“We can’t all go in together,” I object. “We’ll look like a posse.” I’m about to add that I’ll go on my own, when Mum gets in there first.

“I agree,” she says, reapplying her lipstick. “If anyone sees this man, it should be me. Me and Janice. We’ll go.”

“Janice and I,” corrects Alicia, and I shoot her daggers. Grammar? Really? At this moment in time?

“We’ll go.” Janice nods enthusiastically.

“D’you want me to come too?” I suggest. “For moral support?”

“No, love, I don’t. Whatever I have to hear about Dad and his past…” Mum looks into the middle distance. “The truth is, love, I’d rather you weren’t there to hear about his other woman.”

“Mum, you don’t know it’s another woman!”

“I know, Becky,” she says, with a quivering voice, like the heroine of a true-life miniseries. “I know.”

Oh God. Does she know? I’m torn between: a) Mum is just believing the worst because she’s a drama queen…and b) After decades of marriage she has a wife’s intuition and of course she knows.

“Well, OK,” I say at last. “You go with Janice.”

“We’re right here,” says Luke. “Keep your phone with you.”

“Ask him about Tarkie,” puts in Suze. “He might know something.”

“Ask him if his property is for sale,” adds Danny. “I have a friend, works for Fred Segal, he’s longing for a ranch and this looks perfect—”

“Danny!” I say crossly. “This isn’t about real estate! It’s about…” I look at Mum, whose lips are tightly pursed. “It’s about finding out the truth.”

There’s silence as Mum and Janice head over the arid scrubland to the huge wooden gates. There’s an intercom system, and I can see them talking into it. Mum speaks first. Then, to my surprise, Janice tries, then Mum again. But the gates remain stubbornly closed. What is going on?

At last, Mum and Janice head back, and as they near us, I can tell Mum’s upset.

“He turned us away!” she exclaims. “Can you believe it?”

At once a babble breaks out.

“Oh my God!”

“Turned you away?”

“Did you actually speak to him?” I demand above the noise. “To Raymond himself?”

“Yes! At first it was some kind of housekeeper, but she went to fetch him and I said I was Graham’s wife and explained what’s happened—” She breaks off. “Didn’t I, Janice?”

“You did.” Janice nods. “Wonderfully, love. Very clear, very to the point.”

“And…?” I say.

“And he said he couldn’t help!” Mum’s voice rises in distress. “We’ve driven more than six hours, just to see him, and he can’t help! Janice tried speaking to him too….”

“We tried everything,” says Janice dolefully.

“But he wouldn’t even let us in for five minutes. Even though he could see me! Through his video system! I know he could see how upset I was. But he still said no.”

“Could you see him?” I ask with sudden interest. “What does he look like?”

“Oh no,” says Mum. “We couldn’t see him. He’s hidden himself away, hasn’t he?”