‘And? Where was Cecilia by then?’

‘She went home, I think. With Melissa. It was just a – just a kiss, Mum.’

‘Why didn’t you leave with them?’ My fingers were clenched around each other so tight, slowly I realised they were hurting.

‘Rocky wanted to stay. He was having a laugh with that Lola. And Pav. We were all just vibing, you know, watching some anime, and then we crashed – cos her dad said we could. He said he rang you.’

I nodded, trying not to bite through my own lip. ‘He did, yes.’

‘And then?’ PC Okoye asked Zach.

‘And then…’ He faltered. ‘It’s – it’s a bit mad. When I woke up, I was in a bed with…’ He trailed off and looked pained again. Worse than pained.

Like he was searching for something himself.

‘In bed with?’ the woman prompted.

‘I – it was weird, I can’t lie. I was in a bed with – er, with Willow.’

‘What?’ I was bewildered. ‘In bed with Willow?’

‘Yeah. I can’t remember much, to be honest. I felt – weird. Like I’d gone to leave in the night, or to go to the toilet or something.’

‘And?’

‘And then I was just in this bed with her.’

‘Like – together in the bed? As in—’

‘No, Mum!’ he interjected passionately. ‘Not together. Nothing happened with her. I was wearing all my clothes.’ As if that meant anything much. ‘I even had my trainers on.’

‘Did you talk to Willow?’ PC Okoye asked. ‘When you woke up?’

‘Nah.’ He shook his head. ‘She was asleep, and I just – I felt – I didn’t feel too good, to be honest. I wanted to get home.’

‘What do you mean, you didn’t feel good?’

‘I felt – kind of – sick. Weird. Had a dodgy belly. So I got up and came home.’

PC Okoye wrote something. We waited. Then she looked at us.

‘So. I have a couple of questions,’ the woman said. ‘First. The drugs.’

‘Drugs?’ Zach and I spoke together.

‘Sorry – but what drugs?’ A new fear clutched me.

‘Cocaine, most probably. Residue found in Mrs Jackson’s en suite bathroom this morning, along with a library card belonging to Cecilia.’

‘I don’t do drugs.’ Zach stared at her. ‘I’ve never done cocaine in my life; you have to believe me.’

‘OK. Well, the second question – and the key to all of this really – is did you?’ PC Okoye held Zach in her gaze. ‘Touch Cecilia inappropriately, when she’d already said no?’

‘No!’ he shouted, and the tears started again. ‘I told you. I never ever would. Ask Ceci!’

Gently I pushed him away from me, trying to breathe myself; trying not to fall into utter panic. I looked into his eyes.

‘Listen, if you have done anything at all you think you shouldn’t have, Zach, this is the moment to say. It will be OK; I will still be your mum whatever happens, and I’ll stand by you.’ How quickly and fluently these words were coming. ‘But if—’