Possible sightings. We’ve been there before. Sightings of kids going to a skate park, graffitiing a bridge or sleeping on a street corner. Sightings of children who look nothing like my son. Children who are not my son.

And there’s my answer.

That’s why a cloud of despair has descended. We are still no closer to finding out what happened to my Billy. The torturous limbo we’ve existed in for the last seven months continues. I no longer believe that my son is alive but every day that passes feels like a week. Every week a month. Every month a year. I want Billy to be returned to me. Alive or dead. I just want him to come home.

‘We’re doing everything we can,’ DS Forbes says.

Mark and I both nod but mine is as automated as that stupid dog in the insurance commercial.

‘Do you have any other questions?’ DS Forbes asks.

‘Yeah.’ Mark leans back on the sofa and crosses his arms over his chest. ‘Why would that fucker admit to abducting our son if he didn’t do it? We’ve been tearing ourselves apart for weeks now and for what? So some twisted bastard can get his kicks? Men like him don’t deserve to live. If we still had the death penalty I’d be first in line to watch him hang.’

DS Forbes nods minutely. Whether to placate my husband or because he agrees with him I can’t tell. ‘I understand why you’re angry, Mr Wilkinson. This individual has done more than waste police time and he will be punished for it. He’ll go to court, most likely be awarded extra time to his sentence—’

‘But why?’ Mark says. ‘Why would he admit to something like that if he knew he’d be found out and get more time?’

‘We may never know. Maybe he saw the appeal on TV and fancied a share of the limelight? Maybe he thought it would impress his new cellmate? Maybe it was some kind of twisted wish fulfilment. I really can’t say.’

‘Jesus Christ. And people wonder why these paedophile hunters go after them?’ Mark presses his lips together and glances at me. It’s been two days since Jake confessed to what he’d done and we haven’t discussed it since. I’ve rung Jake to check how he’s doing and each time he’s spent the majority of the conversation apologizing over and over again.

We’ll have to tell him about this latest development. Kira too. God knows what the fallout will be like.

‘We need to tell Jake and Kira,’ I say. ‘And Mum and Dad and John and Stephen.’

Mark frowns. ‘Stephen?’

‘I need to talk to you about him,’ I say softly. ‘He’s been drinking a lot. Caroline has left him.’

Mark’s eyes widen. ‘Seriously? When?’

DS Forbes clears his throat.