‘The police! What about?’ He blinked away from his phone and looked like he was taking in the officers for the first time.

‘Your sister. I’ll talk to you about it later.’ Jamie huffed and took his time. The man waited for him to leave, exchanging glances with his colleague before speaking again.

‘My name is Detective Inspector Joel Norris, this is DS Lucy Rose. I don’t have an easy message for you this evening, Sharon. Would you at least sit down?’

‘Tell me,’ Sharon said, instinctively reaching out for the bed, just to make sure she was holding something.

‘Danny Evans, your husband.’ The officer paused for a moment, like that was her opportunity to deny it, to tell him he had the wrong person. All she did was tighten her grip on the bed. ‘A male we believe to be Danny Evans has been found deceased earlier today, Sharon, I’m so sorry. There was nothing that could be done to help him …’ He paused again. She could feel both of their eyes on her and knew they were waiting for a reaction – confirmation it had sunk in, perhaps. It hadn’t. The words rolled around in her mind.

‘Today?’ she managed finally. Like that mattered.

‘Yes. Although I can’t confirm for sure when he died right now.’

‘Died …’ She looked for the chair now. She didn’t sit in it but used the arm to take her weight. She looked over at their sleeping daughter then turned away. Suddenly she couldn’t look at her. What was she going to tell Callie now? And what about Jamie? She stood back up, her body suddenly flushing with panic, her breaths shorter and faster. The officer stepped towards her. She felt him take hold of her shoulders, his grip firm enough to puncture the sudden dizziness.

‘Let’s get you into that chair. You look a little unsteady there!’ She felt the grip lead her. She went with it, the plastic seat cushion squeaked under her and she felt the coldness against her back. Next her tea was held out for her to take.

‘Died …’ she said again.