‘Her family emigrated to New Zealand in the sixties, when she was a teenager. They paid ten pounds – so they were called ten-pound poms.’

‘I see.’ Dr Quinn’s pen scratched over the paper. ‘And she’s been taking care of Joanna?’

‘Recently, yes. It’s possible there was an accident when she was with Jo. If that’s what happened, I’m sure it was no more than an accident,’ Alice said. ‘Or do you think—’ She left the question hanging, unasked.

‘I think the same as you. An accident. But you might want to check with your husband. And with Martha. Just to be sure.’

‘Thank you,’ Alice said. ‘I will.’

Tom

He had headed for the door at 4 p.m. It was – at least – two hours earlier than he would normally have left work, but his eyes were closing and he could barely concentrate. He felt like he’d pulled an all-nighter and was leaving at dawn; when he walked across the car park the warm afternoon sun felt bizarrely out of place.

At least his boss was OK with it. Carol had walked past his desk and asked how he was.

Hanging in there. Good, actually.

She’d laughed. I’d hate to see you when you’re in a bad way. Why don’t you wrap it up for the day? Go home and see that daughter of yours. And try to get some sleep.

He’d muttered something about finishing up before leaving, and then, about sixty seconds after she left his resolve broke and he shut down his laptop.

He approached the roundabout that fed onto the motorway. There were four lanes; it was confusing at the best of times, but his mind felt like it was gummed up with treacle and he struggled to process the information coming at him. He had driven home from a friend’s house once when he was drunk and it reminded him of that.

He blinked and forced himself to concentrate. It was easy to see how he could have an accident. Now he was back at work he really needed to get some rest.

He just didn’t think Joanna was going to care too much about that.

When he pulled up outside their terraced house he saw Alice’s dark blue Astra already there. He felt a surge of excitement at the thought he would see Jo – and Alice, too – in a few seconds. It was crazy that he had missed her so much when he’d seen her at eight that morning – and for most of the preceding night – but he did.

He opened the front door. The house was quiet, but he didn’t want to call out in case Jo or Alice was sleeping. He walked quietly down the hall and into the living room.

Alice was sitting on the couch, her phone in her hand.

‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Good day?’