‘When I got back to the flat the door was wide open and Lizzie and Lassoo were nowhere to be seen. I looked over the walkway towards the play area and could see Lassoo wandering around without his lead. I rushed down the stairway shouting Lizzie’s name and when I emerged from the stairway Lassoo was already there to greet me. He had what looked like blood on his nose. At the far end of the play area I glimpsed three or four teenagers riding away at full speed on their bicycles. As I ran towards the play area, I could see the crumpled-up figure of Lizzie lying face down on the mud beneath one of the arms of the see-saw. When I reached her, I turned her over and could see that her little jaw had been smashed to smithereens and blood was streaming from her nose and mouth.’

Grace was sobbing. I was lost for words. I stood up and placed my hand on her shoulder.

‘I stayed with her in hospital that night. She had to have her jaw wired back together and have an operation on her tongue. When her mother arrived and found out what had happened, she threw me out of the hospital and told me I would never see either of them again. I miss them both so much, every day.’

‘I’m so sorry, Grace,’ I said. ‘Why have you never told me this before?’

‘Well, you know, I have good days and bad days, but I’ve always thought that if I talk about it then it will take me back to square one.’

‘You seemed in such good spirits this morning when you and Emily were trying on clothes together.’

‘I’m good at pretending. It’s what I do every day.’

‘Blimey, your daughter really looks like Emily, especially in that trouser suit.’

‘I know, I think that’s what might have set me off again.’

‘So do you have any contact with your daughter at all?’

‘I tried and tried for a year or so, begging for forgiveness and asking for updates on Lizzie, but she never responded. I used to take the bus down to East Dulwich to see if I might get a glimpse of Lizzie, but I bumped into Mary one time and she threatened me with the police and solicitors and all sorts. I’ve stopped going there now. I heard she’s moved down to Kent. I just have to hope that one day she’ll forgive me or that Lizzie might seek me out when she’s older. I’m running out of time, though.’