Fi shook her head as Jamie chuckled. ‘And the other one?’

‘What did one toilet say to the other?’

‘I don’t know, what did one toilet say to the other?’

Jamie’s shoulders began to shake with mirth. ‘You look a bit flushed!’

All four boys stood grinning, waiting.

‘Okay, you’ve all done your party pieces. Let me go and get something for your swag bags.’ Fiona went into the house and returned with four tangerines, a bag of nuts, four chocolate bars and four pound coins.

‘Wow, thanks Mum, it’s more than we got at the other houses.’

‘Yes, that lady at the end of the street only gave us one Rolo each, not even a packet!’

Fiona looked at her watch. ‘Right boys, you’ve only got another hour. Remember Jack and Jamie have to be back by seven thirty.’

They set off down the drive, Jamie running ahead, brandishing his broom above his head.

* * *

About an hour and a half later, Fiona had just topped up her glass and looked up at the clock again. Where the hell were they? She went to the window and looked out. The wind was now blowing in squalls of fury. The branches on the magnolia tree were swaying and the leaves billowing all over the lawn.

The phone rang.

‘Yes?’ Her voice was urgent.

‘Just me, Fi.’

‘Oh, hi, Martha. How’s things?’

‘Good, just checking Jamie’s still on for the football tomorrow?’

‘Yeah, fine, he’s really excited.’

‘You okay? You sound weird.’

‘They’re late back, he was due home half an hour ago.’

‘For God’s sake, Fi, don’t you remember our mums used to have near panic attacks with us? We always dawdled on our way home after the last house. In fact we used to go home via the swings and sit there chomping on all the sweeties and things. Felt sick when we eventually got home.’

Fiona leant back against the kitchen chair and sighed. ‘Of course, that’s what they’ll be doing. Thanks, M. I had him kidnapped by some crazy child-snatchers.’

‘That was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Fi. Got to rein in that imagination of yours. Right, see you tomorrow at one.’

The doorbell rang.

‘Oh, that’s the bell. See you tomorrow!’

Fiona flung open the door. Two ghouls stood there.

‘We’re really sorry but we’ve lost Jamie, we’ve looked everywhere but…’

There was a noise behind them. Two figures crunched up the drive, Jack with his dad at his side.

Fiona had only met Chris a couple of times but she did not recognise his grave expression.

‘What d’you mean, you’ve lost him? How is that possible?’