Daniel had witnessed this type of reconciliation a few times on the job. First, the mother moved to smother the child with kisses and hugs, then the child would start to cry oceans of tears, and the mother would run her hand over their hair and curl it beneath their ears.

Then there would be space for the inevitable questions, which would come thick and fast if the situation was typical. Next, the blank expression would return to the face of the child; ’the slapped look’, Daniel called it.

In the minutes since they’d entered the first-aid room, Beck had traversed all these emotions and Jamie had let her express every one; but when his moment came, their son barely had time to register it, because Beck drew her hand back and stung him across the face with an actual slap.

Tony kept trying to get away, mumbling about having to pay their bill for dinner, but Beck kept interrogating anyone she could get an answer out of.

‘Did Jamie eat dinner with you?’ she asked.

‘No, I told you,’ Tony said. ‘I first saw him half an hour ago.’

‘Then where did he stay?’ she said, eyes finding their targets in his.

Tony shrugged.

‘Where did you stay last night, Jamie?’ she repeated.

The kid turned to the wall, still sullen.

‘Anyway, now that you’re here, I’d best get back-’ Tony said, stopping short to prevent a collision with Daniel, who kept his arms folded just in case his ex-wife had more questions.

‘Answer me, Jamie. You’ll answer me or I’ll bloody well leave you here!’ Beck said.

‘I don’t care if you leave me here. I didn’t ask you to follow me.’

‘Jamie, you’re only fifteen, you can’t-’

‘I’m nearly sixteen.’

‘Don’t answer me back! Do you realise the fuss you’ve created? Did you even think before you ran off how worried I’d be, how we’d all be beside ourselves?’

‘Oh, who?’ James said, looking at his feet.

‘Your father for one,’ she answered.

Daniel raised his eyebrows, because she didn’t sound in the least convinced.

Beck looked between them all. Jamie’s head was turned away, but his eyes were searching for reactions.

Daniel didn’t plan on altering from his calm approach, because everyone was doing pretty well without him interfering, but Tony was redder than sunburn from his neck to the top of his head.

Tony was starting to get really bothered by a scent in the air. It was a subtle, warm smell that gave him feelings of fulfilment and fear. His uncle was leaning against the door, leaving Tony nowhere to settle unless he was standing close to Jamie or sitting in the far-too-small chair beneath the wall-mounted cabinet sporting the red cross.