Tom is sitting like a moron beside me. He hasn’t opened his mouth to ask one question. He’s probably thinking, well, that’s me off the hook anyway.

‘How can you be sure this woman is not a risk to us? If she’s hanging around our house, there has to be a reason. Should we not have someone on duty outside protecting us until you find her?’

‘I’m sorry, Sally, we don’t have the resources and I really don’t think it’s necessary. Just keep doing what you do and remain vigilant at all times.’

I’m a bit peeved by Tom, why is he accepting this? His wife and kids could be in danger and he’s just sitting here saying nothing. Nodding like a toy dog in a car window.

‘Does Kenny remember what they were arguing about?’

Burke moves her eyes from Tom to me, shaking her head like I’d just asked a ridiculous question. ‘Sorry?’ she says.

‘Did the boy hear what they were arguing about? I would have thought that was important.’

‘He says he didn’t hear, that he left as soon as the argument started.’

Turning her gaze back to Tom, it’s clear Burke is not too interested in talking to me. Tom is the one she’s directing her conversation to. I’m being treated like the interfering wife. So I will.

‘I find it a bit strange that the boy didn’t hear anything they were saying. Can he be trusted?’

Burke interrupts. ‘Kenny is under a lot of emotional pressure. He’s almost certainly still in shock. As things come back to him, he knows to tell us.’

With her gaze back on Tom, she continues. ‘Which is likely to happen over time. If he’s blocked out some details, they may come back to him when he’s settled in your care.’

‘Settled in our care?’ My voice doesn’t hide how I feel. Alarmed.

‘Yes.’ Burke flicks open the file she earlier placed on the table in front of her.

‘Tomorrow, is it?’ she says, reading something on the page before looking up at Tom. Big Bad Tom does not know what to do, what to say or where to look.

‘What’s going on, Tom?’ Twisting in my seat I look at him rubbing his hand over his mouth, something he has a habit of doing when he’s caught red-handed. It’s like he’s trying to put the words in order before they leave his lips.

‘Well, Tom?’

‘I was going to tell you later, Sal.’

‘Tell me what, Tom?’

Burke moves towards the door. ‘I’ll leave you both alone. I’ll be in touch.’

Pushing back the chair I jump up. ‘No, don’t leave us alone, tell me what is going on? Why do you think that kid is settling into our care? I never agreed to anything.’