With surprising speed for such a big man, Matt ran forward and caught her just before she hit the floor.

‘I warned you, Will! I told you it was too late. How much more “proof” do you need?’ She spat out the words, then closed her eyes and slumped into Matt’s arms.

Will hurried to her, lifted her limp wrist and checked her pulse. ‘Matt, get her into the lounge. Lay her on the couch. I’ll get a duvet. We need to keep her warm — she’s frozen and her heart rate is far too low.’

Will ran upstairs and returned with the duvet. As he gently placed it over his wife, he heard Bryn asking Matt what Kate had meant by, “I warned you,” and “it was too late.” He looked utterly bewildered.

Matt glanced at Will before replying. ‘I don‘t rightly know, lad, but don’t read too much into it. As you can see, she’s really poorly at present.’

‘Is she anorexic?’ Bryn asked.

‘Something like that, and she’s been overworking. Deadlines and such.’ Matt almost shoved the young detective out of the lounge.

Will heard Bryn say that he’d better get back out and join the search. He promised to keep in touch via Will’s mobile phone and handed Matt a slip of paper with the Fenmoor Lodge number. ‘Captain Fauve needs Mr Stonebridge to speak to him, sir. The poor man is beside himself. Would you ask him to call as soon as Mrs Stonebridge has recovered?’

Matt accompanied him to the door. Will heard him say, ‘You couldn’t have a word with the powers that be to get Will’s phone working again, could you?’

‘Well, you know what they’re like, sir. One word from us and they find twenty other priorities to attend to first. But I’ll ring them by all means and explain the situation.’

Matt thanked him and hurried back into the room. ‘How is she, mate?’

‘She’s sleeping, and her pulse is better than it was. She’s freezing. You wouldn’t make her a hot drink, would you, Matt? Lots of sugar. I’m afraid to leave her.’

Matt returned a few minutes later carrying a steaming mug. He set it down on the coffee table and stared down at Kate’s diminutive form. ‘How long has she been like this?’

Will took a deep breath. ‘Since that fucking rowan tree came down in the storm last night. She believes that it was protecting us, and when it fell, we would pay for it.’ He shook his head. ‘God, I wish we’d never come here, or that she’d got to hear of all those missing Holland children!’

‘Dead right!’ said Matt. ‘But I suggest we don’t tell Philip Fauve any of that. The guy is probably out of his skull with worry enough without hearing the local tales about disappearing children.’