They were there. All three of them.

Molly in the middle. Keith on the far side. Norman right in front of him.

‘Daddy,’ Norman said. ‘You came.’

‘Of course I did. Of course I did.’ He leaned into the car, grabbed Norman in a hug, then reached over the seat to Molly and Keith. ‘My God. You’re safe.’

‘Where’s Mum?’ Norman said. ‘We heard her shouting. Where is she?’

‘She’s—’ Matt said. ‘I’ll tell you everything later. But for now we have to go.’

‘I want Mum!’ Keith said. ‘Where did she go? She was here a second ago.’

‘Can you get her?’ Norman said. ‘We want to see her.’

‘I will. I promise. It’s complicated—’

His phone rang. It was Rob.

‘We’re tracking them,’ Rob said. ‘Perfect visual. They’re heading for the A49. We can cut through where you are and pick you up. Do you have the kids?’

‘Yes.’

‘They OK?’

‘Seem so.’

‘Good. Is your car there?’ Rob said.

‘Yes.’

‘Leave it, there’ll be forensics in it. We’ll be there in minutes. Hang tight.’

The phone went dead.

‘Dad?’

He turned. Norman was standing by the rear door.

‘Where is she?’ he said.

‘I don’t know. But we’ll find her. I promise.’ He held out his arms and hugged Norman. It felt wonderful to be with him again. ‘I promise we’ll find her.’

He hoped it was not a promise he was going to end up breaking, for his sake as much as the kids’.

2013: Christening Party

1

After the ceremony they went to the London Bridge Pub. Most of the guests from the christening were there, happy to have a Sunday afternoon drink with family and friends. These were the only times people saw each other these days – between kids and jobs and moves to new places there was not much room for nights in the pub.

Matt sipped a glass of red wine. Norman was asleep again, strapped to his chest in a baby carrier. He loved wearing his son; on week nights he strapped him on when he got back from work and walked around the house, and on weekends he took him for long hikes while Annabelle napped or went out with her friends. He walked along the canals and through little-used paths and snickets that led to remote churchyards and dense copses and abandoned barns. There was a Neolithic stone circle not too far from their house, which he had read about online and taken Norman to see. As they walked, he explained to his son what they were passing and why it mattered. At six months old it wasn’t likely he would understand, but Matt was sure some of it was going in, one way or another.

Annabelle’s brother, Mike, walked over. ‘Let’s have a photo of the parents and godparents,’ he said. ‘Now a good time?’