‘That’s good to hear, Mrs Harper. We see too many cases where the children become a kind of possession to be fought over. You really wonder how people can disregard their children’s feelings.’

Marie arrived with three mugs of tea. ‘Hope you don’t mind, Mrs Harper, I thought we’d join you.’

‘Of course not. I should have pulled myself together and made it for you. I’m not usually this feeble,’ Fleur said.

‘It’s just the shock,’ said Marie. ‘But tea always helps. We live on it.’ She looked around. ‘What a lovely home you have. Mine never looks as tidy as this, even when I’ve cleaned up.’

Fleur smiled ruefully. ‘To be honest, DS Evans, I needed to take a long hard look at myself after my divorce. I’ll be frank, my ex-husband had good cause to be unhappy with me. I wasn’t the best wife, or the best housewife really, although no one could ever say I wasn’t a great mother. I adored my baby boy, to the exclusion of everything else — including my home and my husband.’

Jackman was starting to feel mildly uncomfortable. It seemed strange she should want to share all this with two complete strangers, and it bothered him that a mother who apparently doted on her son would let him go so easily.

Marie sipped her tea. ‘Up to talking yet?’ she asked gently.

‘Yes, although there really is little to tell.’ She cupped her hands around her tea. ‘You see, I’d taken two herbal sleeping pills — melatonin. So, I slept soundly and, as I often do when taking the pills, I dreamed. I dreamed there was a man in my room.’

Jackman could see she was becoming tense again. ‘It’s okay. In your own time. So, it wasn’t a dream?’

‘After I woke up properly, I smelled his cologne — aftershave or whatever it was — still in the room. That’s when I knew it wasn’t a dream. Oh God, I felt his breath on my cheek! He must have been really close to me.’ She put her mug down and wrapped her arms around herself.

‘Look, I’m going to suggest we get someone to come in and talk to you, Fleur. A counsellor, someone who can help you through this.’ He was thinking of Laura. ‘And if you can just give us a few more basic details, we won’t bother you until you’re feeling stronger.’

Rocking backwards and forwards, she nodded. ‘What can I tell you?’

‘Did you leave any top-opener windows open last night?’ he asked.

‘Yes. I like fresh air. I always have windows open.’ She looked startled. ‘Is that how he got in?’

‘We think so. And this isn’t the first time he’s done this. He can get through these narrow windows surprisingly easily.’ He paused, considering how much to share. ‘And he exited how?’

‘Through the back door. I’d locked it from the inside. He unlocked it and left it ajar.’

The same as before. ‘And he only took one thing, a photo of your son?’