Valerie managed to lift the girl into the back of her car and asked Helen to get in with the boy. The pair clung together, their limbs a tangle of bones with barely any flesh on them. Thankfully they lapsed into silence as they were driven away.

The children needed an examination by a doctor and taking them to A & E was the quickest way to do so at that time of night. As they carried them into the hospital, Helen found that swaddling the boy in the blanket and holding him close calmed him. Valerie did the same with the girl.

Neither child spoke to the social workers or the nurses but seemed content to be held, both still. By 1am, a doctor had examined the children, declaring them dehydrated and malnourished. Valerie accompanied a nurse to bathe the brother and sister while Helen was sent in search of coffee. The night’s events had shocked her; it would take more than coffee to erase the images of those neglected children from her mind.

Later, while the children slept, Valerie sat with Helen and talked over their evening.

‘It’s not the worst case I’ve come across but we don’t know all the details yet. It looks as if they’ve been alone for a few days and the police will already be trying to trace the mother or father if there’s one on the scene. They’ll be kept in hospital for a few days, they’ve had drinks and a little food but I’ve never come across such malnutrition before. There’s head lice to deal with too – the nursing staff will have their hands full tomorrow. You need to check your hair when you go home, which I suggest you do now. It’s been a difficult night but it’s even harder on those poor kids. Keep that in mind.’ Valerie smiled.

Helen knew she’d never forget this case. The sight of those terrified children would stay with her forever. Walking away with tears in her eyes, Helen Hanna wondered what the future held for Joanne and her brother.

2

DAY 1

April 2017

Even after two full terms at his new school, Danny loved it. The atmosphere and huge modern building still thrilled him, as did the full timetable crammed with subjects new to him, such as languages, chemistry and physics. That particular morning they’d had a French lesson with Mr Armand, a real Frenchman who made his lessons fun. He told them his name was of German origin and meant ‘bold’ or ‘hardy’ and the whole class laughed when he struck a pose like a strongman. Danny thought he might like to take German as well as French, his dad always said that languages can get you places.