so sure? He suspected that the real reason was that she wanted it to be true, so she didn’t have to stop.

Which wouldn’t help him sleep any easier.

He turned into his parents’ drive and pulled up. He’d only had one beer with Scott, but he felt like he could fall asleep at any moment.

He rang the doorbell, and his mum opened the door. She put a finger to her lips.

‘She’s sleeping. And so’s your dad. Come in. I’ll make you some tea?’

‘Not at night, Mum. It keeps me awake.’

‘Not me, it doesn’t. I can’t sleep without tea.’

‘You can’t wake up without it, either.’

‘True,’ she said. ‘It works both ways.’

‘It doesn’t, Mum.’

‘I think it does.’

‘Science would disagree,’ he said.

‘I don’t doubt it would,’ she said. ‘But it works for me. How are you?’

‘Tired.’

‘Have you been drinking? You smell of beer.’

‘Just one, Mum.’

She looked at him through narrowed eyes. ‘I hope so, if you’re driving my granddaughter home.’

‘She’s my daughter as well,’ Tom said. ‘I’m hardly going to put her in harm’s way.’

Unlike my wife, he thought. He wanted to tell his mum what was going on, but he did not want to worry her.

‘All right. I’ll go and get her. She’s upstairs with Roland.’

He nearly shouted at her. She was with Roland? But he didn’t need any more friction in his life, and he had agreed to give Roland a second chance.

He waited by the front door. A few minutes later, Roland came downstairs. He was holding Joanna in his arms.

‘I’m getting better at this,’ he said. ‘I’m not scared I’ll drop her any more.’

‘You want to put her in the car seat?’ Tom said. ‘I’ll open it up.’

He walked outside and opened the back door then stepped aside. Roland leaned down and placed Joanna in the car seat. Her eyes flickered open for a moment, then she settled back to sleep.

‘What do I do now?’ Roland said.

‘Put those straps over her arms, then plug them into that clasp.’

Roland picked up one of the straps and pulled it over Joanna’s shoulder. ‘I don’t think that’s right,’ he said.

‘You have to put her elbow through.’

Roland tugged her arm, trying to put it through the strap. Joanna twisted away and he tried to hold her down in the seat. Her face screwed up and she started to cry.