When he gets to the hospital room, everything is quiet. Finn’s eyes are closed, Josie is sitting next to his bed, a book in her hand. But she’s staring into space, obviously lost in thought.

He knocks quietly on the door to announce his arrival. She jumps slightly, then smiles.

‘No change?’ he whispers. She shakes her head sadly.

He comes into the room and takes a seat next to her. ‘Sandra around? Or Sophie?’

‘Sophie had to go to the university. And Sandra’s headed home to Devon. She has work. She can’t stay here, holding my hand all week.’

Robin nods. He knows the same situation applies to him: he needs to phone Baker, give a time frame for when he’ll be back. But he has no idea. How long can this go on for? he thinks. How long should he keep searching?

‘What do the doctors say?’

‘Nothing new. Still waiting on tests, although god knows what good they’re doing. He’s worse, if anything. Anterograde amnesia,’ she says, checking the notepad next to her. ‘And he can’t remember what happened. Retro…’ She struggles to read her handwriting.

‘Retrograde amnesia,’ Robin finishes for her.

‘Yes. The doctor says he can remember how to do basic tasks, like writing and tying his shoelaces, but he can’t form new memories.’

‘And they don’t know why?’

She shakes her head, tears obvious in her eyes. ‘And the doctor says that with the alcohol withdrawal symptoms on top, it’s hard to work out what’s going on.’

Robin sits down next to her and takes her hand. Finn’s alcoholism could be nothing to do with the situation they’re in now. In the bed next to them, Finn is starting to stir, his eyes flickering open. He looks over to Robin and blinks myopically; Robin hands him his glasses and he puts them on.

‘Rob? Mum?’

‘You’re in the hospital, Finn. You’ve been in an accident. Everything’s going to be okay,’ Josie says softly. She looks at Robin. ‘Every time he wakes up, we’re back to square one. He can’t remember where he is, or what happened.’

‘An accident?’ Finn asks.

But before either of them can answer, Finn’s hands fly to his face and he starts to cry.

Robin sits forward in his chair. ‘Finn,’ he starts, ‘what’s the matter?’

He continues to sob. Robin glances through the open door, to the police officer standing guard. He quickly gets up and closes it, then sits close to Finn.

‘Do you remember something?’ Robin asks. ‘About what happened?’

‘Finn?’ Robin says again.

This time Finn looks at him.

‘Finn, what do you remember?’

He stares at him, his pupils unfocused, then down at his shaking hands. Robin notices there are still traces of blood on them, ingrained into the lines of his palms.

‘Finn?’ he tries again.

‘Mum?’ Finn says, looking at Josie.