Necessary as Blood

home.‘
    Gemma took in the neat kitchen. One of the worktops held the baking sheet Alia had used to heat the samosas, and a Tupperware container. The fridge, a retro Smeg, was adorned with magnets and bright crayon drawings, an ordinary scene in a household with a child. But something here was not ordinary at all. Thinking that Toby, now almost six, had not stopped talking since he‘d learned how to form words, she smiled again at Charlotte and said, ‘Hi, Charlotte. I‘m Gemma. Did you make those nice pictures?‘
    Charlotte merely gazed back at her, expressionless. Wondering if the child was developmentally delayed, she said softly to Alia, ‘Is she very shy?‘
    ‘Shy?‘ Alia sounded startled. ‘Oh, no, I wouldn‘t say that. It‘s just that... since her mum... she doesn‘t talk much, especially round strangers.‘
    ‘She doesn‘t see her mum?‘
    Alia stared at her, the finger she had been twining in Charlotte‘s curls suddenly still. ‘You don‘t know about Sandra?‘ she whispered.
    Gemma shot an accusing glance at Tim, who shrugged, mouthing ‘No time.‘
    ‘No. I‘m afraid I don‘t.‘
    Tim sat forward, hands on his knees as if holding himself down. ‘It was in May,‘ he said. ‘I saw an appeal Naz put in the papers afterwards. That‘s why I got in touch.‘ He glanced at Charlotte, then seemed to choose his words even more carefully. ‘She — Sandra — left the baby with a friend at Columbia Road. It was a Sunday, just as the market was winding down. She said she had an errand and she‘d only be gone a few minutes. She never returned.‘

Chapter Four

A domestic dream, with a low crooked ceiling and large dresser stacked to its full height; a table of scrubbed pine covered with wooden bowls and baskets, all spilling over with green vegetables, white turnips, brown onions and bright orange carrots. This is undoubtedly the house‘s kitchen...

Dennis Severs, 18 Folgate Street:
The Tale of a House in Spitalfields

    Gemma and Hazel both gaped at Tim, but it was Hazel who got in the first word. ‘She disappeared? This man‘s wife disappeared, and you didn‘t tell me?‘
    ‘When would I have had the chance?‘ protested Tim.
    Standing, Hazel balled her small hands into fists. ‘You rang up this man you hadn‘t seen in years because his wife disappeared? And you offered him counselling? That‘s — that‘s unethical. And just sick.‘
    Tim looked up at her. ‘It wasn‘t like that. I just thought Naz needed to talk. I never charged him. And since when are you the queen of ethics?‘ The bitterness on both sides was out in the open now, blistering as acid, the air in the room charged with animosity. Charlotte started to cry.
    ‘I don‘t understand.‘ Alia looked from Tim to Hazel. Hugging Charlotte tighter, she whispered, ‘Hush, Char, it‘s all right.‘
    ‘What either of you thinks, or did think, isn‘t the point right now,‘ Gemma said sharply. The simple fact of a man missing an appointment and failing to ring his child‘s nanny had suddenly become infinitely more complicated, and Hazel and Tim‘s bickering was not going to help. Rapidly, Gemma considered the options.
    ‘Tim, I think you should take Charlotte home with you for the moment, if there‘s no immediate family to call in. It‘s too much responsibility for Alia, and—‘
    ‘I can take her,‘ put in Hazel. ‘I can take both the girls.‘
    Gemma shook her head. ‘Charlotte knows Tim and has been to the house with her father; it will be a familiar environment. And Tim has a relationship with her father, whether personal or professional. You don‘t.‘
    She turned to Alia, who was still gently rocking Charlotte. ‘Alia, would you mind taking Charlotte upstairs and getting some overnight things together for her?‘
    ‘Okay.‘ Alia looked uncertainly from her to Tim. ‘But — but what if Mr Naz comes home and we‘re not here—‘
    ‘You and Dr Cavendish can both leave notes for him, and Dr Cavendish will leave messages on his phones. Tim, do you have his mobile and his office number?‘ When Tim nodded, Gemma turned back to Alia. ‘And Dr Cavendish and I will both get your phone number. We‘ll let you know just as soon as we learn anything. And you‘ve done a great job looking after Charlotte today.‘ Gemma smiled, wanting to reassure the girl, but her copper‘s instinct was sending up fizzing red flares.
    ‘But what should I...?‘
    ‘Change of clothes, pyjamas, toothbrush, hairbrush.‘