For some reason he’d convinced himself there was a motive behind Franny not being keen on him going to see Charlie. It was ridiculous, because it was obvious that the only thing that mattered to Franny was trying to find her friend’s baby and the only thing that should matter to him, was to somehow find out the whereabouts of the boy. Anything else shouldn’t even come into it.

‘Yeah, okay and I’m sorry, you’re right. It’s stupid for us to both go up there. I’m just a bit of a mess at the moment, head’s all over the place. I’m not thinking straight. Thank God for you, hey? Left down to me, I think I’d probably fuck this all up more than I have done already.’

Franny gave a tight smile. ‘Yeah well, it’s tough for you – I know that. So, whatever I can do to help, then it’s all good.’

‘Yeah, all good. You and me, we make a great team.’

Alfie leant over to kiss Franny. He’d missed being close to her. These last few months had been crazy, and he kicked himself for not confiding in her from the start. She was what they talked about when they said: behind every successful man is a strong woman. She certainly was his strength. His everything. And the fact that he’d jeopardised all that for Bree, for anybody, was almost unthinkable.

Drawing away from her, he smiled sadly and asking a question he knew she wouldn’t really have the answer to, but he needed to ask anyway, Alfie said, ‘Do you think that we’ll find them?’

Franny stared into Alfie’s face, her voice a whisper. ‘Yes, I do, and you know why? Because we won’t stop looking for them until they’re safely back.’

Inside Queen’s Hospital, Franny walked along the corridor to one of the lifts that took her up to the critical care unit.

The place seemed deserted apart from a few of the night staff and porters and for some reason Franny felt the whole place had an unsettling calm in the air.

At the door of the unit, one of the nursing staff, a tall young woman, stopped Franny.

‘I’m sorry, visiting hours are over.’

‘Can’t you make an exception? I really need to speak to Charlie Eton.’

‘I’m sorry, we don’t allow visitors now unless it’s an emergency and you’re a close family member.’

‘That’s exactly what I am … I’m his cousin, so can you let me in?’

The nurse shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, I can give a message if you like.’