My stomach lurches. ‘Is it the children? Are they okay?’ All thoughts of Kate and Shaun are put aside at the idea that something might have happened to Jess or Charlie. I try to hear what they’re saying, but Matt is talking to them in a really low voice and the male uniformed officer catches my eye before looking back at Matt. Finally, Matt steps aside, and everything seems to slow down as I wait for the police to tell me why they’re here.

The plain-clothes policewoman – at least I assume she’s police – steps into the hall and looks me in the eye. I’m beginning to feel uneasy. The way she’s looking at me isn’t good – not at all. I take a single step backwards to put some space between us. My cheeks are hot and my legs suddenly feel weak.

‘Rachel Farnborough, I’m arresting you on suspicion of—’

I stiffen. ‘You’re arresting me? Matt, what’s going on?’ The woman is still speaking, listing out these things she thinks I’ve done and telling me about my right not to say anything. I can’t make out what she means, it all sounds muffled and strange, as though I’m under water. Surreal, like I’m in some hideous nightmare.

‘Matt!’ I look at him for an explanation, but his head is angled away from me. He won’t catch my eye.

The policeman takes hold of my forearms and places my wrists together in front of me. I’m too dazed to realise what he’s doing and so I keep my hands where he’s positioned them. But now he’s putting cold, metal handcuffs on my wrists. This has to be a joke, surely?

Suddenly everything speeds back up and my hearing returns as though my ears have just popped. Maybe they think I tried to take Bella. ‘What are you doing? Look, there’s been a mistake. I didn’t try to take Bella Morris. I was only following her to see if she was my daughter. My own daughter was abducted nine years ago.’ I turn to Matt. ‘Matt, tell them. Tell them I didn’t hurt Bella. Tell them about the DNA test. That will prove everything.’

But Matt isn’t saying anything. He’s really crying now. Tears streaming down his face. His eyes red, his face pale. He doesn’t look like my Matt at all. ‘Matt, tell them!’ Why won’t anyone listen to me?

Then it dawns on me. ‘It’s Kate, isn’t it? Kate must have reported me.’ I glower at the policewoman. ‘Did Kate Morris call you? Whatever she told you, it’s all lies. She’s covering everything up because she has my daughter. She stole her from me. She’s the one you want.’