‘How could you possibly . . .?’ said Ivy. Mackerel thought she might faint. ‘I did . . . I did tell you that.’

‘Do you remember anything . . . about why you were in the ocean?’ said Shelby.

At this, Forest’s face darkened. He looked down. He reached a hand towards the dog, and it obediently pulled itself to its feet and trotted over, climbing onto the bed beside him in a scrabble of claws. It curled up, head in his lap, and Forest stroked its fur. ‘Please don’t make me talk about it.’

‘Dear . . . it’s important,’ said Ivy.

Forest shook his head. ‘I can’t. Please.’

Mackerel caught De Corrado’s eyes. She was studying him. She held his gaze for a moment before returning to the boy.

‘It’s your family, Forest,’ she said. ‘They just want to make sure you’re safe, and find out what happened to your parents.’

‘I know. I wish I could help. I’m sorry . . . I’m sorry to let everyone down . . .’ He buried his face in the dog’s fur. He didn’t move.

De Corrado gestured for them all to leave.

Mackerel almost refused, wanting to take his nephew in his arms and comfort him, but he obeyed.

Mackerel, Shelby and Ivy sat in a nearby room, a cramped nurse’s office full of files, old hospital equipment, and the sharp smell of antiseptic. De Corrado and a skinny balding psychiatrist called Dr Joseph sat across from the Dempseys.

‘. . . and so we can’t even broach the topic with him. He begins to apologise, and then blocks us out. Covers his eyes, his ears, puts his face in the dog’s fur like you just saw,’ said Detective De Corrado. ‘He’s terrified of whatever happened to him.’

‘He’s dissociating from the event, and from reality, right now,’ said Dr Joseph. ‘This dissociation is an armour. Of course, he could also be in shock. He’s been underfed, he’s covered in bruises, and those tattoos are infected.’

‘You need to find who did this to him!’ said Shelby angrily.

‘Yes, we know,’ said De Corrado. ‘What we need from you is to help Forest relax enough to open up about what happened.’

‘His mind is still sharp,’ said Dr Joseph. ‘He remembers everything we say to him. Every now and then he asks questions about people from his past. We think he’s trying to find emotional anchors to orient himself. That’s a good sign. If he can anchor himself, he might feel safe enough to open up. It’s good all of you are here. What he needs is his family, who love him, to welcome him back. If he can find enough emotional anchors to his old life . . . well, the sooner the better.’

‘So far he’s recalled things like the colour of his bedroom walls,’ said De Corrado. ‘Toys he had, names of schoolfriends, teachers . . . we’re convinced he is who he says he is.’