I decide now isn’t the right time to tell Nick about my mad theory that Tim is back. Alive. It doesn’t fit with this new information, and at the moment, it’s been overshadowed by the possibility a murderer knows where I live.

‘What are you going to do now?’ I ask. ‘What if it is from the killer …’ My chest tightens.

‘I’m going to put this into evidence, continue investigating my cold case,’ he says. ‘And get Tim’s reopened too.’

‘Are we safe at the house?’ I can’t keep the panic from my voice.

‘I believe so. It’s me the person wanted to get this bracelet to. I don’t have the feeling they’re dangerous. Maybe they just want to help.’

‘Why wait until now?’

‘I’ve a few theories about that. One is the possibility they didn’t know until recently the relevance of this bracelet. Or, it’s the wife of the abductor and she’s been too scared to come forward before.’

‘Again, why now, then?’

‘I’m thinking the person who did this has died. Maybe? And the wife, or whoever, is now free to divulge what they know without repercussion from him.’

‘Why not call you, or email you, or something? Why send the bracelet – and nothing else, no other helpful detail – anonymously? Doesn’t seem that helpful to me. In fact, it makes it seem more likely it’s a game. A power trip. That it is the killer, and he wants to drip-feed bits of info to you. Tease you.’

‘I realise that’s also a possibility. But I’ve thought about it a lot in the last few days and I’m confident—’

‘Confident isn’t enough, Nick. I want … need … one hundred per cent certain. What if I get another parcel for you? What if next time it’s something … bad? What if the boys open it?’

‘Amber, Amber – breathe.’ Nick’s hands are on my arms. ‘If you get another parcel, we’ll have to re-evaluate the situation.’

‘I need to think about this. I’m not convinced I feel safe enough living there. I didn’t anyway, before this. We’ve got two boys, Nick.’

‘Yes, and I wouldn’t put them in harm’s way.’

I don’t feel satisfied by his assurance. How can he know harm won’t come to us? After all, it’s happened before if Nick’s abduction theory is true.

What if something happens to one of my boys next?

Chapter Sixty-Four

Amber